Hazel is a private investigator in New York City. She has opened her own practice, a boyfriend who’s running for mayor and works with all her closest friends.
When a priest is found dead in his church with a spine chilling letter, Hazel is asked to work the case as a favor to one of her friends. She learns the Priest isn’t the only murder victim who has received a disturbing red letter.
As more red letters appear, more victims are being murdered. Hazel is determined to find the killer before they find her first.

Review:
This was my first book by Daniel Miller and I was very impressed! This book pulls readers in from the first chapter. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was perfect, not too fast and not drawn out either. As the tension builds and you think you’ve pinned the suspect, we are shocked with a new plot twist!

Perfect if you like:
Mystery/Suspense Thriller
Emotional Thriller
High Stakes
Strong Female Lead

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy!

Two mysterious deaths, was it a coincidence or are they linked? Could getting involved change the path for everyone? I loved following Hazel through another life changing event. Although Orphanage by the Lake was a good read I liked this one better. You do not need to read Orphanage by the Lake first, this can be read as a stand alone but I enjoyed knowing some background. I would recommend this book over and over to my suspense/thriller readers!

The Red Letter picks up with Hazel cruising her new PI life. Her agency is thriving, her relationship is solid, and mom’s actually impressed.

When an old friend asks her for help on a priest’s murder (a priest who got a creepy letter in a red envelope) before dying, Hazel knows she has to help. This book leans more thriller than suspense, with pacing that’s lean, mean, and sometimes gut-wrenching. I predicted a few moves, but the killer’s identity? Totally blindsided me.

And I loved that Hazel isn’t drowning in her past. She's engaged, emotionally steady, even dating, which makes her reactions to danger feel earned, not overdramatic. The red-letter murders are dark and disturbing, but the story never veers into horror territory; it stays firmly in “oh shit” thriller land. The tension feels personal, too. Hazel’s facing truths she thought she left behind, with real emotional resonance.

Add in believable dialogue, unexpectedly clever twists, and you’ve got a sequel that builds on the first without rehashing it.

Bottom line: I’m officially hooked. Can’t wait to see where this goes next.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review—this one hit all the right notes.

Thank you, Net Galley and the publisher's, for the opportunity to read and review The Red Letter by Daniel G Miller.

I read The Orphanage By The Lake when it very first came out and enjoyed it completely! I anxiously awaited for a sequel.
It definitely surpassed every expectation. I loved it! While this is part of a series it can hold it's own as a stand alone novel! Daniel G Miller is so under-rated and I will be looking forward to more works. The plot and twists were exceptional and sucked me in completely! Stayed up hours after bedtime because I couldn't put it down! Highly recommend! Solid 4 stars!!!

Dark-Haunting-Twisted

I was first introduced to Daniel G Miller when I read his novel The Orphanage by the Lake three months ago. I was impressed by Miller’s storytelling then and was again entertained by his storytelling in the second book of this series. The Red Letter followed Hazel Cho, private investigator, as she worked on a chilling case after the local NYPD discovered a local priest slain and left with a mysterious red letter. As Hazel dug deeper, she uncovered that he was not the only victim—the killer was sending the ominous red letters before each their murders. As she gets deeper into the investigation, Hazel faced a darker truth about her life. This was a suspenseful mystery-thriller that grabbed my attention and had me relatively engaged throughout.

The Red Letter was told from Hazel’s perspective and focused tightly around her experiences, thoughts, and reactions. I preferred seeing the case unfold through Hazel’s lens because it allowed me to have a deeper connection to her inner world and shared in her revelations and fears.

Hazel Cho was a strong female protagonist. She was complex, resilient, and determined woman who had to navigate both external threats and internal reckonings. On top of her assertive personality, Hazel was emotionally guarded yet equally empathetic.

Miller honed in on a variety of themes such as the haunting of the past, the dangerous power of secrets, identity and self perception, trust, relationships and loyalty. Additionally, this story thrived on psychological tension and dove into how past secrets shape present identity, how trust can unravel under psychological pressure, and how confronting hidden truths, no matter how precarious, is often the only way forward. This also blended mystery, personal revelation, and intense suspense making this a compelling story.

Collectively, I enjoyed reuniting with Hazel in her latest investigation in The Red Letter. This story is best for those who love murder investigations layered with personal trauma, buried secrets, and escalating psychological tension.

Thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved book number 1 (the orphanage by the lake) and I was so happy to see more from Hazel! I really like her character so it was fun to dive back in.

Book number 2 did in fact not disappoint (phew), i feel like the author really fleshed out the additional characters this time making the side characters more interesting. As always a surprise twist at the end which caught me off guard, in the first book I started to piece together the twist around the 70-80% mark but this time I was left befuddled!

If you like strong female leads who are stubborn and resilient then you’ll like Hazel, she’s been through the wringer but that never stops her from continuing on. I was happy to see this stayed true to her character arc throughout book 2.

Thank you for the gifted copy, as always I recommend both books in this series!

Publishes - July 22nd

I had to yet to read "The Orphanage at the Lake" prior to reading "The Red Letter." It's on my TBR but you know those get out of control quick. That being said, I found that not reading the first book, really didn't take a lot away from the second book, which is excellent.

The writing was written in such a way that it just sucks you into the story. There was a lot of depth to Hazel's character, which I loved, it made the story so much better. There were a lot of twists and turns, the book kept me on edge the entire time.

Eagerly looking forward to reading book one and hoping for a third book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved the first book and really enjoyed this one too. I found the first one better but this was still a great thriller ready. Thank you for an arc of this

"A spine-tingling new suspense-thriller from bestselling author Daniel G. Miller that will keep your heart racing to the last page.

