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The Orphanage by the Lake #2
The Red Letter
A spine-tingling new suspense-thriller from bestselling author Daniel G. Miller that will keep your heart racing to the last page.
A DEAD BODY. A MYSTERIOUS RED LETTER.
Hazel has everything she wants.
Business is booming at her boutique private investigation firm. She's dating the man of her dreams. Even her perpetually skeptical mother seems impressed. Then the NYPD finds a beloved neighborhood priest dead along with a mysterious red letter.
Hazel investigates the murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the priest wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter...and one victim has ties to a psychopath from a past life that Hazel thought she had buried. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.
As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her. Even worse, Hazel discovers that the only way to find the truth is to open one more...
A DEAD BODY. A MYSTERIOUS RED LETTER.
Hazel has everything she wants.
Business is booming at her boutique private investigation firm. She's dating the man of her dreams. Even her perpetually skeptical mother seems impressed. Then the NYPD finds a beloved neighborhood priest dead along with a mysterious red letter.
Hazel investigates the murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the priest wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter...and one victim has ties to a psychopath from a past life that Hazel thought she had buried. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.
As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her. Even worse, Hazel discovers that the only way to find the truth is to open one more...
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2025
834 people are currently reading
33839 people want to read
About the author
Daniel G. Miller
6 books556 followersDaniel G. Miller is a bestselling thriller and adventure novelist. When he's not writing, he enjoys contemplating the "what-ifs" of the world, traveling and celebrating with his wife, and sitting on the couch like an ogre watching NBA basketball. He currently lives in Boca Raton with his wife, Lexi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
August 2, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Daniel G. Miller, a captivating psychological thriller in which Miller skillfully blends suspense and dark intrigue. Although I could follow the story easily, I highly recommend starting with the first book, The Orphanage by the Lake, to avoid spoilers and improve the overall experience.
In The Red Letter, our protagonist, Hazel Cho, takes her growing private investigation business to the forefront. When she agrees to probe the mysterious murder of a priest—an act driven by friendship—she uncovers a chilling pattern: another victim, also targeted in a similar manner, receives a red letter containing Bible verses just before their death. The plot thickens as a third person falls prey to the same eerie fate, raising Hazel’s urgency to solve the case before she becomes the next target of the elusive serial killer.
I devoured this book in just two days! Its adrenaline-fuelled, dark, and twist-filled story kept me hooked from start to finish. Hazel’s character truly stood out—her unexpected vulnerability perfectly balanced her resilience and toughness. The ending offered a satisfying resolution, even though I had guessed the murderer's identity. This is a compelling whodunnit suspense thriller, and I eagerly look forward to more of Hazel’s intriguing cases. Highly recommended!
I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.
In The Red Letter, our protagonist, Hazel Cho, takes her growing private investigation business to the forefront. When she agrees to probe the mysterious murder of a priest—an act driven by friendship—she uncovers a chilling pattern: another victim, also targeted in a similar manner, receives a red letter containing Bible verses just before their death. The plot thickens as a third person falls prey to the same eerie fate, raising Hazel’s urgency to solve the case before she becomes the next target of the elusive serial killer.
I devoured this book in just two days! Its adrenaline-fuelled, dark, and twist-filled story kept me hooked from start to finish. Hazel’s character truly stood out—her unexpected vulnerability perfectly balanced her resilience and toughness. The ending offered a satisfying resolution, even though I had guessed the murderer's identity. This is a compelling whodunnit suspense thriller, and I eagerly look forward to more of Hazel’s intriguing cases. Highly recommended!
I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 2, 2026
"A spine-tingling new suspense-thriller from bestselling author Daniel G. Miller that will keep your heart racing to the last page. A DEAD BODY. A MYSTERIOUS RED LETTER."
How creepy! This reminded me so much of the movie "The Fallen" and the red barrette left at each serial killer's site taunting the investigator or even "The Little Things" both starring Denzel Washington. The author's first in the series "The Orphanage by the Lake" is one of my favorite books, so it was a no brainier to request this one. This one also entails the character Hazel, who is a private investigator. Her love and determination is contagious carrying you quickly to solve her quest. This is also a serial killer, which is chilling with a string of murders tied to her past. If that wasn't enough, he leaves behind a red letter. The first victim is a priest whose faith and power will play an important role. I had no idea where this one was going so the ending was shocking. Hazel can trust no one when she realizes they are coming for her. The suspects list grows as well as her speculations and determination, even when it becomes gut wrenching and heart breaking.
