This is the second book of the PI Hazel Cho series.

Hazel Cho is now running a successful PI firm. She was approached by her friend and lawyer, Shavali who hires Hazel for help. Shavali is defending a boy named Sampson who was being accused of killing Father Kleeney through poisoning. Before the poisoning, Father Kleeney receives a Red Letter with Bible verses written on them. Initially, Hazel was reluctant to accept the offer but soon she realizes that there might be a serial killer involved when another person also dies in the similar circumstances as Father Kleeney

I enjoyed reading the first book of Hazel Cho series and so I was super excited when I got the ARC for this book. What I liked about this book is the diversity in the book. You have the main character who is Korean American and then you have the mixture of other races as characters as well. I liked the pacing of the book--it was fast paced, the plot was too engaging and intriguing. There were so many twists and turns and overall and also quiet unputdownable. You have some viable suspects but you are wondering which of these suspects are responsible for the deaths. You also have a mysterious person who is stalking Hazel. The ending was quiet unexpected and was a great twist.

Overall, I enjoyed this one, better than the first book in the series. Worth five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read the first book in this series and loved it. I love Hazel Cho I think she is a strong character that has seen somethings and now her PI business is booming. She is asked to help with a new case that again hits close to home. It was had some twists and turns, made you question who it could be, and it was overall really well done. I would definitely continue reading this as a series if there are more books. You also do not need to read the first book in order to follow the story line it just helps to get to know the characters and their background. Overall love this author and his writing.

A DEAD BODY. A MYSTERIOUS RED LETTER

From the first chapter, the characters pulled me in—vivid, layered, and genuinely compelling. Hazel, a sharp and successful PI, seems to have it all… until mysterious red letters start showing up and turn her world upside down. She is tasked with proving that a young boy is not responsible for the murder of a priest little did she know this was only the start.

I’m usually quite good at predicting twists however I got it wrong and I think I did actually audibly gasp. This was filled with some witty banter between the characters, you also get a perspective from the killer also which I enjoyed.

However please remember this is book 2 and the first is the orphanage by the lake, however I did not realise this but I found that I could read as a stand alone.

All in all a great book and read.

This is the second book in the series and I really enjoyed it. Hazel is back with another case that needs to be solved. Her PI business boomed after she solved the case in the last book and now she tries to be more selective about cases that she takes. However a new case surfaces where a priest dies after he received a red letter. She is reluctant to take on the case because she was hoping for less dangerous cases however she can’t seem to stay away from this case.
Now, Hazel has to find out who is behind these letters to try to prevent more deaths from occurring. This book will take you into lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, the story takes you in another direction!
Overall this was a great book. I really enjoyed the storyline and I love Hazel’s style in general. I am hoping there is more to come from Hazel.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions are my own.

Hazel Cho returns in this gripping sequel to The Orphanage by the Lake, and I was instantly pulled back into her world. There’s something deeply satisfying about following a character you already know and admire, and Hazel? She’s fierce, flawed, and still reeling from past ghosts that won't stay buried.

This time around, a beloved priest is found dead—and in his hand, a chilling red letter. Hazel steps in to help an old friend, thinking it’ll be a simple favor. It’s not. As more letters appear and the bodies pile up, Hazel is forced to unravel a web of secrets that brush up against her haunted past.

What I loved: 🔴 The eerie symbolism of the red letters—so simple, yet so unsettling 🔍 Hazel’s inner struggles felt raw and real. She’s tough, yes, but vulnerable too ⏳ The pacing kept me hooked. Each reveal felt earned, and yes, I fell for the twist

Some moments hit me emotionally—Hazel doesn’t just chase killers, she wrestles with grief, identity, and the fear of being truly known. That made the stakes feel personal, not just plot-driven.

Would I read more Hazel Cho mysteries? Absolutely. This series is quietly addictive, and I’m already hoping for book three.

📌 Favorite line: “The world’s going to try and break you. The only choice you've got to make is whether you’re going to let it.”

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me this ARC through #NetGalley.

Murder, mystery, and a seril killer?! Yes, please... well I fiction only. This was a great, entertaining and engaging story. It has the right amount of tension, twists, turns, and dead ends... I enjoyed getting back into this world and following along again. These are great summer beach reads! Definitely need the sun to burn off the stories chill.

I enjoyed this book defo kept me on my toes and it’s part of 2 book series



Blurb
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...

Hazel Cho is thriving! A year removed from the events of The Orphanage By The Lake, business is booming and Hazel is in love! When a priest is killed, Hazel agrees to investigate the murder. What she finds is evidence of multiple deaths, each preceded by receipt of a red letter. Unfortunately, as Hazel gets closer to finding the killer, the killer gets closer and closer to Hazel.

