This was one that I finished in a day its such a great read.The story never flagged at any point and the police investigations were well written.The relationship between the main characters Margot and her serial killer Dad Ed is one I'm looking forward to delving into more, Ed's storylines are spine chilling and creepy and as this is the first in the Margot Phalen series I'm sure there's lots more to come.
Told through multiple storylines which I do enjoy,
The killer reveal was one that had a little twist that was surprising and unexpected..
A strong start to a new series.
Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, Storm Publishing, on NetGalley and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.

Sometimes answers don't provide the closure you hoped they would.

Sometimes the passage of time doesn't heal wounds.

Sometimes people never get better.

Sometimes when you open a door, you just find skeletons...

I predicted this book would be at least a 4 star read as soon as I finished the first chapter. As a long-time true crime junkie, especially content featuring serial killers, I appreciate the depth of research Kate Wiley put into the writing of this book. I admire the way Wiley inserted information about actual, well documented serial killers to give this fictional case an authentic feel and did it in a way that was interesting to read about, not just an info dump.

Oftentimes, law enforcement characters can feel a bit stiff or robotic to me. I usually chalk this up to the character having to learn to close a part of themselves off from their jobs in order to function. I could not begin to imagine the mental toll being a homicide detective would take on a person. Kate Wiley did a great job of "humanizing" Detective Margot Phalen - our main character. Something about this character invoked feelings of concern, made her feel relatable to me. While I've read several books where a victim later became an officer of some type in order to fight against those that hurt them, Margot's experience is unique.

You see, Margot is the daughter of the most notorious serial killer in the Bay Area.

And he's still alive.

Remember I said Margot felt very human to me? While she despises her father and what he did, when he sends a message that he'll reveal another victim to her, her curiosity is piqued. Naturally, she's filled with revulsion at seeing this man, but....there's a chance to learn why. Or, is it a fool's errand, a chance for her father to play games to amuse himself on death row?

None of this touches on the case that Margot is working, the crime scene she's just arrived at when we meet her in Chapter 1. An entire family has been found massacred in their home - clues support a murder-suicide scenario, but those clues don't answer the question of why?

Told in a dual timeline, readers are able to follow along with Margot as she tries to solve this case, while mentally carrying the burden of her father finding out where she was, dangling other possible victims before her. Our other timeline is that of Margot's father - several chilling chapters of his murders that will make your skin crawl. These chapters made me wonder, like Margot, just how many murders we don't know about.

Needless to say, I'm in this one for the duration. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next in the series to see what case(s) Margot works next and to see in what way her father attempts to manipulate her further. What's his end game? Also - I have some theories about a certain character - but I need to scrutinize their actions and behavior further to see if I can decide before it's revealed by the author. (If there's anything to be revealed!)

I would recommend this book to true crime junkies and those who are addicted to mysteries, thrillers and suspense novels.

What an excellent book this was to read. Some really gripping storylines that kept you intrigued over what was going to happen next. Main characters that you could easily get to know/nothing too complicated about them. Highly recommended!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Killer’s Daughter by Kate Wiley is a dual-POV and timeline police procedural mystery where Margot, a San Francisco detective, is also the daughter of a very prolific serial killer. When a family and a young family friend are found dead, Margot has to track down who killed them while dealing with her father wanting contact with her.

What I liked was how Margot’s past as a daughter of a serial killer connects to her present. She is very careful about who knows her personal information, she doesn’t order delivery food to keep the amount of people who know where she lives small, and she is very wary of others at times. Those connections help Margot feel fleshed out and alive as does her dynamics with her coworkers and other members of law enforcement.

Content warning for mentions of child abuse and mentions of sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of police procedural mysteries and readers of mystery looking for a dual-POV between a killer and a detective.

I originally swept past this book judging its title and premise as too similar to others I'd read recently with law enforcement officers having serial killer families but a midnight need for a crime novel changed my mind. I'm so glad it did.
I loved this book. While I enjoyed others and the premise had similarities the depth of Margot's character, the incidental descriptions giving it a strong sense of place and dynamics between characters immersed me more. Rather than a quick paced, catch the killer with jump scares for the protagonist novel it delved into her complex emotions surrounding cases and determination to do the right thing. It allowed me to connect with her more than a passing gripping thrill and care for her. I needed to know what happened next and how she'd deal with next challenge. It felt real. Her dynamics with Wes and interactions with serial killer father made this a strong foundation for a series I know I'll be hooked into.
Using the pov of Ed too, while horrifying and added tension it remained on the side of none graphic and allowed the imagination to fill in gaps and feel the fear of the victims. These past murders added to the pace of the book and intrigue. Now I've finished I've a book hangover which hasn't happened since reading Sharon Bolton books. The next one is on top of my watch out for release date list.

This is a DNF for me
I struggled just to get to the half way point and still. no real action. The story is good but for me it is too slow. If you are a reader that does enjoy a slow burn novel then this one is for you.

