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A review by ashbydodd
The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
The Lost House by Melissa Larsen is a mystery set against Iceland's breathtaking, otherworldly backdrop—at first, I thought, sign me up! But while the premise was intriguing and the writing was good, the story itself didn't quite pull me in the way I'd hoped.
The plot follows Agnes, who travels to Iceland to meet with a true crime podcaster about her grandfather, who is suspected of murdering her aunt and cousin. Agnes is determined to clear his name. But things take a turn when, during her stay in the small town where her father and grandfather once lived, a girl goes missing. Everyone becomes a suspect, and Agnes is tasked with uncovering her family's past and a new mystery.
The setup is fantastic: a podcaster revisiting a cold case, family secrets, and suspicious small-town locals. Plus, the beautiful Icelandic landscape is the story's backdrop. I've been drawn to Iceland for years and was thrilled at the idea of losing myself in a story set in its unique landscape. Larsen did a solid job describing the scenery—it felt icy, remote, and mysterious, a perfect match for the book's tone.
But for reasons I can't put my finger on, the book never quite sucked me in. The writing is well-crafted, and the plot is clearly thought out, but it lacks the kind of magnetism that makes it impossible to put the book down. It's not bad by any means—just not my favorite.
That said, I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. If you're a fan of Iceland or enjoy slow-burn mysteries, this might be the book for you.
Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you're a mystery lover with a soft spot for Iceland. Even though it didn't quite hit the mark for me, that doesn't mean it won't for you. Sometimes, it's all about the right book at the right time—and for all its atmosphere and intrigue, The Lost House still deserves a shot.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The plot follows Agnes, who travels to Iceland to meet with a true crime podcaster about her grandfather, who is suspected of murdering her aunt and cousin. Agnes is determined to clear his name. But things take a turn when, during her stay in the small town where her father and grandfather once lived, a girl goes missing. Everyone becomes a suspect, and Agnes is tasked with uncovering her family's past and a new mystery.
The setup is fantastic: a podcaster revisiting a cold case, family secrets, and suspicious small-town locals. Plus, the beautiful Icelandic landscape is the story's backdrop. I've been drawn to Iceland for years and was thrilled at the idea of losing myself in a story set in its unique landscape. Larsen did a solid job describing the scenery—it felt icy, remote, and mysterious, a perfect match for the book's tone.
But for reasons I can't put my finger on, the book never quite sucked me in. The writing is well-crafted, and the plot is clearly thought out, but it lacks the kind of magnetism that makes it impossible to put the book down. It's not bad by any means—just not my favorite.
That said, I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. If you're a fan of Iceland or enjoy slow-burn mysteries, this might be the book for you.
Would I recommend it? Sure, especially if you're a mystery lover with a soft spot for Iceland. Even though it didn't quite hit the mark for me, that doesn't mean it won't for you. Sometimes, it's all about the right book at the right time—and for all its atmosphere and intrigue, The Lost House still deserves a shot.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.