Detective Margot Phalen

You always check under your bed for monsters before you go to sleep. You never think to look right across the dinner table. Detective Margot Phalen has spent over a year hunting San Francisco's most elusive predator-the Redwood Killer, who leaves his victims alongside the scenic trails of Muir Woods. Each murdered woman connects to the city's most powerful families-and the corruption leads straight to Margot's own police department. With evidence that could bring down her Chief of Police, Margot finds herself caught between justice and survival. Only her partner Wes knows everything and truly sees her, stirring feelings she can't continue to ignore. With the FBI offering her a fresh start, Margot finally glimpses a future beyond the shadows of her past. But her past refuses to let go. Ed Finch-her serial killer father; the monster who shaped her entire life-reels her in for one last showdown. When he offers to lead her to the grave of his final victim, she can't say no. Can she face a final, deadly reckoning with the legacy she's spent her life trying to outrun? This explosive conclusion to the Margot Phalen series will have you reading deep into the night. Fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Gregg Olsen won't want to miss this gripping crime thriller. Readers are obsessed with Out of the Woods: "Obsessed obsessed obsessed!! Such a great read and love this series! Had me on the edge of my seat." Reader review, 5 stars "WOW!! Detective Margot Phalen is a force to be reckoned with in this page-turning finale! GREAT book." Reader review, 5 stars "The most spectacular and satisfying conclusion to a series I've ever read! Outstanding." Reader review, 5 stars "What an incredibly tense and riveting book… I couldn't read this book fast enough." Reader review, 5 stars "Intense, emotional, and had me hooked from the first page." Reader review, 5 stars "Oh my god, I don't know if I want to cry and scream or just celebrate… such an epic conclusion to one of my favorite crime thrillers… such a page-turner of a series." Reader review, 5 stars "Wow, what an end to the series. I've read all of them and without any spoilers, this is a fantastic book… Stunning." Reader review, 5 stars "You won't be able to put it down! If you like detective thrillers with strong, heroines and emotional payoffs, this one's for you." Reader review, 5 stars "Dark, gritty, and gripping with suspense and tension that you can feel in your bones, I honestly could not get enough." Reader review, 5 stars "Margot is back. Suspense… edge of the seat secrets… mystery… love… friends… serial killer… the recipe for a page-turner. Wiley has done it again. I could not stop reading." Reader review, 5 stars "The narrative builds to an explosive and utterly amazing climax that took my breath away. A must-read for fans of high-stakes police procedurals full of drama and suspense." Reader review, 5 stars

Detective Margot Phalen knows the mind of a serial killer better than most. She learned from the worst: her father, Ed Finch. When bodies keep appearing in the tranquil Muir Woods, California, and a woman is killed in Chinatown, Margot begins to realize these are no ordinary homicides. The eerie similarities to her infamous father's crimes send chills down her spine. But Ed's been behind bars for years now – surely he couldn't mastermind this from his cell, could he? As evidence mounts – a bloodied image of Ed's first target found in a victim's home, stab wounds that match Ed's trademark pattern – Margot uncovers a sinister obsession that hits far too close to home. She must use all her skills to outwit a killer who seems to know her history better than she does. To solve this case, she'll need to confront the dark secrets of her past, and face her worst fear: that she may be more like her father than she ever dared imagine. The Killer Instinct is a gripping crime thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Michael Connelly and Tana French won't want to miss this unforgettable series. Readers are gripped by The Killer Instinct: "I swear, this series just gets more and more intense and my heart races even faster with every book! If you've not yet introduced yourself to Detective Margot Phalen, it's long past time for you to do so! … obsessed…" Reader review, 5 stars "Impressive!!!!! My heart was pounding as I read the last line. What a book!" Reader review, 5 stars "When I tell you I am obsessed with this series, I MEAN IT! … The ending of this book had me reeling! I NEVER saw the ending coming... my jaw was on the floor… I never want this series to end." Reader review, 5 stars "I just love this series so much… Another cracking read from Kate Wiley and I can't wait to read what she writes next.' Reader review, 5 stars "I'm telling you, friends, this is one of my favorite thriller series and I cannot rave enough about these books. If you like thrillers with strong female main characters, police work, and fast-paced mysteries… pick up these books." Reader review, 5 stars "Absolutely amazing. The twist and the ending literally gave me the chills…" Reader review, 5 stars "Absolutely the best series I have read in quite some time… Every book has gotten better and better, and the twists and turns are also getting more intense. Kate Wiley is a genius." Reader review, 5 stars "The ending left me wanting more. I can't wait to see what is in store for Margot now with that twist at the end!" Reader review, 5 stars "OMG! This book is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller which doesn't let up." Reader review, 5 stars "Can we just take a moment for that ending?! … I NEED the next instalment. Immediately." Reader review, 5 stars "It's twisty, it's fun (the banter between Margot and Wes is top tier), and it's so chilling (I lost track of how many times I got goosebumps)… So crazy good. I'm still obsessed and obsessing over this book." Reader review, 5 stars "Wow… such a great read. My heart was in my throat." Reader review, 5 stars "This has got to be one of my all-time favourite series! I'm completely hooked!! Kate Wiley can do no wrong!!! Bring on the next book!" Reader review, 5 stars

