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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Lost House by Melissa Larsen had a solid premise with a secluded house, mysterious history, and a group of characters whose relationships are full of secrets. But while the setup was intriguing, the execution left me wanting more. The atmosphere is moody and eerie, which works well, but the pacing drags in places, and some of the tension feels forced.
The characters had potential, but I never felt fully connected to them. Their choices sometimes felt more like plot devices than real decisions, which made it hard to get invested. The writing itself is fine, the author knows how to set a scene, but the story didn’t grip me the way I hoped it would.
It’s not a bad read, just not one that left a lasting impression. If you enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers this could be worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
The characters had potential, but I never felt fully connected to them. Their choices sometimes felt more like plot devices than real decisions, which made it hard to get invested. The writing itself is fine, the author knows how to set a scene, but the story didn’t grip me the way I hoped it would.
It’s not a bad read, just not one that left a lasting impression. If you enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers this could be worth picking up.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
tense
slow-paced
Good idea but execution didn’t work for me.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
12/12/2024
So good!! Review to follow…
12/13/2024
Melissa Larsen’s "The Lost House" is an atmospheric and haunting thriller about a troubled young woman, Agnes, invited to her ancestral Icelandic home by a top-rated true crime podcaster (Nora). It's the fortieth anniversary of the gruesome murders of Agnes' grandmother and her infant aunt.
The community has always blamed Agnes' grandfather, but this is a man she loved and adored. There is no way he could have committed such brutal and heinous murders. But her grandfather and father would never speak of that day, and now he's dead. Her relationship with her father has always been a little distant, so nothing stops her from leaving California and doing a little investigation on her own and with this podcaster.
Larsen weaves together an icy web of secrets, tragedy, and relentless determination for redemption from multiple angles and multiple characters - it's really fascinating. From the very first page, I was captivated by the haunting setting of Bifröst, Iceland—its snow-covered landscapes and small-town tensions becoming characters in their own right. Larsen masterfully balances the claustrophobic intimacy of a remote village, that small-town feel where everyone is in your business and knows everything about you, with the vast, freezing cold expanses of the Icelandic winter, creating a palpable sense of unease that lingers throughout.
Agnes is a compelling protagonist; her vulnerability and grit make her journey to uncover the truth deeply personal and engrossing. Her partnership with Nora, who's sharp and ambitious, adds layers of tension and intrigue as old wounds are reopened for Agnes and new mysteries emerge. The dual timelines of the decades-old murder and the present-day disappearance of a college girl are seamlessly interwoven, each revelation more shocking than the last. I often found myself putting the book down and saying - what the....!
Larsen’s writing is both evocative and razor-sharp, pulling readers into a world where every character hides a secret, and nothing is as it seems. The twists are genuinely jaw-dropping, and the final chapters left me breathless. "The Lost House" is an unforgettable exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love. 5+ stars!!
Thank you, #NetGalley, #MelissaLarsen, #StMartinsPress, and #MinotaurBooks, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #TheLostHouse.
So good!! Review to follow…
12/13/2024
Melissa Larsen’s "The Lost House" is an atmospheric and haunting thriller about a troubled young woman, Agnes, invited to her ancestral Icelandic home by a top-rated true crime podcaster (Nora). It's the fortieth anniversary of the gruesome murders of Agnes' grandmother and her infant aunt.
The community has always blamed Agnes' grandfather, but this is a man she loved and adored. There is no way he could have committed such brutal and heinous murders. But her grandfather and father would never speak of that day, and now he's dead. Her relationship with her father has always been a little distant, so nothing stops her from leaving California and doing a little investigation on her own and with this podcaster.
Larsen weaves together an icy web of secrets, tragedy, and relentless determination for redemption from multiple angles and multiple characters - it's really fascinating. From the very first page, I was captivated by the haunting setting of Bifröst, Iceland—its snow-covered landscapes and small-town tensions becoming characters in their own right. Larsen masterfully balances the claustrophobic intimacy of a remote village, that small-town feel where everyone is in your business and knows everything about you, with the vast, freezing cold expanses of the Icelandic winter, creating a palpable sense of unease that lingers throughout.
Agnes is a compelling protagonist; her vulnerability and grit make her journey to uncover the truth deeply personal and engrossing. Her partnership with Nora, who's sharp and ambitious, adds layers of tension and intrigue as old wounds are reopened for Agnes and new mysteries emerge. The dual timelines of the decades-old murder and the present-day disappearance of a college girl are seamlessly interwoven, each revelation more shocking than the last. I often found myself putting the book down and saying - what the....!
Larsen’s writing is both evocative and razor-sharp, pulling readers into a world where every character hides a secret, and nothing is as it seems. The twists are genuinely jaw-dropping, and the final chapters left me breathless. "The Lost House" is an unforgettable exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love. 5+ stars!!
Thank you, #NetGalley, #MelissaLarsen, #StMartinsPress, and #MinotaurBooks, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #TheLostHouse.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Too slow-paced. I became bored with it.
Thank you, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, for my eARC of The Lost House by Melissa Larsen. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
3.5-3.75
This book was a ride, that's for sure. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about it. I wouldn't necessarily call this a thriller; this was more of a family drama exploring a cold case of a double murder and in the meantime they're also looking into a disappearance.
This book was very atmospheric and that added to the read. At parts it was slow and I wasn't feeling it. But then as the mystery kicked up and I got more invested again. There were a number of twists in this that kept me wondering where this was going to go, and I can say I didn't see the ending coming.
I recommend this one if you're into slow-burn mysteries, atmospheric reads, Nordic Noir, or family sagas.
Thanks Minotaur!
3.5-3.75
This book was a ride, that's for sure. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about it. I wouldn't necessarily call this a thriller; this was more of a family drama exploring a cold case of a double murder and in the meantime they're also looking into a disappearance.
This book was very atmospheric and that added to the read. At parts it was slow and I wasn't feeling it. But then as the mystery kicked up and I got more invested again. There were a number of twists in this that kept me wondering where this was going to go, and I can say I didn't see the ending coming.
I recommend this one if you're into slow-burn mysteries, atmospheric reads, Nordic Noir, or family sagas.
Thanks Minotaur!