Thanks for the ARC

mystery/thrillers are not my normal genre, i'm a romance girlie , but this was so good!

i loved that we followed margot but also followed ed, as an audience we saw how margot reacted to the scenes of ed while dealing with her job.

i had a feeling that the murderer was who it was purely based on the words used so i was proud for guessing it, poor emily though but i do wish we knew more about the two in the hiking path

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Killer's Daughter
By Kate Wiley
Publication Date: March 25, 2024

📚MY RATING:

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

📚THE SYNOPSIS:

Twenty years ago Ed Finch – America’s most notorious serial killer – used the Bay Area as his hunting ground.

Now, his daughter Margot is a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department who has spent her whole life trying to forget who she is.

But her daddy won’t let her forget.

When Margot receives a phone call from his lawyer, she learns Ed is back – transferred to death row at San Quentin. And her father has a message for her: he’s willing to disclose long-held secrets, but there’s a catch: she has to visit him. He knows she won’t be able to resist the chance to find out the truth about his victims.

So now she’s in her car outside the gates of the maximum-security prison, counting slowly to ten like her therapist taught her. Every instinct tells her to turn around. But she can’t help wondering if she’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the man who was once her father, somewhere under the surface of the monster he’s become – and whether he’ll finally reveal the truth about what he did, all those years ago, when she was the baby in the backseat.

📚MY REVIEW:

I am so excited to find out The Killer's Daughter is just the first book in a new series from Kate Wiley -- this book was fantastic!

A gripping thriller that kept me guessing till the very end! This story never slowed down or got dull -- Wiley writes with intelligence and masterful foreshadowing that keeps you turning page after page. I loved all the police work, mingled with Margot's troubled past coming back full-speed to her new life. The intersection of the police investigations and her family history was brilliant and made this book such an enjoyable read! Can't wait to see where Det. Margot Phelan's journey takes her next - I'm here for it!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!

#TheKillersDaughter #netgalley #bookreviews
#bookrecommendations #advancedreaderscopy #thrillerbooks #thrilleraddict #booklover #booknerd #bookcommunity

The Killer’s Daughter

This book took me totally by surprise! I picked this up because of the description and the cover. I wasn’t 100% sure because when I looked up author on Goodreads, I didn’t see any other books but then I found out that she writes under multiple names which makes sense because she is a great author!
I definitely have a type when it comes to books and TV shows, and this one hit the spot. I am dying to know when the next book is going to come out. I really enjoyed following Margot on her current cases, seeing her struggle with her demons of being a serial killers daughter, and seeing her interact with her dad in the present. It bounces back-and-forth from the present to the past where you can see Ed develop as a killer.

I also highly enjoyed the banter between Margot and her partner Wes fox and I’m excited to see you what happens between them. I liked all the characters on the detective team. I do highly recommend this book I don’t normally give five stars but I think this one deserves it, and I am highly anticipating the next book! I think this is perfect for murder mystery, thriller, serial killer, detective fans.

Thank you, NetGallery, the Steve Cavanagh and the Simon & Schuster for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

Margot Phalen is working as a homicide detective working in the San Francisco police department. She is determined to prove herself by solving the darkest and most disturbing of crimes.

When four bodies are discovered Margot is determined to get to the bottom of how this family plus a friend were murdered in such a brutal way, with so much blood being lost it seeped through the floor into the flat below. With just one survivor a 9 year old boy who hid whilst the murders were taking place Margot has very little to go on.

Margot also has other things on her mind. She is the daughter of a serial killer Ed Finch. Margot has done everything in her power to forget her old life and keep her past in the past, however when Margot is contacted by Ed’s lawyer saying her father has been moved back to the local prison, he wants to see Margot and will give information on another victim should she visit Margot is faced with a very difficult choice.

Will Margot be able to uncover some of the truths of her past and get to the bottom of her father’s dark secrets whilst also trying to solve a challenging case of her own?

I really enjoyed reading the killers daughter it’s slightly different to any other thrillers I’ve read and I was really drawn in right from the start. It was fast paced, easy to read and constantly had the reader wondering what was coming next. I can’t wait for the next book in this series which was teased right at the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑫𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓
𝚋𝚢: 𝙺𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚢

In the backseat, the baby started to cry. He turned the radio down and the Fleetwood Mac song faded away as he faced towards the little girl. “Shh, shh baby. Daddy will be right back,” he said, leaving the car running as he disappeared into the trees…

This book sucks you in immediately! Starting with a horrific crime scene, and then bringing us back in time to see through the eyes of a serial killer!

I was on the edge of my seat with sweaty palms and a racing heart! While also giggling at the banter between investigators, and rooting for relationships.

The heartbreak and emotional depth makes this book different from any other thriller I’ve read, I truly could not put it down.

Thank you Kate Wiley, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Killer’s Daughter releases March 25th 2024

A story about a detective and her mental fight against her a past whilst being the daughter of a serial killer- this book gripped from the first page. The description of Ed Finch's murders and an insight into his mind made the hairs on the back of neck stand on end.
I have also been ensuring all my doors and windows have been closed and locked whilst reading this book.
It was like watching a creepy thriller in my mind whilst reading it and it has really played on my mind especially at night- which just identifies how well this book has been written. Its meant to be a psychological thriller and that is exactly what it was. I will probably have a couple of weird dreams over the next few nights after reading this book.
Really looking forward to the next Margot Phalan book to see where her, Leon and Wes end up.

