Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
The Lost House moved at a slow pace in the beginning, but finished like a blizzard. A broken girl goes to meet a Podcaster in Iceland to reopen her grandmother's murder. Everyone in town thinks her grandfather did it, including her own father. On the 40th anniversary, another young woman disappears. A novel on grief, trust issues, and family bonds. 4 stars.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t hold my interest. While I loved the harsh Icelandic setting and the podcast elements, I felt like this story was a bit too slow to hold my interest. Saskia Maarleveld is an excellent narrator, but we spend a lot of time in Agnes’s head. And I just felt the lolls in pacing to be too much.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t hold my interest. While I loved the harsh Icelandic setting and the podcast elements, I felt like this story was a bit too slow to hold my interest. Saskia Maarleveld is an excellent narrator, but we spend a lot of time in Agnes’s head. And I just felt the lolls in pacing to be too much.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had a lot of high hopes for this book since it was taking a true crime podcast point of view of a cold case in Iceland. But in the end, the podcast storyline became a side story the personal struggles of the main character, Agnes. Agnes's story was kind of boring to me and just dragged out! The twist was ok but kind of saw it coming.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was well done.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was well done.
This story is going to throw you in for a crazy ride. When Agnes goes to Iceland to be interviewed, she never expects her whole life to be turned upside down. I was a bit confused trying to keep track of the introduced characters. The storytelling was great, and I enjoyed learning little bits of the culture and how people did things in the small town. There were some pretty intense moments in the story where you don't know what direction things will go.
Thanks to the publisher, Net Galley, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC!!
Thanks to the publisher, Net Galley, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC!!
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Dementia
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks Netgalley and Minotaur for my advanced copy.
THE LOST HOUSE by Melissa Larsen drew me in with its synopsis and setting in Iceland. The story started out very strong and had me hooked early on, but I felt that it slowed down in the middle before picking up speed in the last 15%.
Our characters are hard to root for, but I think that is the author’s goal. I have no problem reading a book centered around unlikeable characters, but if you do, this probably isn’t the book for you. There didn’t seem to be a lot of substantial growth in our characters but Larsen definitely crafted characters that perpetuated the uncertainty around who our culprit was. Our main character was a fantastic unreliable narrator in a way that progressed the plot forward.
Up until the end, I truly wasn’t sure who our murderer was and even after the reveal I found myself questioning.
Overall, if you’re looking for an atmospheric, winter read, then I recommend giving THE LOST HOUSE a try!
THE LOST HOUSE by Melissa Larsen drew me in with its synopsis and setting in Iceland. The story started out very strong and had me hooked early on, but I felt that it slowed down in the middle before picking up speed in the last 15%.
Our characters are hard to root for, but I think that is the author’s goal. I have no problem reading a book centered around unlikeable characters, but if you do, this probably isn’t the book for you. There didn’t seem to be a lot of substantial growth in our characters but Larsen definitely crafted characters that perpetuated the uncertainty around who our culprit was. Our main character was a fantastic unreliable narrator in a way that progressed the plot forward.
Up until the end, I truly wasn’t sure who our murderer was and even after the reveal I found myself questioning.
Overall, if you’re looking for an atmospheric, winter read, then I recommend giving THE LOST HOUSE a try!
Agnes has just lost her grandfather, has a difficult relationship with her father, recently broke up with her girlfriend and still recovering from a horrific accident she has become addicted to pain killers.
Traveling to Iceland against her father's wishes Agnes decide to participate in a podcast focusing on the cold case of her grandmother and Aunt's murder. Everyone in the small town she is from believes her grandfather murdered his wife and baby daughter but Agnes doesn't believe he was capable of it and is determined to find the truth.
This is well done mystery set in a remote location in a small town. All evidence points one way but Agnes has a feeling the new case and the old case may be connected. I found the book very readable and switched over to the audio for the second half and found the narrator to be engaging. This is more the slower, darker pace of a nordic thriller than the typical mystery. But I'm a huge Scandi Noir fan so it was perfect. Great way to start the year.
Traveling to Iceland against her father's wishes Agnes decide to participate in a podcast focusing on the cold case of her grandmother and Aunt's murder. Everyone in the small town she is from believes her grandfather murdered his wife and baby daughter but Agnes doesn't believe he was capable of it and is determined to find the truth.
This is well done mystery set in a remote location in a small town. All evidence points one way but Agnes has a feeling the new case and the old case may be connected. I found the book very readable and switched over to the audio for the second half and found the narrator to be engaging. This is more the slower, darker pace of a nordic thriller than the typical mystery. But I'm a huge Scandi Noir fan so it was perfect. Great way to start the year.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced