ARC REVIEW

This book was absolutely addicting. The further I got into the story, the more engrossed I became and I couldn't stop until I found out the ending. Which, by the way, YOU WILL NEVER SEE COMING! Go ahead and take it from me...READ IT NOW. So good


Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC copy!

I really enjoyed Daniel G. Miller’s first book, The Orphanage by the Lake, so I was excited to dive into The Red Letter. The beginning absolutely pulled me in — I was absorbed in the first half of the story and loved the suspense and atmosphere.

Around the midpoint, the pacing slowed down a little for me, but it still held my interest, and the twists kept me reading through to the end. Overall, it’s a solid and intriguing thriller, and I’d recommend it to fans of mysteries that blend tension with thoughtful storytelling.

Thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read this book

I did have a little trouble getting into this book on the first shot, there was so much in the beginning sounded like a continuation of another book that I looked it up and figured out it was part a series, so i got that book too and read that one first. After reading the the first book then opening this one back up it was much easier to read and I felt a lot more connected to the characters I was confused about the first time around. So this probably can be read as a standalone, but I would not recommend it! The first really does set the tone for the characters, I felt much more invested in their outcomes after getting to know them a bit in the first book, so def start there! Very easy fast paced read, I did like the story in the first book a bit more, but that's probably just due to the this one being about a church and me not really knowing all the aspects of that type of topic!

One thing that was really cool though, I made a tik tok saying I was reading the book and the Author actually commented on it saying he was hoping I enjoyed the book, so that was fun! So i thank him for that!

I felt this started out sort of slow, and gradually picked up. By the last quarter, I could barely put it down. I can't help but feel bad for Hazel. She keeps having bad things happen. And I love how this is the second in a series, but could absolutely be read as a stand-alone, and make sense. This book has a serial killer, who kills in the guise of religion, snuffing out people, an no one has any clue who could be doing it. This was a really good read, and once I got through the first quarter, the speed picked up.

This thriller opens with an atmosphere that immediately sets you on edge, hinting at secrets and danger beneath the surface. From the start, the plot moves in a steady, deliberate way, gradually pulling back layers rather than throwing all the answers at you at once. The pacing allows the tension to simmer, and while there are moments where the momentum dips, it never fully loses its grip.

The storyline weaves together mystery, tension, and personal stakes in a way that keeps you curious about how all the threads will connect. Each chapter gives just enough to push you forward, and the twists, while not shocking, feel purposeful and grounded in the narrative. The characters feel believable, with flaws and motivations that make their choices understandable, even when they’re questionable.

By the end, it leaves you with a sense of satisfaction, even if some parts felt a bit familiar. I’d rate it 3.5 stars well-crafted, atmospheric, and engaging, though it could have hit harder with tighter pacing and a few less predictable turns.

the follow up is so good! I love this journey and the returning character. A very good twist I hope to read more from them

I absolutely love Hazel! What a great lead character. And what a fast moving, page turner this story is with a big surprise at the end. I love her friendships with colleagues. Well done. Please give us another Hazel book!!!

This book will tear your heart out, make you sob, and then wrap you in a warm hug. Hazel truly tumbles through this one. If you don't like a fumbling detective this one isn't for you. Personally I find that part of her charm. I'm hoping her story keeps going and we can see her keep trying to get by with her redbull and a hope

It’s been a year since Hazel’s big break and now her PI business is thriving. But when an old friend asks her to take on a case involving the murder of a priest things might just be more complicated than she realized.

This one started out really strong and I was flying through it. The story was so engaging and fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. I thought it hit a little bit of a lull around the halfway mark for me, I was invested but not as much as I had been. Hazel isn’t my favorite character, I like her but she does some things that keep me from loving her. The ending definitely picked back up and I definitely didn’t see it coming!

Definitely recommend picking this one up if you liked the first book! I’ll definitely be reading more by this author in the future!

I wanted to like this book a little more than I did, but I think because I didn't read the first book (the orphanage by the lake) I didn't connect with it as much as I had hoped. Overall, a suspenseful read that I think was well-written.

A priest is found dead with a mysterious red letter. Private investigator Hazel is then pulled into a string of murders tied to her past. She is closing in on the killer, and they are closing in on her. I liked this book, just didn't love it. It kept my attention for sure, and it was well-paced. I am aware this is the second book in the series, and can be read as a stand alone, but maybe because I didn't read book 1, it was why it wasn't higher on my rating scale. Overall, great book, great pacing, ending was a little rushed - but I would recommend this to someone who read the first book, or just needing a thriller that will keep you locked in & full of suspense.

This was such a good, quick thriller that keeps you on your toes. This story brought out every single emotion out of me. The Red Letter follows an investigator Cho and her team to catch a serial ❌. Once you receive a letter…you’re dead soon there after. Each letter and each death comes closer and closer to Cho’s inner circle till it’s right at her doorstep. Absolutely loved this book!

I was so excited to receive an ARC for this book because I loved the first so much. And book 2 lived up to my expectations as well! This book was phenomenal! It was twisty and it was very well written!

