Detective Margot Phalen

In the backseat, the baby started to cry. He turned the radio down and the Fleetwood Mac song faded away as he faced toward the little girl. "Shh, shh baby. Daddy will be right back," he said, leaving the car running as he disappeared into the trees. 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 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. 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. The start of a new series perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Gregg Olsen, “The Killer's Daughter” 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.

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 most: 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... Packed with pulse-pounding suspense and shocking twists, this gripping thriller will keep you riveted until the very last page. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter, and Lisa Gardner.

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 totally addicted to the Detective Margot Phalen series: "Omg! Literally couldn't put this book down! I was hooked, I need the next one to be released yesterday!" Reader review, ????? "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, ????? "Wow, what a page turner!" Reader review, ????? "Oh my goodness, what an incredible story. I was hooked and I did not want it to end." Reader review, ????? "This book sucks you in hardcore… literally had me in a choke hold!! I could not put it down...." Reader review, ????? "OMG another cracker from Kate Wiley! I loved the first book in this series and begged for another. Fabulous." Reader review, ????? "An absolute page-turner. Every chapter is filled with suspense. A must-read!" Reader review, ????? "Kate Wiley has done it again! So riveting... I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! What an incredible sequel!" Reader review, ????? "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, ????? "Absolutely spellbinding… five stars almost seem too mundane for this incredibly riveting thriller." Reader review, ????? "A great psychological thriller that has nail-biting suspense and is action-packed." Reader review, ????? "Are you kidding me!? What a great book!!! I couldn't put it down!" Reader review, ????? "Wow, what a great read… this series of books could be made into a Netflix series. Brilliant." Reader review, ????? "Phenomenal… Margot is a brilliant leading character and her relationship with her father is enough to set your teeth on edge!" Reader review, ????? "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, ????? "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, ?????

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. Readers are totally addicted to the Detective Margot Phalen series: "Omg! Literally couldn't put this book down! I was hooked, I need the next one to be released yesterday!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Oh my goodness, what an incredible story. I felt like I was reading an episode of Criminal Minds... I was hooked and I did not want it to end." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This book sucks you in hardcore… literally had me in a choke hold!! I could not put it down...." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "OMG another cracker from Kate Wiley! I loved the first book in this series and begged for another. Fabulous." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "An absolute page-turner. Every chapter is filled with suspense. A must-read!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Kate Wiley has done it again! So riveting... I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! What an incredible sequel!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Absolutely spellbinding… five stars almost seem too mundane for this incredibly riveting thriller." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A great psychological thriller that has nail-biting suspense and is action-packed." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Are you kidding me!? What a great book!!! I couldn't put it down!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Wow, what a great read… this series of books could be made into a Netflix series. Brilliant." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Phenomenal… Margot is a brilliant leading character and her relationship with her father is enough to set your teeth on edge!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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 the Detective Margot Phalen series: "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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "You cannot put these books down. They are gripping in the best way because they are so emotionally grabbing too." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Another wild ride for Margot! If this series ran to 20 books I'd read every single one." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A fast-paced, gripping thriller that pulls you in and does not let go. It's dark, and it's twisty, and it's oh so enjoyable." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I am in love with this series. That's it. No notes. I love this series dearly." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "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, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