As soon as I had the opportunity to dive into "The Killer Instinct," the third book in the Detective Margot Phalen series, I didn’t hesitate—I was instantly hooked. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two instalments, I was eager to continue this thrilling journey, and Wiley did not disappoint.
This time, Detective Margot Phalen is plunged into a chilling investigation marked by eerily familiar patterns. As bodies start turning up in Muir Woods and murder rocks Chinatown, I can immediately sense the tension rising. Margot, armed with her unique insight into the mind of a serial killer thanks to her infamous father, Ed Finch—an imprisoned killer—sets out to uncover the truth. The way Wiley expertly juxtaposes Margot’s investigation with her difficult visits to Ed makes for both a riveting and emotional read.
Margot is not just chasing down leads; she’s also grappling with her complex relationship with her father. I felt the weight of her emotional struggles spilling onto the pages as she delves into her past and confronts the fear that she might share more than just blood with Ed. The flashbacks to Ed's childhood were particularly haunting and added a depth that fuelled the narrative. It’s a testament to Wiley’s writing that the reader can see how Ed’s heinous actions formed, giving the story more layers to unravel.
The pacing in "The Killer Instinct" was fantastic—an adrenaline-fueled ride from the very first page. I found myself unable to put it down, racing through the chapters in search of answers. Each plot twist and turn kept me on my toes, making it a genuine page-turner. I was thrilled to see the chemistry between Margot and her partner, Wes, continue to develop; their dynamic adds a lively spark to the overarching tension. I am so invested in their relationship and can't wait to see where it leads in the future!
One of the aspects I really appreciate about this series is how Wiley navigates character development. The relationships feel authentic and evolve realistically; there are no quick fixes or neat resolutions here. Characters face their demons, and that realism makes their journeys even more gripping. Margot remains a relatable and flawed protagonist, and watching her erratic emotional landscape makes the story more compelling.
The ending left me gasping, a bittersweet mix of tension and relief, perfectly setting the stage for the next book. Although I saw some of the twists coming, the way they were revealed felt satisfying and cleverly plotted. I can't emphasize enough how eager I am for the next instalment—Kate Wiley has truly cemented herself as a masterful storyteller with this series.
I wholeheartedly recommend "The Killer Instinct," but I urge any new readers to start with the first two books to truly appreciate the depth of characters and the intricacies of the plot. For fans of crime thrillers, this series is nothing short of essential reading.

This was my first book but 3rd in the series . It definitely had my attention- on the edge of my seat! Finished in one sitting! Will absolutely go read the others in the series. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. Release date Oct 27, 2024.

I read the first two books and LOVED them. I was super excited that Net Galley let me read this one as well and Oh. My. God! I couldn’t read it fast enough! I thought I had it all figured out, but I didn’t. Kate really stepped her game up (although, her game was already great) and I think this one is my favorite now!

Another great Detective Margot Phalen story! The Killer Instinct is book 3 in the series and can be read as a stand-alone without confusion. Detective Phalen tries to solve the case of a woman brutally murdered in her home, while still working with the FBI to solve the crimes her father has committed (we also get a peek into her non existent love life). The author does a good job balancing and intertwining the various story lines. Twists and turns on every page. While I guessed the killer early on, finding out the why and how was what kept me reading til the end. I enjoyed the plot twists and look forward to reading more from the author.,

I read the first two books in this series and absolutely loved them so I was extremely pleased when I was granted an ARC of this book on NetGalley.

This book follows on from the first two in the series with Detective Margot Phalen investigating more murders alongside her partner Wes. As well as investigating recent murders, Margot is continuing her visits to her serial killer father, Ed Finch, who is currently in prison serving a life sentence, in order to help the FBI in solving more of his crimes. I think that the way the author has written this book really enabled the reader to connect with and become even more invested in the characters. Whilst most of the book is written in the present time, it also flashes back to Ed’s childhood and we see how his life of crime started, which I feel added a lot of depth to the book and really built upon the previous two in the series.