This was a quick and action-packed read! Someone is killing people and Hazel gets roped into helping find the killer. Her skills will lead her into the scariest moments of her life! Loved the pace of this book, and the ending was great!

The Red Letter
by Daniel G. Miller
Pub Date: 22 Jul 2025

The Red Letter is a spine-tingling new suspense-thriller that will keep your heart racing to the final page. It's adrenaline-fueled, dark, and filled with twists and turns keeping me hooked from start to finish. If you like crime thrillers I would highly recommend picking this one up. It can be read as a stand a lone but it is the 2nd book following "The Orphanage by the Lake " which is another 5 star book!

Synopsis: A DEAD BODY. A MYSTERIOUS RED LETTER. Hazel has everything she wants. Business is booming at her boutique private investigation firm. She's dating the man of her dreams. Even her perpetually skeptical mother seems impressed. Then the NYPD finds a beloved neighborhood priest dead along with a mysterious red letter.

Many thanks to #TheRedLetter #NetGalley and PoisonedPenPress for providing me an E-ARC of this book.

thoroughly enjoyed my first experience reading a book by Daniel G. Miller, a captivating psychological thriller in which Miller skillfully blends suspense and dark intrigue. I was unaware it was a sequel to The Orphanage by the Lake. Although I could follow the story easily, I highly recommend starting with the first book. It helps avoid spoilers, deepens your understanding, and improves the overall experience.

In The Red Letter, our protagonist, Hazel Cho, takes her growing private investigation business to the forefront. When she agrees to probe the mysterious murder of a priest—an act driven by friendship—she uncovers a chilling pattern: another victim, also targeted in a similar manner, receives a red letter containing Bible verses just before their death. The plot thickens as a third person falls prey to the same eerie fate, raising Hazel’s urgency to solve the case before she becomes the next target of the elusive serial killer.

I devoured this book in just two days! Its adrenaline-fuelled, dark, and twist-filled story kept me hooked from start to finish. Hazel’s character truly stood out—her unexpected vulnerability perfectly balanced her resilience and toughness. The ending offered a satisfying resolution, even though I had guessed the murderer's identity. This is a compelling whodunnit suspense thriller, and I eagerly look forward to more of Hazel’s intriguing cases. Highly recommended!

I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.

I connected with Hazel in the first book of the series, Orphanage on the Lake, and I enjoyed getting to follow her character through this high-stakes, dangerous mystery. This is one of those bingeable books with tension and twists that you can’t put down. Fans of mystery thrillers should read this one.

3.5 stars
I typically don't read books that are religious or political, but I went into this one blind after finishing the first book in the series The Orphanage by the Lake. While it was religious, I felt that it wasn't heavily focused on that. It was more the mystery that kept me reading. The last quarter of the book was really good and the whodunit was completely off my radar. I seriously hope there is a book 3.

This is book two in this series. I absolutely loved the first one and this is no exception. I loved the strong female lead and her snarky attitude! She has definitely endured her share of unfair circumstances but she keeps fighting. I love a good detective story and that’s exactly what Hazel gives you!! Great read!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gripping psychological thriller from Daniel G. Miller. I didn’t realize that this is the sequel to The Orphanage by the Lake, which I unfortunately still haven’t read. Nevertheless, I was still able to follow along quite nicely and wasn’t the least bit confused. But I would still recommend reading book 1 first especially if you hate spoilers.

In The Red Letter, MC Hazel Cho’s PI business has taken off. She got roped into investigating the murder of a priest as a favor for a friend. She finds out that another person has been killed in the same manner as that of the priest, with both victims receiving a red letter with Bible verses the day before they died. It gets even more interesting after a 3rd person dies, also after getting the mysterious red letter! Hazel needs to solve the case before she becomes the serial killer’s next victim.

I binge-read this book in 2 days! I couldn’t put it down. Love the fast-paced, dark and twisty storyline. I also liked Hazel’s personality — she’s super tough and resilient but has soft spot for sweets! The ending was satisfactory despite me guessing who the real killer is. Still, this was a solid whodunnit suspense thriller and I cannot wait to read more of Hazel’s cases!

A chilling, fast-paced thriller that grips you from page one and doesn’t let go.
Daniel G. Miller’s The Red Letter delivers a pulse-pounding ride through the dark underbelly of New York, where secrets fester, and danger waits behind every red envelope.
Hazel is a brilliantly written protagonist—sharp, intuitive, and driven by her own haunted past. What begins as a favor to an old friend quickly spirals into a heart-stopping murder investigation with eerie connections to her own buried history. With each red letter, the tension mounts and the body count rises, pulling Hazel deeper into a web of secrets, lies, and a killer who seems to know her better than she knows herself.
The twists were amazing and the ending was jaw dropping!!!! I highly recommended The Orphanage by the Lake, but this one was so much better IMO. It just felt like it leveled up in such a good way… I am always afraid to read books in a series because I never feel like they live up to the first one, and honestly… this one only got better! If you are nervous about reading it, JUST DO IT!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the ARC