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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this Nordic noir thriller! The author did an excellent job building the atmosphere - I could feel the icy cold and snowy conditions of Iceland while reading it! Not a super twisty read, but it still kept my interest. đ
The FMC was not one of my favorites thoughâŚnot a very likable character to me. There also were a couple of things that I felt werenât answered. đ¤ Not saying any more, because that would be a spoiler! đ đźââď¸
Overall I would still recommend checking this one out, especially if you enjoy Nordic noir!! đ
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martinâs Press, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! â¤ď¸
The FMC was not one of my favorites thoughâŚnot a very likable character to me. There also were a couple of things that I felt werenât answered. đ¤ Not saying any more, because that would be a spoiler! đ đźââď¸
Overall I would still recommend checking this one out, especially if you enjoy Nordic noir!! đ
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martinâs Press, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! â¤ď¸
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
This one grows on us.
A great Sunday whodunit murder mystery with a main character who needs help on many levels. Going back to Ireland to participate in a podcast about her grandfather, by doing so, she will discover more about the truth about her grandmother's death, about herself, and even some love interests. When she arrives in Iceland, a young woman disappears, and she ends up helping with that mystery as well. It made a great, relaxing mystery read.
A great Sunday whodunit murder mystery with a main character who needs help on many levels. Going back to Ireland to participate in a podcast about her grandfather, by doing so, she will discover more about the truth about her grandmother's death, about herself, and even some love interests. When she arrives in Iceland, a young woman disappears, and she ends up helping with that mystery as well. It made a great, relaxing mystery read.
January always means itâs time for me to hunker down with a spine-chilling thriller, preferably one with an atmosphere to match the dreary weather. Melissa Larsenâs THE LOST HOUSE is just the ticket, with an Icelandic twist to boot! Forty years ago, a woman and her baby daughter were found slaughtered in the snow outside their house in rural BifrĂśst, Iceland. No one was ever arrested for the heinous crime, but locals are certain of the husbandâs guilt: after all, he did pack up his small son and flee to California. Agnes, grieving her beloved grandfather and desperate to clear his name, agrees to take part in Nora Carverâs popular true crime podcast, which is investigating âthe Frozen Madonna,â also known as Agnesâs grandmother. When a local girl goes missing just as Agnes arrives, the cold case investigation suddenly gets a lot warmer, and Agnes is pushed to her limits. THE LOST HOUSE is moving and mysterious, with a fascinating cast of characters and an intriguing plot that will keep you guessing.
In THE LOST HOUSE Agnes Glin leaves her job as a software coder in California to visit Nora Carver in Iceland and engage in Noraâs true-crime podcast, The End. The new seasonâs podcast is entitled âthe Frozen Madonnaâ and deals with the death of Agnesâs grandmother and aunt. I want to know more about Agnes, her family, and the deaths.
I find the beginning of this book difficult to read. After the confusion settles, I get to know Agnesâs family. The cold case is warmed up and details are revealed. Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of THE LOST HOUSE.
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
This book starts out slow and never really gets going enough to interest me. I was looking forward to it based on the description and thought it would be the perfect chilling read for a cold winter night but I was bored from the prologue on.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Forty years ago a young woman and a baby girl were murdered and left in the snowy, cold terrain of Bifrost, Iceland. That woman was Agnes' grandmother and that baby was her aunt. Although never convicted, only questioned, Agnes's grandfather was considered guilty through the rumor mill of the town and later through podcasts and unsolved crime enthusiasts. Yet, having moved to the faraway USA, Agnes's distant father allowed Agnes to spend time with her grandfather, a man suspected of murdering his wife and child.
Now Agnes' grandfather has died, she's struggling to recover from a serious leg injury, she's just come out of a failed long term relationship, and solving the murders of her grandmother and aunt is the escape that Agnes needs. The fact that means traveling to faraway Iceland is the icing on the cake. True crime expert Nora Carver, a woman investigating the murders, is already there, with a place for Agnes to stay and a willing ear if Agnes is willing to talk about what she knows about her grandfather, father, and their past.
