Margot Phalen returns in Kate Wiley’s IN THE BLOOD. This is Book 4 in the Margot Phalen series and it proves to be just as good as the previous three.

Margot, the daughter of notorious and prolific serial killer, Ed Finch, continues to live a very controlled, isolated life. When her brother, Justin shows up wanting her to participate in a documentary about their father, Margot is reluctant to put her life and anonymity on the line for entertainment purposes. When she is called in to investigate a spurt of murders, she grudgingly returns to the prison to see her father, hoping to get information from him. When she learns that he had an accomplice who is still out there and then sees blood on her brother’s shoes, she is again confronted with the question of nature or nurture and the genetic link she has to a serial killer. Working with her partner, Wes Fox, and rolling around in the gutter with mob bosses and sex traffickers, Margot and Wes begin to put the pieces together.

I love this series. The slowly evolving relationship developing between Margot and Wes is interesting to watch, but that is merely an aside. Margot is one tough lady who has overcome many obstacles to make a life for herself. The fact that she needs to return to her father, no matter how reluctantly, is an interesting twist to the standard serial killer stories. The writing is clear and concise which leads to a very enjoyable read. I could feel my heart pounding as the tension rose and they got closer to the truth. I can’t wait to see where Kate Wiley takes Margot next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

A fast paced, edge of your seat read that had me hooked from the first page. Cleverly plotted and impossible to put down. One of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while, it really did have everything I'd want from a book. The split timeline and povs make it feel really fast paced and like its always moving forward. I also liked that it has not jist the crime, but also the investigation and a bit of police procedural and then also the MCs personal life which is a story in itsself! Really enjoyable

Margot is the daughter of a serial killer, but also a homicide detective in San Francisco. Now women are being found dead, seemingly related to the criminal underworld . Margot is an unusual person with her own problems and as the series progresses, you come to understand her more. Saying that the book is OK as a stand alone, though you appreciate it better if you have read more of the series.
The crimes are well described, the investigation is OK. Margot's personal life is complicated. Not sure about the ending (I won't say more) . This book is mostly fast paced and definately kept my interest.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

In the Blood is a gripping, fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from the start. Margot is a compelling character, and the tension between her past and present kept me turning pages. The twists were smart, the suspense was real, and the emotional depth made it more than just a crime story. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more from Kate Wiley.

I have been greatly enjoying this suspenseful series! The concept of a woman who grew up to be a San Francisco homicide detective —after finding out only as a teenager that her father had been killing young women for years— is addictive. The fourth book of the series, In the Blood is best read after the earlier titles, in my opinion. Even as a standalone, though, this book has a great plot, full of emotion as well as thrills and mystery. I’m looking forward to the final installment, which I hope will be published soon!

I enjoy this fast paced series. I really like the main character and her partner. The way she works through her trauma seems genuine.


The pages move quickly with the back-and-forth between the timelines and the different points of view.

I really was intrigued by the addition of Justin to the story to explore his childhood and relationship with Ed and Margot. Also the surprise with Uncle Jimmy was wow factor !

I always look forward to another installment of this series.

This is the fourth installment in the Margot Phalen series and like the previous books, it can be read as a standalone.
The novel is filled with unexpected twists and intense moments. I particularly enjoyed Justin's inclusion in the story.
That said, the interactions between Ed, Margot and Andrew felt somewhat repetitive, reminiscent of book three. I’m feeling ready for the series to end, as I've had enough of the back and forth with Ed Finch.
So I am looking forward to the conclusion with, Out of the Woods and hope Wes and Margot finally take their relationship to the next level.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Detective Margot was Megan Finch in her previous life, daughter of a serial killer.
While solving her own homicide cases she is prompted by the FBI to continue to interview her father in prison helping them find closure in his murders.
Margot is a great character, strong on the outside and flawed within.
Women are still being murdered and Margot and her partner are on the hunt, strong powerful people will try to stop them. The next book will hopefully wrap up the loose ends in this book and I can't wait.