Well-written!! Good job to the author for making book#2 just as inquiring and spine tingling as the first. It is not necessary to have read the first one to be entertained. I'm excited for #3!!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
How creepy! This reminded me so much of the movie "The Fallen" and the red barrette left at each serial killer's site taunting the investigator or even "The Little Things" both starring Denzel Washington. The author's first in the series "The Orphanage by the Lake" is one of my favorite books, so it was a no brainier to request this one. This one also entails the character Hazel, who is a private investigator. Her love and determination is contagious carrying you quickly to solve her quest. This is also a serial killer, which is chilling with a string of murders tied to her past. If that wasn't enough, he leaves behind a red letter. The first victim is a priest whose faith and power will play an important role. I had no idea where this one was going so the ending was shocking. Hazel can trust no one when she realizes they are coming for her. The suspects list grows as well as her speculations and determination, even when it becomes gut wrenching and heart breaking.
Well-written!! Good job to the author for making book#2 just as inquiring and spine tingling as the first. It is not necessary to have read the first one to be entertained. I'm excited for #3!!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2025
✨ Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: trust no one, suspense
🎶 Song: all the good girls go to hell - billie eilish
📖 Favourite Quote: "The world’s going to try and break you. The only choice you got to make is if you’re going to let it."
📚 Would I recommend? maybe.
💬 Final thoughts: the unlikeable side characters is what brings the rating down for me.
In the package:
📦 eerie mail
📦 strong FMC
📦 heart-racing moments
A priest is found dead with a mysterious red letter, which causes private investigator Hazel to be pulled into a chilling string of murders tied to her buried past. As she closes in on the killer, they are also closing in on HER.
This was a decent thriller that kept my attention throughout the book! The ending felt a little rushed considering how well-paced the majority of the book was. I felt so bad for the FMC, she could not catch a break throughout the whole book and was put through the ringer 😭 This is the second book in the series; however it can be read as a standalone. The author did a great job briefly tying in details from the first book so you don't feel confused. I definitely didn't see the twist coming, I really thought I had it figured out but I was SO wrong!
My only issue with this book is the side characters, I didn't find them very likeable and they were annoying at times.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: trust no one, suspense
🎶 Song: all the good girls go to hell - billie eilish
📖 Favourite Quote: "The world’s going to try and break you. The only choice you got to make is if you’re going to let it."
📚 Would I recommend? maybe.
💬 Final thoughts: the unlikeable side characters is what brings the rating down for me.
In the package:
📦 eerie mail
📦 strong FMC
📦 heart-racing moments
A priest is found dead with a mysterious red letter, which causes private investigator Hazel to be pulled into a chilling string of murders tied to her buried past. As she closes in on the killer, they are also closing in on HER.
This was a decent thriller that kept my attention throughout the book! The ending felt a little rushed considering how well-paced the majority of the book was. I felt so bad for the FMC, she could not catch a break throughout the whole book and was put through the ringer 😭 This is the second book in the series; however it can be read as a standalone. The author did a great job briefly tying in details from the first book so you don't feel confused. I definitely didn't see the twist coming, I really thought I had it figured out but I was SO wrong!
My only issue with this book is the side characters, I didn't find them very likeable and they were annoying at times.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
September 1, 2025
⁀➴༯ 𝟑.𝟓/𝟓 ★ ★ ★ ⭑
𓂃₊ ⊹- ❝𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙹𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙹𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙴, 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝙱𝙴 𝙹𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙴𝙳: 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙼𝙴𝙰𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙼𝙴𝚃𝙴, 𝙸𝚃 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝙱𝙴 𝙼𝙴𝙰𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙴𝙳 𝚃𝙾 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙸𝙽.❞ .⋆♱⃓ ⛪︎
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- So this was a new author I decided to try and I must say I decently enjoyed this. Honestly i’m kind of for the whole religious fanatic psychotic serial killer thing going on here. I will say I did have to take off points for some things but overall this wasn’t too bad. I also obviously rebuke this vibe of religious psychosis murderers too LMFAO (づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ ✟.
