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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
A cold case where a mother and infant daughter were murdered. The prime suspect was the husband, who fled the country with his son. now, 40 years later, granddaughter Agnes has returned to assist a podcaster in investigating the cold case in hopes of clearing her grandfather’s name. Plans go sideways when a girl goes missing in the present.
I enjoyed the character & story development, as well as being left guessing to the end who did it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Book, and GoodReads for the opportunity to read this novel.
I enjoyed the character & story development, as well as being left guessing to the end who did it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Book, and GoodReads for the opportunity to read this novel.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a bit of a wild ride and I was totally here for it. This was my 1st book by Melissa Larsen but will not be my last, I will be adding all of her books to my TBR.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
3.75⭐️
“Most people approach cold cases with the mindset that there is one simple answer, just waiting to be uncovered. But life isn’t so simple. We all carry our own individual truths, our own stories, our own reasonings for our actions. No one wants to be the bad guy, and so we distort facts to suit our images of ourselves, and we do this so often that eventually, the lie becomes the truth.”
Forty years ago, university professor Einar Pálsson and his nine-year-old son Magnus left their hometown of Bifröst, Iceland for the United States after the gruesome murder of his twenty-six-year-old wife local schoolteacher, Marie and their six-month-old daughter, Agnes. Though he was never formally charged with the murders, friends and neighbors were convinced of his guilt. Forty years after the murders Agnes Glin, Einar’s twenty-seven-year-old granddaughter arrives in Iceland hoping to clear her late grandfather’s name. As the fortieth anniversary of the murders approaches True Crime podcaster Nora Carver has decided to feature “The Frozen Madonna case” and is happy to have secured Agnes’s participation. Agnes has been struggling with an injury and the grief of losing her dear grandfather one year ago and hopes to find out more about the case and her family history. Growing up the events that transpired in Iceland were rarely mentioned and she has to rely on existing records and the memories of those who knew her parents (most of whom remain convinced of Einar’s guilt) to piece together what happened all those years ago and unravel the mystery behind the unsolved murders. Locals maintained a bizarre fascination with the case of “the Frozen Madonna and Child ” and the “Bifröst Murder House” (Agnes’s family home) which has been kept in its original state by the new owner. Complicating matters further is the fact that a young university student was reported missing after attending a party at the same venue.
Could there be a connection between the events of the past and the disappearance of the young girl? Is the true murderer still at large? How dependable are the recollections of those who knew the family? Will Agnes find what she is looking for, and if so, at what cost to her own well-being?
"Memories change every time we access them."
Atmospheric and intriguing, The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a well-crafted mystery that will keep you hooked until the very last page. The author does a brilliant job of setting the scene, with vivid descriptions of the icy landscape and the family home, transporting you to Iceland with Agnes. The narrative is presented, for the most part from Agnes’s perspective and follows her as she braves the icy weather, struggles with her own opioid addiction and tries to get to the truth behind the murders of her grandmother and aunt. The pace is on the slower side, but this works for the book, contributing to the atmospheric and suspenseful tone and allowing us to get to know the characters. Most of the past events are presented as recollections of the family’s friends and neighbors and while not all can be trusted , I thought the author does a great job of establishing the possible suspects and motives in this manner. The present-day mystery is comparatively more straightforward but cleverly crafted. The author does a skillful job of weaving the different threads of the novel into an absorbing narrative and I liked how the subplots converge as the truth is revealed. The author strikes a perfect balance between the plot-driven and character-driven elements of the novel. It was heartening to see Agnes’s faith in the innocence of the man who helped raise her and the author has depicted Agnes’s inner dilemma and how she faces her own demons in the process of revisiting her family history. A running theme in this novel is how true crime is sensationalized, often at a great emotional cost to those who are personally affected by the same. There were a few moments and revelations toward the end that felt a tad rushed, but overall, I found this novel to be a gripping read and was invested in Agnes's journey.
This was my first time reading this author and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press /Minotaur Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
“Most people approach cold cases with the mindset that there is one simple answer, just waiting to be uncovered. But life isn’t so simple. We all carry our own individual truths, our own stories, our own reasonings for our actions. No one wants to be the bad guy, and so we distort facts to suit our images of ourselves, and we do this so often that eventually, the lie becomes the truth.”
Forty years ago, university professor Einar Pálsson and his nine-year-old son Magnus left their hometown of Bifröst, Iceland for the United States after the gruesome murder of his twenty-six-year-old wife local schoolteacher, Marie and their six-month-old daughter, Agnes. Though he was never formally charged with the murders, friends and neighbors were convinced of his guilt. Forty years after the murders Agnes Glin, Einar’s twenty-seven-year-old granddaughter arrives in Iceland hoping to clear her late grandfather’s name. As the fortieth anniversary of the murders approaches True Crime podcaster Nora Carver has decided to feature “The Frozen Madonna case” and is happy to have secured Agnes’s participation. Agnes has been struggling with an injury and the grief of losing her dear grandfather one year ago and hopes to find out more about the case and her family history. Growing up the events that transpired in Iceland were rarely mentioned and she has to rely on existing records and the memories of those who knew her parents (most of whom remain convinced of Einar’s guilt) to piece together what happened all those years ago and unravel the mystery behind the unsolved murders. Locals maintained a bizarre fascination with the case of “the Frozen Madonna and Child ” and the “Bifröst Murder House” (Agnes’s family home) which has been kept in its original state by the new owner. Complicating matters further is the fact that a young university student was reported missing after attending a party at the same venue.
