"The Killer’s Daughter" by Kate Wiley proved to be a riveting 5-star read! At the center of this gripping story stands Margot Phalen, an SFPD detective with a haunting past. As the daughter of the notorious serial killer Ed Finch, Margot grapples with her troubled past as she navigates through the complexities of her career.

The tale unfolds as Margot and her partner, Wes Fox, are thrust into the midst of a chilling crime scene—an entire family brutally murdered in their own home. This grim discovery sets the stage for a series of investigations that Margot must confront head-on.

I was thoroughly captivated by "The Killer’s Daughter" and am eager to explore more of Kate Wiley's work. The narrative primarily unfolds through Margot’s perspective, interspersed with chapters delving into Ed Finch's sinister past, depicting his methods of tracking, torturing, and killing his victims during the 1980s. While not excessively graphic, these chapters may be triggering for some readers. Through Margot's journey, we gain profound insights into the psychological struggles of being raised by a notorious killer.

One of the highlights of the book for me was the dynamic between Margot and Wes—a partnership filled with tension, trust, and unspoken secrets. Their evolving relationship added depth and intrigue to the story. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in this series.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Kate Wiley, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This is the first time I read a book from this author. While the writing style wasn't really my cup of tea, I still enjoyed reading everything Margot went through, her feelings and how they came to close that case. I'm guessing the second case will be picked up in the sequel ?

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by this author. I throughly enjoyed this book. It intertwines several crimes together which is always interesting. I will read more books by her. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

Lots of fun, 3 cases to keep you guessing and keep the interest peaked. A fab main character you can’t help but root for & all the true crime goodness you could ask for tied up into this fun little thriller

I really enjoyed this book. I love Margot character and found her relatable. I’d recommend this and I can’t wait for number two. My first book by this author so I may need to look at her others

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC. I enjoyed the story and the characters in it. A bit bummed that Leon's case wasn't solved though!

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. Detective Margot has a story to hide, which is very well written against the backdrop of her investigations into the murder of a family, and then unknown women whose bodies were discovered buried. Alongside her partner Wes and also Leon she soles these mysteries. The link to her own past is also unravelled in parts. I could feel her stress and torments as the author has made an excellent job of writing her character. I am looking forward to the next instalment of her story. Not always an easy read, but definitely a must read. Recommended to lovers of crime fiction.

Happy #caturday 🐈💚

As a long time fan of this author (under a different pen name) I was excited to see them come out with a crime mystery/thriller, so I knew right away I needed to pick this one up!

THE KILLERS DAUGHTER cleverly weaves several crimes together and includes a few twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Margot is such an interesting character and I can’t wait to see how her story progresses throughout this series!

Thank you to netgalley for my #arc!

This was a good book. I’m glad I was able to get a copy.

The character build is great and the relationships between Margot, Wes and Leon are caring.

I liked the fact Margot had essentially three cases going on at the same time. It made it so you didn’t get bored with the book.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers. Great read.

This was a huge surprise to me as to how much I loved it. It's the first of the series and I hope we get to see many more. Told by dual POV the killer and the daughter. What I liked the most about this book was the writing style. It kept me reading and wanting to know more.

This compelling and well-written story delves into the tale of infamous serial killer Ed Finch, known as the Classified Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area by murdering seventy-six young women in the 1980s and 1990s. Twenty-two years after his incarceration, his daughter, now Detective Margot Phalen, seeks to distance herself from her dark past, but her father's presence threatens to unravel her efforts.

Megan Finch, now Margot Phalen, has strived to move on since her father's arrest and their family's relocation under new identities. However, Ed Finch's recent transfer to death row at San Quentin brings him closer to Margot, and he demands to see her. Despite her reluctance, Margot faces a dilemma when her father promises to disclose more secrets in exchange for her visit, particularly as she investigates a new murder case in a national park.

This gripping narrative unfolds through the perspectives of both Margot and Ed, alternating between the past and present. Margot grapples with her troubled history, while Ed remains an unrepentant killer. While the story can be dark and intense, it offers a captivating thriller that is sure to engage readers. I eagerly anticipate the next installment in this series.

A big thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for review purposes.

This was a very emotional story based around a young woman, daughter of a serieal killer , who becomes a police detective. Her life is trying ti make reparation for his actions and make a life for herself. The story isn't finished yet but it is a fascinating story

In the backseat, the baby cried as Ed Finch, America’s most notorious serial killer, disappeared into the trees. Now, twenty years later, his daughter Margot is a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department, trying to forget her dark past. But Ed won’t let her forget. Transferred to death row at San Quentin, he has a message for Margot, offering secrets about his victims in exchange for a visit. Torn between fear and the need for answers, Margot faces her father, hoping to glimpse the man he once was and uncover the truth.