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- Now i’m always a bit…thrown by men writing women POV’s or women characters in general because it feels cliche, unrealistic, and downright not believable or relatable. However, i think if there’s any genre for a man to do it in, it would probably be Mystery/Thriller because I found it to be quite fine here. Nothing really stood out to me about the FMC but she wasn’t annoying either which might be a win in my book these days ദ്ദി˙ ᴗ ˙ ). The story is easy to follow and though I found it a bit slow for a while it substantially picked up probably half way in. I liked that the killer in the end was unexpected (for me). It’s way more fun when you can’t guess the person in these types of books.
𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: I’m usually pretty slow at guessing plots so don’t look to me for accuracy on predictability sorry (ᵕ•_•).
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- What wasn’t so hot about this book were a few things. Obviously the slow-ish half of the book but I have a personal gripe with how a lot of stereotypes were pushed here. It’s all in good fun yeah but it just seemed unnecessary.
𝙀𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜:
Mr. politician Kenny with the Texan Ｙｅｅｈａｗ 𐚁 and the Ｇａｈ-ｌｅｅ(๑>•̀๑). Like why are we…doing that?? I’m not from Texas but they aren’t like that. We can skip the theatrics when we mention southern people thanks.
or the line about Momo who’s a Japanese woman. “𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝘿𝙪𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖 “𝙝𝙚𝙛𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣.” LIKE OH MY GOD WHY ARE WE DOING THAT LMFAO??? I could be grasping at straws but historically we’re SO used to seeing blatant stereotyping, racism etc in literature that saying that and also making Momo the soft spoken, meek, Japanese woman who gets flustered when she doesn’t know the answer to a question, sticks to doing all the work she’s given, and just so happens to have a mother who is a sushi artist back in Japan feels…unironically weird. Whether it’s benevolent or not it definitely appears micro aggressive sorry ( ._. )"".
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- Another side note to add is that it feels like you almost HAVE to read the book before this to understand the references and considering this is a separate case I kind of dislike that. But then again these may not be marketed as a stand alone in a series and are meant to be read in order. I just hate Mystery/Thrillers being synchronized sometimes. But that one might be on me because I just randomly saw this and picked it up…BUT ANYWAYS!!! ⋆˙⟡
❥- I think if someone is just looking for a new author to try in this genre then this book wouldn’t be a bad choice. I could see myself going back to read the first book to this one despite the misgivings I have with this it! Yes, I believe in second chances ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ !
❝𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙲𝙰𝙽 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝙱𝙴𝚁𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳 𝙱𝚈 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙽'𝚂 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴𝙳𝙾𝙼. 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙲𝙰𝙽 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 𝙱𝙴 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴 𝙸𝙵 𝙸 𝙰𝙼 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴.❞ ݁ᛪ༙ 𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖
𓂃₊ ⊹- ❝𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙹𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙹𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙴, 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝙱𝙴 𝙹𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙴𝙳: 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝙼𝙴𝙰𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙼𝙴𝚃𝙴, 𝙸𝚃 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝙱𝙴 𝙼𝙴𝙰𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙴𝙳 𝚃𝙾 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙰𝙶𝙰𝙸𝙽.❞ .⋆♱⃓ ⛪︎
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- So this was a new author I decided to try and I must say I decently enjoyed this. Honestly i’m kind of for the whole religious fanatic psychotic serial killer thing going on here. I will say I did have to take off points for some things but overall this wasn’t too bad. I also obviously rebuke this vibe of religious psychosis murderers too LMFAO (づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ ✟.
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- Now i’m always a bit…thrown by men writing women POV’s or women characters in general because it feels cliche, unrealistic, and downright not believable or relatable. However, i think if there’s any genre for a man to do it in, it would probably be Mystery/Thriller because I found it to be quite fine here. Nothing really stood out to me about the FMC but she wasn’t annoying either which might be a win in my book these days ദ്ദി˙ ᴗ ˙ ). The story is easy to follow and though I found it a bit slow for a while it substantially picked up probably half way in. I liked that the killer in the end was unexpected (for me). It’s way more fun when you can’t guess the person in these types of books.
𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: I’m usually pretty slow at guessing plots so don’t look to me for accuracy on predictability sorry (ᵕ•_•).
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- What wasn’t so hot about this book were a few things. Obviously the slow-ish half of the book but I have a personal gripe with how a lot of stereotypes were pushed here. It’s all in good fun yeah but it just seemed unnecessary.
