Hazel is a young PI and is tasked with finding a missing girl from a children's home. Hazel starts uncovering more and more secrets and you can't stop reading to find out what the truth is. The ending is just wow. I can't wait to read the second book The Red Letter.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

Okay, look. Is this the best thriller to have ever been written? NO. But was it fun to read? YES!

This book did a great job leading you down several twists and turns, making you think you have an idea of who did it but not piecing it together until the end. I had an idea of what was happening, and where it would be heading, but everytime I got close, they added in a new mystery. However, you don't have the rug pulled out for you in the end, you piece it together about 50% of the way through the book.

Lost a star because men cannot write women, and this book is no exception.

The mystery had potential, but it relied a little too hard on happy coincidences. Like… more than 20 years and no one figured this out? 5 private investigators, police and they are all useless? Really? Hazel practically got a cheat code from Mia’s roommate—“Here’s a key, a map, and maybe a flashlight for the vibes.” And she still nearly bumbled it. For a private investigator, her intuition is about as sharp as a spoon. Good pacing, interesting setup, but the plot logic needed a bit more... detective work.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

Private Investigator Hazel Cho Has just had a nasty confrontation with one of clients, when in walks Madeline Hensley. Her life immediately changes when Madeline demands her help in finding her goddaughter Mia. Mia went missing six months ago from Saint Agnes Children's Home.
Madeline offers Hazel a car and all expenses. If she succeeds in finding Mia by the end of the following week, she will pay her one hundred thousand dollars.Motivated by this offer, Hazel says a reluctant YES!
The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller is one of the best "whodunit" psychological thrillers I have read in a long time!!!

I wanted to love this and the idea was good, but it wasn’t executed the best. I knew who it was from the beginning, and I’d rather be shocked by the twists.

The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hazel's PI business is failing and she's broke, wondering what she is going to do next. Just when hope is lost she is approached by Madeline a very wealthy woman asking for help. Hazel doesn't hesitate, she jumps at the opportunity.

Madeline's granddaughter Mia goes missing from Saint Agnes home and school for orphans. Hazel herself in deep with the mystery of the disappearing girls.

The mystery of it all will have your heart pumping out of your chest right to the end. Leaving you stunned. Will Hazel get her self out safely? Will she find the missing girl?

Pick up your copy today to get answers to these questions and many more. I'm excited to read more in this series as well as works of Daniel Miller, as this is the first book I've read from him.

Thank you Netgallery and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy.

Enjoyed it! It took a while to start going, but once I was into it it was good. There wasn't a ton that made me go WOW, but I will definitely continue reading this series

Hazel Cho is barely hanging on. She's broke and her PI business is about to go under. When a wealthy woman hires her to find her goddaughter, Hazel jumps on the case. But the more she investigates, the deeper this mystery goes. How far is Hazel willing to go?
I really enjoyed this book. Hazel is a great character and I couldn't help rooting for her. I did figure out a major plot point early on, but it in no way interfered with my enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Fast-paced mystery with great supping characters.
Hazel is a broke private investigator in NYC, trying to get by and help others.
When Mia Ross goes missing from the prestigious Saint Agnes home and school for orphans, her godmother, Madeline, is the only person looking for answers. Hazel is the latest PI hired by Madeline, and is on a tight schedule. She is also the only person seemingly committed to finding out what happened to Mia. Does Mia's disappearance have anything to do with the other missing girls over the last 25 years? Hazel is determined to solve this case for more than just the money.

There were some heart-pumping moments in this book—especially the ending—but at times it felt like a bit of a drag. A lot of characters played roles in the thriller, which definitely led me down a few “whodunit” paths, but the reveal ended up being pretty obvious.

All in all, it was a decent read, but I didn’t really connect with the writing style, so I probably won’t continue with the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! The cover was definitely 5 stars—it’s what drew me to request this book in the first place.

