The Orphange by the Lake was a really good mystery. In it, a private investigator sets out to find a missing girl. I liked the characters of Hazel and Kenny best, but the villians weren't cookie cutters either. The pacing was good, but could have moved a little faster before the climax. There was suspense throught the book. The ending hit hard and fast. I'm happy that there will hopefully be a second book. 4.5 stars rounded to 5 here on NetGalley.

Hazel is a 30 year old Korean PI who's about to be so broke she can't even afford the dump of an apartment she shares with her somewhat stalker-ish roommate. When a wealthy woman offers her a case with a ticking time clock and a huge reward, she cannot refuse. Madeline Hemsley's goddaughter went missing from Saint Agnes Children's Home, and she's giving Hazel 10 days to find her.

This book was a quick read and super engaging. It sucked me right in and kept me hooked until the last page! Even though one of the twists was somewhat predictable, the arguably bigger twist caught me totally off guard! I loved the characters so much and hope the author will give Hazel her own series! She's certainly deserving of one! This book is absolutely a Read It!

Note: I received an ARC of this book, at no cost to myself, from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a great story. Once I started it I couldn't put it down! So many twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Looking forward to reading more from this author

The story follows Hazel, a tenacious and resourceful private investigator, as she works tirelessly to solve the case of a missing girl from a remote orphanage by a lake.

Hazel is a standout character strong, empathetic, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth. Miller does an excellent job of portraying her internal struggles and personal motivations, which adds layers to her character and makes her journey all the more compelling. As she digs deeper into the orphanage’s dark past, the stakes become higher, and the tension mounts in a way that keeps you hooked page after page.
The setting of the orphanage by the lake is atmospheric and eerie, providing the perfect backdrop for this haunting mystery. Miller's writing captures the isolation and tension of the place, heightening the suspense as Hazel uncovers disturbing secrets. The plot is filled with unexpected twists, and Miller keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The investigation itself is intricate and well-paced, with every clue leading to new questions and discoveries. It’s a story about uncovering truths, not only about the missing girl but also about the people involved in the case, including Hazel herself.

If you’re a fan of suspenseful, emotionally rich thrillers, The Orphanage by the Lake is a must-read. Hazel is a remarkable protagonist, and the story is a brilliant blend of mystery and emotional depth that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. Highly recommended

This book was really well written and it was a brilliant crime thriller! I absolutely loved the ending of this book and the suspense was built through out the book!

The chapters were short and punchy which is a massive plus for me, I don't like it when chapters are too long so I enjoyed the fact they weren't long chapters.

This was a pretty straightforward thriller without a ton of crazy plot twists. I will say that the only negative part of this book was everything felt expected and there really wasn’t a shock factor which was slightly annoying. This of course could be totally different for someone else so it’s the worst thing a book has done.

The characters were surprisingly well rounded for a thriller. I appreciated their uniqueness as it helped add depth to the overall plot. Some of the writing felt basic which I felt neutral about. For thrillers I don’t expect a literary masterpiece, but I wish there was some indication of a higher vocabulary and overarching literary themes.

4.5/5⭐️
I devoured this book in no time; I simply couldn't put it down. It was incredibly enjoyable! While the villains and their involvement were fairly predictable, the story remained thoroughly captivating.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed The Orphanage on the Lake. It was a quick PI read. Hazel hung out her PI shingle after a horrible personal experience which caused the once strong woman into self doubt. She is struggling making ends meet as well as questioning her abilities. Along comes a wealthy woman looking for find her goddaughter who disappeared from an orphanage. She engaged the services of other PI’s who never made headway. They either quit or did not meet the time constraints. Hazel takes on the challenge lured by the big financial carrot as well as her drive to find the girl.
This book held my interest throughout. My impression is the author plans to make this into a series. If so, I will definitely look for the next book.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This was an average read about a Private Investigator who is hired to find a missing girl in a set amount of time for a large sum of money. It was a little slow at the beginning, but improved a bit. I'm not a huge mystery reader so this wasn't quite for me, but I feel like there are others that would really enjoy it!!

A plot twist I didn’t see coming. Characters I could easily connect with. And, the perfect ending to a crime ring that’s been impossible to solve. A perfect read.

