This was a fun mystery to read. The main character, Hazel Cho, brings humor and spirit to the book while working on a case of a missing teen. Hazel and her roommate Kenny are a fun couple of good friends, I enjoyed ready the food references that Kenny likes to cook and Hazel loves to eat.

She seemed like a realistic person whose life has a chaotic vibe. Private detective story usually interest me and I got caught up in this one . Her client was a true pain in the ass with a rushed deadline. Hazel buckles down and is able to get further than any of the previously hired detectives to find the missing teen.

Plenty of bad guy action and a great ending ! Rated it 5 stars . Thanks for the opportunity to read

The Orphanage by the Lake is a gripping, atmospheric mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. Hazel, a private investigator on the verge of losing her business, is thrust into a case that seems simple at first—a missing girl from a local orphanage. However, as she digs deeper, the case unravels into something far darker, filled with secrets, eerie symbols, and a web of intrigue that kept me on edge.

The setting of the orphanage by the lake adds an unsettling, gothic feel to the story. The remote, almost haunted atmosphere of the location is perfectly suited for the growing sense of dread that pervades Hazel's investigation. Hazel herself is an engaging and relatable protagonist, struggling with the pressures of her failing career while still trying to maintain her professional integrity. Her determination to find the missing girl, despite the mounting dangers, made her a character I genuinely rooted for.

The pacing of the book is well done. It starts off slow, with Hazel uncovering seemingly small clues, but gradually ramps up as the mystery deepens. The cryptic symbols, strange figures following Hazel, and the hidden truths of the orphanage all create a sense of mounting tension. I also really enjoyed the twists and turns in the plot, particularly as Hazel begins to question who she can trust, including the enigmatic Madeline Hemsley, who initially seems like a straightforward client but turns out to have her own dark secrets.

The only reason I didn't give this a full 5 stars is that I felt some aspects of the mystery were a bit predictable. There were moments when I guessed the direction of the story before it fully unfolded, which slightly dulled the impact of some of the reveals. However, the overall suspense and the way the story builds toward its chilling conclusion more than made up for it.

If you’re a fan of dark, atmospheric mysteries with plenty of twists and a strong, determined lead, The Orphanage by the Lake is definitely worth the read. It’s a compelling page-turner with a mix of suspense, mystery, and eerie intrigue that kept me hooked from beginning to end.

I really enjoyed this one. It was fast- paced and kept me intrigued. I did not see the twist coming at the end.
Thank you Houndstooth Books for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The storyline and story kept me intrigued to find out exactly what happened. The character build up and connection kept me wanting more. Such a great read.

Overall, I thought this was an okay mystery/thriller. The story itself was interesting. It definitely kept me engaged for most of the book, trying to guess who was involved and what the next twist would be. I think where I struggled most though was with Hazel. She felt like a character written by someone who had been told what it was like to be an Asian woman without having that experience themselves. She really fell flat for me which was so disappointing because I was so excited to see a female Korean PI. The potential was there but her voice didn’t come through as a minority woman who was a child of immigrants. There’s a feel to that that is hard to capture if it isn’t lived experience. So that really colored the entire book for me, making it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. I also didn’t care for the end at all. It felt very cartoon villain and I just didn’t enjoy it. First books in a series are so hard to write though, especially with setting up who is who and what their motives are so I’m optimistic the next book will be great!

This was a great read. Finished in one sitting. It was so good I could not stop reading because I needed to know how it would end. Well written and this would make a great movie.

This was the first book I have read from this author and I really did enjoy it. It was a nice easy read with a few twists although a little predictable with some parts. It did keep me wanting to read and not put it down until it was finished which was a plus. Biggest issue with this book is more of a personal preference. I did not like how weak the main character was portrayed especially being a PI. Any other profession then sure, but she seemed to crumble anytime something was hard. Thank you for allowing me to read this book early and I look forward to other books by this author.

Just finished reading The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller, and I’m truly impressed. 📖✨

This gripping psychological crime thriller introduces Hazel Cho, a Korean-American private investigator whose struggling business is handed a lifeline when a wealthy socialite hires her to track down a missing girl from a shadowy orphanage. What unfolds is a suspenseful, twist-filled story that kept me up late, unable to put it down.

Miller’s writing is sharp and fast-paced, delivering one surprise after another just when you think you’ve pieced it all together. The dark, moody atmosphere is so vividly crafted it feels like stepping into the pages, and the tension is palpable.