This book was unpredictable and extremely gripping, a real page turner right from the get go. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books and this is without a doubt one of my favourite series that I’ve read in a long time. I would highly recommend this book, and have already done so to friends and family, definitely deserving of 5* in my opinion. I am already eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!

I am obsessed with this series. Every book Kate Wiley writes lives in my head rent free. When I read other books in this genre I compare them to these books. I love the overarching story with the red wood killer, I love seeing Margot relationship/interactions with Ed and I highly enjoyed the twist and turns of the active case they were working on. The chemistry between Margot and Wes is great and I am excited to see where their relationship goes. Specifically with this book it was creepy and interested to see into the mind of Ed from a young age to see what made him into the man he is today. I am eagerly awaiting the next book, and I am begging Storms Publishing to extend her contract for this series or sign her for another detective series because I cannot get enough! 5 stars!

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Margot Phalen is back in the third book of Kate Wiley's series. I've read all three and they just keep getting better. In The Killer Instinct we find Margot back at work, and back visiting her father, the notorious serial killer Ed Finch. This book delved back into Ed's childhood, and showed us how he became the monster he is. This was by far my favourite of the series. I cannot wait for the next book to be released. The detective Margot Phalen series has quickly become on of my absolute favourite series. Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for introducing me to these books.

Wow. This was such a great read. My heart was in my throat. Margot Phalen, is a homicide detective. She is also the daughter of a serial killer. While investigating criminal cases, she finds herself in front of her father, a man she detests. She finds herself drawn into the mind games trying to separate her past from the cases she is trying to solve. I really hope there is another novel in this series. I cannot wait to read it.

Detective Margot’s father was a famous serial killer. Now murders have started happening that resemble those of her father. Is he behind them from prison or is it a copy cat?

I initially didn’t realize that this was part of a series when I requested the book. However, I feel like the story gives you enough back story that is would be fine to read as a stand along also like I did. I loved this book! It kept me hooked from the beginning. I went back and read books 1 and 2 when I got finished and they were just as good! Can not wait for the next one!

Detective Margot Phalen is still struggling with the fact that she’s now seeing her serial killer father on the regular to help the FBI get names of his victims. But a new case lands on her desk, an old woman who was beloved in her apartment building was stabbed to death, and it looks like a copy of her father’s killings. But if he’s in jail, who is the copycat? This was an excellent installment in the series, and I couldn’t put it down. 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I saw this was available I immediately downloaded it and got to reading - something about this series has me completely HOOKED! While I’m sure you could read this as a standalone I would highly recommend you read the first two books - they’re really quick and engaging, and you will enjoy this one so very much more.

Twists and turns all over the place, brilliant characters, perfectly developing pace - I can’t get enough of this series.

I am absolutely loving the character development going on here. I love that it feels like the relationships and the characters themselves are shifting and changing at a realistic pace - there’s no magic fix and everyone gets their happily ever after. I really love that it’s messy because it just feels so much more gripping and real.

I was worried in my review of the last installment that things might become repetitive (Ed drops breadcrumbs and everyone scurries around while poor Margot is just emotionally battered all in the name of the greater good) and so I’m reassured that the author is mindful that things need to continue to evolve and I felt a real growth in this installment around that. In fact I am on tenterhooks now waiting to see what will come next.

Also can we just take a moment for that ending?! I can’t lie, I did see something like this coming so I wasn’t completely shocked but it absolutely did what it needed to do and I NEED the next installment. Immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

