This was a 5 star read for me. I was hooked from the very beginning until the very end. The whole time, I was engaged and was trying to piece it all together. Every time I thought I knew how it was going to end, more twists were thrown. This book had me believing I was actually alongside Hazel trying to find out who the Red Letter Killer was. I love when a book is able to draw me in as if I’m living alongside the characters and experiencing the story in a visual way. Great read!!

This was such a fun thriller, I gobbled it up all in one sitting because I had to keep going and see who did it! Spoiler alert, I was so wrong and so of course I was shocked and upset by who it was- Hazel has been through it man:/ Truly a good thriller though, I always love a good whodunnit!

“AI will make serial killers of us all.”

The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller

QUICK SUMMARY 🖊️
We are back with Hazel Cho, her once floundering PI firm is thriving. Even her skeptical mother is impressed especially once she landed the man of her dreams.

Everything quickly changed when a beloved local priest is found dead and a mysterious red letter is found among his things.

As a favour to an old friend, she takes the case to discover it’s more than she bargained for.


FINAL THOUGHTS 💭
This second book was miles better than the first. I enjoyed Hazel so much more and I devoured this story needing to know what happened next and who was behind the red letters. Needless to say to say I am now a Hazel Cho fan and I need MORE.

Thank you to the publishers at Poisoned Pen Press, (an imprint of Sourcebooks), for providing this digital Advanced Reader’s Copy in return for a honest review. I was thrilled to receive my copy and have the unique experience of reading this work before print.

A great hook at the beginning — a Father in his cathedral left to die alone, was ominous and foreboding of the sensations a reader would experience throughout this book - the tone had me immersed straightaway.

Religious fanaticism is a huge theme throughout this novel, and the imagery is eerie and disquieting. Civilians in power positions are dropping like flies, and our center-star Detective Hazel (props for representation and feminism-forward writing!) is set to untangle the mystery.

I do wish I had read the first book in this series as it’s alluded to a few times (possibly?) and may very well go back and read it soon.

When the twist came, I was initially disappointed, then a double twist came, and I was more satisfied - but unfortunately, the only lapse this book had in my mind was the payoff. It’s really really hard to nail the ending portion of a thriller and I wasn’t left feeling quite the way I’d like, but that doesn’t take away from the writing, immersive story, and putting another author on my radar!

One element I have to point out: I have been listening to a LOT of true crime recently while doing chores or menial tasks at work and Detective Marcos character is a great example of a real-life detective, Detective Mathew Mustard associated with the Denise Haskins and Aaron Quinn case - LOOK! IT! UP! This real-life case deserves more attention and it’s such a testament to how law-enforcement can have blinders on when it comes to a suspect.

Very satisfied with this read and recommend it to the avid thriller-consumer!

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! It all starts with a case that private investigator Hazel Cho reluctantly agrees to investigate— a dead body and a mysterious red letter. But the letters keep coming, and so do the mysterious deaths. Are they connected? Is Hazel in danger? I HAD to find out — I could not put this book down!

Brilliant book!!! Could not put this down! Will be reading more from this author now! Did not see the ending coming!

I loved Orphanage by the Lake so to hear that there was a second book was exciting! And this one didn't disappoint!

Hazel Cho is a baddie! She gets pressured into being part of the investigation of Father Kenneally's death and it ends up being way more than she bargained for. She pieces together the Red Letter killer puzzle and is forced to take a long hard look into people that she cares for.

But in the end, she's not prepared for all the answers to come out.

The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller delivers a suspenseful and emotionally charged ride that kept me turning the pages. With strong pacing and a compelling premise, this thriller explores how a single, chilling message can unravel lives and expose long-buried secrets.

I was quickly pulled in by the mystery at the heart of the story and appreciated how Miller built tension without relying on over-the-top twists. The characters felt authentic, and their emotional responses added real weight to the unfolding events. The writing is sharp, and the story maintains a solid balance between plot and character development.

Some moments felt slightly predictable, but overall, it was a well-executed and engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a hard time reading this book and skipped a lot of chapters. There was too much description and not enough action. Thank you for accepting my honest opinion.

This is a quick paced crime thriller. It was enjoyable, but I haven't read the first in the series and wish I had so I could get the back story. Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for ARC.

A fantastic read full of twists and turns that kept me guessing all the way through. There were times during this book that I was on the edge of my seat and left feeling utterly breathless

Okay, The Red Letter had me feral flipping pages at 1 a.m. with that “just one more chapter” delusion. This was a fast-paced, twisty, popcorn thriller that scratched the itch for something quick, dark, and just a little unhinged. Murder? Yup. Creepy coded messages? You bet. A killer playing psychological chess while Hazel’s just trying to live her best life? Sign me up.

