The Lost House

A Novel

By: Melissa Larsen

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

“Narrator Saskia Maarleveld creates a voice that is both determined and fragile.”—AudioFile

In Melissa Larsen's The Lost House comes the mesmerizing story of a young woman with a haunting past who returns to her ancestral home in Iceland to investigate a gruesome murder in her family.

Forty years ago, a young woman and her infant daughter were found buried in the cold Icelandic snow, lying together as peacefully as though sleeping. Except the mother’s throat had been slashed and the infant drowned. The case was never solved. There were no arrests, no conviction. Just a suspicion turned into a certainty: the husband did it. When he took his son and fled halfway across the world to California, it was proof enough of his guilt.

Now, nearly half a century later and a year after his death, his granddaughter, Agnes, is ready to clear her grandfather’s name once and for all. Still recovering from his death and a devastating injury, Agnes wants nothing more than an excuse to escape the shambles of her once-stable life—which is why she so readily accepts true crime expert Nora Carver’s invitation to be interviewed for her popular podcast. Agnes packs a bag and hops on a last-minute flight to the remote town of Bifröst, Iceland, where Nora is staying, where Agnes’s father grew up, and where, supposedly, her grandfather slaughtered his wife and infant daughter.

Is it merely coincidence that a local girl goes missing the very same weekend Agnes arrives? Suddenly, Agnes and Nora’s investigation is turned upside down, and everyone in the small Icelandic town is once again a suspect. Seeking to unearth old and new truths alike, Agnes finds herself drawn into a web of secrets that threaten the redemption she is hell-bent on delivering, and even her life—discovering how far a person will go to protect their family, their safety, and their secrets.

Set against an unforgiving Icelandic winter landscape, The Lost House is a chilling and razor-sharp mystery packed with jaw-dropping twists that will leave you breathless.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.

moody and transportative

The Lost House by @melissalarsenauthor is the perfect moody thriller to read during a blizzard, under your soft, cozy blanket. The story takes place over two timelines, in a small town in Iceland. The wintery landscape adds so much to the story. This is one of those books that fully transports the reader to another place, and the atmospheric vibes almost take on the roll of a character.

Forty years ago a mother and her baby are found dead in the snow, and her husband is the primary suspect. He leaves the island, and for four decades the community has taken it as proof of his guilt.

But now his granddaughter, Agnes, is visiting the community and desires to clear his name. But she may be learning that the grandpa she adored is actually a murderer. When another young woman goes missing, Agnes becomes embroiled in the hunt.

This isn't a fast-paced and twisty book. It is slower and quieter, which allows the author to develop the setting and create a moody noir novel.

Lengthy but Good

The Lost House is lengthy with some parts of the story that could have been cut or at least shortened. I lost interest in these moments. Overall though I enjoyed the story and the Icelandic setting.

Great narration!

I could listen to Saskia Maarleveld read a phone book. This book was not a far cry from one. The last hour is good, the part before that is quite a slog.

Long and overdrawn

The narrator was good. The story was bland, the writing was bland, the characters were bland and underdeveloped. Wouldn't recommend

Wow! Amazing narration and gripping story

Being a second generation Icelandic American I thought accents were excellent
The story was so well written—
The worst days of our lives and those decisions Shld not define us