I could not put this book down from the very beginning, I had to finish it one day. It was great to see the character development of Hazel Cho, but also realise that she had not fully recovered from the events which took place in the previous book. I’m looking forward to a next book in the series (hopefully!)

Thank you to Daniel G Miller, Poisoned Pen Press, and Netgalley for the e-arc of The Red Letter! Unique, fast-paced thriller filled with twists! Kept me guessing until the end! I requested this book because I read The Orphanage By The Lake last year and it was a 5 ⭐️ read for me! This is the second book in the series! It did not disappoint! This book publishes on 7/22/25!!

I received an ARC of this upcoming novel through NetGalley.

This turns out to be the second book in a series starring private investigator Hazel Cho. (This book works as a standalone.) Hazel takes on the task of investigating the murder of a Catholic priest. A young man who assisted the priest has been accused and imprisoned, but his defense attorney pleads with Hazel to figure out who the real killer is.

As Hazel progresses in her work, other prominent people are killed in a similar way, by ingesting poisonous pills. And Hazel herself believes she is being stalked, possibly ahead of being the killer’s next victim.

I usually don’t try to figure out who did it in a who-done-it novel. But I tried hard this time. The author sure created enough possibilities. I guessed wrong, but enjoyed the book.

3.75 stars.

This is technically a second book but besides some of the same characters i think it does ok as a stand alone. Hazel, our fmc is great because she isnt perfect and very quirky. I liked the idea of receiving a letter and then your time is up. I thought this book kept me engaged and i didnt figure it out. It was a quick fun read.

This was an engaging mystery. I was drawn in from the opening pages, although a number of references made me wonder why I seemed to be missing so much backstory... Turns out, this is the second in a series - which is indicated nowhere on NetGalley but is obvious on GoodReads - and since I felt like I needed the background since this book didn't seem to be laying any of it out, I went ahead and read that first book before continuing with this one. I personally found reading the first book to be very helpful. This second one is better written I think, but the development of the characters, their relationships, and the origins of a number of their quirks and traits really helped me engage with this current book.

On the whole I enjoyed it. Things move along quickly and the characters were enjoyable. There were a suitable number of red herrings and revelations to keep me guessing and engaged throughout. I would definitely read another in the series.

3.5 stars! Thrillers I often find myself bored but not with this one! I kept turning the page!
I was thrown around with the twists in this book!
Deff recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

The Red Letter, the gripping sequel to The Orphanage by the Lake, takes everything that made the first book memorable and elevates it. Hazel Cho returns, sharper and more determined than ever, this time with a chilling murder investigation that might be more than she bargained for. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is haunting, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out, another twist hits you from nowhere. This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster—there are moments of laughter, deep sadness, spine-tingling fear, and everything in between. Let’s hope this isn’t the last we see of Hazel Cho. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and I’m already craving the next chapter in her journey.

I really liked this book! I thought the characters were very well developed and likable. This book kept my attention and had me guessing with a lot of twists and turns. I was rooting for the main characters the whole time and you could feel all the emotions on every page. Great quick read that I would recommend!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Daniel Miller, and Netgalley for the advanced copy for my honest review!

I found the story moved a bit slowly compared to the first book. It took a while to really get going, about more than halfway through the book. But I have to say, that twist at the end totally caught me off guard – in a good way! And can I just put it out there? I'm really hoping Hazel and Kenny end up together. Seriously, Mr. Miller, please make it happen in the next book! I'm secretly (okay, not so secretly now!) rooting for them!

This book was amazing and kept me in suspense throughout the book. I didn’t want to stop reading because I needed to know what happened next. There was a lot of twists in the book that I enjoyed and once I thought I had finally figured it out I was shocked at the outcome. I thought the characters were described really well and were realistic. The whole plot of the book was very interesting to me and it was great that it was something different and not the same old thing over and over. I highly recommend if you like suspenseful psychological thrillers.

Well, that was twisty!

I will admit, I enjoyed this sequel more than the first book. This one was just packed with so many nail-biting twists and gut-wrenching emotional punches of Hazel’s grief and trauma. The writing is well done which helped me visualize and even hear the story unfolding.

Loved it!