A thrilling thriller with surprising turns, “The Killer’s Daughter” is ideal for lovers of Gregg Olsen, Karin Slaughter, and Robert Dugoni. This novel is a great illustration of how a well-written thriller should be. I’m intrigued by the story surprise and can’t wait for more.

This novel is fast-paced and has a lot of promise, in my opinion. Anyone interested in delving into the dark mystery and thriller genre should read it. I was left wanting more from Wiley’s masterful cliffhanger finish and excited for more of the series novels. Ed and Margot’s points of view alternate. Ed’s chapters take the reader into the past and the psyche of a serial murderer, while Margot maintains us in the present.

Margot is the daughter of a serial killer Ed Finch. She is also now a homicide detective.
Then her father wants contact. Margot has tried to put the past behind her but this is the chance for another family to find their missing daughter. Is she able to put her grievances aside to help find another victim or is the pressure to much.
This is a riveting read and very fast paced .

I liked the premise of a detective who is the daughter of a really bad guy. It's been done recently, and it's great motivation for wanting to try to put things right in the world.
Margot has moved and changed her name to try to escape her past while trying to make up for it. When her father's attorney calls, she's surprised because he's been moved closer. Should she cooperate with him to try to help some of his victims find closure?
The book deals with issues like responsibility and survivor's guilt. Moving back and forth in time, the story fills in details of the events leading up to current times. I wasn't always engaged but I liked Margot, so I'll probably read the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

As soon as I started reading this book, I was flying thru the pages to see what happened to the Ramirez family. I loved the two storylines between learning about Ed Finch and Margots' case. Excellent book, and Iooking forward to reading this sequel!

I have never read a book by this author but they will now be on my favourites list.
This book has many facets and if you love to unpick charachters and understand how they tick ,this is one of those books.
The complexity of Margos life is due to who her father is and the repercussions of what he did have personal consequences that do not stop just because he is behind bars.
Trust issues,panic attacks and the fight for justice give this ook an edge that you do not want to put it down
Fabulous.

3.75 stars

“Could she revive that connection now that it suited her?”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read The Killer’s Daughter. I had a lot of fun reading it and I’ll talk more about that below!

“Because he genuinely seemed to give a shit how she was doing? How dare he? What a prick.”

I enjoyed reading The Killer’s Daughter! I thought it was interesting to read from the perspective of a murderer’s child, despite knowing that it’s probably not a unique trope. I don’t think it matters on the uniqueness of a trope, because at least this book is the one to introduce me to it! It also had a lot of dry humour; which I loved and appreciated so much! I’d do the occasional chuckle, and I’d also be so immersed into the book, I don’t notice that my reading sprint is over.

“If the secrets she was looking for were written there, she didn’t yet have the vocabulary to read them.”

I thought it was really interesting reading from the father’s perspective. It was very unsettling. Like reading about the trust those women had in him, it was very disturbing. I also liked reading about how he regarded his family. Okay, it’s messed up saying that, but I found that really interesting. He has a daughter. And he even taught her how to defend herself. Like this is next level messed up and again, so interesting to read and try to understand what he was thinking.

“Any time she had a negative thought toward someone, or a violent urge, she wondered if the darkness that piloted him was in her too.”

As I mentioned the father, we need to talk about the daughter too. I don’t read too many adult mystery books of main characters older than 30 so it was intriguing to read how Margot acts even after all these years. She was difficult to understand even though we’re reading from her perspective. I do see though, of the complexity being the child of a serial killer. The way she held herself and talked to the people in her life? It just was really intriguing to read and it was fun reading from her perspective.

“She felt a pang of kinship with him, and that recognition made her feel sick to her stomach.”

Now about the main mystery. The plot, if you will. It was gory and really disturbing to read. The kills and how it all played out was wild. I think I did see part of the twist coming, but it still surprised me nonetheless. I can’t say too much about it because I don’t want to spoil too much of the main plot, but it was a wild ride. I want to say that it was a little slow at first, but I think it was more slow in the middle. It felt like there was a redundancy that leaves a plot hole (not really, but I’m not satisfied and this is how I feel it is, so I’m keeping it) and that just doesn’t sit right with me.

“Married meant used up, meant damaged goods.”

I feel like I’ve spoken enough about The Killer’s Daughter, and I have Her Father’s Secret downloaded, so I’m excited to read more of Margot Phalen!

Enjoyed this story with many facets… two murder cases ( one unsolved by the end), plus a personal connection of the detective to her farpther’s sordid serial killer history. Now I need to read the next book.

The Killer's Daughter by Kate Wiley is the first book in the new Detective Margot Phalen Series and I loved it......It was a gripping crime thriller with lots of twists and turns that will have you gripped from the beginning till the very end. Which made a great start to a very promising new series, I am so glad I found a new series to get my teeth into.
Especially as I like the new character Detective Margot Phalen.

I am looking forward to the next book within this new series.

I highly recommend this new series.

Big Thank you to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and Kate Wiley for the opportunity to read and review The Killer's Daughter.