𝙀𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜:
Mr. politician Kenny with the Texan Ｙｅｅｈａｗ 𐚁 and the Ｇａｈ-ｌｅｅ(๑>•̀๑). Like why are we…doing that?? I’m not from Texas but they aren’t like that. We can skip the theatrics when we mention southern people thanks.
or the line about Momo who’s a Japanese woman. “𝙃𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄’𝙢 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝘿𝙪𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙗𝙤𝙩. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙨. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖 “𝙝𝙚𝙛𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣.” LIKE OH MY GOD WHY ARE WE DOING THAT LMFAO??? I could be grasping at straws but historically we’re SO used to seeing blatant stereotyping, racism etc in literature that saying that and also making Momo the soft spoken, meek, Japanese woman who gets flustered when she doesn’t know the answer to a question, sticks to doing all the work she’s given, and just so happens to have a mother who is a sushi artist back in Japan feels…unironically weird. Whether it’s benevolent or not it definitely appears micro aggressive sorry ( ._. )"".
✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦ ✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
❥- Another side note to add is that it feels like you almost HAVE to read the book before this to understand the references and considering this is a separate case I kind of dislike that. But then again these may not be marketed as a stand alone in a series and are meant to be read in order. I just hate Mystery/Thrillers being synchronized sometimes. But that one might be on me because I just randomly saw this and picked it up…BUT ANYWAYS!!! ⋆˙⟡
❥- I think if someone is just looking for a new author to try in this genre then this book wouldn’t be a bad choice. I could see myself going back to read the first book to this one despite the misgivings I have with this it! Yes, I believe in second chances ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ !
❝𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙲𝙰𝙽 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝙱𝙴𝚁𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳 𝙱𝚈 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚃𝙴𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙽'𝚂 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴𝙳𝙾𝙼. 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙲𝙰𝙽 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 𝙱𝙴 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴 𝙸𝙵 𝙸 𝙰𝙼 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙴.❞ ݁ᛪ༙ 𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖
August 7, 2025
I felt blue after finishing "The Red Letter".
😰☹️😩
WHY?
My expectations were set sky high after finishing the author's debut novel, "The Orphanage by the Lake" #1.
In "The Red Letter", there were waaay too many shout-outs about the protagonist's experiences in "The Orphanage by the Lake".
References to the "Time After Time" song and the protagonist's recovery from the trauma were excessive.
In addition, the book's "multiple bodies found with a mysterious red letter" storyline failed to intrigue me.
To the author's credit. I enjoyed the book's final twist.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Michelle Lee.
Kudos to Michelle Lee for another outstanding performance.
August 22, 2025
I opened up The Red Letter completely blind, with zero expectations, and got sucked into a sharp, suspenseful thrill ride that kept me flipping pages like my life depended on it. This was my first dip into Daniel G. Miller’s work, and definitely not my last.
Hazel Cho, our main character, is the kind of protagonist who sticks with you, not because she’s flashy, but because she’s smart, sharp, and just the right amount of stubborn. The story starts off at a leisurely pace (think: slow simmer rather than instant boil), but trust me, it’s worth the wait. Once it gets going, it really gets going.
I didn’t see the ending coming at all, which is a rare and beautiful thing, and Miller’s writing is quietly clever, layered, and confident. You can tell you’re in the hands of someone who knows exactly what they're doing. I hope this is only the second of many Hazel Cho mysteries to come. I’m officially hooked.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 Poisoned Pen Press 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 #netgalley 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.
Hazel Cho, our main character, is the kind of protagonist who sticks with you, not because she’s flashy, but because she’s smart, sharp, and just the right amount of stubborn. The story starts off at a leisurely pace (think: slow simmer rather than instant boil), but trust me, it’s worth the wait. Once it gets going, it really gets going.
I didn’t see the ending coming at all, which is a rare and beautiful thing, and Miller’s writing is quietly clever, layered, and confident. You can tell you’re in the hands of someone who knows exactly what they're doing. I hope this is only the second of many Hazel Cho mysteries to come. I’m officially hooked.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 Poisoned Pen Press 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 #netgalley 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣.
June 11, 2025
I loved book number 1 (the orphanage by the lake) and I was so happy to see more from Hazel! I really like her character so it was fun to dive back in.