Hazel is a standout character—smart, quirky, and so refreshingly real. Her interactions, particularly with her roommate Kenny, bring both levity and heart to an otherwise intense story. I also appreciated the thoughtful representation of minority voices, which added richness and depth to the narrative.

If you enjoy crime thrillers that immerse you in the investigation and keep you guessing, this is a must-read. That said, it’s worth mentioning that the book tackles some tough subjects, like child abduction and sex trafficking, so proceed with awareness.

Overall, The Orphanage by the Lake is a masterful thriller that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommend this for your reading list. 🌟

#BookReview #TheOrphanageByTheLake #DanielGMiller #PsychologicalThriller #CrimeFiction #RecommendedReads #Bookstagram #ThrillerBooks #DiverseStories

I love a strong lead. Hazel is just that... brave and determined. She is not privileged and knows what it feels like to struggle. She didn't always do the smartest things, but she stood by the decisions she made. This story moved along quickly and was not necessarily bad, but overall predictable. Nothing against the author, but you could almost feel the unfamiliarity of the female perspective.
Just really let down by the twist and turns that were supposed to be shocking but overall could be seen coming.
Not the worst storyline, but not my favorite execution.

This was a great read—quick, page-turning action, interesting back story slowly revealed, unusual main character, and so much potential for additional volumes to come. I really enjoyed the Manhattan setting and the vast gulf between lifestyles of the antagonists and protagonists.

Thanks to Netgalley, Houndstooth Books, and the author for this ebook to read. All opinions are my own

While I had a bit of a hard time warming up to Hazel as our main character, I enjoyed the story's plot. We have a young girl gone missing from an orphanage and it seems no one in law enforcement or at the orphanage itself is really interested in helping Hazel figure out what happened to her. This makes it difficult to investigate, not to mention the client gave her a strict deadline which if isn't met Hazel is taken off the case and looses tons of money.

I think Hazel is a good investigator, but, she seemed to get in her own way quite a bit and it dragged parts of the story down for me. But
there are plenty of twists and turns, keeping me interested and wanting to see where it was all leading. Which ended up being a complete surprise for me.

While I'm not 100% sure about my feelings about Hazel, I think the rest of the book was entertaining, and a fast read.

Definitely a 5 star read! Everything about this book is exactly what I look for in a good thriller: suspense, unpredictable twists, mental stimulation, emotional engagement, tension build. This book had it all. I wasn’t necessarily “hooked” from the jump, but as the story went on I found myself not wanting to put it down. The mystery behind everything was really well thought out and I liked that I had no unanswered questions at the end.

Thank you NetGalley!

This book actually deserves ZERO stars, but NetGalley doesn't have that option.

Long story short, Hazel is a 30-year-old PI down on her luck and months away from her business folding. Then one day filthy rich Madeline Hemsley breezes into Hazel's office and wants her to find a missing teen who disappeared from a local orphanage. Chaos ensues in the form of terrible writing, I was correct about the villains, there are obscene amounts of references to sexual violence at the end when all is 'revealed'. and basically I want to vomit.

Hazel was written so poorly and made to be SO insufferable - and top of THAT we get this thinly-veiled gross Asian-fetish-extremely-offensive representation bullshit happening. It's no wonder that her business is failing - she's a mess, is repeatedly unprofessional, complains about having no money and little income but is always late to meet with Madeline, and seems to lack any kind of expertise in her chosen field. She makes stupid mistakes, acts impulsively, and is irresponsible. Madeline gives her a week to solve the case with the promise of a huge payday if she does so, yet Hzael takes time out of her "busy" sleuthing schedule for dates with a dude she just met and she does not at all question how he just happened to pop up in her life when he did.

On top of all of that, she does literally nothing to protect herself while she is investigating, and is saved at the end only because her male roommate really did call the police when he didn't hear from her, something she told him to do kind of as a joke as she was leaving.

Seriously, when we first meet Hazel, she has an angry client who refuses to believe the evidence that his wife is cheating, and threatens Hazel over it. Then as she investigates the disappearance for Madeline, she is followed and accosted by two men with a knife, and she still just wanders around outside like a weirdo. No mace, no knife of her own, no gun, no apparent training of any kind to protect herself.

My biggest issue, however, is a man writing from the point of view of a woman, relaying HER experience being sexually assaulted.

ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT.

EVER.