I am fortunate to have both the ebook and the audiobook so I could listen to the audio will seeing so many words and names that are strange to me. I couldn't begin to guess how the words were pronounced and I wouldn't be able to spell them if I just heard them. Getting to see and hear them at the same time made the story feel more real. Saskia Maarleveld narrates and her voice is great for this story of a place and people that are matter of fact, mostly saying much less than what they mean, and with a somber mood of mistrust and suspicion of this granddaughter of a "murderer" coming into their midst.
The atmosphere is extremely chilly in so many ways, an exterior that can kill in minutes, and a main character that is struggling mentally, emotionally, and physically. What is she even doing here, she asks herself. How has she destroyed her life so completely. Her injury sidelined her in so many ways and left her addicted to the very meds that allowed her to make it through numerous surgeries. Can she become a new person just because she ran away from where she just came from?
There is a sense of danger from the outset. Afterall, if her grandfather didn't kill her grandmother and aunt, could the killer still be in or near Bilfrost? Rushing headlong into unwise situations, Agnes taunts the past, hoping to draw it out but not really knowing what she'll do with what what she learns. I could feel the cold through this story and was so glad to not be in this place although I love reading stories in such locations.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Forty years ago a young woman and a baby girl were murdered and left in the snowy, cold terrain of Bifrost, Iceland. That woman was Agnes' grandmother and that baby was her aunt. Although never convicted, only questioned, Agnes's grandfather was considered guilty through the rumor mill of the town and later through podcasts and unsolved crime enthusiasts. Yet, having moved to the faraway USA, Agnes's distant father allowed Agnes to spend time with her grandfather, a man suspected of murdering his wife and child.
Now Agnes' grandfather has died, she's struggling to recover from a serious leg injury, she's just come out of a failed long term relationship, and solving the murders of her grandmother and aunt is the escape that Agnes needs. The fact that means traveling to faraway Iceland is the icing on the cake. True crime expert Nora Carver, a woman investigating the murders, is already there, with a place for Agnes to stay and a willing ear if Agnes is willing to talk about what she knows about her grandfather, father, and their past.
I am fortunate to have both the ebook and the audiobook so I could listen to the audio will seeing so many words and names that are strange to me. I couldn't begin to guess how the words were pronounced and I wouldn't be able to spell them if I just heard them. Getting to see and hear them at the same time made the story feel more real. Saskia Maarleveld narrates and her voice is great for this story of a place and people that are matter of fact, mostly saying much less than what they mean, and with a somber mood of mistrust and suspicion of this granddaughter of a "murderer" coming into their midst.
The atmosphere is extremely chilly in so many ways, an exterior that can kill in minutes, and a main character that is struggling mentally, emotionally, and physically. What is she even doing here, she asks herself. How has she destroyed her life so completely. Her injury sidelined her in so many ways and left her addicted to the very meds that allowed her to make it through numerous surgeries. Can she become a new person just because she ran away from where she just came from?
There is a sense of danger from the outset. Afterall, if her grandfather didn't kill her grandmother and aunt, could the killer still be in or near Bilfrost? Rushing headlong into unwise situations, Agnes taunts the past, hoping to draw it out but not really knowing what she'll do with what what she learns. I could feel the cold through this story and was so glad to not be in this place although I love reading stories in such locations.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.
emotional
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
I enjoyed this true crime podcast novel that is set in Iceland and looks into the cold case of a murdered mother and baby. The story is a slow burn told from multiple POVs. The writing is atmospheric and really pulls at the heart strings as the murdered womanâs granddaughter grapples with being in her familyâs home town for the first time.
Iâm now going to go back to read Larsenâs debut novel, Shutter and I look forward to her future books!
Iâm now going to go back to read Larsenâs debut novel, Shutter and I look forward to her future books!
*Note: I received an audio ARC through NetGalley, and Iâm incredibly grateful to both the author and the publisher for the opportunity. This is an honest review.
Wow. Just wow. This book exceeded all of my expectations.
I picked this title because I enjoy mystery books in general. I didnât know much about the author or the plot beforehand, but the synopsis seemed intriguing, especially with its Icelandic setting, which felt perfect for a winter read. To my surprise, this book checked so many boxes of things I love in fiction that I could hardly believe it!
