The Killer’s Daughter by Kate Wiley is a great psychological crime suspense story. It is the first book of the Detective Margot Phalen Series. It was a good book that has a lot of surprising and shocking twist from the beginning until the end. It will keep you guessing throughout the whole book too. I read it in two days. This was my first book that I have read of Kate Wiley’s and I want to read more of her books. Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to receive a ARC of this book to read and review.

This was a great thriller about serial killer’s daughter who is now a detective. During this story we go on the journey with her and her partner to solve heinous crimes. During the book, flashbacks of her father’s brutal crimes are described throughout the book. Her father, Ed, is on death row and wishes to see her again. Does she face the monster? What secrets does he have? I enjoyed this thriller, but I felt the endings of each of the cases and the story with her father could have been portrayed a bit better.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm publishing for this eArc for my review

When Homicide Detective Margot Phalan arrives at the scene, she knows it is going to be bad. A man and three women have been murdered; their throats slit. She remembers the pictures from downstairs, where is the boy? As she and her partner Detective Wes Fox investigate, her life spirals out of control when her father, a notorious serial killer, reaches out to her. She had changed her name and wanted nothing to do with the man who had killed so many women years ago. Now, he is offering to tell her the whereabouts of some of his victims, but she must visit him at the prison. The detective in her wants to bring closure to his victim’s families, but the daughter wants to forget who he is and have nothing to do with him. Will she be able to find who killed the family and why and still be able to deal with her father? A little too much for me, at times, but a mystery that will hold your attention until the very end. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

"The Killer's Daughter" by Kate Wiley is a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Margot, the protagonist, is a fascinating character, beautifully crafted with layers of complexity. Her struggle with her identity, haunted by her father's dark legacy, is palpable, and her journey to confront her past while navigating the present-day investigation is riveting.

Wiley's narrative skillfully weaves between past and present, allowing readers to delve into Margot's psyche while also being chilled by the chilling accounts of her father's crimes. The tension builds with each turn of the page, as Margot battles her inner demons while chasing leads in a race against time.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to evoke genuine emotions. Margot's internal turmoil, her anxiety and PTSD are portrayed with raw authenticity, yet balanced with moments of sharp wit and banter with her partner, Wes. It's this delicate balance between darkness and light that makes Margot feel incredibly real and relatable.

The plot twist is nothing short of mind-blowing, leaving me hungry for more. Wiley expertly crafts a cliffhanger ending that left me craving answers and eagerly anticipating future books in the series. I was thoroughly impressed by the author's storytelling prowess and will definitely be keeping an eye out for her future works.

"The Killer's Daughter" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. With its compelling characters, spine-tingling suspense, and jaw-dropping revelations, it's a novel that will leave you breathless until the very last page. Highly recommended!

I loved this book. Wiley keeps you engaged throughout the whole book, and leaves you wanting more. The dual storylines are equally intriguing, and don't distract from each other. I look forward to the next book in the Margot Phelan series.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Kate Wiley, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for March 25, 2024.

‘What's one less person on the face of the earth anyway'.
[Ted Bundy to his biographers Michaud and Aynesworth 1989, p73, when queried about his victims.]

Although Australia has not escaped its share of serial killers, the proportion of serial murders in the United States is much greater than in our society given their massive population. Names such as the 'Boston Strangler', David Berkowitz ('Son of Sam'), William Bonin ('Freeway Killer'), Carlton Gary ('Stocking Strangler'), Gary Ridgway ('Green River Killer'), Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez ('Lonely Hearts Killer'), 'New Orleans Axeman', John Wayne Gacy and Theodore 'Ted' Bundy are well known as serial killers in the United States.

An article by the Australian Institute of Criminology compiled and written by Susan Pinto and Paul R Wilson defines serial murder as ..murder of two or more persons in separate incidents, with an interval of time between the homicides. The interval can be several hours, days, weeks, months or even years.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I may have been doing some research after finishing this book. I'd hate to look back at my browser history, it'll read like a who's who of serial killing!

This is my first read by Kate Wiley and it's a BANGER.