Detective Margot Phalen knows that it doesn't matter how careful she is, or how many locks are on her door. There will always be a man with a gun, or a knife, or his hands out there, and there is nothing she can do about it. Who taught her that? Her dad. Ed Finch. One of the most prolific and infamous serial killers in American history. Margot would do anything never to see her father again. But when Ed starts taunting the FBI, hinting at his involvement in an unsolved missing persons case that has haunted the city for decades, Margot gets a call she's been dreading. He's willing to share his darkest secret – but only with her. With a sniper targeting the city's busiest streets and sending the San Francisco Police Department into turmoil, Margot has a mass-murderer to catch. The last thing she needs is Ed toying with her, stirring up the past she's worked hard to forget, and getting under her skin. But to catch a killer, she'll need to get into the mind of a killer. The key to solving the case may lie in the one place she fears most: her father's cell. Packed with pulse-pounding suspense and shocking twists, this addictive and gripping thriller will keep you riveted until the very last page. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Gregg Olsen. Readers absolutely love Her Father's Secret: "OMG another cracker from Kate Wiley! I loved the first book in this series and begged for another. Fabulous." Reader review, 5 stars "An absolute page-turner. Every chapter is filled with suspense. A must-read!" Reader review, 5 stars "Kate Wiley has done it again! So riveting... I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! What an incredible sequel!" Reader review, 5 stars "WOW! Another page turner! I didn't want it to end… It honestly reads like a Criminal Minds episode/true crime podcast and I'm obsessed!" Reader review, 5 stars "Absolutely spellbinding… five stars almost seem too mundane for this incredibly riveting thriller." Reader review, 5 stars "If you like thrillers with strong female main characters, police work, and fast-paced mysteries, you need to read this series, like yesterday!" Reader review, 5 stars "A great psychological thriller that has nail-biting suspense and is action-packed." Reader review, 5 stars "Are you kidding me!? What a great book!!! I couldn't put it down!" Reader review, 5 stars "Wow, what a great read… this series of books could be made into a Netflix series. Brilliant." Reader review, 5 stars "Phenomenal… Margot is a brilliant leading character and her relationship with her father is enough to set your teeth on edge!" Reader review, 5 stars "A very intense and emotionally charged book… I held my breath… It's a rollercoaster of a ride." Reader review, 5 stars "First page and I was hooked. I devoured this read in two days and I just couldn't stop. It was sooooo good!" Reader review, 5 stars "A standout thriller that keeps readers hooked with its blend of suspense, emotional depth, and psychological complexity. A must-read." Reader review, 5 stars "This series has quickly become one of my absolute favorites. I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!" Reader review, 5 stars