FBI agent Margot Phalen is such a badass woman. She has been through a lot of trauma and survived. Her father, a notorious serial killer who is locked away for unspeakable crimes, tries to exert psychological control over her even from behind bars. He finds ways to manipulate her, pulling her back into his twisted schemes despite her attempts to break free and move on with her life.

Though haunted by her past, Margot refuses to surrender to it. Every encounter with her father forces her to relive the pain, yet she pushes forward, confronting both her emotional scars and the criminals she faces in her work. My stomach was in knots. I felt every ounce of tension right alongside the characters. This series reminds me of the Prodigal Son, a tv series on Netflix that explores family ties, psychological conflict, and crime.

This is definitely one of my favourite thriller series this year! The plot is intense and addictive. After devouring two books by this author, I can’t wait for the next installment.

"In the Blood" by Kate Wiley is a suspenseful 5-star read! SFPD homicide detectives Margot Phalen and Wes Fox are back in the fourth installment of this gripping series. The duo is called to a chilling scene where a victim has been set on fire. With time working against them, they race to bring the attacker to justice. Meanwhile, the Redwood Killer remains at large, and Ed—Margot’s serial killer father—dangles new information that he knows will draw her back to visit him in prison.

If you're a fan of the series, you'll love this book just as much as the first three. If you haven’t read the earlier installments, you’ll miss a lot of important background by starting here—so I recommend beginning with “The Killer’s Daughter.” Like the previous books, most of the story unfolds in the present, but there are also chapters set in the past that explore Ed’s disturbing relationship with Justin, Margot’s brother.

Margot continues to wrestle with emotional trauma, though at times her internal struggles are mentioned a bit too often. She and Wes are juggling multiple cases, and the author does an excellent job of keeping you guessing about the killer’s identity. Now all that’s left is to wait for the next book—which will bring this amazing series to a conclusion!

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Kate Wiley, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #InTheBlood by #KateWiley. I am a huge fan of this series and hope it keeps going. I cannot imagine being a serial killers daughter, but this book capture what I think it would be like. Margot’s brother, Justin is in town and wants her to participate in a documentary about their father. About the same time, her father admits to having an accomplice, which worries Margot that it could be someone close to her. Can she persuade her father to give up who it is but also wonder if her or her brother carry some of the same tendencies.

I am loving this series and this one is no exception, in this one Margot finds herself pushed into visiting her serial killer father Ed Finch again, something that she said she would never do again but when he dangles clues she must get the answers and then her young brother turns up on her doorstep asking her to do a documentary with him about their father, not to mention the murders from the park that she is still working on and then another horrific attack on a woman, this one will keep you turning the pages.

Margot is struggling big time in this one and there seems to be more and more happening, her partner Wes Fox is a rock someone that she knows she can lean on, could there be more to the relationship other than a work one, Margot is way too busy to find out at the moment, the tension mounts and Margot never stops uncovering clues to solve the cases, and of course meeting her father is very hard, where will it all end?

I loved this one and I do highly recommend it and the series, Margot is a fabulous character, there is so much, it is filled with suspense and so many emotions, Wes is the best partner for Margot and the next one will be the last, and I can’t wait to read it, I can’t wait to see how everything turns out. A fabulous story.

My thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for my copy to read and review.

Detective Margot Phalen is back with a bang. Matgot and Will come across a young woman burning alive, she's alive but can she reveal her attackers identity. Plenty of twists along the way especially when her killer father whats to tell her more about his murders and her drunk brother turns up. A lot going on for Margot can she solve the case. Highly addictive read can't wait for the next book. Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this review copy.