I often do not read mystery/ thrillers, but from the get-go, it grabbed my attention! I was hooked instantly and each chapter gave more and more info reeling you in slowly to the cases at hand. I liked the dual timelines between Margot and Ed as I believe adding Ed’s in was a great touch of history to the story. While there wasn’t a romance factor in the book, I love the relationship between Margot and Wes, especially Wes’s asshole attitude but caring when needed towards her. Looking at Margot, I loved the insight we received on her, what made her tick, anxious, and scared. Something else I liked about this book was trying to figure out who killed the Ramirez family in such a horrid fashion. With each chapter, I was conjuring up some wild theories! There were parts where I had to tell myself not to skip ahead because I was so anxious to read what was happening. I have to say at the end I was starting the feel as though the story had been cut short but seeing that there’s more coming to Margot’s story has me excited for more and hopefully, we get some more insight on Ed! Excited for the next book!

Posted on Goodreads.

The Killer’s Daughter is book one in the Detective Margot Phalen series.
Margot Phalen is a homicide detective for the San Francisco police department. Margot Phalen was also known as Megan Finch, the daughter of Ed Finch. Ed Finch a serial killer from the Bay Area.

The book follows two different crimes scenes plus the drama brought on by Margot’s infamous father. Even though there is quite a bit going on, it never feels like it’s too much. I figured out one of the killers ahead of time, well kind of, but it was really well written.

I’m a big fan of detective/crime scene series so I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
That last line in the book will make everyone want to continue!!!
Maybe a spoiler
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I’m 100% hoping for a Margot/Wes romance 😍

This book was intriguing. The parts about ED were too creepy for me. They were intense. I would recommend this to my serious thriller reader friends, but it was too much for me. I love that it is a series coming out though.

Absolutely magnificent read.

Enticing characters, detailed storylines, an absolutely intriguing novel and I could not put it down.

I cannot wait to read more from Kate Wiley and to follow along with this series as it releases!

This new series is a winner! Homicide Margot Phalen is a gifted detective with a family history she would rather forget and keeps hidden from all but those who must know. Her father is a famous serial killer who was finally caught and imprisoned when she was a young girl. After changing her name and moving away from her hometown, she finally believes it safe to return to the area and take a position as a detective. Her cocky and handsome partner and her boss know about her dad, but nobody else does. Her sense of safety is destroyed when her father's attorney contacts her with disturbing news and an offer. If she visits her father (now in prison closer to her), he will tell her where to find a previously unknown victim. Her desire to find justice for another family moves her to say, "yes." What follows is a great mystery as she works the cold case along with a new one. I can't wait for the next book to see what adventures await Margot!

This is the first book in the Detective Margot Phalen series and my…my…what a start. The story is told from the POV of Ed (the serial Killer) and his daughter Margot Phalen (the detective). I fully enjoyed both POVs. The characters were brilliantly developed, even the side characters. The story captured me and I was hooked from the start. The flashbacks were a nice touch which I loved. The only thing I wasn't convinced about was the story plot. Maybe there were too many cases open and they couldn't be resolved to my liking. I understand setting events up for the sequel, but it could have been done a lot better. That said, I still liked the story and looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Detective Margot Phalen #1

Twenty years ago, America's most notorious serial killer - used the Bay Area as his hunting ground. Now, his daughter Margot is a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department who has spent her whole life trying to forget who she is. But her daddy won't let her forget. When Margot receives a phone call from his lawyer, she learns that Ed is back - transferred to death row at San Quentin. And her father has a message for her, he's willing to disclose some long-held secrets. But there's a catch. She has to visit him.

This story is told from Margot and her father, Ed's perspectives. Ed has been transferred to death row and wants to disclose some long-held information. Ed's story is not pleasant to read. I liked Margot, she's competent in all she does. I also liked her partner Wes, and the banter they shared. This is a well-written, dark read that won't be for everyone. Margot suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, This is a great start to a new series, and I'm looking forward to reading more books from this series.

Published 25th March

I would like to thank #NetGalley #StormPublishing and the author #KateWiley for my ARC of #TheKillersDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this arc. This is my honest opinion and review.

Margot is the daughter of an infamous serial killer, Ed. She's grown now and working as a homicide detective with her partner Wes. They get called to the scene of a horrible homicide where an entire family is brutally murdered. Margot has to deal with some new family drama as well as try to catch a killer or two.

I enjoyed the two different view points between Margot and Ed. It was an interesting twist to have a serial killers perspective.

I felt like I figured out the murderer of the family very early on, so it was a bit predictable in that sense. I do like that the author left the second murder case unsolved, as it is a good segue into the next novel of the series.

Despite the predictability of the killer. I really enjoyed the novel. It is the first I've read by this author. I look forward to the next one in this series!