barnes_and_noel 's review for:

The Lost House by Melissa Larsen

3.5

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I was intrigued by this book from the synopsis, but once I started reading, it took a different route than I was expecting.

This was definitely a slower burn mystery, which can be fine, but there were some parts that felt a little too slow for my liking. Agnes, the MC, really had me torn. There were times where I liked her a lot, but then others where her attitude rubbed me the wrong way. However, considering all that she was going through, it does explain some of it.

The setting for the story was one of the things I liked most. The snowy, secluded, woodsy, freezing landscape almost became its own character in a way, and created its own kind of danger. Though the rest of the book was a slower pace, the last 1/4 really kicked it up some notches, and I was turning the pages quickly. I also liked the dual mysteries, and how their stories wove together. This was just twisty enough to keep me guessing until the end. I would’ve liked some more ends tied up, but I think it leaves off in a good place.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.