The Orphanage by the Lake
Genre: Psychological crime thriller
Publication: February 26, 2024 (Penguin/Poisoned Pen Press) booknotification.com+11penguin.com.au+11bookclubs.com+11
Private investigator Hazel Cho is on the brink of failure when glamorous client Madeline Hemsley hires her to find Mia—a missing orphan from St. Agnes, known locally as “The Orphanage by the Lake.” What starts as a standard missing-child case soon spirals into a tangled web of blood, symbols, corrupted authority, and chilling secrets—Madeline’s included.
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Private investigator Hazel Cho meets with client Gene Strauss in her Manhattan office to present proof of his wife’s affair. Gene refuses to accept the evidence and storms out. Moments later, Hazel is approached by Madeline Hemsley, a tall blonde woman who asks her to track down her missing goddaughter, Mia Ross. Mia, whose parents died in a car accident, disappeared six months earlier from the Saint Agnes care home in Lake George, New York. Though both police and private investigators have come up empty, Madeline promises Hazel $100,000 if she can locate Mia within a week.
Hazel heads to Lake George, where she learns from local police that other girls have vanished from Saint Agnes. At the home, she’s welcomed by director Sonia Barreto and begins interviews with staff. Suspicion falls on headmaster Dr. Thomas Mackenzie, music teacher Mr. Goolsbee, and security manager Neil Painter. A clue from Mia’s roommate—a photo marked with a Dionysus symbol—pushes Hazel deeper into the mystery.
As Hazel follows leads, she discovers a disturbing pattern of missing girls linked to wealthy families with homes around the lake. With help from her childhood friend and roommate Kenny Chun, she uncovers ties between Saint Agnes and an underground organization known as the Dionysus Theater. Along the way, Hazel navigates police corruption, violent threats, and the growing suspicion that Madeline has been keeping secrets—especially when she admits Mia is actually her daughter.
Hazel’s investigation eventually leads her to Andrew DuPont, a charming stranger who lures her into a trap. She uncovers his role in running the Dionysus Theater and discovers that Sonia Barreto is also complicit in trafficking girls. Captured and nearly killed, Hazel fights back, using her wits and courage to survive until police arrive—tipped off by Kenny. Mia and the other girls are freed, Sonia is arrested, and Andrew is dead.
In the aftermath, Hazel collects her reward from Madeline, while Mia begins a new life with her mother. Hazel, shaken but resolute, agrees to take Kenny on as her assistant—setting the stage for her next case.
Fun Facts
Author’s Debut Series Starter: Though Miller previously wrote the Tree of Knowledge fantasy series (2021–23), The Orphanage by the Lake marks his thrilling entry into mystery/crime.
Highly Praised Protagonist: Hazel’s sharp wit and vulnerability invite comparisons to Gillian Flynn’s complex characters and Lisa Gardner’s thrillers.
Star-Studded Praise: James Patterson called Hazel “irresistible” and Darcy Coates praised the book’s twists.
Character Analysis
Hazel Cho
is the novel’s protagonist, a Korean American private investigator in New York City. She is a complex character whose actions are driven by a need to find justice for others following a traumatic past where she was raped in law school. Isolated and blamed by her family and friends, she was inspired by a private investigator named Perry Johnson to pursue a career in law enforcement’s external justice system.
Initially, Hazel is struggling financially and professionally, viewing her dilapidated office as a reflection of her stalled life. However, taking on Madeline’s case becomes the catalyst for her transformation. She evolves from an insecure, disorganized woman to a confident, successful, and financially secure professional. A key moment in her growth is her apology to and acceptance of help from her friend Kenny, signifying she has learned the importance of accepting support. By the epilogue, she is organized, confident, and ready to face the future with her new assistant, Kenny.
Madeline Hemsley
acts as both a catalyst and an antagonist in the novel. Initially, she appears as a wealthy, entitled white woman whose “pointed” demeanor is dismissed by Hazel as arrogance. She micro-manages the investigation with absurd deadlines and harsh criticisms.
The revelation that the missing girl, Mia, is actually her daughter allows for a reinterpretation of her behavior. Her “haughtiness” is exposed as a defense mechanism protecting a mother desperate to find her child. By the end, Madeline demonstrates significant growth by defying her family’s expectations, committing to raising Mia, and showing that beneath her rigid exterior is a mother who “cares and is trying.”
