3.59 AVERAGE

rissa_b's review

5.0

This book was incredibly written!! It gives nothing away until necessary but keeps you waiting to read to find out what happens next!

rpsantos's review

4.0

A very good page turner with a predictable end.

This was such a great easy read that had me breezing through just so I can know what’s happening. Not a slow burn at all. It had me suspicious of everyone and It even had me suspicious of the victim themselves.

Sadly, the author started using cliches. I won’t go into what they are since they’re spoilers but the special attention given to how the protagonists feels about some of the characters is a big tell. If this is your first mystery book, then by all means, you might be surprised. But if you are even slightly aware of misdirection tropes, then I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

Regardless, it’s still a good book and the ride to the end can’t be discounted. It was hella fun and I highly enjoyed it.

janineroberts777's review

3.5
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
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carleyhammers's review

3.0
adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

debuffs's review

3.5
adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kelpharm's review

5.0

I have to say that this book was a pleasant surprise. Hazel was a very real, very flawed character that you found yourself rooting for all the way through. The pace was fast, the mysteries complex and the twist at the end surprising. It was a story about finding yourself, your true friends and who you can trust. I am looking forward to the next one!
wesblackburn123's profile picture

wesblackburn123's review

5.0

Lots of twists and turns! Quick read that gets your heart rate up at certain parts! Loved it
catearca's profile picture

catearca's review

4.0
mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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.
bambi_luvvv's profile picture

bambi_luvvv's review

5.0
adventurous challenging dark emotional lighthearted mysterious tense 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: Yes

harmony92's review

2.0
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No