The Orphanage by the Lake – Book Review

A MISSING GIRL

AN ORPHANAGE FULL OF SECRETS

Hazel wants a new life.

She’s thirty years old, single, and her private investigation business is months away from folding.

Her luck takes a turn when Madeline Hemsley, a mysterious socialite, pays Hazel a visit with an offer too enticing to resist. An orphan girl has disappeared from a children’s home—The Orphanage By The Lake, as the locals call it—and Madeline wants Hazel to find her.

At first glance, it appears to be a standard runaway case, but as Hazel plunges into the investigation, she finds signs of something more: unexplained blood stains, cryptic symbols, sinister figures shadowing her every move. The more she digs, the more she realizes that The Orphanage By The Lake holds terrifying secrets, and even worse…

…so does Madeline.

Hazel Cho is a struggling private investigator. One day, she gets the biggest case of her life–a woman named Madeline hires her to find what happened to her god daughter Mia. Mia is a gifted singer who is staying in St Agnes, a privileged orphanage in uptown New York but one day, she disappeared from the orphanage. The initial investigation was Mia could have possibly run away. Hazel, tasked with a deadline and searching for Mia discovers many dark secrets about St. Agnes Orphanage and someone doesn’t want her to find Mia.

This was an interesting read. I like the fact that the main protagonist is Korean-American instead of having a usual white American character. The story is fast paced, there were some twists and turns and overall it was well written. The story’s main focus was on police corruption, money which is the backdrop. I like how the author managed to keep the reader in suspense until the end. I also like the unique friendship between the roommates, Kenny and Hazel.

The ending was totally and completely unexpected and overall I actually enjoyed reading this book. I cannot wait to see what Hazel Cho’s next adventure is going to be. Overall worth 4 stars.