If The Orphanage By The Lake knocked your socks off, The Red Letter will leave behind broken bones! I was enjoying the book from the beginning, but there came a point where I gasped the biggest gasp and all my husband could do was laugh as I tried to explain how big of a plot twist had just happened. Over the course of the next hour, I was alternating between gasping, yelling at the characters, and (at one point) trying not to cry. The moment that plot twist hit, the book was a guaranteed 5-star read! My only critique is that at the beginning of the book, I didn't recognize some characters and went back to re-read The Orphanage By The Lake. While all sequels incorporate new characters, most sequels will start off with a few familiar names. That said, the book juggled a mix of old and new characters nicely.

I loved The Orphanage By The Lake and demanded Hazel get her own series. My demands were answered when The Red Letter was delivered to my kindle. I still want more Hazel Cho but my poor girl has been through enough! She deserves some happiness! This is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY 1000% a Read It!

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

3.5 stars

The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller is the first in the PI Hazel Cho series, set in New York. Hazel is looking for the murderer of a priest.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




Series Background: (Note that this section may contain spoilers from previous books)
Hazel Cho is a 30 year old 5-foot Asian Private Investigator.  Her mom thinks she should just quit and marry a doctor.  Hazel's business was struggling until she solved the case of a missing girl.  Her friend Kenny Shum finished his police courses, and is now her partner.  They have recently hired two staff members, Momo, and Mary.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Hazel has been dating Jack for a few months, and things are wonderful.  She's in love.  Her Mom loves him too.  Business is doing great, and she and Kenny have hired two more people to help, and they have a new office. 

Then her old friend Shavali asks for her help.  A priest has been murdered, and his 18-year old assistant has been charged, after being seen leaving a threatening red letter under the priests door.  Hazel doesn't want to help, but Jack convinces her that it may help him with his run for mayor.  Hazel knows the 18-year old is hiding something, but he won't admit it.

When Hazel finally gets to see the Archdiocease, she ends up antagonizing both him, and his secretary.

But when more red letters appear in her investigation, it becomes obvious a serial killer is targeting individuals in New York.

Hazel is being followed.  As she continues to investigate, everyone close to her becomes suspect.




My Opinions:
First, I continue to love Hazel Cho.  I love her determination, and her love of life.  Even through grief, and past trauma, she picks herself up and finds a reason to carry on.  I think she could do with a "little" less rudeness.

It was a good thing she took on more staff, because her last book showed she had no business sense.  This series needed more characters anyway.   I'm not a fan of her biological family members, but in the end, they are there for her.  I do, however, love Kenny.

The book looked at faith.  It also looked at power, and what it does to some people.  I don't usually like books about religion or politics, but these didn't bother me in this book.

You can still tell that this series is written by a man, simply by how "attractive" women find almost every man they meet in these books.  The author should stay away from romance from a woman's point of view.

Again, though, this book had a really good plot, and although I had guessed the actual perpetrator a little sooner than Hazel had, there were enough other suspects to keep me interested..

Overall, it was a fast and entertaining read.  Although the topic ended up being dark, it felt like a light mystery.  I already have the next book, so....

Went in blind and right away the beginning hooked me in!
A priest passes away in the church and it then sparks a chain of events and investigation.
It’s a very addictive read however, I felt a lot of things left unexplained and the ending was rushed.
I liked the plot twist and the beginning but I really wanted more.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital copy of this book!

i liked this one better than the first book, but i still think the ending was rushed. there’s a lot of build-up that happens, and then the author wraps it up very quickly. “the red letter” was interesting in the sense that someone thought they were playing God, and they used religion to commit murder with poison. thank you to the author and Netgalley for this ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 – The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller

A thriller that starts strong. Gets stronger. Then rips your heart to shreds.
I was convinced I knew who ‘dunnit.
Spoiler: I was so wrong. So very, very wrong.

Hazel is everything — fierce, flawed, loyal. Her relationships with her coworkers felt real, raw, and warm. And Jack… oh my 😅💔

“That chair is for Jack. Because he will always be with us, and he will always have a seat at our dinner table. You will never be alone.”

That line? Tore me to PIECES.
I need the physical copy when it releases on the 22nd — no question.

Daniel Miller has done it again! I just knew there would be no way that The Red Letter would be as good as, if not better than The Orphanage by the Lake. Boy was I wrong. This is the second Hazel Cho novel and as long as there are more books I will continue to read them.

This story pickups up after the first book. While you don’t have to read them in order to enjoy this book it will give you a better understanding of some references to things that have happened previously.

Hazel & Kenny now have a joint investigation business. They have even been able to hire an employee and an intern. Hazel is asked by her former law friend, Shavali, to look into Father Kenneally’s death. Hazel says she isn’t interested. However her boyfriend, Jack, talks her into taking the case.