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.

Hazel investigates the murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the priest wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter...and one victim has ties to a psychopath from a past life that Hazel thought she had buried. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.

As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her. Even worse, Hazel discovers that the only way to find the truth is to open one more...

RED LETTER."

I think tracking the killer through a stationary shop would be their best bet...

I read The Orphanage By The Lake recently and couldn’t wait to try the sequel. I ended up enjoying this story a lot more than the first. It kept me engaged, had an interesting premise and good twists.

Hazel is a PI and takes on a new case for a longtime friend- even though her gut tells her something is off. Red letters are arriving and the recipients are dropping like flies, but what’s the connection?

This was not a disappointment, a great follow up in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Last week I received an email from Poisoned Pen Press offering me the opportunity to ARC read The Red Letter. I thought it seemed interesting so I took the opportunity and downloaded it. I immediately started reading this admittedly knowing nothing about the author except I had seen The Orphanage By The Lake and had been wanting to read it. FULL DISCLOSURE: I never read it. I also somehow brushed over the fact that this is a continuation of Orphanage. I was Immediately sucked into this book as it is well written, keeps me engaged and guessing. There are a couple times throughout that our FMC recalls something she’s been through in the past and references her PTSD due to the trauma but it’s not elaborate and it doesn’t take away from the story not knowing what she’s talking about so i ignored it and kept reading. I hit the 50% mark and THEN discovered that this is a follow up. Lots of mystery and a great build up to the reveal of our killer which sent me reeling! I don’t believe you HAVE to read the first book as this story was amazing on its own. I will read book one now and I’ll recommend this book and author to anyone. EASILY one of my favorite reads this year!

I love the main character Hazel,. She is a likeable, persistent private investigator that will stop at nothing to solve a crime. I really thought that the story line was a little predictable, but was i ever wrong. I seriously never saw the end coming. Such a great suspense story!

⭐ Book Review: The Red Letter⭐
📚 By Daniel G. Miller
📖 Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book is actually a sequel—though it reads seamlessly as a standalone! From the opening pages, I was drawn into the fast-paced plot and compelling characters. The story unfolds with such momentum that I found myself flying through the chapters, eager to reach the twist at the end—which definitely caught me off guard until the big revelation.

What stood out to me was the clever structure and how it kept me guessing. I would have loved to hear more from Mary's point of view, especially about how she orchestrated everything—that insight would have added even more depth to an already strong storyline.

And while I really enjoyed the ending, I couldn’t help but wish for one final interaction between Bobby and Hazel. That moment would have been the cherry on top. Still, it leaves room to wonder—maybe a third book is in the works?

I'll definitely go back and read the first installment now. If you're into well-paced thrillers with smart twists and layered characters, this one’s worth checking out.

📌 Thank you again to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Daniel G. Miller for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNFing at 20% as it didn't hold my attention! I didn't finish the first one but thought I would give this one a chance and didn't make it any further than the first. It has great potential, but it wasn't for me! I think I have decided this author just isn't one I'll enjoy, but it doesn't mean they won't be for others!

3.5 Stars

When an old college friend convinces Private Investigator Hazel Cho to prove her client innocent of a beloved priest’s murder, the bodies begin to stack up. Hazel soon realizes the serial killer is a religious fanatic hell-bent on executing a seemingly endless list of sinners.

Because I enjoy fast-paced thrillers, the novel didn’t hold my interest until well past the halfway mark when Miller ratcheted up the suspense. And while I found the killer’s identity quite shocking, I felt somewhat cheated as the author skimped on those delicious, vague little clues diehard mystery lovers have come to expect. Regardless, the last third of the book made it worth the read, and I would recommend THE RED LETTER to cozy mystery fans.

My sincere thanks to Daniel Miller, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe The Orphanage By The Lake Series isn't more popular. These books are seriously under-hyped. They need more recognition.

I absolutely love Hazel, the FMC and private detective. She has a 'can't keep me down' attitude, even though if it can go wrong, it does for her.

I also really love Kenny, her sweet teddy bear of a roommate.

In this installment of the series, it's been a year since Hazel solved the crime in The Orphanage By The Lake. Her business is growing and she wants nothing more than to take boring insurance cases, but of course, nothing goes the way she wants. A previous law school rival, turned up and coming attorney, asks Hazel for her help with exonerating her client. Hazel turns down the case, but ultimately decides to help her out.

What a crazy rollercoaster this thriller turned out to be. I devoured this book. I couldn't put down this book. I was sucked in the whole time and am highly anticipating the next installment in this series.

If you like thrillers, then you need to give this series a try.

I have been anticipating this book ever since I read Orphanage by the Lake. The wait was worth it because this book is so good! The character development was great. The story pulled me in and I felt so many emotions including heartbreak! Such a great book and I don’t give out 5 stars easily!

Hazel is happy with her life, when her attorney friend asks her to investigate the horrific death of a local priest by puffer fish poison. The priest received a red letter with an ominous painting and Bible verse before his death. She learns that others have received a similar red envelope and died of puffer fish poison. The story gets exciting and heartbreaking towards the end as Hazel realizes who the killer is. The ending is nail-biting suspense. This is the second book in a series, but it works well as a standalone.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this book a little bit more than the first. I liked the suspense and found it to be a quick and enjoyable read. Thank you!

I love, love, love Hazel Cho! I was so excited to read Book 2! And.... It did NOT disappoint!

This book kept me guessing to the very end. I love all the characters and how it tells their life stories as well as the thriller! I will always be back for more of this series!

Thank you NetGalley & Poison Pen Press for thus ARC for my honest review!

#NetGalley #TheRedLetter #DanielMiller