Starting with I have no read the first two in the series but will for sure be adding to my list!! A detective with an interesting past runs in to case that seems very familiar. I loved how well this was written and so easy to follow. That was so a great mystery/thriller and I can’t wait to read the first two and for a fourth to be released!! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Really good! This time the case of a murdered elderly lady has some elements that have Margot and Wes somewhat confounded, until they find something that makes things click. The problem then is getting enough evidence to prove it. We finally get a bit of Ed's backstory which was both creepy and interesting in how it shaped who he became. As usual Ed is playing games with Margot. Those meetings between the two of them make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! The Muir Woods cold case gets another victim and, this time, a possible lead. All setting things up nicely for book 4! Excellent, fast-paced read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Kate Wiley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Killer Instinct by Kate Wiley is the third in the Margot Palin crime thriller series. Margot is a San Francisco Police detective whose father, Ed Finch, is in prison. He is a serial killer responsible for over seventy women’s deaths. In addition to her SFPD work, Margot helps the FBI with cold cases they suspect to be Ed’s killings. The readers learn about their estranged relationship and the history of Ed throughout the book. This is helpful for readers who haven’t read the first two in the series. Wiley does a good job of retelling the necessary for everyone to understand and enjoy this as a stand alone. We learn a lot about Margot, her fears and anxiety. Her past isn’t exactly retold in this edition, but readers can understand what is going on with her for the most part even without more backstory.
In The Killer Instinct, Margot and her partner Wes are called to investigate the gruesome murder of an old lady in Chinatown. At the scene, they find evidence that has similarities to Ed’s first killing, and then the story focuses on them solving this case. There is also a side case that Margot is interested in- a possible serial killer in Muir Woods where three bodies have shown up. This seems like it will be an overlapping storyline because it stays unsolved at the end. Great teaser at the very end to encourage readers to seek out the fourth in the series.
This was a super quick read that was enjoyable for any reader, whether they have read the previous two in the series or not. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my ARC.

The Killer Instinct is everything I love in a thriller!
Detective Margot Phalen is the daughter of a well known serial killer which gives her in edge in her own investigations. This the third novel so far in series, but hold well on its own as a stand alone novel. The characters are very well written and I find myself instant hooked with each book in this series. As Margot hunts for a killer who is copying her father's kills it leaves you on the edge of your seat. An absolute must read.

The Killer Instinct
By: Kate Wiley

5 Stars

This story was a great continuation for this series. While you get more crime and danger, you also get a darker perspective at times. Ed Finch. This book gives a clearer view of him as a child, and it is crazy. Margot and Wes are a great team, and I have loved their cases, and the ones they happen to work, and not be on. This story brought them closer together, and it made for an ever better story.

So far, this series has been a fast-paced and thrilling read as a whole, and I can't wait to read more. The cliffhanger on this one was a SHOCKER.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author as well as Storm Publishing for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

*The Killer Instinct* is a fast-paced crime thriller that draws readers into the chilling world of Detective Margot Phalen, who is forced to confront her darkest fears when a string of murders eerily mirrors the crimes of her father, Ed Finch, a notorious serial killer. The story masterfully weaves together Margot’s traumatic past with her present investigation, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps you guessing. The parallels between the new murders and her father’s signature style are both unsettling and intriguing, making Margot's struggle to solve the case deeply personal. Even without reading prior books in the series, the suspense is gripping, and the twists make it hard to put down. A solid recommendation for fans of crime thrillers.

Detective Margot Phalen can’t escape her deep, dark past. Her father, Ed Finch, was a serial killer. When several bodies are found in California’s quiet woods, she discovers that the injuries to the crime victims are similar to her infamous father's crimes. Her father is behind bars for life, so how could he be behind the murders?
When a local woman is found dead in her home with stab wounds that closely match her father's trademark pattern, Margot becomes desperate to find the killer who is imitating her father. She desperately puts aside the nightmare of her past and uses every ounce of her investigative skills to find the killer.

This was another one sitting read for me. It gave clues to who the killer was from almost the moment the body was found, but without the evidence to initially back up suspicions. This book didn't focus so much on Ed's murders, but snippets of his life growing up, so I barely noticed the time jumps.. the characters are well written and interact well with each other. I look forward to the next book, especially considering how this one ended!!

I’ve read the 2 previous books in this series. Which I read both super fast! Great series! Can’t wait to read more of her books!