Book number 2 did in fact not disappoint (phew), i feel like the author really fleshed out the additional characters this time making the side characters more interesting. As always a surprise twist at the end which caught me off guard, in the first book I started to piece together the twist around the 70-80% mark but this time I was left befuddled!
If you like strong female leads who are stubborn and resilient then you’ll like Hazel, she’s been through the wringer but that never stops her from continuing on. I was happy to see this stayed true to her character arc throughout book 2.
Thank you for the gifted copy, as always I recommend both books in this series!
Publishes - July 22nd
Book number 2 did in fact not disappoint (phew), i feel like the author really fleshed out the additional characters this time making the side characters more interesting. As always a surprise twist at the end which caught me off guard, in the first book I started to piece together the twist around the 70-80% mark but this time I was left befuddled!
If you like strong female leads who are stubborn and resilient then you’ll like Hazel, she’s been through the wringer but that never stops her from continuing on. I was happy to see this stayed true to her character arc throughout book 2.
Thank you for the gifted copy, as always I recommend both books in this series!
Publishes - July 22nd
July 8, 2025
Well, I am definitely a Hazel Cho fan!! It was exciting to see a continuation of her probate detective business and story. This story is a very good thriller, but at times will bring you to tears. I am hoping that the saga continues!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 31, 2025
Last year, I read Orphanage by the Lake, and I have anticipated The Red Letter since then!
I was not at all disappointed, and I am thankful to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review 4 months before the release date.
I adore Hazel, and my heart truly broke for that woman again. She is a tough cookie if you ask me. And the killer, holy moly, this one left my mouth hanging. Daniel Miller took me for a spin and left me hanging all alone at the end of this book. The characters were well-developed this time, and even the side characters were incredibly interesting. This was a 5 star read!
I was not at all disappointed, and I am thankful to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review 4 months before the release date.
I adore Hazel, and my heart truly broke for that woman again. She is a tough cookie if you ask me. And the killer, holy moly, this one left my mouth hanging. Daniel Miller took me for a spin and left me hanging all alone at the end of this book. The characters were well-developed this time, and even the side characters were incredibly interesting. This was a 5 star read!
October 29, 2025
My girl Hazel Cho is back! Loved her character in book 1, and she didn’t loose her momentum one bit. This time, she’s investigating a serial k!ller that is leaving letters for their victims before carrying out the final act. Someone is arrested, but is it the wrong person? Hazel is recruited to put her private investigator skills to the test and as this story unfolds, she definitely finds out some secrets, lies, & deception that simply had so many layers it will give you whiplash!
Really enjoyed the audiobook, the narrator did a great job and portrayed Hazel’s character to perfection! Overall a great addition to The Orphanage By The Lake series. Would love to see Hazel in a book 3!
Really enjoyed the audiobook, the narrator did a great job and portrayed Hazel’s character to perfection! Overall a great addition to The Orphanage By The Lake series. Would love to see Hazel in a book 3!
January 14, 2026
Confused but entertained? I didn’t realize there is a book that comes before this so that might have been why
July 26, 2025
#ad much love for my advance copy @poisonedpenpress #partner
🆃🅷🅴 🆁🅴🅳 🅻🅴🆃🆃🅴🆁
“FOR WITH WHAT JUDGMENT YE JUDGE, YE SHALL BE JUDGED; AND WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU AGAIN,” (p. 50).
“Prison is an expensive way of making bad people worse,” (p. 147).
^ I would say it also makes good people who made a bad choice worse, or innocent people worse too. They treat people like cattle, refuse them medical attention, force them to live in horrid conditions, and so much more.
I loved The Orphanage by the Lake and could not wait to read this follow up book and it did not disappoint. Oof! Love this author. Always a fun read. Can be read as a standalone.
Hazel’s private investigator business is booming and she’s doing better than ever. Now one of her old friends wants her help. She doesn’t think her client is guilty but her case is embarrassing, she needs an alternative suspect or evidence that proves he’s innocent.
This time, a priest has been murdered - killed by poisoning. The poison tetrodotoxin that’s found in puffer fish is the murder weapon. This is one murder that will be hard to pinpoint who really committed the crime. It could have been anyone. But the prosecution is pinning it on Sam. A Black kid named Sam who worked for the priest.
Sam goes on trial for the murder in 6 days - Hazel needs to figure out who killed Father Kenneally - Sam’s life depends on it.
