Twenty years ago, Ed Finch, recognized as America's most notorious serial killer, terrorized the Bay Area with his heinous crimes. Now, his daughter, Margot, serving as a dedicated homicide detective within the San Francisco Police Department, finds herself entangled in a web of chilling revelations as her father resurfaces. Upon receiving a cryptic message from Ed's legal counsel regarding his relocation to death row at San Quentin, Margot is confronted with a perplexing offer. Ed, hinting at undisclosed truths and a previously unidentified victim, entices Margot to visit him in exchange for vital information. As Margot grapples with her haunting past and present realities, a new narrative emerges, unfolding the complexities of her character in the face of her father's malevolent legacy. Amidst themes of redemption, resilience, and relentless pursuit of justice, a riveting tale of intrigue ensues, propelling readers into a world of suspense and unforeseen twists.

"The Killer's Daughter" by Kate Wiley delves into the depths of darkness, blending intricate character dynamics with a layered storyline that captivates and challenges perceptions. With an expertly crafted narrative that traverses the boundaries of past and present, readers are immersed in a gripping narrative that explores the intricate interplay of trauma, identity, and resilience in the presence of unspeakable horrors. As Margot uncovers the chilling revelations surrounding her father's ominous past, the narrative unfolds with gripping intensity, culminating in a crescendo of unforeseen revelations that leave readers on the edge of their seats. Kate Wiley's masterful narrative craftsmanship invites readers on a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the enduring quest for redemption in the face of unfathomable darkness. I am looking forward to more novels by Kate Wiley as this one was impossible to put down. I can’t wait to read more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Killer’s daughter is a well written thrillers that tells the story of the notorious serial killer Ed Finch known as the classified killer of seventy-six woman around the bay area of San Francisco between 1980 and 1990. This story is told through a dual POV and timelines, Margot, a detective and Ed, her father and serial killer.

This book was dark, and I loved every second of it. Margot was such a great character, full of personality and I adored to dived into her thoughts at the same time we follow the memories and thoughts of her father. The way this author portraited Ed felt realistic and twisted. I felt uneased with the way he mentioned the victims and the process which says a lot.

Overall, this was such an amazing book. I felt engaged throughout the whole book and the way it made me feel is a rare occurrence in a thriller, the discomfort with a character shows how well it was written. And while I was shocked with the ending, I cannot say it was completely unexpected.

Thank you, Storm Publishing and NetGalley, for approving me to read this arc and write this review.

The Killer’s Daughter follows two point of views, in the present focused on the daughter, Margot Phalen, a badass detective, and in the past years about her father, Ed Finch, a serial killer. It follows Margot as she tries to solve multiple different murder crimes in her city. While it follows Ed Finch, it describes his thoughts as he goes through killing multiple women, 76 to be exact, in the 80-90s.
I enjoyed Margot’s personality and the banter with her partners Wes and Leon. I loved diving deep into her thoughts and showing how her life now is still affected since her father’s arrest when she was 15, 20 years ago. As I read Ed’s thoughts as he went about murdering women he stalked on dating sites, it was very realistic as it made me uncomfortable because how normal he made it sound to actually enjoy the process.
While I loved the story, and the multiple cases Margot is involved with, I didn’t feel like this was enough of a thriller. There wasn’t a lot of moments that was like “oh!” and a big part of the story didn’t have a wow factor until the end.
I wouldn’t say the book is necessarily slow, as I was engaged throughout it, I guess I was just always waiting for something really crazy to happen. I still enjoyed the plot and the writing!
I would give this book 3-3.5 stars.
You can see a more in depth review of this book on my tiktok here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTLFMsLkv/
As well as my blog: https://leylaslibrary.wordpress.com/2024/03/16/the-killers-daughter/

Thank you Storm Publishing & Kate Wiley for this amazing read.

This book was so much darker than I expected and i loved it! The flashbacks were so suspenseful and heart breaking, and the current timeline was a hunt to solve a crime. The author wrote the main character really well - I found that she was full of depth and I was fast to be pulled into her hunt to solve the case while feeling her pain for past trauma.

The ending was shocking and although not totally unexpected, way grislier than first thought.

I am a BIG fan of this series and I really need a second book now. I'll be on the watch for the next book & be looking at this authors backlog!

I enjoyed this book thoroughly, it was fast paced with a good, disturbing plot.
Margot Phalen was a great lead character, well written and perfect for her job and her father was a vile man that she rose above!
The setting was as angst ridden as expected and the scene was set with the first murder/body.
I will definitely read more from this author.

The Killer's Daughter is my first read by Kate Wiley, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint!