The story focuses on our protagonist, San Francisco PD homicide detective, Margot Phalen. Margot is a wonderfully complex individual. As a cop - she's intelligent, dogged in her pursuit of a suspect and acts as a champion for those victims whose voices can no longer be heard. As a character - she's flawed. As you read into the story you begin to understand. Margot is the daughter of Ed Finch. Convicted serial killer, Ed Finch found his victims in the classifieds. Lonely hearts - all seeking something different. He's copped to seventy-six kills and is serving life in prison. For the last twenty years Margot has neither seen nor spoken to Ed and that's just the way she wants things to stay. But Ed has other ideas.

Wiley's writing is engaging, and the character development keeps pace with the story. There are alternating POVs from both Ed and Margot. While Margot keeps us in the present, Ed's chapters invite the reader into to the past. Into the mind of a serial killer. As a true-crime junkie, this reader appreciated the authors research into the subject and kudos goes to the feeling of authenticity within this story.

I think it's unfair to describe the other characters in this story as 'secondary' or 'side'. Whilst Phalen's work partner, Detective Fox may not have played an immediately 'main' role, he is nevertheless, a character worth keeping track of and is the perfect yin to Phalen's yang.

A special thank you to my Goodreads pal, Nikki Lee. It was her review that brought my attention to this fabulous read. Thank you, Nikki!

#TheKillersDaughter #NetGalley

I absolutely loved this book. The writing style was easy to read and understand. I do wish the chapters were shorter, but that's a me thing. It doesn't change my feelings about the story one bit. The book reminds me of Chris Carter's Robert Hunter Series which is a top tier series for me. The banter between some the characters is fantastic. This book seems very believable to me.

I LOVE Margot and you really feel her pain and suffering of what she's been through and what she is dealing with currently in the book.

If you love a good serial killer book with psychological thriller and true crime added to it, you will absolutely love this book like I did. I would check trigger warnings just to be in the safe side.

Overall, I need more Detective Margot Phalen immediately 😂

5⭐️

Available March 25, 2024.

Special thanks to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this story before its release.

Fantastic! This is a fast paced, compelling and addictive crime thriller that I couldn't put down! I really liked Margot and glad that this is the first in a series and hope to see more from her in the future. I really liked the banter between her and Wes and looking forward to seeing more of their partnership. I think this book handles sensitive topics in a thoughtful way. I was really impressed by this book and definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Kate Wiley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OOooh this book was a genuine banger, honestly. I docked a star for the lack of relationship development (it was juicy but it needs more spice) and I hope we get to see what happened to the "unsolved" case. Otherwise, the book was great and I will definitely recommend it.

If Charles Manson and Teddy Bundy had a child , then the serial killer in this book would be that child ( Ed Finch) . And the author pulls no
punchs at all, she simply pulls you into a dark and twisted tell of murder, killers , and so much more, another thing I loved was the parts where the author has her characters talk about other famous true life serial killers lime Ted Bundy, even the way she describes everything, from the crime scene to the morgue to the characters themselves made the story more real .

When your parent is a serial killer the plot and story can go so many different ways, but this was done RIGHT! I’m not usually one to love a series but now I can’t wait to read the next one🙌🏾👏🏾 it’s one of those books that would easily be great as a movie as well.

First time from this Author and i will recommend and read more by her.

This book had me hooked from page one and it was really amazing. Good writing and things that happened i never saw coming.

Gripping story with great plot and the twists and turns of this book.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

The Killer's Daughter by Kate Wiley

In the past serial killer Ed Finch brutally murdered many women in San Francisco.

A woman called Margot , a homicide detective is on a case of the horrific murder of a family . She is the daughter of Ed Finch.

As the story unfolds we find that she has her own demons she is dealing with alongside PTSD.

A great , if disturbing read with plenty of moments to keep you on the edge of your seat.

This one right here! A good one from the start. Leaving you on your toes at times. You will loose track of time when reading this one. You won't regret it.