In The Blood is book 4 in the Detective Margot Phalen series by Kate Wiley. This is a fantastic series that I am reading for the first time. I jumped in at book 4 and found my way as Kate Wiley does a great job of filling the reader in on what has happened in previous books. I will definitely be reading this series from now on as it's one of the best out there! Margot is the daughter of one of the most notorious serial killers, Ed Finch. He is currently in prison and will be for the rest of his life. Margot has changed her name and appearance to get as far away from that life as possible. There are some things you just can't change though. Margot struggles with letting people get close to her, both emotionally and physically. She has her father's teachings ingrained in her. and finds herself always taking a different route, to stay unpredictable in your day to day activities, to always check the backseat before getting in your car, etc. Margot avoids social situations like dinner out, movies, concerts, etc. Luckily, Margot has her work and she's very good at it.

Margot's brother, Justin, drops in to try to convince her to take part in a documentary about her father. Justin wants to do it because he'll get paid nicely and if he can convince Margot to take part, he'll get even more. The case that Margot is working on involves a serial killer and some things remind her of her Dad's ways. Could he be involved in some way? Did he have a partner who was never caught? Why did Margot see blood on her brother's shoes the same day that a body was discovered in a dumpster close to her apartment? Could Justin be more like their father than she knows? The FBI wants Margot's help as they want her to visit Ed and get information from him about a partner. Margot doesn't want to visit her father, but knows that she must get that information to solve the case. Will Ed cooperate with Margot? Will he tell her something about Justin that she doesn't want to hear?

In The Blood is a fantastic thriller that keeps the suspense building until you just can't put the book down. There are a few series that I look forward to reading with each new book and this series will be added to that list. The ending will leave you wanting more and book 5 is going to be awesome! In The Blood is out now and should not be missed if you love a good thriller. I rate In The Blood 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of In The Blood in exchange for a fair review. #InTheBlood

In the Blood can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting with the earlier books to fully appreciate the depth of the story—especially since many previous plot points are referenced throughout.

In this installment, Margot juggles multiple investigations, including the lingering Redwood Killer case, her strained (or nearly nonexistent) relationship with Wes, and Ed’s continuing storyline. The book starts off strong and immediately pulled me in. However, the pacing slows midway as Margot grapples with anxiety related to her father, which made me question how effectively she can carry out her demanding role as a detective.

That said, once the plot picks back up, it really takes off—I was so immersed that I reached the final page without even realizing it. The author mentions the next book will be the conclusion, and I’m eagerly hoping it ties up all the loose ends left.

Don't start reading this book if you have something important to do because you won't be able to put it down, it could be read as a standalone but I seriously urge reading the series in sequence, you won't be disappointed. Kate Wiley writes such wonderful, fascinatingly complex characters, characters like Margot Phelan.
Detective Margot Phelan is the daughter who helped put her notorious serial killer father, Ed Finch, behind bars but the brutal psychopath still had a hold over Margot, who, despite changing her name, her appearance and building barriers, she couldn't seem to shake him off.
The one constant in her life was her partner, Det. Wes Fox, he was there for her every step of the way despite the high barriers that she had put up.
Margo never wanted to see her father again, her therapist was doing a good job but there was only so much that she could do.
When it came to the FBIs attention that Ed had been working with a partner, a partner who was still at large and the only person that he would speak to was Margo, Margo knew that he was playing her but she also knew that she had to do it, she just hoped that Wes was there to pick up the pieces.
This story flows beautifully between the present drama and time past when Ed was with Margot's younger brother, Justin, the brother that her father disliked.
Margo always felt responsible for Justin, life hadn't been good to him but Margot's life was about to take a downward spiral again when she began to suspect that Justin was more like her father than she thought. Throw in a indescribably brutal murder of a young woman, a video with jaw dropping revelations and you have a suspense filled action packed thriller that will leave you screaming for the, sadly, final book in the series.
Thank you Storm publishing and Net Gallery foy this ARC, me review is totally voluntary.

