Thank you NetGalley! Another great addition to the Margot Phalen series. I’m currently obsessed with people whose family members are serial killers. Such a great premise. The back and forth between the main character and her father from the past really helped set up the story

I'm really enjoying this series, they are great thrillers, so I was very happy to see book 4 available! I really would suggest reading them in order, to fully understand the relationship between Margot and her father Ed, and to follow the continual crime story.

I liked how the author made a lot of suggestions in this book, confusing both her characters and the reader. The pace was fast, and the writing excellent as usual. I loved the ending - bring on book 5!

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. Book 4 in the series which has only got better. I was totally hooked from the beginning and this book doesn't disappoint. I read it in just 2 days! The story of Detective Margot Phalen and her father Ed Finch is horrible, but totally addictive. There is always enough mystery and questions to keep you guessing. The characters are particularly well written, both those that I hope are as good, clean cut as I believe, and those who are worryingly nasty. It is scary that these sorts of people exist in society. I can't wait for the final book. I imagine it will be just as thrilling and keep me on edge until the final page.

In the blood by Kate Wiley is Book 4 of the Detective Margot Phalen series, Margot is the daughter of an infamous serial killer she has a lot of issues and although she likes and wants her partner Wes she keeps him at arms length and is trying her best to put her past behind her but her father likes to keep trying to reel her back in by playing mind games with her and implying that there are more of his victims to find and this time he might of had an accomplice. I like the pace of these novels and the characters are intriguing and as always the story is left on a cliff hanger so you are left wanting to read more, I can’t wait to see how this series will end.

In the Blood by Kate Wiley is a dark and gripping thriller that totally pulls you in from the first page. It follows Margot Phalen, a homicide detective who's also the daughter of a serial killer, a fact she’s tried to keep buried. But when a TV show wants to make a documentary about Ed, she’s forced to either face the past she’s been running from or push everyone away.

Margot is a really compelling character tough but human, dealing with anxiety and the weight of her father’s legacy. The story blends crime, family drama, and psychological twists in a way that keeps things intense and emotional. I really have enjoyed the overall growth of the relationship with Fox. I’m definitely rooting for them, but we will see what happens! We are still learning more about the redwood killer and have a new story as we follow what happened to Angela. This book also has Ed hint that he had a partner with some of his crimes. It was very interesting to dig into that and we see a lot more of Margot’s brother. It was really interesting to see that dynamic and how the toll of being a serial killers child affected both of them in their own way.

If you’re into thrillers with strong characters and a dark, twisty plot, this series is definitely worth a read. I love how it goes back-and-forth between the past and the present. I can’t believe this series is coming to an end, but I’m glad there is one more book left!

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

What an incredible story - absolutely devoured it

I couldn’t put this book down, definitely a page turner
Every chapter is full of suspense. Just brilliant

This book can be made into a Netflix series - loved it

Kate Wiley can we have some more plz ?

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

Although you can read this book as a stand-alone it is the fourth book in the Margot Phalen series. The red line in this series is her struggle to come to terms with the history of her serial killer father. Even though I missed the previous instalment and only noticed this when I was a couple of chapters into the book it was quite easy to follow what had happened in the meantime.
This book focussed on Margot's brother and his relation with his father as well as on Margot herself.
The main storyline of the book itself is about a woman who is found very badly burned in the vicinity of a burned out car. As it turns out she has been set on fire on purpose.
I love the way the characters are well rounded and the interaction between the main characters. Starting to like this series more and more and cannot wait to read the fifth and ultimate book. Will love to see all the plot threads come together.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy to preview.

i shall be so sad when this series ends. i think you could read this as a standalone but i dont think youd want to. this series is too good and the arcs too brilliant to pass up and not follow all the way through.
what i will say to Kate is that if she doesnt get our two detectives together i wont be ok. i will not be ok. please! there connection and care for eachother is one of my favorite things about these books. her writing of both light and shade, people and plot is part of how these books just hold your whole head and heart in their grips.
we are still following on including the serial killer father. except this time Margot's brother comes back into her life wanting her help. but there is something going on with him. and somehow she has a creeping dread that it could link to her father and this new case. alongside other case regarding a man in the woods and a burnt victim. these detective are busy and not in the nicest of ways. at the back of her mind Margot always his this past and her father diminishing her from seeing herself in any normal or worthy way. she is scared of people getting close and scared of feeling certain things.
these books you can not put down. they a gripping. and they are gripping in the best way because they are so emotionally grabbing too. i love this series and would love to own and put it on a shelf in pride of place. Kate is such a clever and skilled author. she really cant do no wrong with these books.

In The Blood (Detective Margot Phalen Series #4)

By: Kate Wiley

5 Stars

This book started off fast-paced and continued throughout. I have become such a fan of this series. Margot is a great character, with a not so great dad, a serial killer. This book leads Margot on a big mystery at work and a new path with her father. When her brother comes to town, things get super weird, and she doesn't know what is to come.

Wow. This story was another great installment. It was so real and so dark. It seemed a little darker and more gory than the previous books have been. It's almost like watching a true crime show. It had it all. The gore, the serial killer dad, the family drama, and even a bit of romance. It was also filled with a bit more danger. This was the best book yet.


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

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

In The Blood is book four of the Detective Margot Phalen series. I'd say you could read this as a stand-alone, but it is a continuation of the previous books. So I would start at the beginning so you get a feel for the characters and story.

With the Redwood Killer still at large, Detective Margot Phalen and her partner Detective Wes Fox are called to investigate a new case. After being called to check out a car that's been set alight, a figure appears to be walking towards them, a person who has been badly burnt. When crime boss the untouchable Riga is linked to the crime Phalen realises how difficult her case has just become.