5 Stars – A Beautifully Written, Heartfelt Journey

Orphanage at the Lake is the kind of story that lingers long after the final page. Daniel G. Miller delivers an emotionally rich and deeply human narrative that had me completely captivated. The characters are so vividly drawn, I felt like I knew them personally—and their struggles, heartaches, and triumphs touched me in a way few books have.

The pacing is perfectly balanced with moments of quiet reflection and intense emotional beats. Miller’s writing is elegant and sincere, with just the right amount of suspense to keep the pages turning. It’s a story about resilience, love, and the connections that shape who we are—and it’s told with so much heart.

Hazel Cho thinks of herself as a tough, no-nonsense private detective, and she is, to an extent. Having to deal with angry clients who refuse to acknowledge the brutal truth behind the reality Hazel uncovers, living paycheck to paycheck because of a lack of clients due to her gender, and navigating a sticky relationship with a roommate, a cherished friend that would like to be more than friends. One day, a gift seems to drop from thin air; a prospective client comes her way with an offer that is too irresistible to refuse. Madeline Hemsley graces Hazel’s detective agency with a job that requires Hazel to investigate the disappearance of a young girl from St. Agnes Orphanage. If Hazel takes the job, she will be paid an exorbitant amount of money, but along with payment comes a list of guidelines and deadlines Hazel must follow or not get paid. 
Of course, this offer is irresistible to refuse. But immediately, the roadblocks and morsels of truth that arise make this “gift from thin air” seem more like a curse. 
The plot is quick-paced, which definitely helps create suspense, with smidgens of romance interspersed. The author gives us little snippets of Hazel’s back story and her motivation for picking this peculiar line of work. The characters all seem to fulfil a purpose in developing the plot and serve as credible suspects in the mystery. 
The Orphanage by the Lake is a perfect summer mystery to put on your tbr list.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy.

Originally I decided not to give feedback for this book and for the life of me, I can't remember why. I recently received and read The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller, which is the second installment of The Orphanage by the Lake, and loved it so much I re-read this book. I am happy to say I was completely wrong in my dislike of this book and I actually loved it so much the second time around I am confident in giving it a 5/5.

Holly Collins

I absolutely loved this book. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to put it down. I had a feeling I knew who one of the bad guys were, but I was shocked when I found out who they were working with. I highly recommend.

Who in the world let a white man write from the POV of an Asian woman? It made me extremely uncomfortable the entire time. Three stars for an intriguing, though predictable, mystery.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley, for the ARC.

This is a story about a private investigator who in mission of finding a local missing girl. It has a dark vibe to it and small town full of buried secrets. I have to say that author’s writing and eerie situation grabbed me immediately. The beginning of this novel was very strong for me as the mystery was introduced and the how the characters played through in here.

But there was romance in it which was kind of ridiculous and it wasn’t enjoyable at all. It completely took away from the plot. Once this was introduced, the main character then put her main focus on this romance and I found it cringey. Even though The writing still held the attention, the plot lost its grip I think.

In this whirlwind of a book you have Hazel. A private investigator hired to find a missing girl. While she is given an insane deadline to find this girl, she finds herself questioning everything. Who can you trust?

I will say I thought I had the ending figured out, and that this was going to be a predictable thriller I’m happy to say I was wrong! The plot twist at the end really made up for it. However I do feel the ending was rushed. Overall it is a good thriller to pick up as a quick read!

This is a great book! The twists kept me on edge and was hard to put down! I’m thankful to receive a copy from NetGalley. Highly recommend it. 4.5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

This is a dark fast paced well written mystery thriller with good character development which you will find hard to put down. Teenage girls are disappearing from the orphanage and no one seems to care . This until a female private eye is hired by a god mother to find the whereabouts of her god daughter another recently disappeared teenager from the orphanage .
4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Daniel G Miller and Poisoned Pen Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick and mindless read with tons of twists and action. I found it quite a page turner to find out who the guilty party is and I did not see that coming! Solid thriller!