This was a fantastic whodunit thriller that I couldn’t put down. Miller’s writing is engaging and he always keeps us on our toes. Hazel is a force to be reckoned and I fully enjoyed being immersed in her world again.
𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
✓ Kalief Browder RIP♥️ - If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary of his life you NEED to. It’s about the Justice System but also so much more than that. It’s sick what the prosecution did to this young man. JUST SICK, FK THEM!
✓ Happiness Dies Here sign
🎧: Also listened to the audio and enjoyed it. Michelle H. Lee does a fantastic job bringing this story and the characters to life. She has one of those voices that you can imagine the story playing out in your head as she narrates. I can’t remember listening to anything by her before but she’s def at the top of list of most loved narrators now.
Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
🆃🅷🅴 🆁🅴🅳 🅻🅴🆃🆃🅴🆁
“FOR WITH WHAT JUDGMENT YE JUDGE, YE SHALL BE JUDGED; AND WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU AGAIN,” (p. 50).
“Prison is an expensive way of making bad people worse,” (p. 147).
^ I would say it also makes good people who made a bad choice worse, or innocent people worse too. They treat people like cattle, refuse them medical attention, force them to live in horrid conditions, and so much more.
I loved The Orphanage by the Lake and could not wait to read this follow up book and it did not disappoint. Oof! Love this author. Always a fun read. Can be read as a standalone.
Hazel’s private investigator business is booming and she’s doing better than ever. Now one of her old friends wants her help. She doesn’t think her client is guilty but her case is embarrassing, she needs an alternative suspect or evidence that proves he’s innocent.
This time, a priest has been murdered - killed by poisoning. The poison tetrodotoxin that’s found in puffer fish is the murder weapon. This is one murder that will be hard to pinpoint who really committed the crime. It could have been anyone. But the prosecution is pinning it on Sam. A Black kid named Sam who worked for the priest.
Sam goes on trial for the murder in 6 days - Hazel needs to figure out who killed Father Kenneally - Sam’s life depends on it.
This was a fantastic whodunit thriller that I couldn’t put down. Miller’s writing is engaging and he always keeps us on our toes. Hazel is a force to be reckoned and I fully enjoyed being immersed in her world again.
𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
✓ Kalief Browder RIP♥️ - If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary of his life you NEED to. It’s about the Justice System but also so much more than that. It’s sick what the prosecution did to this young man. JUST SICK, FK THEM!
✓ Happiness Dies Here sign
🎧: Also listened to the audio and enjoyed it. Michelle H. Lee does a fantastic job bringing this story and the characters to life. She has one of those voices that you can imagine the story playing out in your head as she narrates. I can’t remember listening to anything by her before but she’s def at the top of list of most loved narrators now.
Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
August 5, 2025
The Red Letter is the sequel to the orphanage by the lake. This book follows Hazel Cho a private investigator on a further case, but this time much closer to home relating to those around her. As the story unfolds it leaves hazel in a sense of who can she trust, as she closes in on the killer it is clear the killer also has plans for her too.
I loved the twists and turns with this book with an ending I really didn’t see coming. I thought several times I had it all figured out but I was way off. A great sequel and a good story line that is definitely worth reading.
What did I enjoy - it’s always hard when reading a sequel knowing where it will take you but this book delivered so well. I liked the character development from the first book, the growth of Hazel and there were so many quotes in this book I really enjoyed.
What didn’t I enjoy - it started a little slow but as I got a third of the way through it really picked up pace.
Overall - I enjoyed this book, the writing style, the twists and turns and the overall story line. It was a great sequel to the orphanage by the lake. I’d highly advise reading book one before picking this up as it will make much more sense.
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
I loved the twists and turns with this book with an ending I really didn’t see coming. I thought several times I had it all figured out but I was way off. A great sequel and a good story line that is definitely worth reading.
What did I enjoy - it’s always hard when reading a sequel knowing where it will take you but this book delivered so well. I liked the character development from the first book, the growth of Hazel and there were so many quotes in this book I really enjoyed.
What didn’t I enjoy - it started a little slow but as I got a third of the way through it really picked up pace.
Overall - I enjoyed this book, the writing style, the twists and turns and the overall story line. It was a great sequel to the orphanage by the lake. I’d highly advise reading book one before picking this up as it will make much more sense.