This is a who-dunnit thriller that kept me guessing the entire time. I would think I had it figured out only to realize I didn’t. I enjoy thrillers where I can’t guess the culprit. This one did not disappoint. I didn’t even realize until it was revealed.

I am #TeamBobby iykyk

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

The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller is the second book featuring private investigative more Hazel Cho. In this story, she is asked by a friend to look into a case involving a dead priest, poison and a mysterious red letter. Little does she know that decision will change her life.

This was a fast paced mystery that I couldn’t put down! I definitely will continue to read future Daniel Miller books- especially if they feature Hazel. Great summer read!

Private Investigator Hazel Cho is hired to investigate a series of murders that occur after the recipients receive a red letter.

While this is the second book in a series, you do not need to read the first one to follow along with this case. Although I did not find the story line to be that compelling or unique, I thought the relationships with her peers and her significant other were interesting enough for me to keep reading. The ending was just okay for me. I wasn't really expecting it, but I also felt that part of it was sort of a forced story line.

Three stars because I did like the book enough for me to stay interested in how it ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

I was hooked from the beginning with this one! 🙌

This is the second installment in The Orphanage By The Lake series, but I went into it totally blind, not having read the first in the series! And let me tell you, I loved it!! I really enjoyed the characters and even at one point I actually teared up, I was that invested! Did not see the twist coming either! Highly recommend checking this one out!! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Daniel G. Miller for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! Now I need to go get and read The Orphanage By The Lake! ❤️

✨ Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: trust no one, suspense
🎶 Song: all the good girls go to hell - billie eilish
📖 Favourite Quote: "The world’s going to try and break you. The only choice you got to make is if you’re going to let it."
📚 Would I recommend? maybe.
💬 Final thoughts: the unlikeable side characters is what brings the rating down for me.

In the package:
📦 eerie mail
📦 strong FMC
📦 heart-racing moments

A priest is found dead with a mysterious red letter, which causes private investigator Hazel to be pulled into a chilling string of murders tied to her buried past. As she closes in on the killer, they are also closing in on HER.

This was a decent thriller that kept my attention throughout the book! The ending felt a little rushed considering how well-paced the majority of the book was. I felt so bad for the FMC, she could not catch a break throughout the whole book and was put through the ringer 😭 This is the second book in the series; however it can be read as a standalone. The author did a great job briefly tying in details from the first book so you don't feel confused. I definitely didn't see the twist coming, I really thought I had it figured out but I was SO wrong!

My only issue with this book is the side characters, I didn't find them very likeable and they were annoying at times.

Just like with his previous book, I really liked this.

Some twists were a little bit predictable however they were executed well so it didn't matter overall.
I like the authors writing, it is an easy and fast read. I think i preferred this one to book 1. I felt i knew and understood more about Hazel as a character and I find her to be such a strong and fascinating lead—sharp, resourceful, and determined. 

I would recommend this and you can read it as a standalone too.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hazel Cho is back in this 2nd book, which is a continuation of her PI detective career. The first book in the series was 'The Orphanage at the lake", another great thriller. This one could still be read as a standalone book as each of her cases are different and have unique characters. There is the potential of a returning killer in this sequel, as Hazel returns to solve a case where a series of cryptic red letters accompany grisly murders in New York City. Everything was settling down for Hazel, her detective business is booming, and she's even dating a man her mother approves of, when she gets sucked into another case.

A priest is found dead alongside the first enigmatic letter, and when Hazel starts helping an old friend with the investigation, she discovers that this shocking ritualistic pattern may be linked to a psychopath from her past. I loved Hazel's spunky, 'can-do' attitude and her persistence and inablility to take no for an answer. If anyone will be able to solve these murders, it'll be Hazel. I love strong female characters so that could be part of it too. The other characters are also very well developed and there are a few twists that I did not see coming, so that's always appreciated. It starts out slow but then accelerates quickly and kept me engaged throughout. I can definitely see this being made into a series.

After loving The Orphanage by the Lake, I had high expectations for Daniel G. Miller’s follow-up—and The Red Letter did not disappoint. This gripping sequel picks up right where the first book left off, continuing the story of Hazel Cho, a sharp and determined private investigator as her business grows.

While there are references to the first book, which add depth and context, The Red Letter can still be enjoyed as a standalone novel. That said, I highly recommend reading The Orphanage by the Lake first to fully appreciate the character development and backstory.

This time around, Hazel is pulled into the mysterious case of a murdered priest. As she digs deeper, the investigation takes unexpected turns and begins to strike a little too close to home. With each twist, the tension mounts, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc!

Fast-paced, and filled with surprises, The Red Letter is a thriller with an ending that truly shocks. This is a must-read.