very creepy and mysterious. i was def intrigued by this one. would like to read more from this author for sure!!!

I did not read book 1 but now i need to because OH MY GOSH. what a great read!!! I was hooked from the very beginning. I can't imagine being the daughter of a serial killer. I loved the character development & the switching timelines. I'm definitely gonna read book 1 and i look forward to book 3.

I really enjoyed the second book in the trilogy! I thought it was well thought out and had some great thrilling plot points but not as good as the first one. I do really enjoy this authors writing style - to the point! I am excited to continue on to the 3rd and final book in the series though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this title. It was well paced and well written. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this title.

Her Father's Secret by Kate Wiley is a gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller that pulls readers into the chilling world of Detective Margot Phalen, a woman haunted by her father’s infamous legacy as a serial killer. The novel opens with a haunting discovery— a girl’s body is pulled from a lake, weighted down by a bag containing Margot’s childhood toys. This eerie moment sets the stage for a tense investigation into a missing persons case that forces Margot to confront the deepest, darkest corners of her past.

When Margot's father, Ed Finch, reaches out from prison, offering to share a secret that could solve the case, Margot is forced to return to the man who shaped her trauma. With each step she takes to unravel the mystery, she risks falling deeper into his psychological grip, challenging her sense of self and questioning the very foundations of her identity.

Wiley's writing is atmospheric and full of tension, blending mystery with psychological depth. The novel expertly explores themes of family, guilt, and the long shadows cast by a notorious legacy. Margot’s emotional journey is both heartbreaking and thrilling, as she navigates her complicated relationship with her father while unraveling a web of dark secrets that could shatter everything she thought she knew about herself.

For fans of tense, emotionally charged thrillers with complex characters, Her Father's Secret is a must-read. It’s a fast-paced, haunting exploration of how the past can continue to haunt us—and how far we’re willing to go to uncover the truth.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

As soon as I read 'daughter of a serial killer' I was hooked. Immediately yes. Very juicy premise and interesting case.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the early release of this book. I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. This was the first book by this author that I have read and I will be looking for more. I would definitely recommend this book.

Another fantastic book in this series and already looking forward to the next one. Gripping and full of suspense. Hoping for Margot and Wes to become a bit more than just work colleagues though 🤞🏻

I’ve loved this whole series and this new addition didn’t disappoint… I couldn’t put this book down—it was that addictive. The twists were perfectly placed, keeping me guessing until the very last page

This is the second book in the series featuring Detective Margot Phelan and it certainly carried on from the first book keeping me totally gripped again. We learned about Margot’s dreadful secret in the first book and she is being pit under pressure by her colleagues to go and visit the serial killer Ed Finch. He is Margot’s guilty secret as, unbeknown to most people, he is her father. He was convicted over twenty years ago after killing seventy six victims at least. He now only wants to meet with Margot to tell her about another victim. At the same time Margot and her partner Wes are dealing with a random sniper on the,loose in the community targeting random people. Marfot is emotionally and physically exhausted and is put on temporary desk duty but that does not stop her from her investigations. I must admit that I am addicted to this series and look forward to book number three. Do not miss reading this series of books.
Thanks to a Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is book 2 in the Detective Margot Phalen series and it's a good read. I did not read book 1 and was surprised to see this was not a stand alone book. I'm looking forward to book 3. The sun is beginning to set as Margot watches the dive team haul the girl’s body from the lake, untangling the bag that had been used to weight it down among the rocks and the reeds. But it isn’t the cool evening air that chills Margot to the bone as the bag is opened up. It is the glimpse of its contents. The old toys. Margot’s toys.
Detective Margot Phalen has spent years running from her father’s shadow – and the awful truth of her own past as the daughter of a serial killer. But then she receives a message from him. He’s willing to share his darkest secret – but only with her.
Now, as she sits across from the empty chair waiting for Ed Finch to be led in, Margot closes her eyes and steels herself for what lies ahead. The key to solving one of California’s most infamous missing persons cases is here, in the one place she fears her father’s cell. But she knows that the deeper she delves into her father’s twisted mind the greater the risk he’ll get under her skin. And retracing the missing girl’s last steps will mean questioning everything she thought she knew about herself and her family's dark history…

This series is pretty good! Can’t wait to dive into book 3!

Margot Phalen continues to try to work her job with similarities to her father’s murders in the past!

Margot is a detective with a terrifying past. Her father, Ed Finch, is a serial killer and in prison for multiple life sentences. I wasn't aware this was part of a series, so I would like to read the first to get some back story. Margot is part of a team investigating an active sniper situation. She is also asked by the FBI to visit her father to see if she can get any admissions bout cases they believe are related to him. This kept my interest and I would like to see more about Margot.

Book two in the Detective Margot Phalen series was a blast to read. After finishing the first one, I knew I wanted more with this detective so I was very pleased to receive this one from Storm Publishing via Netgalley. In the meantime, I also received book 3!

