Female private detective on a case to find a missing girl. Not a lot of suspense and the mystery did not get fully developed. This book is a set up for the potential next book in the series. This was an ok read.

This was not at all what I expected and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. It was fine but not necessarily remarkable.

I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. Absolutely not. The writing was insufferable and the main character fr irritated the hell out of me. Tbh I was bored. Nothing was exciting.

This really was not one of my favorite books. I should rate as a 2.5 than a 2. I downloaded thinking it was going to be a great read but was disappointed. The main character was very annoying to me but not in an intentional way that made the story better. The title really didn't fit the book. The characters had no depth. No suspense was ever built from chapter to chapter. Plus I have LITERALLY NEVER seen a more obvious villain EVER in reading a mystery book. It was clearly no surprise who was behind everything. Also not the best closing line on a book. IMO, I don’t recommend this book.

So many great thrillers coming up. One to watch for is the Orphanage by the Lake by Daniel G. Miller. It was great.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed this one minus a few hiccups. The lead female fell short in the suspense and thrill category but it was nice to see a female playing a private investigator role.

It wasn’t overly suspenseful but had enough to keep you wanting to turn the page and find out how it ended. I suspected who the villain was before it was revealed but the author did a great job tying everything together.

Overall 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I haven’t read anything by this author before but I was intrigued by the title of the book and the description. The main character, a private investigator, is a bit of an airhead but she seems to do her job well enough to keep up with the bills. She is approached by an obviously well off woman in search of her goddaughter who has gone missing from a girls orphanage in upstate New York. She is given a deadline and told if she finds the girl by then she’ll be paid an exorbitant amount of money but if she fails she’ll not receive any compensation at all. The story follows through all the investigating she does and the conclusions she makes. There are lots of possibilities and the author kept me guessing about what was actually happening. If you like a good mystery you’ll probably like this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was one of my most anticipated reads, but the execution just didn't do it for me. It's a fast paced and easy read, but it was very slow and the twist just didn't work for me.

The Orphanage by the Lake is a suspenseful page turner. It kept me guessing the outcome from the start. I really like the main characters of Hazel and Kenny. I am looking forward to reading book number two in the series

The cover and the title held hopes of an atmospheric and gothic tale which this was not. However, I embraced it for what it was, which was a light hearted detective novel for the first three quarters. I found it interesting enough to keep reading but not compelling. I was then thrown to discover that the final quarter of the book led to dark and gritty content, which would be a suitable part of the plot if the rest of the book had been of this nature. This was a mixed bag which didn't work for me but would probably be enjoyed by some readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for the copy of The Orphanage by the Lake, this review reflects my personal thoughts.

Hazel Cho is a private detective in need of money and clients. She shares an apartment with her flatmate Kenny in Chinatown, one she's not sure she'll be able to afford for much longer. It’s at that moment that a new client approaches her with a new case and a lot of money. And also a very tight deadline. Hazel throws herself into the search of a young girl that has mysteriously disappeared from a Children's Home (a fancy Orphanage if you will). There have been many PIs before her and none of them have managed to crack the case. With her client breathing down her neck and finding herself caring more than she expected for this missing girl we see Hazel navigating a web of lies and deception that takes her in some dangerous directions.


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought the author's biggest strength were the descriptions. They were to the point but not too obvious in their wording. They felt very vivid and managed to give a great idea of the scene and characters. This really helped flesh out the whole cast of characters and bring them to life. The mystery itself was good, not the highlight of the novel, but it was really well developed and paced. The main character's efforts to solve the case felt authentic to a real PI's (not that I have any real knowledge about what that entails). The solution was not expected and satisfying.
Sure, there were some parts that were not very well explained, or some harder to believe behavior, but overall I thought the writing really helped bring everything together and made it really easy to overlook the parts of the novel that might not make that much sense (which aren't a lot to begin with).
The last thing I want to talk about is the protagonist. I thought Hazel was a really successful main character. She's the relatable girl that is actually relatable because the author is not trying too hard to make her one. She's really competent at her job, and we're shown this in many occasions instead of only being told, which makes it a lot easier to believe. She's also consistent throughout the story, she's likable but not perfect. She's a bit of a mess but also organized and intelligent. All of this makes her likable and an easy to root for.

Overall I think this books walks the line of a classic mystery and a high stakes thriller. I would recommend this to any mystery lover as a really enjoyable read, (considering I finished it in a single train ride) that will keep you glued to the pages for the plot, and also thanks to the writing.
I really hope we'll see more of Hazel Cho in the future because I am already ready for more.

I didn't love The Orphanage by the Lake. It moved too slow and couldn't grab my attention. The main character Hazel was not described in much detail and without really understanding her it was hard to relate. I like to feel invested in the story. More character development is what I look for in a novel. I have spent loads of time in Lake George, it's very touristy and has a major fun park and shopping outlets that bring in millions of strangers. I guess there would've been more about that in the book.

The Orphanage by the Lake has been caring for young girls for decades. Girls who lost parents, girls who never knew parents. The headmaster feels that a stellar education, some enrichment, rules and routines will help these girls grow into productive citizens. Most do, but over the years, there have been many unexplained disappearances. Time to bring in a private detective to see if she can shed any light on the latest missing girl.
Hazel is the latest PI brought in to shed light on the situation. Hazel discovers there is something sinister happening, but who is the mastermind?
Intriguing story, with several twists and turns along the way.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am planning on giving it a 4-star review on Goodreads. It was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that I didn't want to put down. The plot development was at a good pace, and I enjoyed the twists and turns of the narrative. Overall, I would recommend this to others and cannot wait to read the second book in the series.

Mixed feelings about this one. I enjoyed the eerie orphanage setting and could easily envision it and the atmosphere it envoked. The descriptions of the roommate's cooking made me hungry. every. time.

I struggled greatly with the characters themselves. I have never encountered a more jumpy, clueless PI. Spotting the villain (and the why) was much to easy. I still enjoyed the story but had it been any longer, I probably would have DNF'd it. Great potential but just didn't hit it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love Hazel!!! What a great story! Love reading about her Korean heritage and her roommate’s cooking. She is a very believable character who is trying to find her way in the world and wonders if her profession is really right for her. Was fun trying to figure out who the bad guys were and the ending is perfect. I want more of Hazel and her roommate’s adventures!

On the shores of Lake George, New York lies St. Agnes' orphanage for girls. For the last 25 years, girls have been disappearing but no one, including the Administration, local Sheriff's department or community members have really investigated. Now along comes Hazel Cho, a Korean-American private eye who is desperately trying to pay her bills and avoid having to move back home with her parents. Hired by a wealthy Manhattan socialite who claims to be looking for her missing goddaughter, Mia, Hazel has just 10 days to find the girl in order to be paid $100,000. No results equals no pay, so Hazel is desperate to solve this case. What she doesn't realize is that this case is a lot more complicated than just finding a missing teenager and that her own life will be on the line as well.
With plenty of plot twists, characters who are not who they appear to be and suspicious activities surrounding the case, Hazel manages to shine through. She may not be a first-rate P.I. just yet, but she's certainly attracting attention! I look forward to more cases with Hazel Cho.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

The Orphanage by the Lake is a good book. I really hope that it's the first in a series. I don't love reading first person and was turned off at first, but the likeable characters and intriguing plot kept me invested. The ending is somewhat predictable; however, it wasn't rushed like so many are lately.

A very slow moving mystery, good for a rainy or snowy day. Hazel Cho is a private investigator who follows the clues to a mystery none of us would want to find. The evils of man kind at it worst with people who think they are above the law.