Detective Margot Phalen is back at it again in book two in the series, Her Father's Secret by Kate Wiley. Part thriller, past mystery and with a serial killer as a father part horror, this is one gripping read. Margot life is not an easy one and at times this is not an easy read but it is one that I found to be unpotable-down. This intelligent detective who has worked diligently to overcome “the legacy” her father wishes to impart on her is an admirable character as well as an amazing police detective with integrity. Still it is difficult emotionally for her, this comes across in the great writing by the author to portray this character as authentic as possible.

For a great police procedural mystery and psychological thriller you can go wrong with Her Father’s Secret. It will keep you up reading then keep you up thinking about it.

“Her Father’s Secret” by Kate Wiley proved to be an engrossing 5-star read! This is the second installment in the Margot Phalen series. Margot is an SFPD detective who once again finds herself torn between her hatred for her father and providing closure to a family. With the weight of that decision on her shoulders, she is also working to solve a cold case and the murder of a sex worker.

Just like the first book, I really enjoyed this second book. It’s packed with action and just a little bit of suspense. We really get to see the struggle Margot has with meeting with her father, even when it’s for the greater good. There is also further development in the relationship between Margot and her partner Wes, so much tension there. I can’t wait for book number 3!

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

This is a mystery/police procedural, but it is also downright scary. Detective Margot Phalen is a homicide detective and the daughter of an infamous serial killer, Ed Finch. She changed her name to get away from his name, but she can't get away from her evil father. He plays games with her and the FBI by demanding to see Margot in order to provide information about a missing woman. He will only talk to her. He likes to play games with Margot, as he knows she will suffer through seeing him in order to give some poor family closure. She is having to deal with this while also trying to solve several different crimes with the SFPD.

There is a lot packed into this book with plenty of action and more than one case is going on at a time. There is fear in the city of San Francisco. Margot and her fellow investigators have their hands full.

My thoughts on Margot were that she is a justice seeker who is tough as nails on the outside, but I also saw a young girl who was traumatized by her past which has caused her to brick herself off from everyone as trust is not part of her makeup. Relationships are out of the question for Margot, but she is darn good detective who seemingly has little fear.

This was a well-written mystery that was jam packed with plenty of suspense to keep your heart pumping, with the side of an evil serial killer bent on making his daughter's life as miserable as possible, all while playing on her innate sense of justice for those who deserve it.

Time ceased to exist as I read this book. It was truly unputdownable. I had to know how it would end. Now I have to go back and read book #1, and I cannot wait for book #3 to be released.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the second book about Detectove Margot Phalen. It works as a standalone but I would definitely recommend reading the first one before this to get context and background to the characters.

Margot again fonds herself summoned to death row by her serial killer father - he is prepared to reveal yet more details of his victims. Margot knows she has to go to help their families get closure - but can she handle the visit?

I really like how this series flows from book to book, indeed this ends setting up book three. It was interesting to further explore the relationships between Margot and FBI agent Andrew, and between Margot and her detective partner Wes. This is rapidly becoming a must read series for me.

As the daughter of a serial killer, Margot has done her best to put the past behind her. With a successful career in law enforcement, she put distance between her father and those terrible events. At least, until he reached out with the promise of sharing information if she came to see him.

One of the coldest cases in the state seems to be something that her father may have been involved in. He has promised to tell her about it, if she comes to visit. With the help of the FBI, the mystery will start to unfold. In the meantime, there are other cases that need to be solved, and they are just as demanding. With her partner, Wes, they are assisting in the case of the sniper, which seems to be targeting random people. With no information as to why this is happening, the team can only hope to catch him before there are too many fatalities.

I enjoyed this read. Margot and Wes make a great team, and the secrets that are spilling from her father hint at even more to come. I look forward to seeing what happens next!

I really enjoyed this book!

While I didn't find it *quite* as addictive as the first one, I still had a great time reading it.

I absolutely adore Margot; I think she's an awesome & compelling main character. She's been through so much, and she *keeps* going through it, but she refuses to back down… She is determined and honest and fiery, and she doesn't take sh*t from anyone. Love her!

The plot was very entertaining — I loved that we were following multiple cases at the same time; it made the story feel more realistic and believable. I really enjoyed the writing style; the story flowed smoothly, and it was really easy to visualize everything the author was describing. So much so, in fact, that I often felt like I was watching a police drama in my head!

I also really like Wes, Margot's partner, and the slow-burn, will-they-won't-they thing they've got going on… Their banter is excellent, and I can't wait to see how their relationship will develop!

I think it's safe to say that I'm hooked to this series and I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book! Hopefully I won't have to wait for it for *too* long…

A big thank you to the publisher & the author for the arc! <3

I read and loved the first book in this series and was thrilled to get my hands on the continuation. The story picks up a few months after the end of book one, and Ed Finch, the notorious serial killer is at it again, dangling information about a missing girl and requesting a visit from his daughter, Detective Margot Phalen.

Finch knows to push his daughter's buttons, bringing up past family events that coincide with one of his victims. Each visit with this monster is filled with mind games and manipulation , keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
Finch's character is brilliant and casts a chilling foreboding atmosphere throughout the book, and I love how well Wiley excellent storytelling skills have portrayed the mindset of a serial killer.

This installment was dark in all the right ways. Gruesome crimes, intriguing sinister clues, and Margot trying desperately to forge her own identity in spite of her horrendous childhood and her job.