Kenny Shum
is Hazel’s childhood friend, roommate, and a secondary protagonist. He is studying to become an NYPD officer and shows his affection for Hazel by cooking her meals. His character dances on the fine line between protective and “stalkerish,” monitoring her location via an app and displaying jealousy when she dates Andrew. Ultimately, his persistent care saves Hazel’s life. As he states, “My stalkerishness finally paid off.” His reward is a new role as Hazel’s official assistant, underscoring the theme of the importance of accepting support.
Dr. Thomas Mackenzie
is the headmaster of Saint Agnes orphanage. His dour seriousness and strange behavior initially make Hazel suspect him. He enforces strict rules, disallowing cell phones and internet access for the girls, and resists installing security cameras, creating an environment of order, cleanliness, and modesty that Hazel finds “sadistic.” Despite his genuine affection for the girls, his desire to protect his legacy and the institution makes him somewhat culpable. He obstructs the investigation and creates the conditions for the trafficking scheme to continue unchecked.
Sonia Barreto
the director of child services at Saint Agnes, acts as an antagonist and is an epitomic example of Appearance Versus Reality. She presents a charming, confident, and caring facade that immediately impresses Hazel, who wishes Sonia could be her own mother. However, this mask conceals an evil, craven manipulator who coordinates the sex trafficking scheme. Sonia is driven by delusion, greed, and resentment, believing the young girls who wished for fame were merely paying a price for their ambition.
Andrew DuPont
is an antagonist who also represents the theme of Appearance Versus Reality. Hazel is immediately dazzled by his handsome looks and seemingly chivalrous behavior. He presents himself as a kind, if lazy, trust fund kid with a tragic past. However, his entire persona is an act designed to mask his true, depraved nature as a rapist, pedophile, and kidnapper. His behavior is enabled by his wealthy father, whose model of abuse and entitlement he seeks to follow.
Robert “Bobby” Riether
Detective Bobby Riether is a foil and secondary character, representing the sincere side of law enforcement. He is a small-town detective cliché with a “James Dean energy.” Unlike the manipulative men in Hazel’s life, Bobby is incredibly sincere and committed to justice, openly sharing that he was pressured to close the Mia case. He is rewarded for his integrity by Hazel’s interest in him and his decision to take a leave of absence to question his place in a corrupt system.
Drink Pairings
Pair the suspense with a fitting drink:
Dark & Stormy – The spicy rum-ginger interplay mirrors Hazel’s unsettling discoveries.
Smoky Mezcal Margarita – Complex, smoky swirl reflecting layers of deception.
Chamomile & Honey Tea – A calming contrast to the novel’s tension.
Other Books by Daniel G. Miller
The Tree of Knowledge (2021) – A young adult fantasy where myth meets modern teens.
The Tree of Life (2023) – Follow-up exploring family and mystical quests.
The Red Letter (July 22, 2025) – Sequel continuing Hazel Cho’s journey.
Outfit for a Book‑Club Meeting
Capture the novel’s mood with this ensemble:
Fitted Dark Blazer and Trousers – Sleek, investigative style.
Mercurial Silk Scarf – A pop of color reminiscent of cryptic symbols.
Ankle Boots – Practical yet polished.
Minimal Sterling Necklace – Simple but purposeful, just like Hazel.
Symbols
Food and Cooking 🍳
serve as a motif that reflects the personality and integrity of the characters. The motif is established early on when Kenny offers to cook traditional Korean bibimbap for Hazel, highlighting their cultural bond and his caring nature, while also showing Hazel’s current state of being too distracted and disorganized to prioritize self-care.
Kenny’s Meals (Integrity): Kenny’s preparation of authentic, delicious Korean dishes, such as pajeon (a pancake), symbolizes his good character and honesty; his food tastes as good as it smells.
Andrew’s Meals (Deception): In stark contrast, Andrew’s meals are appealing-looking but poor-tasting (e.g., his pancakes are “dense and dry” ). This symbolizes Andrew’s true, unappetizing nature concealed beneath a charming exterior and reflects his lack of genuine care for Hazel.
Mia Singing “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper 🎤
The song “Time After Time” is a recurring motif representing Hazel’s determination and guiding motivation to find the missing girl, Mia.
Source of Resolve: The lyrics, “If you’re lost you can look and you will find me / time after time,” directly allude to the search for Mia and strengthen Hazel’s resolve to continue the investigation.
Aural Compass: Hazel’s investigation is symbolically spurred on by Mia’s voice singing the song, which she hears in her head at critical moments. The culmination of this motif is when Hazel finally finds Mia, hearing the song in the club before she even sees the girl, proving the song acted as an aural compass that guided her to the conclusion of the case.