A fast paced quick read with an interesting plot. Well written by an established author who writes under a series of names. This is the first book of a new series. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

As a huge criminal minds and true crime fan, this serial killer novel was so fun to read. It felt real in all the best ways, and with the main narrator so knowledgeable and close to serial killers I felt like I was reading about a true professional BAU member. The dual timelines and POVs between the main character who is a detective, and her father in his prime as a serial killer, were so well done and kept me hooked the whole time. If you love reading or learning about serial killers, real or fictional, I highly recommend this book!

What an intriguing storyline. The detective is both the hunter and the killers family, just not in the same timeline, this makes for some fascinating insights and twists, and there are yet more to come! Bring it on!

The book drew me in from the the beginning with the dedication
“For all the girls who took out big books on serial killers from the library way too young, this one is for you.”

I have been a crime junkie for a long time, switching between stories, news articles, tv shows and pod casts. My favorite podcast is usually Timesuck, because I love the true crime stories and the way he tells them. I tease my husband that if he ever went missing I would be a suspect based on my watching, reading and listening history. I enjoy discovering how the cases are solved. Watching as the team solves cases that boggle the mind and the way they come up with the answers is amazing. When I saw this book it looked like something that would definitely peak my interest, and it really did. I definitely lost sleep the last two night as I just couldn’t put it down

The book goes between two timelines and uses dual narration to tell this twisted tale.
The one timeline and narrator I’d Ed Finch set in the past and explores his life with his wife son and daughter and the killing spree he did right under his family’s noses. The story from his point of view is graphic and explores his killing methods and the manner he chose his victims. His perspective is dark and twisted. You also see that when it comes to his children he cares, which makes his dark side scarier because he can compartmentalize his sadistic tendencies.

The other narrator is set in the present day. It is told by a Homicide Detective named Margot Phalen. She is single and lives alone, with very few friends . Her current case is a family annihilator who missed the youngest child, a boy named Matteo, when the killer murdered the family and the daughter’s best friend that was staying the night. The crime scene was extremely brutal and it is dragging up feeling and emotions that Margot doesn’t like. The case also keeps having surprises that are hard to process. But Margot has a secret that few know. That her real name is Meghan Finch, daughter to the serial killer Ed Finch. Margot struggles with her past while trying to help victims and their families get closure and stop killers like her father.

Things get complicated when Ed Finch is transferred to a prison close to where Margot resides, and asks for her to visit. Knowing she won’t, he dangles a carrot in front of her. Visit me and I’ll tell you about number seventy seven. Ed Finch is manipulative and has no problem using his depravity to see his daughter, the one thing he really cared about.

The book is a fast paced crime drama from beginning to end. A few parts moved slow but then it picked up speed, it was an Oh Wow! Feeling. I enjoyed the story that the author weaved and will definitely read more of her books in the future. Kate Wiley had me staying up so late as I just had to read a little more.

The characters are very developed. And I enjoyed Margot’s interaction with her fellow detectives the story had lots of questions and I’m sure the next book in the series will answer them.

This is definitely for fans of James Patterson Women Murder Club series, as well as Freida McFadden fans. The twists are dark and the clues are all present as you read.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝗕𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆
Publication March 25, 2024
Storm Publishing

One thing I discovered since joining Bookstagram and Netgally is that I really enjoyed police procedural / detective series, and this book is a great example of how one should be written.

The novel follows Margot, a homicide detective, as she investigates a gruesome mass murder of a family while struggling with her own dark past. Her father is Ed Finch, the notorious serial killer who murdered 76 women in San Francisco. He was finally caught and arrested when she was fifteen years old, leaving her with nothing but severe PTSD and anxiety

Ed's character is disturbing to read, and I think Kate did an amazing job getting into a killer's mindset., which says a lot about the author's research into how a serial killer speaks, thinks, and acts. It was quite chilling and creepy.

I was hooked from the beginning of this book, and the ending is set up perfectly for the next in the series and I'm excited to read it, and learn more about her father, plus other investigations.
It's perfect for true crime junkies and thriller fans.

Thank you to the author, Netgally and Storm Publishing. My review was voluntary.

This was a pretty good mystery. There is plenty of action throughout the whole book. It was a fast read for me. It does have details of the bodies they find, so if that's something that bothers you, beware.
I did get this as an ARC from Netgalley, but these opinions are my own.