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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
From the beginning you are sucked into this whirlwind of twists and turns. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you haven’t. I somewhat predicted the ending as it got closer which I say is always a down fall but my mind typically goes to worst case scenario. The plot makes you not want to trust any of the characters. It’s written well and hard to put down. Only thing that didn’t sit well was the main characters willingness to overlook certain people. She’s a PI and should investigate everyone even if they don’t seem like a threat. Overall, I recommend this thriller/mystery!
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thought this book was good. It is a little dark but the incidents don’t go into overly specific detail so I feel like most people can handle it. It had me interested right from the start.
Liked this but didn’t I love it. I hard a hard time connecting to the main character. I think she felt a little like a caricature instead of a real person. I felt her friendships/relationships a little hard to get behind too.
But I liked the investigation itself, up until the ending which felt like a lot all at once. And pretty much what I guessed. But the steps taken to get there kept me interested and rooting for Hazel.
I’d probably give the next one a try to see if once the series gets going it feels a little bit more organic.
But I liked the investigation itself, up until the ending which felt like a lot all at once. And pretty much what I guessed. But the steps taken to get there kept me interested and rooting for Hazel.
I’d probably give the next one a try to see if once the series gets going it feels a little bit more organic.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Thank you NetGalley and Daniel G. Miller for the ARC of The Orphanage by the Lake.
First I want to give a warning to anyone who reads this book because I was not prepared…. This book contains strong references to rape and sexual assault, especially involving minors. It kind of took me by surprise and came out of no where and the book went from lighthearted fun to really dark super fast, so be warned. It doesn’t go into great detail but there is more than enough implied and if you are a victim as I am, your noggin will in the gaps.
With that being said, this was a very fast and easy read. The beginning was very lighthearted with a lot of comedic moments and sarcastic inner dialogue that it reminded me of a Janet Evanovich book, but then very quickly and with zero warning the book does a 180 and it stops being fun and goes completely dark in the last 15% of the book. Part of me is so thankful for how fun the first 85% was because I almost couldn’t make it through that last little bit, but it lacked a good transition and felt like two completely different books slapped together. It was jarring and I’m unsure how I feel about it because it feels unfinished or unrefined but also the rawness is daring and felt like it was well placed so that the subject matter was made to put the reader in as much of an uncomfortable position as possible, which was definitely achieved. I’m sorry but if this book does not take you completely out of your comfort zone, then there’s a big red flag…
Overall, this book was amazing and kudos to the author for writing about such a difficult subject matter that I don’t think I’ve ever seen done in a book before but doing so with integrity and respect. I’m thankful for this advanced copy and will be looking for more books by this author.
First I want to give a warning to anyone who reads this book because I was not prepared…. This book contains strong references to rape and sexual assault, especially involving minors. It kind of took me by surprise and came out of no where and the book went from lighthearted fun to really dark super fast, so be warned. It doesn’t go into great detail but there is more than enough implied and if you are a victim as I am, your noggin will in the gaps.
With that being said, this was a very fast and easy read. The beginning was very lighthearted with a lot of comedic moments and sarcastic inner dialogue that it reminded me of a Janet Evanovich book, but then very quickly and with zero warning the book does a 180 and it stops being fun and goes completely dark in the last 15% of the book. Part of me is so thankful for how fun the first 85% was because I almost couldn’t make it through that last little bit, but it lacked a good transition and felt like two completely different books slapped together. It was jarring and I’m unsure how I feel about it because it feels unfinished or unrefined but also the rawness is daring and felt like it was well placed so that the subject matter was made to put the reader in as much of an uncomfortable position as possible, which was definitely achieved. I’m sorry but if this book does not take you completely out of your comfort zone, then there’s a big red flag…
Overall, this book was amazing and kudos to the author for writing about such a difficult subject matter that I don’t think I’ve ever seen done in a book before but doing so with integrity and respect. I’m thankful for this advanced copy and will be looking for more books by this author.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
📅 Out 18 March 2025
⭐ 3.5/5
Private investigator Hazel Cho is no stranger to cases involving cheating spouses and insurance fraud, but when Madeline Hemsley, a wealthy socialite, walks into her office with a six-month-old missing person case, Hazel knows this one is different. A girl named Mia vanished from a children’s home known as The Orphanage by the Lake, and Madeline gives Hazel just two weeks to find her. The deeper she digs, the more unsettling the case becomes—cryptic symbols, unexplained blood stains, and shadowy figures watching her every move. Hazel has seen her fair share of deception, but the secrets hidden within the orphanage—and within Madeline herself—may be more dangerous than she ever imagined.
I enjoyed this book, particularly the atmospheric tension and suspense that built steadily throughout. Hazel is a capable, sharp investigator, and her frustration with the mundane side of her job makes her an intriguing protagonist. However, I struggled at times with her character. While she’s clearly intelligent, she occasionally ignores her own instincts in ways that seem out of step with her experience. Her dynamic with Kenny, her childhood best friend and a police recruit, also frustrated me—she knowingly risks his career by involving him in questionable situations without fully considering the consequences. For a lifelong friend, this felt a little careless.
Despite these gripes, this is the first in a series, and I’m invested enough to continue. There’s something compelling about Hazel, flaws and all, and I’m curious to see how she develops in future books.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
#TheOrphanageByTheLake #DanielGMiller #NetGalley #MysteryThriller #HazelChoPI #PoisonedPenPress #BookReview #CrimeFiction #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram
⭐ 3.5/5
Private investigator Hazel Cho is no stranger to cases involving cheating spouses and insurance fraud, but when Madeline Hemsley, a wealthy socialite, walks into her office with a six-month-old missing person case, Hazel knows this one is different. A girl named Mia vanished from a children’s home known as The Orphanage by the Lake, and Madeline gives Hazel just two weeks to find her. The deeper she digs, the more unsettling the case becomes—cryptic symbols, unexplained blood stains, and shadowy figures watching her every move. Hazel has seen her fair share of deception, but the secrets hidden within the orphanage—and within Madeline herself—may be more dangerous than she ever imagined.
I enjoyed this book, particularly the atmospheric tension and suspense that built steadily throughout. Hazel is a capable, sharp investigator, and her frustration with the mundane side of her job makes her an intriguing protagonist. However, I struggled at times with her character. While she’s clearly intelligent, she occasionally ignores her own instincts in ways that seem out of step with her experience. Her dynamic with Kenny, her childhood best friend and a police recruit, also frustrated me—she knowingly risks his career by involving him in questionable situations without fully considering the consequences. For a lifelong friend, this felt a little careless.
Despite these gripes, this is the first in a series, and I’m invested enough to continue. There’s something compelling about Hazel, flaws and all, and I’m curious to see how she develops in future books.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
#TheOrphanageByTheLake #DanielGMiller #NetGalley #MysteryThriller #HazelChoPI #PoisonedPenPress #BookReview #CrimeFiction #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Kidnapping, Abandonment
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes