"They call him the Bay Area Killer, she called him Daddy'

There is something about this that just gives me nightmares and reels me. I am not generally a lover of detective style books, but there was just something about this one that had hooked after I read this on the cover. I requested it via ARC and it has been sat on my list for a while.

Margot Phalen, aka Megan Finch is a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department who has spent her whole life trying to forget who she really is. Her father was the infamous Bay Killer, the most famous serial killer twho terrorised women in America. She has fought hard to change her identity and right his wrongs, by getting other guys like him off the streets. She gets a call from his lawyer telling her that her Dad wants to meet her as he has been transferred to death row at San Quentin. She really does not want to see him again or go back to that little girl who idolised her father and still can't quite come to grips with his crimes. He promises if she visits him, he will tell her all about his last victim which nobody else knows about and other unknown details of his crimes.

Torn between wanting to get justice for his victims and their families, and really not wanting to be in the same room as him, Margot knows she will go visit him and get the information he offers. But at what cost.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book, it had me gripped. I really like the way the author wrote about what a loving and doting father he was to Megan (his favourite) it is hard to believe he turned into the monster know as the Bay Area killer. The flow and pace of the book was good, taking you back in time to Ed carrying out his crimes then back to present day. This is the first book. I have read by the author but I will definitely look out for her in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a strong start to a new series! This is a well-written police procedural with compelling characters and layered investigations. I really enjoyed that there were multiple cases unfolding, which added depth and kept the story engaging.

My only critique is that the conclusion of the main storyline felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic. Still, the overall experience was solid, and it definitely left me wanting more. I’d absolutely recommend picking this one up, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Interesting read, would definitely read more of this series and recommend! 5 stars

I LOVED this book so much!!! I got this copy from Netgalley and was so excited to read it! This is about a woman who you guessed it, is a serial killers daughter! I loved that it went from her present day to him killing in the past. It really kept me interested throughout the whole book! There was never a dull moment. This is a series so I have already started book number 2!!

*The Killer's Daughter* by Kate Wiley is a dark, gripping thriller that keeps you on edge. The mix of family drama and suspenseful twists makes it hard to put down.

This is the first book in the series featuring Detective Margot Phelon and it had me completely hooked. We learn that Margot is the daughter of Ed Finch, a notorious serial killer who has killed at least seventy six victims. She was fifteen years old when he was convicted and is still traumatised as she realised that she had been with him when some of the murders took place. She has since changed her identity and has never seen him since he was convicted and does not want to ever do so. Margot and her partner Wes are called out to investigate the gruesome murders of the Ramirez family but they soon realise from a family photo that the son is missing. While investigating this case Margot receives a call from an unknown number. It is her father’s lawyer stating that he wants to talk to her about a murder that no one knows about. Margot is totally horrified at the thought of having to come face to face with him after all these years. Can she face her own demons to help another family discover what happened to their daughter. I was totally gripped with this book and cannot wait to read the second,book in the series . A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Srorm,a publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received this as an ARC from storm publishing.
Well written, totally hooked from pretty much first chapter and was so drawn into story line brought the second book when it was released.
Well thought out plot and characters, nice new spin on the thriller cop procedural books.

This book was seriously a great read. It was a nice physiological thriller that kept my attention throughout the whole read. The story follows a young woman, haunted by the legacy of her father's violent crimes, as she struggles to break free from his shadow. The author skillfully weaved tension and suspense throughout the book and created a chilling atmosphere that kept me on edge. The Killer's Daughter is an intense, fast-paced read that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

3.5/5

I think the idea behind this was good but could have been executed a lot better, took me a while to read as the story didn’t grip me like I thought it would.

Thank you for Netgalley, author and publisher for a copy of this book.

Loved it and can't wait for the next one!

5/5

Absolutely loved this. I liked that it was 3 story’s in 1. Margot’s character is strong and I wanna know more about her n her dad. Give me 78.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this. 5 stars and I’d definitely recommend

I knew I had to request this as soon as I read the description! I’m so glad I did! The story follows the daughter of a serial killer who is also in law enforcement. Quick read!

There is a potential serial killer committing heinous crimes and our main character is called to investigate. Because of this, her father wants to discuss the cases with her… potentially to help solve and stop what’s happening.

This book was perfectly fine but didn’t leave a strong impression. The storyline was engaging enough to keep me turning the pages, but it didn’t offer any particularly memorable moments or twists. It’s a decent choice for a light read when you don’t want anything too challenging or exciting.

"The Killer's Daughter" by Kate Wiley takes up the very familiar trope of a police inspector who is the offspring of a serial killer. In this book, it is Margot Phelan who has to overcome the trauma she has undergone ever since she knows that her father is a notorious serial killer who has killed 70 young women. She is a homicide detective and only a select few people know about the truth of her family, her partner Wes Fox one amongst them.

When her father expresses his desire to meet her in exchange for information regarding one of his unknown victims, Margot gives in to it despite the many reasons not to do it. Her team meanwhile investigates the murder of almost an entire family, with a sole survivor, namely the son of the family. We also get a glimpse into the chaotic life that a police officers with Margot also looking to solve the many disappearances of hikers over the years.

Kate Wiley has created a book which is surely a worthy addition to the psychological thriller formats of story telling. This story consists of interesting characters and the authors decision to make the investigation aspect of it very real helps the book to set itself apart. This book is basically an introduction into Phelan and the many people who are in her life, with slight insights into her father.

Wiley has created interest and I would like to know what happens next in this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. Although this book grabbed me from the first page, I must admit I was a bit let down with the “serial killer Dad in prison contacting his now law enforcement daughter dangling a carrot of details to solve a murder” scenario, as I recently finished another novel with that twist. However, although the same, this one was different and I felt myself drawn to this storyline and the main characters. Therefore, don’t let that stand in your way of reading this wonderful novel, because you will be missing out if you don’t read this one.

The first book in Detective Margot Phalen series and it promises to be a brilliant series. I found the book very hard to put down once I started reading. Looking forward to more books by this author and in the series.

I just finished reading "The Killer's Daughter". It's a very, very intense book. It is very easy to find ourselves in a place of intense darkness. But despite the terrible stories we find in serial murders, we can always learn something. It's worth reading.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book.

I found this book to be a quick exciting read, I really enjoyed the aspect of seeing the after effects done to family members of someone who had committed crimes. This story being told from the perspective of the daughter and seeing how she’s tried to distance herself from all things her father. One could say she may or may not have done a good job of this since she became a homicide detective and spends her time hunting down people like her father. Maybe in doing her job and finding justice and helping people could alleviate some guilt of be associated with someone who did horrible things? Would say this is a great book for those who enjoy mystery/thriller cop books with some razzle dazzle moments that make you go “well I don’t like that”.

The Killer’s Daughter by Kate Wiley is the first in the Detective Margot Phalen  series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Storm Publishing and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

Series Information:
Detective Margot Phalen is a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department.  Her father was the notorious serial killer Ed Finch, and at one point Margot's name was Megan Finch.  For obvious reasons, she changed it.   Very few people know her true identity. Over twenty years have passed, but Margot is still trying to forget the fact that her father is a serial killer.  Her partner is Wes Fox, and their Captain let Wes in on the secret, because sometimes Margot has some emotional set-backs.  Margot also has a brother (now called David), who has not fared well either.
 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Margot and Wes are called to the scene of a horrific crime.  A man and his wife, their daughter, and a friend of their daughters have been murdered in the family home.  It isn't long before Margot realizes that their young son is missing.  Something isn't adding up.

Margot is also helping fellow detective Leon Telly on a case where the body of a young woman was found in the woods, dead from multiple stab wounds.   That one is reminding her a little too much of her father's work.

Meanwhile, her father's lawyer calls.  Ed Finch, after 20 years in a New York prison, has been transferred back to the Bay area....and he wants to see Margot.  He will tell her where to find Victim #77.  She calls FBI Special Agent Andrew Rhodes, who became a father-figure to her throughout her ordeal as the daughter of a serial killer.  Together, they decide to visit Ed in prison.

 

My Opinions:
This was quite good.  I've read a number of "serial killer daughter" books in recent years, but this one held some surprises.  

The story is told from Margot's perspective, but also from her father's perspective during his reign of terror.

The plot, although somewhat familiar, had some interesting twists.

I really liked Margot, and really appreciated how the author looked at her mental health, and appropriately (I thought), gave her anxiety issues.  It felt real.   I also liked the banter between Margot and Wes.  Wes seems to be the voice of reason.  As well, I liked the relationship between Margot and Andrew, and Margot and Leon.  The author created some very intriguing characters.

 Overall, it was a rather dark tale (most serial killer novels are), but I am looking forward to Book 2 (which I already have, since I'm behind on reading this one....)