Murders that need to be solved, a sniper who needs to be caught, and then there is Ed Finch as well. A convicted serial killer - who also happens to be the father of detective Phalen. She has several cases to investigate and she works closely with the FBI to find more of Ed's victims. But can she handle it all - the cases she needs to investigate and the one case that hits so close to home?

This book had it all: interesting cases, a great cast of characters, a very intriguing back story interwoven into the main storyline. I truely enjoyed the development of the different characters compared to book one - more in depth and more worked out. Fast-paced but, at the right times, more slowed down - just an absolute thrill to read.

5/5⭐️

After reading the first book in this series, The Killer's Daughter, I was super excited to get my hands on book #2.

I was completely engrossed in the first book and hoped against hope that the second book would be just as captivating... it didn't disappoint!

I loved the continuation on from book #1 and the switching timelines just constantly kept my attention.

Margot Phalen is a well respected Detective in the San Francisco area. Alongside her partner Wes. But Margot isn't just a regular cop, she's also the daughter of serial killer Ed Finch, who is now serving a life sentence for multiple murders, with many more he's willing to divulge, if Margot visits in person.

With all her focus on her most recent cases, a sniper on the loose, killing innocent people and a prostitute bludgeoned to death, as well as still working alongside Leon with the Muir Woods killings, can Margot keep giving little pieces of herself away with every time she sits opposite Ed? How many victims were there really and can Margot keep going back time and time again just to keep the FBI happy?

The character development in this series is amazing, the build up of details and backstory is an absolute pleasure to read.

If you are after a multi layered series that will keep you on your toes and fully immersed from beginning to end, look no further!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

The writing style and the characters of this book drew me in immediately, and I enjoyed that there was focus put on the MC's father, who is a serial killer. About halfway through, I did become a little overwhelmed with the amount of characters to keep track of and to try to remember exactly which case was being worked on at the time. I liked how there were flashback chapters from Ed Finch's perspective, which made me wish that there had been more content about his murders because he seems fascinating - and the title itself is about her father's secret. Overall, not a bad book at all! I was just overwhelmed by all of the information to try and keep track of.

TW: murder, violence, serial killer, slightly explicit, mention of SA

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I have read both books and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them! It follows the homicide detective, Margot Phalen, daughter of one of the the worst serial killers in California (US), as she navigates her identity and tries to solve multiple homicides while avoiding her on death row father who is dangling more victims on a string in front of her to get them to talk.
As much as I loved the plot of these books, I found myself enjoying the actual homicide investigations more interesting than the fathers point of view and the interviews. I will say that I will be continuing to read the series and hope that I get to see Wes and Margot get together at some point!

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FYI: on a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars ~ Nothing at all. Chefs kiss. No notes.
*4 Stars ~ It could us some slight adjustments here and there but pretty solid overall.
*3 Stars ~ Adjustments need to be made and rewriting needs to be done. Good but could be a lot better. I read it once and don’t need to do it again.
*2 Stars ~ This book needs a lot of work. Whether it be rewriting the plot, characters, style or ending. Something or everything needs to be changed.
*1 Star ~ Dumpster fire.

Okay, to start with Oh My Gosh! This was an amazing book!!! I did not ready the first book, but I absolutely will now and cannot wait for the 3th. I found this to be really realistic in terms of the police work that took place through this story. Margot is pulled literally in so many different directions and the drama does NOT disappoint. I was blown away at her father, and the leverage he uses to get to speak with her throughout this story. The different timelines continue to keep you guessing. I HIGHLY recommend this series!! Thank you to Kate Wiley, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book

Her Father’s Secret by Kate Wiley. Detective Margot Phalen Series #2

Her Father’s Secret is a fast paced crime thriller, or police procedural.

It is told by a Homicide Detective named Margot Phalen. Her dad kept many secrets when she was little, like the fact that he was a serial killer. Now living in prison, he likes to show her just how many secrets he has, by revealing the location of another victim, but only if she plays his game and comes to see him. This reminds me of Silence of The Lambs in some ways.

The book is a fast paced crime drama from beginning to end. This book surprisingly had more action than the first, with A Sniper, murders, as well as Ed’s past all converging at once. This book just had twists everywhere, giving you a constant Oh Wow! Feeling. I enjoyed the story that the author weaved once again. 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 one showed Margot from a different perspective, and the toll that talking to a man she hates, is having on her.

I have been a crime junkie for a long time, switching between stories, news articles, tv shows and pod casts. I tease my husband that if he ever went missing I would be a suspect based on my watching, reading and listening history.

This book was a fast read, quickly drawing me in and holding my attention. I love the different layers that we are starting to see from Margot. This book had action from beginning to end keeping you engaged and engrossed until the very end.

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.