Margot Phalen, a detective in San Francisco is intelligent, brave and as flawed as they come. With a cupboard full of pills, anxiety, panic attacks and a secret she's live with since she was a teenager, Margot puts her all into investigating the homicides that come across her desk to give the victims and their families the justice they deserve, Margot knows all about victims seeking justice... her own dad was a prolific serial killer who killed for decades before being caught when she was a teen. With 76 kills accounted for, Ed Finch is in jail for life and hasn't talked to his daughter since he was locked up, but now he wants to tell her all about a victim no one knew about until now...but he'll only talk if Margot comes to visit.

Wiley's writing is kept me engaged with it's alternate POVs delving into the mind of serial killer Ed and Margot, the daughter he raised all while raping and killing innocent women. I have to say the character development when it comes to Margot is great. Margot doesn't pretend to be someone she isn't. She knows she has a past that traumatized her and instead of making apologies for who she is, she becomes an a voice for those who need her to.., the ones who have died and left their families to wonder what happened and who did it.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this new series plays out over the course of time and revisiting both Margot and her partner Wes as they solve their next case all while seeing what happens next with the other unsolved murders.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. A a good, well written thriller, it tells the story of notorious serial killer Ed Finch known as the classified killer who killed seventy six young woman around the bay area of San Francisco during the 1980’s and 1990’s, it has been twenty two years since he was sent to jail and now his daughter is a homicide detective in San Francisco, she has changed her name and worked hard to put her past behind her but now her father wants to meet with her. Megan Finch is now Detective Margot Phalen, it has been twenty two years since the FBI arrived to arrest her father at the family home charged and him with the murder, her family moved changed their names and did their best to get on with life. Now her father has been transferred to death row at San Quentin, close to Margot and he is determined to see his daughter, Margot has been doing her best to ignore his requests, she is busy investigating the murder of a family and two woman in a national park but when he is willing to open up about more of his secrets if she visits, she must go, there are families out there that need closure, he knows Margot cannot refuse to see him. Told from 2 POV's Margot's and Ed's we get to relive the crimes he committed through his eyes and also see how Margot is investigating some current murders whilst managing her feeling about her father and her past. #netgalley #thekillersdaughter #katewiley #stormpublishing #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #thriller #getlitsy #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram

This was a thrilling story about Margot, a duaghter of the famour serial killer, Ed Finch, who reaches out to her after a long time. The twists and turns in the story kept me on edge, making me want to read more and more!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me a little while to get into it in the beginning but later I found myself rushing through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the e-ARC of this book!

I love a good police procedural thriller! I found the plot of this book to be very intriguing. The daughter of a notorious serial killer, know as The Bay Area Killer, who grows up to become a detective. The story is told through the POVs of Margot (MC) and Ed (her father). This book was both dark and intense and had me completely obsessed!

Solid start to a new series. Kept me interested. I'm curious to see how things progress. Looking forward to book 2.

Thank you #netgalley and #stormpublishing for the eARC.

I love this book! I had a hard time putting this one down as I needed to know who dun it! This book kept me engaged for the majority of the book, and if you love Criminal Minds and the like, you'll love this! Looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm publishing for an arc of this book

"The Killer's Daughter" by Kate Wiley is a gripping and intense crime thriller that had me hooked from the very beginning. As a crime junkie who enjoys delving into true crime stories through various mediums, this book was right up my alley. The dedication "For all the girls who took out big books on serial killers from the library way too young, this one is for you" immediately resonated with me and set the tone for the dark and twisted tale that unfolded.
The dual narration and timelines in the story added depth and complexity to the narrative, with one timeline focusing on the chilling perspective of Ed Finch, a notorious serial killer, and the other following Margot Phalen, a homicide detective who is also Ed's daughter. The contrast between Ed's dark and twisted mindset as a killer and his seemingly caring nature towards his family was both unsettling and compelling. Margot's struggles with her past and her present investigation into a brutal murder case added layers to the story, showcasing her strength and resilience in the face of her father's heinous crimes.
The fast-paced nature of the book kept me on the edge of my seat, with moments of intense suspense and shocking revelations that had me eagerly turning the pages. The character development was well done, especially in the interactions between Margot and her fellow detectives, adding depth to the story and leaving room for future exploration in the series. Kate Wiley's storytelling kept me engaged and invested in the outcome, leading to a satisfying and thrilling read that left me wanting more.
The author expertly balanced the dark and disturbing elements of the story, providing enough insight into Ed's psyche without crossing into gratuitous violence. The intricate plot, the constant tension, and the intricate investigation details all came together to create a riveting and unforgettable reading experience. "The Killer's Daughter" is a must-read for fans of true crime, mystery, and thrillers, offering a compelling narrative that will keep you guessing until the very end. I cannot wait to see where the next book in the series takes Margot and how her story unfolds. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a dark and compelling crime thriller that will leave you wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow-I really enjoyed this book so well-written with a great plot, and good characters. A recommended must-read.