Could there be a connection between the events of the past and the disappearance of the young girl? Is the true murderer still at large? How dependable are the recollections of those who knew the family? Will Agnes find what she is looking for, and if so, at what cost to her own well-being?
"Memories change every time we access them."
Atmospheric and intriguing, The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a well-crafted mystery that will keep you hooked until the very last page. The author does a brilliant job of setting the scene, with vivid descriptions of the icy landscape and the family home, transporting you to Iceland with Agnes. The narrative is presented, for the most part from Agnes’s perspective and follows her as she braves the icy weather, struggles with her own opioid addiction and tries to get to the truth behind the murders of her grandmother and aunt. The pace is on the slower side, but this works for the book, contributing to the atmospheric and suspenseful tone and allowing us to get to know the characters. Most of the past events are presented as recollections of the family’s friends and neighbors and while not all can be trusted , I thought the author does a great job of establishing the possible suspects and motives in this manner. The present-day mystery is comparatively more straightforward but cleverly crafted. The author does a skillful job of weaving the different threads of the novel into an absorbing narrative and I liked how the subplots converge as the truth is revealed. The author strikes a perfect balance between the plot-driven and character-driven elements of the novel. It was heartening to see Agnes’s faith in the innocence of the man who helped raise her and the author has depicted Agnes’s inner dilemma and how she faces her own demons in the process of revisiting her family history. A running theme in this novel is how true crime is sensationalized, often at a great emotional cost to those who are personally affected by the same. There were a few moments and revelations toward the end that felt a tad rushed, but overall, I found this novel to be a gripping read and was invested in Agnes's journey.
This was my first time reading this author and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press /Minotaur Books for the digital ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Lost House follows Agnes, the granddaughter of a murdered woman from 40 years ago, in which her grandfather was accused of the crime. Agnes has returned to the place where the crime occurred, determined to prove her grandfather’s innocence. Ultimately the crime was never solved, although speculations ran wild. When Agnes comes to investigate, another young lady disappears during that same week. It is hard to believe that this is a coincidence.
Narration for the audiobook was impeccable!
Overall, The Lost House is an enjoyable book if you’re a fan of slow-burn psychological dramas. It was a decent read with moments of suspense and intrigue.
Narration for the audiobook was impeccable!
Overall, The Lost House is an enjoyable book if you’re a fan of slow-burn psychological dramas. It was a decent read with moments of suspense and intrigue.
Stopped at 23% and skipped to 97% to get the end. I can't stand the main character and her opioid addiction. It's too "Girl on the Train" and it distracts from the murder mystery. I just don't care and I don't want to listen to the whining. I want the hunt for the true killer and the hunt for the missing girl.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of this one. Snowy, isolated. A mystery in the past, one in the present. A stuffing narrator. It makes for a good story.
One thing that bugs me is about the phone. We never got an answer about why someone still had it.
I would have liked to see more between Agnes and Nora at the end. Sometimes it feels like once the mystery is solved, there’s a rush to end things.
One thing that bugs me is about the phone. We never got an answer about why someone still had it.
I would have liked to see more between Agnes and Nora at the end. Sometimes it feels like once the mystery is solved, there’s a rush to end things.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Lost House is not a psychological thriller, but it contains earmarks of one. The writing is very atmospheric – the story takes place in Iceland in the winter months, and the author very much sets the stage for cold and dark so that a dark chill is ever present as you read. There are secrets within secrets in this little Icelandic town. Almost no one is exactly as they seem, including protagonist Agnes.
I will admit that I found Agnes wholly self-absorbed and difficult to like. It’s a struggle to warm up to this character, but that feels deliberate on the author’s part. The reader gains some insight into Agnes as the book goes along, and events that transpire in the book itself do set her on a path that seems, by the book’s conclusion, to be leading toward greater maturity. Of the entire cast of characters, the most sympathetic is Nora, who is a pivotal character but not the main protagonist. The remainder are much like the land itself – unfamiliar and vaguely threatening, even when not actively hostile – which, again, feels deliberate on the author’s part.
I can’t say that there are a lot of unexpected twists here, but I’m not sure there are supposed to be. The entire book feels as though the reader is supposed to know something the characters themselves have yet to learn, so it is entirely unsurprising when you’ve figured out what actually happened well before Agnes does.Not everything is revealed to the reader; enough is left unclear that as the story nears the end and the climax unfolds, it keeps your interest.
I’m not generally a fan of atmospheric thrillers. It’s for this reason that authors like Jo Nesbo leave me cold (pun fully intended). But The Lost House combines fast pacing and a noir atmosphere that manages to hook and keep your attention and it’s an absorbing read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated