The Lost House

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Agnes just landed in Iceland to visit the town her father is from.  She’s never been here before, but an invitation to visit from a true crime podcaster was too good to pass up.  The podcaster is investigating the unsolved murder of Agnes’ grandmother and aunt decades before – a crime her beloved grandfather was accused of before moving with his young son to America.  Agnes is hoping to learn more about her roots and the history her father wouldn’t discuss while helping the podcaster investigate, but arrives to find a town engrossed in a search for another woman missing from the same home her family used to live it.  Is it just a coincidence, or does her grandmother’s murder have a connection to this latest disappearance?

The Lost House is the sophomore release from acclaimed thriller author Melissa Larsen.  With strong female characters, the author delivers a setting where both a language barrier and the weather also become characters in the plot.  What starts as almost a coming-of-age story, turns into a domestic thriller with a story as powerful as some of the greats like the Marc Cameron or John Sandford.  This is a book about trusting yourself and learning not to believe in first impressions.

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I give The Lost House 5 out of 5 stars.  Thrillers like this aren’t usually my first choice, but this was a fantastic read!  Larsen knows how to make a scene leap off the page.  The author built great characters and layered in plot points and relationships in a way that kept me guessing until the end!  I appreciate the family dynamics throughout the novel and the way the author closed the loop with Agnes’ family journey at the end.  I will say the romantic relationships in the novel felt slightly out of place and developed on too quick of a timeline.  But given that the characters are part of a rave and drug scene, I can understand the quick hookup and development.

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With themes of murder, assault, and sex, this book would be best directed to more mature readers over 16.  While classed as a thriller or suspense novel, this book is suitable for readers of other genres.  With the turn of cooler weather, this novel feels like a great fit for getting in the cold weather mood!

I was excited to be asked to review The Lost House by the publisher and NetGalley.  This is not a book I would have selected on my own, but I’m so happy I took the chance to read this!  The further I got into the book, the more I didn’t want to put it down.  I found myself recommending this to friends before I had even finished it.

The Lost House will hit shelves January 14^th, but you can preorder your copy today in our Bookshop.org store!

 

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: Virgin River, Robyn Carr
• Current audio book: James Monroe: A republican champion, Brook Poston
• Book I’m most looking forward to: The Cold Dish, Craig Johnson