This was SO GOOD! It's a great detective procedural crime drama with complex characters, it features a multitude of plot lines that come together naturally and and some moments might give you the creeps - especially the chapters from daddy's perspective. It's like a really good Criminal Minds episode and I devoured it!

I finished it this morning - because I couldn't really read it at night as it made me uneasy at times and I struggle with sleep enough without outside influences, and I NEED the next book in the series! Not all plot lines get resolved but the book ends in a nice natural way, no great cliffhanger, yet I still want to spend more time with detective Phalen and her colleagues. I still need to put my thoughts in order for a proper review, but I just had to shout about how good this novel was!

It's a brilliant book and it's so well-written, especially when it comes to the characters and their development. Even the secondary characters are fully fleshed-out (even though some are stereotypical for the crime procedural genre). There were some things that bothered me - mainly how repetitive some parts were or the over-explaining in some parts, but these things are not a big part of the book, which is why this is such a good 5-star read and I cannot wait for the next novel!

Like other reviewers, I didn't expect this to be so heavily police procedural. I expected more of a psych thriller and that's down to the packaging of the book. I enjoyed the beginning but it became very quickly like watching the TV crime shows where we get 30 minutes of content with 30 mins of commercials. And yes, the end was pretty poor. You could tell the author polished the first half but ran out of steam for the second half. I found Wes hard to like given his misogynistic views and sleeping around. It's also very cheesy to know that Margot is going to end up with him at some point. Unfortunately, all police procedurals have this romance trope now and I'm not a fan. I just hope Margot uses protection because he must be riddled with STIs!
What I did like very much was the swearing. It's become so taboo to swear in thrillers these days because the US audience can't handle it (despite most of us swearing like troopers all day long you hypocritical bunch!) that I really enjoyed the realistic swearing. It's how everyone I know talks, and I'm sick of authors writing clean thrillers just to avoid a low rating. No cop I know would ever say "Gosh darnit" instead of, well, you know.
A promising debut book!

Thank you to NetGalley for ARC in return for my review.

Margot is a homicide detective that is hiding her past. She’s shut off that part of her but the past can only stay hidden for so long!

Enjoy the rollercoaster ride and the twists in this book. I was disappointed with the ending being so abrupt but would recommend this author overall.

This is my first book by this Author and after reading this offering won't be my last

When Homicide Detective Margot Phelan was 15 her father was found to be a serial killer with a least 76 victims to his name .
Even though she had no knowledge of her father's crimes she has always carried an element of guilt .
Along with her partner , Wes , she has found her latest crime scene puzzling - a family photo shows mother , father , daughter and son.....
but the victims are mother , father and two girls - where is the son ? who is the other girl. ?
Her focus is soon disrupted for she has received a phone call from her father's lawyer - her father wants her to visit him in prison where he
just might tell her where victim number 77 ??? can be found .Just what is he playing at , can he trusted to tell the truth and why now ?
Her sense of justice is strong , she needs to solve the puzzling case of the home invasion and put her feelings regarding her father to one side and give victim 77's family the answers they deserve and final closure.

This is a page turning thriller , fast paced with twists and turns around every corner ,with a strong lead character who despite her serial killing father had managed to make a life for herself seeking justice for others

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for this copy in return for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and it was interesting that it was told from dual perspectives and dual timelines. A fast paced story that keeps you guessing.

Enjoyed this book, the relationship between margot and wes was great, I just felt the ending let it down. It felt rushed and I know its to Lead on to the next in the series it just left so many unanswered questions. I hate not knowing what happened hopefully the next one will give me the answers. Not sure I would have read if I knew it was a series as I would have waited for the next one. I hope the next one solves the crimes of this one
Thanks

Thank you netgalley and Storm publishing for an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review

This book is about margot who is the daughter of a famous serial killer named ed finch and is a homicide detective, margot is trying to forget her past but one day she gets a call from her father's lawyer and learns that ed is back and on death row at san quentin, her father has a message that he is willing to share some long held secrets but she has to visit him in order to find out.

I really enjoyed this book, it was perfectly paced and was never boring nor overwhelming and it had me hooked from the beginning, it felt like i was reading an episode of criminal minds and i loved that aspect. It was super easy to read as well, i also really loved margot as a character and her relationship with her partner wes it was really fun to read. The ending was a bit fast paced and i didn't expect the ramirez case to end like it did, I'm really happy and excited that this is going to be a series and i can't wait for the 2nd book to see where the story goes.