📚 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

Wow what a page turner. This one caught my attention from the very beginning, and kept it until the very last page. I know it is the beginning of a series and it makes me want to definitely read the next one. Love the way the characters worked together, and the behind-the-scenes of the criminal cases was very interesting.

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
*
*
*
*
*
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!

A really gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to look out for more by this author.

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!

I really enjoyed this book. I like how it went back and forth from the past to the present. I enjoyed the main character, she was easy to connect with. I enjoyed the cases they were investigating. One thing I would like to have learned was how the dad actually got caught.

WOW! Now this is what you call an explosive start to what I know is going to be one hell of a series! This is exactly how a police procedural/thriller should be written!

Margot Phalen is a Homicide Detective with san Francisco Police Department. She is also the estranged daughter of the serial killer Ed Finch, known to have killed seventy six women until finally being caught when Margot was 15. Now a grown woman with a successful career, Margot is still living with the trauma of her past and carrying the guilt that her father should be carrying.

Margot and her partner Wesley (Wes) are called to a family home where a family have been brutally slain. Walking the home, something isnt sitting right with Margot bit she can't quite put her finger on it. It's not until she rewalks the property she realises, the family portrait she has seen shows a family of four... Mum, Dad, Daughter and Son... but the victims are the Mother, Father and two girls... wheres the son?. *no spoilers*

Alongside this case, Margot recieves a call from an unknown number, answering, she finds herself feeling 15 again, it's her fathers solicitor asking her to visit, he wants to talk about 'number seventy seven'! Can she face the man who she has managed to avoid for over 20 years, who has caused so much pain and heartbreak? can she put her own feelings aside to help the families get the answers they deserve? Is her sense of duty stronger than her own needs?

The characterisation is absolutely brilliant. I love just how stereotypically 'male' Margot's partner Wes is and the camaraderie they have is a real joy to read, they joke about and take the mick out of each other but theres also a deep underlying care there aswell. The description of Ed isnspine tinglingly creepy, exactly how you want to feel about such a character and the build up of Margots character is so well executed I already feel like I know her.

I cannot wait to find put what happens in book #2. This is definitely a series I will be looking out for and recommending time and time again.

If you are after suspense, twists and turns and a cliffhanger ending that will leave you desperately needing book #2, look no further.

Huge thanks to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

A perfectly depicted murder scene drew me straight into this novel. Rich in detail, the sights and sounds perfectly described. I was hooked. This book had everything I like - an engaging storyline, good pacing, great characters and best of all its the first in the series so there's more to come.

With a timeline and narrative that switches back and forth between Margot Phalen, a homicide detective in the present day and twenty years earlier Ed Finch, a notorious serial killer. Margot was fifteen when he got caught, her name was Megan and he was her father.

This novel has great characters and I particularly liked the partnership of Margot and fellow officer Wes Fox, a perfectly imperfect pairing thats sharp, witty and realistic.

Compelling reading from start to finish, this series shows a lot of promise and I can't wait to read the next one.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance review copy, I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.

First off, thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was a fantastic beginning to a series! Margot Phalen is a detective with a serial killer for a father. When they finally speak again, more is revealed about his past. Simultaneously Margot is solving another family murder where nothing adds up.

Personally I could’ve gone for a little more back and forth between the family murder and issues with her father. At one point I have forgotten about the family. All in all, it was a great book. Fans of Blake Pierce will definitely like this series.

I can’t wait for Margot’s sequel!

Solid, if not exceptional police procedural. Detective Margot Phelan has a secret. Her father is a convicted serial killer. She has not come to grips with this past. But of course as she is solving her own case she is dragged back into her dad’s cases.

Writing is average and a bit predictable but it was an enjoyable enough read.
I got a copy from NetGalley. Opinions are my own,