In The Blood, book four in the Detective Margot Phalen series, is a dark, emotionally charged, riveting thriller. Margot, a hardworking homicide detective along with her partner Wes Fox are still investigating a serial killer, one that is quite elusive. Serial killers are something she is familiar with as her father is incarcerated for exactly that crime. Meanwhile, her brother’s arrival adds to her turmoil in her already tense life. This story is an adrenaline pumping action thriller. It gripped me from the first page and didn’t let up. The suspense had me holding my breath, and the twist at the end, WOW! I look forward to reading the next book in this fantastic series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book Four of the Detective Margot Phalen series: Margot and her partner, Wes, are called to a car fire where a woman—soaked in gasoline—staggers out of the brush. She has no ID, and her injuries are so severe she may never be able to tell them who she is.

As that investigation unfolds, the FBI asks Margot to return and speak with her notorious serial killer father, who delivers yet another chilling revelation. Meanwhile, her brother begins pressuring her to take part in a true-crime documentary about their family.

Then, just as a body turns up in a dumpster near her apartment, Margot notices fresh blood on her brother’s shoes. She’s left to wonder: is her paranoia getting the better of her, or has her father’s legacy come full circle?

If you enjoy whip-smart mysteries with intricate plots and complex, tough-as-nails characters, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author Kate Wiley for the opportunity to review the advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I must say that I am hooked on this series - even though I started reading with book 3. There is such a complicated relationship between Margot Phalen and her father and brother. And the result of that bleeds over into her relationships (or lack thereof) with others. I love how her work partner, Wes, is so patient with her and meets her where she's at in the moment.

There were certainly some surprising twists as this story progressed. So much happened that now I feel like I need to take a deep breath and prepare for what might happen in the next book. I can't wait to see if the relationship between her and Wes will develop into something more outside of work.

4.5 stars

In The Blood Kate Wiley is the fourth in the Detective Margot Phalen series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Storm Publishing for sending me a widget, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  

Series Background: (Warning – Contains spoilers from previous books)
Detective Margot Phalen is a homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department.  She was born Megan Finch, but her father is the notorious serial killer Ed Finch, and she wants no part of his name. Only three people on the force know her identity -- her Captain (Gordon Tate), her partner (Wes Fox), and another detective, Leon Telly.   Margot's anxiety sometimes rears its ugly head.  Over twenty years have passed, but Margot is still trying to forget the fact that her father is a serial killer.   Margot also has a brother (now called David), who has not faired well either.  Recently, her father was transferred from New York to San Quentin, and will provide Margot with information on more of his victims -- if she visits him.  She is working with FBI Special Agent Andrew Rhodes to deal with Ed.

 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
They are still on the hunt of the Redwood Killer, and another body has turned up that may be his work, but it's a little different.

When Wes and Margot attend the scene of a burning vehicle, a woman staggers out of the nearby bush.  It is quickly evident that she has been doused in gasoline.  Even identifying this poor woman will be an issue, and she may not live long enough to tell them.  But as they learn more about her, they discover that they may be dealing with people who feel they are above the law.

Then, on a visit to the prison to see her father, he reveals that he had an accomplice.

Meanwhile, Margot's brother comes to visit, and she finds herself wondering if either of them has escaped their father's pull.  Is killing in their blood?




My Opinions:
First, discovering that there is only one more book in this series is both a relief and a disappointment.  Relief because I am reading some series that seem never-ending, and it's hard to stop.  Disappointment, because this is one of the good ones.

Margot is a wonderful character.  She is a woman who has grown up in a horrendous situation, and became a strong, woman because of it.  Yes, her anxiety issues are a problem, but she has learned to deal with them.  She has a problem with intimacy, but is learning to deal with that too.  She continues to be in therapy -- good for her!   I even love and appreciate her relationship with Wes.

The plot was really interesting, as it looks like things are being tied together.  I liked the chapters about Margot's brother and his relationship with their father.

These books are very well paced, fast and entertaining.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the next book, maybe more so because it's the last.