Given the age group mentioned and where this book was set i knew this book might touch heart plunging subjects. And it did.
Hazel.is a Pi and not having the best of look with getting enough clients. She's almost ready to give up when a beacon comes through the door. The task. To find her clients god daughter. Only thing is she went missing from an orphanage. You can already get a sense that this is going to get dark. This isn't going to be pleasant. And so begins a twisted Web of secrets lies and danger. Possibly for all involved. Hazel has just days to solve this case and more is at threat than just the money.

Unfortunately not for me. There was potential but everything fell flat. The writing was not engaging, the FMC and actually all the characters were terrible. The bad guy was so predictable. The ending was so rushed and just not great.

The Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel Miller is a fast paced mystery that follows PI Hazel Cho who is in a race against the clock to find a missing 13-year old girl. While I guessed some of the twists in the book, I still very much enjoyed the book! I’m excited to read more from this author in the future.

I will begin with possible trigger warnings. This book will mention and discuss: pedophilia, medication abuse.

Hazel is a PI who cannot wait to get high profile cases. She is tired of the little cases that barely pay the bills. To her surprise, one morning she gets the opportunity she has been waiting for.

Madeline walks through her door with a case for her solve. Madeline's goddaughter Mia went missing six months ago from an orphanage. She wants her found. Hazel is offered a large amount of money, and use of a vehicle to find Mia.
This is the break Hazel has been waiting for. Only it comes with a catch. Hazel only has eight days to find Mia or she loses it all.
Will she be able to do this assignment.

This book has so many twists and turns. I could not put it down. Be careful who you trust. You never know who is with you or against you.

The Orphanage by the Lake is a relentless, heart-pounding thriller that plunges you into a shadowy world of buried secrets. I was intrigued by the ins and outs of Hazel (the PI) tenacious investigation, watching her unravel a web of deceit, even when faced with stonewalling officials and menacing threats.

Hazel's determination, coupled with the endearing support of her roommate Kenny, made her a compelling protagonist. I love that this book is a dark mystery and thoroughly enjoyed Hazel’s journey!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you for the ARC!!!!

The writing was overall good.
I actually love to read a lot of thrillers.
And this was a pretty good one. I kind of half guessed the ending- Some of the parts really made me feel disgusted.

I loved Hazel's character. A woman in a male-dominated field where she was trying her best to survive & make a name for herself (AND SHE DID). I was so suspicious of the headmaster and Bobby too but I never really thought that Sonia would be the mastermind of this omg- That was the plot twist for me!!!!

The FMC was likable . Her relationship with her room mate was entertaining . The suspense was good , but the storyline in general was just ok.

I enjoyed his writing style , but felt this was slightly predictable .

This story kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end and had me suspicious of everyone. The main character Hazel is strong and unrelenting. Her own past experiences drive her motivation to help others which only makes her that much stronger. The storyline moves quickly and highly entertaining, making this a quick read.

There were multiple twists throughout, some that I saw coming, and several that still took my by surprise. I was left with some lingering questions at the end of the book, which I don’t love. But I still really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Houndstooth Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Somewhat predictable as i was reading it but when I went to mark it on my Goodreads it said I had read it June of 2024? Fell in love with the characters. Excited for the red envelope sequel and hope the ARC will be offered on here as well.

The Orphanage by the Lake
by Daniel G. Miller
Pub Date: Mar 18 2025

This is my first Daniel Miller book and definitely won’t be my last! The Orphanage by the Lake follows Hazel Cho, a private investigator living in NYC who needs cash to keep her business open and pay her personal bills. Along comes Madeline who wants to hire her services to find her god daughter who went missing from an orphanage six months ago. The thing is Hazel only has so many days to find her or Madeline moves on to another PI.

The story had great potential, interesting characters, it kept me on the edge of my seat as I was suspecting everyone as being the culprit and when I finally found out who the real culprit was I was totally surprised! This is a story I would recommend and I hear there is a second book coming out which I'm looking forward to reading!

Many thanks to #orphanagebythelake #NetGalley and #PoisonedPenPress for providing me with an E-ARC of this fantastic book!