The characters are layered and sympathetic, especially the children, whose voices linger long after finishing the book. The blend of historical detail, emotional depth, and suspense makes this a standout story. There are moments of heartbreak, resilience, and hope that balance the darker themes, and the pacing kept me hooked throughout.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a gothic edge, or stories that explore resilience in the face of tragedy, this book is worth adding to your list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Hazel is a private investigator who is in danger of losing her business. When she receives an offer to look into a young girl missing at an orphanage, she leaps at the opportunity for a wealthy client to save her business. She doesn’t think this is a simple runaway case, especially when weird things start happening. Hazel is in for way more than she bargained for.

This book was so good! The beginning feels a little repetitive but it soon picks up towards the finale at the end. And y’all the ending is pretty dark. Please make sure to read any trigger warnings if you are sensitive to that type of thing. I figured out who the bad guy was about 3/4 of the way through but definitely wasn’t expecting just HOW bad they really were.

Thank you @netgalley @poisonedpenpress and @danielgmillerauthor for this advanced copy!

Thank you to Daniel G. Miller, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Orphanage by the Lake!

2.5/5

This book had a really interesting concept which is what I think kept me reading. I felt like this book was missing some big clues and/or something else to tie everything together. The main character is a wreck and while the woman who hires her as a PI should give her a break, I just had a hard time believing that someone who seemed to be in such a touch spot would have the attention span to put all the clues together. Not to mention, she's kinda of a jerk to her best friend/roommate who she knows is basically in love with her.

I know there's a sequel, but I don't feel super pressed to read it right now... maybe some day.

This was a quick, enjoyable read. The plot was twisty, though predictable at times. A little more character development would have been a plus, it felt somewhat like jumping in a few chapters into the book. It was still quite enjoyable. Watching the dynamic between Hazel and Kenny will be interesting!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book!

I really enjoyed it. I think the dark atmosphere was perfect for the mystery of the book and what was happening with the principal plot.

I do think the pace was a little slower than I'd have liked, but as the final chapters went by, I found myself really intrigued by everything that was happening. Also, the main plot was really big and dramatic and sad!!!

The mystery had potential, but it relied a little too hard on happy coincidences. Like… more than 20 years and no one figured this out? 5 private investigators, police and they are all useless? Really? Hazel practically got a cheat code from Mia’s roommate: “Here’s a key, a map, and maybe a flashlight for the vibes.” And she still nearly bumbled it. For a private investigator, her intuition is about as sharp as a spoon. Good pacing, interesting setup, but the plot logic needed a bit more... detective work.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

Hazel Cho a 30yr old Korean woman who works as a PI is waiting for a big shot case that will help her get out of the slump that her career is in and is in desperate need of cash to survive and to prove herself.

Then enters Madeline Hamsley a rich socialte from NYC to find her missing Goddaughter Mia who went missing from the orphanage six months ago.

Despite the case being open and active there has been no lead to help her missing case which leads Madeline to the doors of Hazel and offer her insane amount of money and all things necessary to support her investigation ONLY IF SHE FINDS HER IN 10 DAYS or loose everything she have without a single Penny from her.

Yes that's the catch but Hazel in the need to survive and prove everyone along with Madeline wrong about her career choices she takes the bait.

But will it be that easy to find Mia who has gone missing six months back??

The first half of the book was very convincing and full of thrill with the fast pace, the tension and the attacks on Hazel but as the story progresses it turns confusing like how can you go on dates with someone while having a sword hanging on your head?

The end though could have been more appropriate if not rushed. Nevertheless it's a good read for beginners especially.

And while I could guess the culprit and the twist in the very beginning of her investigation, let's see if you can.


Toodles 💕

The Orphanage By The Lake is a chilling mystery that blends suspense, eerie atmosphere, and a strong, determined heroine. As private investigator Hazel searches for a missing orphan, what begins as a simple case spirals into a dark and haunting journey filled with cryptic clues and unsettling truths. Daniel G. Miller weaves tension and intrigue with skill, keeping readers hooked as secrets unfold and danger closes in. A compelling read for fans of gothic thrillers and slow-burning mysteries.