Twenty years ago Ed Finch – America's most notorious serial killer – used the Bay Area as his hunting ground. Now he's back. When his daughter Margot, a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department, receives a phone call from his lawyer, she learns that Ed has been transferred to death row at nearby San Quentin. And he wants to see her. He's hinting that there's another kill to his name – a murdered woman no one connected to him until now. If she comes to visit, he'll tell all. 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's spent her life trying to atone for her father's crimes. She can't turn down the chance to solve a case that has baffled the SFPD for decades, and give closure to the girl's still-grieving family. Even if it means facing the one person in the world she fears most… The addictive first book in a new crime series, perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Gregg Olsen, is a dark, compulsive thriller packed with unexpected twists, introducing a flawed heroine you'll root for even if you'd never want to live a day in her shoes. What readers say about The Killer's Daughter: "Omg! Literally couldn't put this book down! I was hooked, I need the next one to be released yesterday!" Reader review, 5 stars "Wow, what a page turner!" Reader review, 5 stars "Oh my goodness, what an incredible story. I felt like I was reading an episode of Criminal Minds... From the first page, I was hooked and I did not want it to end. I absolutely cannot wait for book two – that ending!!" Reader review, 5 stars "This fast-paced thriller is utterly addictive and should come with a warning – once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down until the final page." Reader review, 5 stars "This book sucks you in hardcore. I finished it in 24hrs... This book literally had me in a choke hold!! I could not put it down...." Reader review, 5 stars "Five star rating!!! Fast moving and exciting. I can't wait until the next in the series!" Reader review, 5 stars "I was hooked! I never wanted to put this book down! Trust me – if I didn't have to act as a functioning human, I would've devoured this book even quicker." Reader review, 5 stars "I cannot wait to find out when the next book is due to be released because I need it now!" Reader review, 5 stars "A perfectly depicted murder scene drew me straight into this novel. I was hooked. This book had everything..." Reader review, 5 stars "What a ride! I was hooked from the first chapter... If you like thrillers, you'll want to read this!" Reader review, 5 stars "This book was wild!" Reader review, 5 stars "As a huge Criminal Minds and true crime fan, this serial killer novel was so fun to read… I highly recommend this book!" Reader review, 5 stars "A dark psychological thriller... I highly recommend this book to those who love fast-paced, action-packed novels. I cannot wait to read more in this series." Reader review, 5 stars

Her father was one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Now Detective Margot Phalen must face a chilling possibility: what if it runs in the family? As the daughter of notorious serial killer Ed Finch, Margot has spent decades escaping her past-changing her name, her appearance, and building walls no one can breach, except her partner, Detective Wes Fox, whose growing closeness threatens the isolation she depends on. When her troubled brother shows up needing a place to stay, pressuring her to participate in a true crime documentary about their father, Margot's carefully controlled world begins to unravel. Then she notices blood on her brother's shoes just as a body is discovered in a dumpster near her home. Is she being paranoid, or might the monstrous legacy of her father be closer than she ever imagined? A visit to her imprisoned father delivers another gut-punch: Ed had an accomplice who's still free-and still hunting. As Margot investigates, she must confront the question that's haunted her entire life: how much of her father's darkness might she carry within herself? Dark, gripping, and emotionally raw, this taut thriller will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Tana French, and Lisa Gardner. What readers say about In the Blood: "Completely mesmerized... The sheer pleasure I got from reading this came down to how masterfully it was written… a fantastic experience." Reader review, 5 stars "Wildly intriguing… pulls you into a trance and doesn't let go until the very last minute. Every time I had to put the book down, I couldn't wait to get back to it." Reader review, 5 stars "Dark, emotional, and incredibly raw. I found myself reading well into the night because I just couldn't bear to stop… perfectly blends suspense and character-driven storytelling." Reader review, 5 stars "What an incredible story – absolutely devoured it. I couldn't put this book down, definitely a page-turner. Every chapter is full of suspense… should be made into a Netflix series – loved it!" Reader review, 5 stars "A dark and gripping thriller that totally pulls you in from the first page… blends crime, family drama, and psychological twists… intense and emotional." Reader review, 5 stars "You cannot put these books down. They are gripping in the best way because they are so emotionally grabbing too." Reader review, 5 stars "Wow… This book started off fast-paced and continued… so real and so dark." Reader review, 5 stars "Another tour de force from Wiley. I was hooked from book one of the series and this book is possibly the best yet." Reader review, 5 stars "Alluring and gripping!!!! I loved every second of this book. I would truly recommend this series to all." Reader review, 5 stars "Edge-of-the-seat, can't-put-the-book-down tension… kept me engrossed and impatient for the next in the series. Captivating." Reader review, 5 stars "Oh my goodness… completely took my breath away! As a fan of thrillers, I found this book an absolute gem, and I couldn't put it down from the moment I started reading." Reader review, 5 stars