The Red Letter started off a bit slow, but once it found its rhythm, I was fully pulled into the story. As the second installment in the Hazel Cho series, it’s a solid follow-up that delivers intrigue, character depth, and a well-crafted plot. I appreciated how the book can stand on its own, though having read the first book definitely added more layers and background to Hazel’s journey.

Daniel G. Miller’s writing shines as the story unfolds, making it easy to get lost in the world he’s created. Hazel is a character I continue to root for, and I’m excited to see where her next adventure takes her.

The Red Letter is the second book in the Hazel Cho series, and for me, it was even better than the first. Hazel is in a much stronger place this time—emotionally and professionally—and it really shows in the way she tackles the case. From the very first page, I found myself slipping back into her world with ease. Daniel G. Miller has a way of making you feel like you’re right there beside her, living every moment.

The story is fast-paced, full of action, and impossible to put down. I had my suspicions about who the villain might be, but I was completely off—right up to the shocking final reveal. One particular twist hit me hard emotionally—it was devastating and completely unexpected, and it stuck with me long after I finished the book.

This was a 5-star read without a doubt. It’s smart, gripping, and has heart. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Hazel in book three.

I recently dove into an incredible book that has completely captivated me. The characters are so well developed that they feel like old friends, each with their own unique quirks and depth. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, making it impossible to put down! Daniel G's writing style is not only engaging but also beautifully lyrical, drawing you in from the very first page. I'm officially hooked and can’t wait to see where this story leads next! This book combines strong characters with a compelling plot, this is it. Highly recommend!

It is good to see that Hazel has risen in life after the last awful case finding Mia and shutting down the Dionysus Club. She has a bigger office, more employees (including the ever helpful Kenny and new hires Momo and Mary) and has found a good man that she loves (Jack, a rising politician running for Mayor who is also madly in love with her and is so sweet!). Hazel really is a great detective for solving cases within a short time and time is against her once again to find out who killed a friendly priest she knows. She is also so tough and that is a good things because the serial killer sending out those red letters will throw everything at her and keep killing the victims that fit the crimes. There are so many twists and red herrings that kept me reading long past when I should have stopped.

I really feel for her and absolutely love Hazel and would definitely hire her to find missing people or solving murder cases with a tight deadline. This is a great series and I wish Hazel and Kenny and the others the very best and will happily keep reading their further cases!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this great book in an edge of your seat thrilling series!

After reading the first one in the series, I was really excited when this one came out! Hazel, the private investigator agrees to help solve another very emotional and tough case! She was reluctant to take the case, but once she did her and her team were all in! A great book with a twist I never saw coming!! Thank you Netgalleyfor the advanced reader copy!

Hazel Cho is BACK and better than ever! Your favorite PI. I immediately wanted to read this after reading Orphanage By The Lake and Daniel Miller did not disappoint 👏

I genuinely appreciate the depth of Hazel's character development. Her personality is what immediately grabbed my attention. She's bold and quick witted.

You jump right in to another investigation to solve. There are just enough twists and turns to keep you reading. I thought I knew what the end result was but boy was I wrong.

Thank you Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review!

The Red Letter by Daniel Miller delivers a solid and engaging crime mystery, with enough twists to keep you guessing until the very end. The reveal of the antagonist was genuinely surprising, which I really appreciated—it's always refreshing when a mystery can still catch you off guard. Hazel is a compelling lead, though it's tough seeing her struggle so much when it comes to love. I couldn't help but root for her and Kenny; they just work together, even if the story doesn't quite go that way. Overall, a well-written and good read! I look forward to more of Hazel in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, & Daniel G. Miller for giving me an advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved The Orphanage By The Lake and couldn't wait for this one to come out. The premise was great and should have pulled me in. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it or keep my mind from wandering. Hazel seemed different. She was abrupt, unlikeable, shallow and condescending. I understand there were supposed to be some changes because of what she experienced in the first book but this went too far. It's hard to root for a character that you just don't like. The ending pulled together nice though.

Review Script

Let me start off by saying you have to put this on your TBR immediately. This book is the second in The Orphanage by the Lake but you can also read it as a standalone. We follow Hazel and her team through another high stakes investigation. I loved all the twists and turns. The suspense was addicting and I couldn’t put it down. If you love crime thrillers you have to read it!
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