4 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
September 27, 2025
I couldn't wait for this to end
One of the worst books I've ever read. The dialogue was terrible. Monologues were terrible. The storyline and plot were weak and the reveal was lackluster. So obvious. I have a hard time "DNFing" books because I need to see them through, but I wish I hadn't wasted my time.
Daniel, what happened? "Orphanage by the lake" was so good, and I've been waiting for this sequel to come out.
Sad to say this was a letdown.
One of the worst books I've ever read. The dialogue was terrible. Monologues were terrible. The storyline and plot were weak and the reveal was lackluster. So obvious. I have a hard time "DNFing" books because I need to see them through, but I wish I hadn't wasted my time.
Daniel, what happened? "Orphanage by the lake" was so good, and I've been waiting for this sequel to come out.
Sad to say this was a letdown.
September 14, 2025
Not as good as the first book… I predicted the ending pretty easily. Much less gripping as well. The character development of Hazel seems a bit silly as well. She was all the sudden a high roller and dating the mayor of New York that was really weird to me
April 28, 2025
3.5⭐️s
This was a quick crime thriller I quite enjoyed. I thought this story line was unique and I liked the characters in the story whether they were the good or bad guy. I didn’t read the orphanage by the lake but I did not find that took away anything from this book.
Hazel a PI investigates a murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the victim, a priest who received a red letter wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.
As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC
Publication date :July 22 , 2025
This was a quick crime thriller I quite enjoyed. I thought this story line was unique and I liked the characters in the story whether they were the good or bad guy. I didn’t read the orphanage by the lake but I did not find that took away anything from this book.
Hazel a PI investigates a murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the victim, a priest who received a red letter wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.
As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC
Publication date :July 22 , 2025
August 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The ending kind of ruined it from being higher rated..
The ending kind of ruined it from being higher rated..
June 2, 2025
Hazel Cho is back & thriving, well sort of. Professionally, things are better than ever. She’s hired a couple of people and is even in a relationship. A friend from college asks her to take on a case that brings back the bad memories from the last huge case Hazel was a part of.
Luckily, she never backs down from a challenge.. but what will it cost her?
I loved the first book and knew I’d love the second one just as much. I can’t wait to see if Hazel takes us on another journey in the future.
Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy!
Luckily, she never backs down from a challenge.. but what will it cost her?
I loved the first book and knew I’d love the second one just as much. I can’t wait to see if Hazel takes us on another journey in the future.
Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy!
August 20, 2025
3.5 stars!
I loved the story line, but the ending bummed me out a bit. it felt really, really rushed & lacked detail for me.
I wish we could have learned / heard more about Mary & her upbringing & the path that lead her to where she was, doing what she did. I would’ve even loved to hear more about her time in the convent.
The epilogue was touching though! lol
I loved the story line, but the ending bummed me out a bit. it felt really, really rushed & lacked detail for me.
I wish we could have learned / heard more about Mary & her upbringing & the path that lead her to where she was, doing what she did. I would’ve even loved to hear more about her time in the convent.
The epilogue was touching though! lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
Great thriller book! Once again Hazel has taken on another tough difficult case and has her work cut out for her. Not once did I have an idea of who the killer was. The author does a stellar job of letting you know what’s going on inside Hazel’s mind. If you haven’t read Orphanage By The Lake I suggest you read that first.
January 2, 2026
I did not know this was the second book in a series when I picked it up. While there’s one line that kind of eludes to what happened on the first, you don’t need to read the first one. I’m about to pick up the first one right now.
This book was a fun true crime. I had no clue who it could be.
This book was a fun true crime. I had no clue who it could be.
December 8, 2025
3.5ish it was okay liked part one better..
August 22, 2025
Literally felt like I was watching a movie! Such an easy and interesting read for a murder mystery & I really did not expect the plot twists! So so good I highly recommend :)
December 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
May 25, 2025
DEAD BODY. A MYSTERIOUS RED LETTER.
Hazel has everything she wants.
Business is booming at her boutique private investigation firm. She's dating the man of her dreams. Even her perpetually skeptical mother seems impressed. Then the NYPD finds a beloved neighborhood priest dead along with a mysterious red letter.
Hazel investigates the murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the priest wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter...and one victim has ties to a psychopath from a past life that Hazel thought she had buried. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.