I enjoyed this just as much as the previous book. I love how it switches pov between Margot in the present and her serial killer father in the past. It gives you an insight into the notorious Ed Finch's life before he was caught. We get to see what made him tick, what his motives are, and how he works. Margot and Wes's characters are so likeable. They Both care about each other so much and throughout this book, I kept questioning when are they going to get together! They need to.


All the plot threads in this one were easy to follow and I loved seeing how they all played out and came together at the end. I loved the shock cliffhanger ending. I never guessed the twists and it kept me guessing up to the end. It had suspense and tension, and was so easy to read.

I can't wait for the next and last book in this series.

Thank you, Storm Publishing for my ARC of this book.
My opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I wish I realized this was book four in a series before I started reading, but I feel like it held up fine as a stand alone. The writing was very repetitive. This was the first book I’ve read by this author so I don’t know if that’s just her writing style or if it was intentional, but I think it worked with the anxiety of the character. My biggest complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger and I don’t want to wait to find out what happens.

With that being said, I’ve already download books 1-3 onto my kindle.

Many thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this fabulous book. It was a thrilling read, and although I was unaware of the previous books in the series it took no time at all to get really involved in this one. The writing is excellent, the pace is great, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Really, really good and a worthy 5 stars.

Author Kate Wiley has a winner in this series starring Margo Phalen. She is the daughter of the prolific serial killer, Ed Finch. Although her life was drastically changed when Ed was arrested, she has overcome many obstacles to become a homicide detective.
She and her partner, Wes Fox, are dealing with several cases including a serial killer case with a suspect that is well connected. Also her father requests she visit him as he has something to tell her. Hoping he will disclose where more of his victims are buried, she is shocked instead when he tells her a secret that will have Margot revisiting her past with horrific consequences.
With plenty of drama, great characters and the traumatic internal feelings of Margot keep the tension high and this book very enjoyable. Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc. This voluntarily review is my personal opinion.

This was so good! I love not knowing what's going on while immersed in palpable tension! I only wish Margot was not all the time mentioning her trauma. This gets a little irritating. A creepy thriller whose conclusion just makes the reader absolutely impatient for the last book and the whole truth! I really enjoyed it!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Margot’s story is so interesting to me because it goes beyond just being the child of a serial killer. She’s also a detective who is still trying to find the victims of her father. And realistically, I know it would be extremely unlikely that she would be allowed to be this involved in the case in the real world because of the conflict of interest, her stories are still wildly entertaining. Add to that the insane amount of baggage this poor woman has, and you have a woman that is pulling herself in a million directions. This book made things a hell of a lot more interest with the sudden shift in the relationship between Margot and Will. The closer she gets to finding all the previously undiscovered victims of Ed Finch, the closer she gets to Will. But her baggage gets in her way. There’s so much going on in this story, but in a really good way. I’m bummed out that the next book in the series is the end of it, but I also can’t wait to read it. There’s a lot of storylines to tie up: Ed Finch’s last victims, her relationship with Will, her relationship with Justin, the documentary, and of course, we can’t forget about that as of yet unsolved cases between the Rigas and the Redwood Killer, both of which may involve someone close to Margot. I’m excited to see how this will all end!

Huge thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

In the blurb at the back of the book is the line ‘if you raced through this book and want to know when the final book in the series is out….’ And I have never entered my details so quickly! This book was another tour de force from Wiley. I was hooked from book 1 of the series and this book is possibly the best yet. You don’t need the previous 3 books to read this one, but the series is so good that I would strongly recommend it so you can have all the gloriousness! Margot is investigating an incident as a police officer, working with the FBI to uncover the victims of her serial killer father and juggling relationships. This is packed full of mystery, gore, procedure and excellent fodder for thinking and stirring the imagination.

Part of a series featuring Detective Maggie Phalen. Gripping thriller but rather an abrupt ending. Obviously need to read the next one.

Another great read from Kate Wiley.

Imagine growing up and thinking you had a normal childhood only to find out your father is a serial killer.

How do you come away from that? Margot became a detective and works with the FBI on the side.

The FBI needs Margot to get her father to talk while sitting on death row. Margot would rather not see him but she decides she will do whatever it takes to find her father’s victims even if she has to use herself as bait.

Margot is a strong female character who shows she has personal problems too and she’s not at all perfect.

Alluring and gripping!!!!

I loved every second of this book. My earlier issue with this series was how there wasn't much progress in the overarching plot. But this one did pick up the pace.

We have Margot who continues her visit to her father where she learns he has an accomplice. I liked how they didn't drag this segment around much and even brought it a biting end. The other cases also saw progress with the story taking a cliche but realistic route of unpunished crime of the privileged. The increased presence of Wes in this book kept it engaging.

I want to compliment the author especially on the internal monologue. Most times it gets boring, repetitive and I end up skipping them when it gets too long. The internal dialogues of Detective Phalen here have a traumatic edge to it that makes it very real. It shows that she has a long road ahead.

I would truly recommend this series to all. Can't wait for the last book in the series.

I thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love this series. Margot is a wonderfully complex character with deep flaws but willingness to grow. Her demons are all too real with a serial killer father who toys with her as he slowly reveals information that keeps her coming back to visit. She only has one other family member - a brother, David. I’ve been wanting to get some insight into him, as we know now in the series how she feels about her serial killer father but not a whole lot about how her brother is faring. Unsurprisingly, he’s as troubled as she is, but in different ways (of course). Margot just isn’t sure how deeply traumatized David is - can he be like their father? The evidence gives her pause as she works to unwind a crime that is too close to home. Edge of the seat, can’t-put-the-book-down tension, along with some really good writing, kept me engrossed and impatient for the next in the series.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the author, for early access to this captivating police procedural.