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A review by uutopicaa
The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
4.0
*Note: I received an audio ARC through NetGalley, and I’m incredibly grateful to both the author and the publisher for the opportunity. This is an honest review.
Wow. Just wow. This book exceeded all of my expectations.
I picked this title because I enjoy mystery books in general. I didn’t know much about the author or the plot beforehand, but the synopsis seemed intriguing, especially with its Icelandic setting, which felt perfect for a winter read. To my surprise, this book checked so many boxes of things I love in fiction that I could hardly believe it!
The story follows a relatable young female protagonist who is grappling with loss, a recent separation, depression and the aftermath of an accident that left her with a shattered leg a year prior to the events of the book. She feels empty and adrift, until she is contacted by the creator of a popular true crime podcast who is interested in doing a special episode in Iceland, tied to her family and the unsolved murder of her grandmother nearly forty years ago. While most people in the town believe her grandfather was the killer —and that’s why he fled the country— our protagonist is convinced that’s not the case. So she sets out to uncover the truth about what happened long before she was even born and to clear her grandfather´s name!
When she arrives in Iceland, we’re introduced to a fascinating cast of characters, and we learn that a young woman has recently gone missing. The protagonist finds herself inadvertently involved in two parallel investigations that seem to be linked in unexpected ways.
I won’t delve deeper into the plot. You can read the synopsis and discover the details for yourself (and I highly recommend you do), but I want to highlight one of the book’s most refreshing aspects: the natural, non-romantic portrayal of queer and sapphic characters. Their sexualities are just one part of who they are, not the focal point of the story, and are presented as casually as other personal traits, like hair color or coffee preferences. This inclusive, matter-of-fact representation is something we need more of in fiction, particularly outside the confines of romance. The characters’ relationships, whether they involve a partner or not, don’t define them or their role in the story. It was a thoughtful and meaningful touch that added so much depth to the book. I did not expect to find myself represented in this story… until I did, with one of the side characters.
As for the mystery itself, while it’s not entirely unique, it’s still compelling and filled with intriguing twists. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is excellent, and the resolution is satisfying. If I had one minor critique, it would be the inclusion of a few scenes from the past. These flashbacks, though few, felt somewhat out of place and unnecessary. But aside from that, this is a top-notch mystery/thriller.
And I would love to see Nora (the podcast host) become the anchor for creating more mysteries in a longer series of books in the future. I feel that, as a character, she had a lot of missed potential in this book. She also has her own story to tell at another time. Can this become book #1 in the Nora Mysteries Saga? Please?
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of the genre. It’s an engaging, well-crafted story that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Wow. Just wow. This book exceeded all of my expectations.
I picked this title because I enjoy mystery books in general. I didn’t know much about the author or the plot beforehand, but the synopsis seemed intriguing, especially with its Icelandic setting, which felt perfect for a winter read. To my surprise, this book checked so many boxes of things I love in fiction that I could hardly believe it!
The story follows a relatable young female protagonist who is grappling with loss, a recent separation, depression and the aftermath of an accident that left her with a shattered leg a year prior to the events of the book. She feels empty and adrift, until she is contacted by the creator of a popular true crime podcast who is interested in doing a special episode in Iceland, tied to her family and the unsolved murder of her grandmother nearly forty years ago. While most people in the town believe her grandfather was the killer —and that’s why he fled the country— our protagonist is convinced that’s not the case. So she sets out to uncover the truth about what happened long before she was even born and to clear her grandfather´s name!
When she arrives in Iceland, we’re introduced to a fascinating cast of characters, and we learn that a young woman has recently gone missing. The protagonist finds herself inadvertently involved in two parallel investigations that seem to be linked in unexpected ways.
I won’t delve deeper into the plot. You can read the synopsis and discover the details for yourself (and I highly recommend you do), but I want to highlight one of the book’s most refreshing aspects: the natural, non-romantic portrayal of queer and sapphic characters. Their sexualities are just one part of who they are, not the focal point of the story, and are presented as casually as other personal traits, like hair color or coffee preferences. This inclusive, matter-of-fact representation is something we need more of in fiction, particularly outside the confines of romance. The characters’ relationships, whether they involve a partner or not, don’t define them or their role in the story. It was a thoughtful and meaningful touch that added so much depth to the book. I did not expect to find myself represented in this story… until I did, with one of the side characters.
As for the mystery itself, while it’s not entirely unique, it’s still compelling and filled with intriguing twists. The characters are well-developed, the pacing is excellent, and the resolution is satisfying. If I had one minor critique, it would be the inclusion of a few scenes from the past. These flashbacks, though few, felt somewhat out of place and unnecessary. But aside from that, this is a top-notch mystery/thriller.
And I would love to see Nora (the podcast host) become the anchor for creating more mysteries in a longer series of books in the future. I feel that, as a character, she had a lot of missed potential in this book. She also has her own story to tell at another time. Can this become book #1 in the Nora Mysteries Saga? Please?
I would highly recommend this book to any fan of the genre. It’s an engaging, well-crafted story that will keep you hooked from start to finish.