Apollo and Dionysus 🏛️
Interpretations of the ancient Greek gods Apollo and Dionysus function as literal and figurative symbols representing the moral dichotomy at the heart of the novel’s themes of order versus hedonism.
The Dichotomy: Dr. Mackenzie’s office displays paintings of the gods. He explains that Apollo symbolizes strength, rationality, and order, which the school strives for, while Dionysus represents the chaotic outside world of weakness, hedonism, and intoxication.
The Perverse Reality: This dichotomy is perverted in the name of the pedophilic sex club, the Dionysus Theater. The club’s use of Dionysian imagery and its motto, “wine and children speak the truth,” alludes to the ancient Greek saying, suggesting a justification for pedophiliac hedonism.
Justification of Abuse: The antagonist, Sonia, twists this dichotomy to justify her actions, claiming the trafficked girls chose “the path of Dionysus” through their selfish desire for fame.
Shaking Leg 🦵
The motif of a shaking leg symbolizes negativity and untrustworthiness, rooted in a cultural superstition.
Cultural Omen: Hazel explains that shaking one’s leg is considered “bad luck in Korean culture”, leading her to chastise her friend Kenny when he does it.
Foreshadowing: The action repeatedly foreshadows danger or deception. The aggressive behavior of a character named Gene is preceded by his legs shaking. Most critically, Hazel’s leg shakes out of anxiety before she leaves for the Dionysus Theater, and Andrew’s leg also shakes in the car, indicating his nervous anticipation of the depraved acts he is about to commit, reinforcing the idea of impending bad luck.
BookClub Questions
How does Hazel’s Korean-American heritage influence her detective work?
Are there early signs of corruption at St. Agnes? When did you first notice them?
Compare Hazel’s investigative instincts to classic noir detectives. What’s unique?
What role do cryptic symbols and unexplained signs play in building tension?
How does the setting (lake, orphanage) amplify the novel’s suspense?
Character & Development
What are your first impressions of Hazel Cho as a private investigator? How does she compare to other detectives you’ve read?
Hazel is navigating both her personal challenges and professional life — how do you think that duality shapes her choices?
Did you find Hazel a reliable narrator? Why or why not?
How did Madeline Hemsley’s presence complicate Hazel’s mission? Did your perception of her change over time?
Which secondary character did you find most intriguing or suspicious?
Themes & Symbolism
The orphanage is set by a lake — how do water and isolation act as metaphors throughout the book?
What role do secrets play in the lives of the characters? Who do you think is hiding the most?
How does the novel explore the idea of identity — especially for those with lost or manipulated histories?
What do the cryptic symbols suggest thematically — are they spiritual, psychological, or symbolic?
The book deals with power dynamics, especially involving institutions like St. Agnes. What commentary is the author making?
Plot & Structure
What did you think of the pacing of the mystery? Were there any red herrings that fooled you?
How does the non-linear progression (memories, flashbacks, reports) add or detract from the tension?
What was the turning point in the story for you, where everything shifted?
Style & Writing
How would you describe the tone and atmosphere of the book? Did it remind you of any other mysteries or thrillers?
Daniel G. Miller uses both elegant and direct language—how does his writing style affect your connection to the story?
Speculative & Reflective
If Hazel were to investigate another case, what would you want it to involve?
What questions do you still have after finishing the book?
If the novel were adapted into a series or film, who would you cast as Hazel, Madeline, and Gregory?
Games & Trivia for the Gathering
1. Clue Pieces:
Prep: Write crime-related clues (e.g., “blood-stained notebook,” “cryptic symbol,” “Madeline’s alibi slip”).
Play: Members draw 3–4 clues and invent a backstory. Vote on the most suspenseful.
2. Truth or Fiction:
Prep: Mix real and imagined facts about the plot (e.g., Hazel has a pet tortoise).
Play: Read statements; participants guess if they’re from the book.
3. Character Tag‑Line Challenge:
Prep: List supporting characters like Sonia, Gregory, Andrew.
Play: Teams create a mystery-style tag line for each—“Who is Gregory Goolsbee?”—either serious or funny.
Final Thoughts
The Orphanage by the Lake masterfully combines tight pacing, layered characters, and a haunting atmosphere. Whether over a chilled Mezcal, a cozy tea, or in lively company, this book promises thrilling discussions and memorable moments. It’s an ideal pick for book clubs and lovers of psychological mysteries.