The story follows a relatable young female protagonist who is grappling with loss, a recent separation, depression and the aftermath of an accident that left her with a shattered leg a year prior to the events of the book. She feels empty and adrift, until she is contacted by the creator of a popular true crime podcast who is interested in doing a special episode in Iceland, tied to her family and the unsolved murder of her grandmother nearly forty years ago. While most people in the town believe her grandfather was the killer âand thatâs why he fled the countryâ our protagonist is convinced thatâs not the case. So she sets out to uncover the truth about what happened long before she was even born and to clear her grandfather´s name!
When she arrives in Iceland, weâre introduced to a fascinating cast of characters, and we learn that a young woman has recently gone missing. The protagonist finds herself inadvertently involved in two parallel investigations that seem to be linked in unexpected ways.
I wonât delve deeper into the plot. You can read the synopsis and discover the details for yourself (and I highly recommend you do), but I want to highlight one of the bookâs most refreshing aspects: the natural, non-romantic portrayal of queer and sapphic characters. Their sexualities are just one part of who they are, not the focal point of the story, and are presented as casually as other personal traits, like hair color or coffee preferences. This inclusive, matter-of-fact representation is something we need more of in fiction, particularly outside the confines of romance. The charactersâ relationships, whether they involve a partner or not, donât define them or their role in the story. It was a thoughtful and meaningful touch that added so much depth to the book. I did not expect to find myself represented in this story⌠until I did, with one of the side characters.
As for the mystery itself, while itâs not entirely unique, itâs still compelling and filled with intriguing twists. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is excellent, and the resolution is satisfying. If I had one minor critique, it would be the inclusion of a few scenes from the past. These flashbacks, though few, felt somewhat out of place and unnecessary. But aside from that, this is a top-notch mystery/thriller.
And I would love to see Nora (the podcast host) become the anchor for creating more mysteries in a longer series of books in the future. I feel that, as a character, she had a lot of missed potential in this book. She also has her own story to tell at another time. Can this become book #1 in the Nora Mysteries Saga? Please?
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of the genre. Itâs an engaging, well-crafted story that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Wow. Just wow. This book exceeded all of my expectations.
I picked this title because I enjoy mystery books in general. I didnât know much about the author or the plot beforehand, but the synopsis seemed intriguing, especially with its Icelandic setting, which felt perfect for a winter read. To my surprise, this book checked so many boxes of things I love in fiction that I could hardly believe it!
The story follows a relatable young female protagonist who is grappling with loss, a recent separation, depression and the aftermath of an accident that left her with a shattered leg a year prior to the events of the book. She feels empty and adrift, until she is contacted by the creator of a popular true crime podcast who is interested in doing a special episode in Iceland, tied to her family and the unsolved murder of her grandmother nearly forty years ago. While most people in the town believe her grandfather was the killer âand thatâs why he fled the countryâ our protagonist is convinced thatâs not the case. So she sets out to uncover the truth about what happened long before she was even born and to clear her grandfather´s name!
When she arrives in Iceland, weâre introduced to a fascinating cast of characters, and we learn that a young woman has recently gone missing. The protagonist finds herself inadvertently involved in two parallel investigations that seem to be linked in unexpected ways.
I wonât delve deeper into the plot. You can read the synopsis and discover the details for yourself (and I highly recommend you do), but I want to highlight one of the bookâs most refreshing aspects: the natural, non-romantic portrayal of queer and sapphic characters. Their sexualities are just one part of who they are, not the focal point of the story, and are presented as casually as other personal traits, like hair color or coffee preferences. This inclusive, matter-of-fact representation is something we need more of in fiction, particularly outside the confines of romance. The charactersâ relationships, whether they involve a partner or not, donât define them or their role in the story. It was a thoughtful and meaningful touch that added so much depth to the book. I did not expect to find myself represented in this story⌠until I did, with one of the side characters.
As for the mystery itself, while itâs not entirely unique, itâs still compelling and filled with intriguing twists. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is excellent, and the resolution is satisfying. If I had one minor critique, it would be the inclusion of a few scenes from the past. These flashbacks, though few, felt somewhat out of place and unnecessary. But aside from that, this is a top-notch mystery/thriller.
And I would love to see Nora (the podcast host) become the anchor for creating more mysteries in a longer series of books in the future. I feel that, as a character, she had a lot of missed potential in this book. She also has her own story to tell at another time. Can this become book #1 in the Nora Mysteries Saga? Please?
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of the genre. Itâs an engaging, well-crafted story that will keep you hooked from start to finish.