The cast of characters is well crafted and relatable, and I love the relationship between Margot and Wes.The novel is fast-paced, and each chapter ends with a cliffhanger keeping the reader turning pages

I definitely recommend you read this series. I am so excited for the next book.

Thank you to netgally, Storm Publishing, and the author for my copy. My review was voluntary.

My review on instagram:
https://www.Instagram.com/sheilasenchantedbookshelf

Her Father's Secret by Kate Wiley is the second in the Detective Margot Phalen  series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Storm Publishing 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 – May contain 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 fared 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)
A sniper is targeting the area, and no one is safe.  Margot finds herself smack dab in the middle of this case.  No one is safe.

She is also investigating the bludgeoning of a prostitute, and not everything is as it seems.  Margot ends up with a gun pointed at her head, and the man's finger on the trigger.

Of course, she is still working with Leon to find the killer of the two women found in the woods, and that case doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Then, there is her father.  Ed Finch is playing games.  He agrees to tell her where the body of his 78th victim is,  but he reneges on the deal when she shows up.

 Margot's stress level is high.


My Opinions:
I continue to be impressed by this series.  Again,  the story is told from both Margot's perspective, and from her father's perspective in his killing time-line.

Although some of the twists were expected, others were not.

Margot is a strong woman.  Yes, she suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and the occasional breakdown.  I would think that was par for the course.  I continue to like the other characters in the book, and although Margot sometimes feels that Andrew is using her, she doesn't really object.  She and Wes make a great pair (and no, I'm not a romance reader....but I wonder).

Basically, this was a great addition to the series, and I'm looking forward to Book 3.

I had not read the first book. The concept is original and creepy (although fiction) but I can appreciate it. I can also appreciate a strong independant female character, although she has certainly had a stressful life.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author + Storm Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this awesome book

poor Detective Margot Phalen her father is in jail and is never getting out doesnt help that he is a serial killer and has numerous murders to his name ...by changing her name she hopes to rid herself of the stench of him from her but alas when his lawyer calls with the suggestion of meeting him again about another undocumented murder she has to agree so that the family can have closure and bring her home....

so not only does poor margot have to visit her father and work with the fbi but san Francisco has a sniper in town and hes picking off random people on no set day

as the tension mounts and the body count goes up its all hands on deck to catch him if they can....

but is he closer to home than they all think

wow edge of the seat stuff with this book... i love this series and cant wait for the next one in this series

I was instantly hooked by this book and I wasn't able to put it down until the very end, such a suspensful read.

Currently Reading. 20% in and I already feel like this one is gonna be 4 to 5 stars. But you never know. Only time well tell how this book turns out. Review to be out on Release Day.

The second book in the series of Homicide Detective Margot Phelan, daughter of prolific serial killer Ed Finch dubbed the classified killer with 77 named victims to date. I jumped straight from book one onto this one after receiving my arc (thanks to NetGalley, storm publishing and the author)

Margot and her partner Wes Fox are straight into new cases as the book kicks off, we also have throwback chapters to her father’s reign of terror. There is the brutal murder of a sex worker along with a sniper on the loose, with these alongside her dads increasing need to be in contact with Margot she begins to struggle.

This was a brilliant read, picking up on things left in book one and growing our main characters further. Really looking forward to book 3, this is a series I will definitely be keeping up with.

Margot is a police officer. Her father is a convicted serial killer. She wants nothing to do with him but for the sake of helping other families know what happened to their loved ones she agrees to help the FBI by visiting him in prison. An enjoyable, well written book

Captivating read. Really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the third book. Great series. Very interesting cases and a very likeable character in Detective Margot Phalen.

Firstly I want to say thank-you to @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for allowing me o read this book in exchange for an honest review 🥰

I was lucky enough to read her first book as an ARC but was unsure on the book so decided to give it a second chance with the second in the series as I do love good detective series! 😍 this follows Detective Margot Phalen as her past continues to come back to her through her Dad! There is a plot running alongside this as a sniper hits random parts of town, causing complete chaos! 😳 I found this book so easy to read and I really enjoyed it! It contained so many twists and turns and I was so invested in the story and in Margot! I would strongly recommend this! 😍

Another new author, thanks to Storm and Netgalley for me read this arc. O.M.G this had me HOOKED from the first page. Detective Margot is the daughter of serial killer Ed Finch., who is serving life behind bars.. Margot, is her new name, she works alongside wes in homicide. Only a few trusted people know who Margot really is....she wants to keep it that way......The FBI are also asking for Margots help to find the missing bodies of her father's victims. The city is under attack from a sniper..... can they catch them before they kill anymore innocent people why are they doing it? Highley addictive. A must read...

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Another great read by Kate Wiley. The storyline of Margot Phelan continues as she continues to solve murders in the current tense, whilst she’s pulled back into the past when she finds herself speaking to her serial killer father. Her father is willing to admit to additional murders - but only to Margot. Can she bear to keep sitting with him and hearing the brutality of his crimes?

Detective Margot Phalen lives with a secret that only a few people know. Her father is in prison for being a serial killer. There are still undiscovered victims of his violence, and he has decided to share information about the missing bodies with Margot, if she visits him in prison. On the surface, it seems like an easy trade, except that every time she sees her father, Margot must relive the trauma of her childhood. Meanwhile, there is a sniper killing police officers in her town, Margot and her colleagues are trying to do their jobs and stay alive. It is an exciting read to see what Ed will share with his daughter that will be worth the cost Margot must pay.

Detective Margot Phalen is featured in the second book in a series by established author Kate Wiley. These quick to read thrillers keep the reader entertained with gruesome stories well told. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.