This is the perfect spooky creepy read for fall - it will keep you engaged and guessing until the end.

The FMCs work ethic at best was sketchy. Madeline was just odd and her character made no sense. I loathed the way the FMC treated her male best friend when she knew he had a crush on her and she talked to him about how hot the men were. I found that wild and so rude. not to mention her priorities were to chase men and make self depreciating comments about herself which left a bad taste. Then i find it was a white man who wrote about a female Korean FMC and I don't think he used a sensitivity reader so that was kinda yucky. Content warnings need to be added. Rape, Emotional abuse, unhealthy relationships, child trafficking, death, Eating disorder?? fat shaming??? and assault on minors/pedophilia just to name a few. Overall it felt like the handling of the more sensitive topics was extremely poor. I wasn't the most into the book but it wasn't a bad read.

This was a fast-paced, easy read. Would be good for a brain break from heavier or more literary books. I feel mixed about my experience with this book. Nothing was problematic or off-putting, but I finished reading and felt "meh." I wanted more of the orphanage storyline, I didn't really relate to the main character.

i’m disappointed to say that this book was not good. the characters lacked depth, and the story itself was predictable. i almost didn’t finish it, but i continued to push through anyways. the private investigator, hazel, pretty much focuses on whining, being late to things, and drinking sugar-free red bulls. thank you to the author and Netgalley for this ARC, though!

I really struggled getting through this book. It was hard to follow at times. I felt like I now know what it feel like to be inside the mind of someone with adhd. The amount of times I had to go back and reread pages was about 10x too many.

This cover is the perfect vibes. Honestly this book was just epic. It was such a vibe and I was invested the whole time!

Unfortunately, The Orphanage by the Lake didn’t work for me. I found the characterisation to be very comical—more caricature than complex—and I struggled to feel any genuine emotional weight in the story. Everything felt overly signposted, with little left to the imagination or surprise. Everything about the plot developments were predictable, and the writing style didn’t draw me in at all nor held my attention.

I really wanted to connect with the story, but it all felt more like a theatrical re-enactment than real life. The emotional beats didn’t land, and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts reciting lines rather than real people navigating heartbreak or hardship.

That said, readers who enjoy straightforward writing and an easy-to-follow plot may appreciate this book more. But if you're looking for nuance, depth, or a touch of grit, this might not be the story for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Daniel G. Miller for providing me with this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Orphanage by the Lake is a suspenseful and thought-provoking mystery that I genuinely enjoyed and would recommend to fans of the genre. While the story takes a little time to build momentum, once it gets going, it becomes an engaging and emotionally driven read.

Miller does a great job of creating a mysterious atmosphere with a plot that, although somewhat predictable at times, still manages to hold your attention. It’s a clean read overall—there’s minimal gore, with the exception of one brief scene. However, it does address heavy themes such as SA and the abuse of children, so readers should be aware of those content warnings before diving in.

If you’re looking for a mystery that’s gripping without being overly graphic, The Orphanage by the Lake is worth adding to your list.

A fast read with a captivating plot. Maybe not a book that will become a classic but it did what it intended to do, entertain!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an aARC. All opinions are my own.

Despite I have found this book a little predictable it was a really good read. I devoured it in one day and it had all my attention since the beginning. I love thrillers and this one was full of twists, I loved the story line was well developed.

I really enjoyed this! I feel like it was quite slow to start but once it picked up I was IN. I really liked the main character and I am so interested in reading the sequel and continuing to follow along her journey as a PI.

I loved how the mystery all came together in the end.

This is the first book of The Orphanage by the Lake series and what a great start to a series it is. Loved the storyline, a missing girl from an orphanage with many secrets, a private investigator (Hazel) who is struggling to keep her business afloat. Now it is her time to find out what has happened.

This book is a thrilling read with many twists and turns and introduces Hazel as a person who doesn't give up until she finds the truth. I love teh writing of this book, the characters are great and if this book is any indication then the ones to follow should be exciting as well. I can't wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.