Not only has Hazel experienced this trauma in her past, she shares it with with her new man, the one who she just happened to meet while she was poorly trying to sleuth at a fancy rich-people event. If your alarm bells are not yet ringing, you might be braindead.

BECAUSE, it turns out, he is (one of) THE BAD GUY(s) and is fully ready to assault her at the end when she has walked right into the lion's den and had no idea that's what she was really doing. It was one of the worst things I have ever read in my life and all the violence on top of the completely juvenile writing just made it The. Worst.

I can not understand how this book is rated so highly. I will never read another book by this man and I highly recommend you do not, either.

Hazel is a private investigator hired to find Mia, a missing girl from a local orphanage. As Hazel begins to investigate, she realizes this case is much more complicated than she anticipated. She is also given a strict deadline by her client, so she doesn’t have time on her side. As she gets to know the people involved with the orphanage she gets the feeling that no one can be trusted, but she is determined to figure out what happened to Mia and how many other secrets are being kept.

This book was engaging and kept me guessing who was responsible and if Hazel would meet her deadline or not. I wouldn’t say I was shocked by any of the twists and turns, but that’s fine with me. I enjoyed getting to know Hazel’s character and I’m looking forward to more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

Hazel Cho is a down on her luck private investigator whose business is about to fold when Madeline Hemsley enters her life with a unique proposition. Help her find a missing girl from 'The Orphanage by the Lake'. What should be a straightforward case turns into a long drawn out mystery as more and more of the employees seem to have secrets to hide. For the past 25 years girls have slowly been disappearing from the school and no one seems to notice. The author does a great job of describing the eire setting and the suspense builds throughout the book.

There's great character development here, and you're rooting for Hazel to succeed as she has 10 days to receive her payment from Madeline. As she races against the clock, trying to figure out who is telling the truth and who is not. The style of writing grabs you right away and I'm looking forward to reading more about Hazel's future exploits if a series is written.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. This follows Hazel who is presented with the missing of a girl who was an orphan in a children's home. Hazel is a private investigator who is asked to find this girl.

I received an early copy of this text from Net Galley for review.

Hazel Cho is is Private Detective with not a lot of clients. The clients she does have, are well... on the shady side and she is not rolling in the income.

Then, out of nowhere Madeline Hemsley enters into her life with a case that has the potential to change her life financially and personally. This case centers around finding a young girl who has gone missing from an orphanage.

The more Hazel digs into the case, the more she discovers that this is not just A MISSING GIRL who is missing. It is much more than she has bargained for. Oh and she also has a deadline, a certain number of days by which she must solve the case.

✨Review✨

The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G Miller

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

I was hooked in with Orphanage and by the Lake- two keys and I was SOLD.
This book was unputdownable!! I was absolutely consumed by this story of the missing girl named Mia and the private detective Hazel, hired to find her.

Hazel and I were a team trying to put all the pieces together to find Mia. If Mia questioned this person was a suspect- so did I. I got your back girl, but were blind sided more than once. The plot twists kept coming and the people we thought we could trust we couldn’t, and the people we thought you couldn’t trust turn out to be the greatest assets.

Highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good mystery, with a strong female lead!!


📆Release date: Available now

✨Read this if you like✨
🥀 Mystery
🥀 Thriller
🥀 Suspense
🥀 Money
🥀 Powerful strong FMC
🥀 Detectives
🥀 Police
🥀 Missing girls

The Orphanage by the Lake
by Daniel G. Miller
Pub Date: Mar 18 2025
Hazel Cho is a PI who has been hired to investigate the disappearance of a young girl from an orphanage who seems to be just another runaway. The more she searches, the more she realizes this wasn't the first runaway to disappear. Can she connect the dots and figure out where these girls are going before it's too late?
On the surface, this seemed like another serial murderer on the loose targeting young girls, but it went much deeper than that. What Hazel uncovers is much more sinister and she might be the next one to disappear.
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#TheOrphanagebytheLake
#DanielGMiller

Daniel Miller did an excellent job with The Orphanage by the Lake. Hazel, a PI, is hired by Madeline to find her goddaughter, Mia. Mia has gone missing from Saint Agnes, a school for girls who are orphaned.

Nothing is as it seems. Madeline is hiding things. The headmaster, Thomas Mackenzie, is hiding things. This is a rollercoaster of who can you trust.

When nothing is as it seems will Hazel be able to find Mia in time?

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.