As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her. Even worse, Hazel discovers that the only way to find the truth is to open one more...
Thanks Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC!
Hazel has everything she wants.
Business is booming at her boutique private investigation firm. She's dating the man of her dreams. Even her perpetually skeptical mother seems impressed. Then the NYPD finds a beloved neighborhood priest dead along with a mysterious red letter.
Hazel investigates the murder as a favor to an old friend and discovers that the priest wasn't the only recent murder victim to receive a red letter...and one victim has ties to a psychopath from a past life that Hazel thought she had buried. One by one, the red letters continue to appear, and with every letter, another killing, each more mysterious than the last.
As Hazel closes in on the killer, the killer closes in on her, and Hazel begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her. Even worse, Hazel discovers that the only way to find the truth is to open one more...
Thanks Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC!
July 19, 2025
3.5 stars
The Red Letter by Daniel G. Miller is the first in the PI Hazel Cho series, set in New York. Hazel is looking for the murderer of a priest.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I continue to love Hazel Cho. I love her determination, and her love of life. Even through grief, and past trauma, she picks herself up and finds a reason to carry on. I think she could do with a "little" less rudeness.
It was a good thing she took on more staff, because her last book showed she had no business sense. This series needed more characters anyway. I'm not a fan of her biological family members, but in the end, they are there for her. I do, however, love Kenny.
The book looked at faith. It also looked at power, and what it does to some people. I don't usually like books about religion or politics, but these didn't bother me in this book.
You can still tell that this series is written by a man, simply by how "attractive" women find almost every man they meet in these books. The author should stay away from romance from a woman's point of view.
Again, though, this book had a really good plot, and although I had guessed the actual perpetrator a little sooner than Hazel had, there were enough other suspects to keep me interested..
Overall, it was a fast and entertaining read. Although the topic ended up being dark, it felt like a light mystery. I already have the next book, so....
Anyway, until next time....
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/ .
March 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve been waiting for the second book in Hazel’s story for a while, and I must say—it did not disappoint! From start to finish, this book was packed with twists and turns that kept me on edge. But what truly made this story unforgettable was the emotional depth. Hazel’s journey was already compelling, but the heartbreak…It was gut-wrenching, and I felt every ounce of her grief.
The writing pulled me in, making me feel like I was right there with her, experiencing every shock, loss, and revelation. Now, I’m left wondering—what will Hazel do next? I need to know if there is a next book ASAP!
Thank you to NetGallery and Poised Pen Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review
I’ve been waiting for the second book in Hazel’s story for a while, and I must say—it did not disappoint! From start to finish, this book was packed with twists and turns that kept me on edge. But what truly made this story unforgettable was the emotional depth. Hazel’s journey was already compelling, but the heartbreak…It was gut-wrenching, and I felt every ounce of her grief.
The writing pulled me in, making me feel like I was right there with her, experiencing every shock, loss, and revelation. Now, I’m left wondering—what will Hazel do next? I need to know if there is a next book ASAP!
Thank you to NetGallery and Poised Pen Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review
June 5, 2025
DNFing at 20% as it didn't hold my attention! I didn't finish the first one but thought I would give this one a chance and didn't make it any further than the first. It has great potential, but it wasn't for me! I think I have decided this author just isn't one I'll enjoy, but it doesn't mean they won't be for others!
August 12, 2025
Idk… 2.5-3 ⭐️ Just felt like it was too obvious who the killer was
December 3, 2025
This little nugget is perfect if you are in a reading slump and you need a juicy little thriller to get you back on track. This was a fun little read. Now I’m mad that I didn’t save it for my reading slump 🤪
The suspense was really good and the FMC wasn’t a shabby little wussy who shriveled up in a corner to just let things happen all around her. You have murder, suspense, intrigue, all the typical stuff you would find in a good popcorn thriller. Super fun! I’ll save his first book for my reading slump and will definitely read more of this authors’ work. Move over Mrs. Freida, I found a new one! 4⭐️
The suspense was really good and the FMC wasn’t a shabby little wussy who shriveled up in a corner to just let things happen all around her. You have murder, suspense, intrigue, all the typical stuff you would find in a good popcorn thriller. Super fun! I’ll save his first book for my reading slump and will definitely read more of this authors’ work. Move over Mrs. Freida, I found a new one! 4⭐️
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