Hazel is sharp, savvy, and someone I’d absolutely trust to stalk my ex and solve a murder. Her past keeps creeping back into the picture—literally—and I loved watching her confidence unravel in real time. The red letter mystery unfolds in layers, and I appreciated that it didn’t rely on a single “gotcha!” twist but slowly built tension and dread in a way that actually worked.

That said, the villain reveal? A little convenient for my taste. I guessed it a bit early, and some of the side characters felt like NPCs in a murder mystery dinner party. But I was still along for the ride with popcorn in one hand and a red pen in the other, annotating like a madwoman.

Would I read more Hazel books? Absolutely. Is she maybe one red letter away from a full-blown mental breakdown? Also yes. But that’s what makes her fun.

I really enjoyed The Orphanage By the Lake, so I was excited to read the next book. The story did not disappoint! I really like that both of these books have a strong female main character. This story, like the first book is fast paced. I really enjoyed getting to know more about the characters. Hazel is so well written for a FMC. I was not at all expecting the twists/reveal, so that made the ending really satisfying. I am really hoping there are more to this series, because I am really enjoying them so far!


Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Book number 2 in The Orphanage by the Lake series. I did not read the first book due to trigger warnings, but felt this was just fine to read as a stand alone. This story does reflect back on the first book at times, but I feel the author included enough information for me to get a good idea of things. The last 25% or so of the plot really ramped up and brought the suspense and twists that I love to have in a thriller. I'm hoping there will be more to come in this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Private investigator Hazel Cho is riding high. Her New York office phones will not stop ringing, her love life finally looks stable, and even her picky mom offers a rare nod of approval. Then a neighborhood priest is found murdered beside a blood-red envelope. Hazel agrees to poke around for an old friend and learns the priest is only one in a chain of victims who got the same crimson warning. Each fresh letter means another body. Worse, one target links back to a psychopath Hazel hoped was ancient history. The hunt turns personal fast, and Hazel must decide whether opening one final letter is the only way to stop the killings, or the quickest way to join the victims.

Spillin’ the Book Tea:
Hazel Cho is back, sharper than a tack and twice as stubborn. I flew through these pages and never guessed that jaw-drop ending. Every twist landed, none felt cheap, and I may have yelled “No way” at my Kindle more than once.

Daniel Miller tightens the screws with each red letter, yet still sneaks in quiet moments that remind you why Hazel refuses to quit. When the past crawls out of its grave, she meets it head-on. Resilient barely covers it; the woman is a brick wall in heels.

Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the early copy that wrecked my sleep schedule in the best possible way. Opinions are, as always, my own caffeine-fueled hot takes.

The Vibes It Brings:
🔍 Private-investigator grit
✉️ Creepy clue letters
⛪ Dark secrets in sacred spaces
🩸 Serial murders, rising stakes
💔 Trauma that refuses to stay buried
🧩 Puzzle-box twists
👯‍♂️ Found-family teamwork
💥 Finale you will not see coming

TL;DR:
Hazel Cho’s second case explodes out of the gate and never lifts its boot from your throat. Twists pile up, secrets ignite, and that last reveal rearranged my evening plans. Come for the murders, stay for Hazel’s relentless heart.

I opened up The Red Letter completely blind, with zero expectations, and got sucked into a sharp, suspenseful thrill ride that kept me flipping pages like my life depended on it. This was my first dip into Daniel G. Miller’s work, and definitely not my last.

Hazel Cho, our main character, is the kind of protagonist who sticks with you, not because she’s flashy, but because she’s smart, sharp, and just the right amount of stubborn. The story starts off at a leisurely pace (think: slow simmer rather than instant boil), but trust me, it’s worth the wait. Once it gets going, it really gets going.

I didn’t see the ending coming at all, which is a rare and beautiful thing, and Miller’s writing is quietly clever, layered, and confident. You can tell you’re in the hands of someone who knows exactly what they're doing. I hope this is only the second of many Hazel Cho mysteries to come. I’m officially hooked.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 Poisoned Pen Press 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 #netgalley 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.

“Everyone’s a suspect, and everyone’s responsible.”

This was an enjoyable suspenseful, mystery thriller that allowed me as the reader to put together the pieces of the puzzle in this case alongside the main character, PI Hazel Cho. The pacing of the story was excellent and did not give away the plot twist until the right moment. This is the second book a part of The Orphanage by the Lake series. Although I did not read the first one, this book painted comprehensive portraits of the characters all on its own.

Just imagine DEAD BODY and receiving a RED LETTER.

The characters have been well developed and they were interesting. My heart goes to Hazel, she’s a real one. I have been left with my mouth open with that ending.

You will feel like everything you have been left hanging with the ending. The story is worth reading!

Thank you again to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review ☺️

I stayed guessing the entire time. I love when I don't figure it out immediately and this was that book. Hazel has a case about a serial killer? Yes please!

Thank you for the ARC. Hazel is a PI working a new case. This book was a quick and easy read with a good twist at the end I didn’t see coming. You can read this as a stand alone if you haven’t read orphanage by the lake.