"The Killer Instinct" by Kate Wiley is a fantastic 5-star read! Margot, a detective with the SFPD, continues to investigate murders while collaborating with the FBI on cold cases connected to her estranged father.

This third book in the series is just as gripping as the first two! The growing tension between Wes and Margot adds depth to their evolving friendship. Meanwhile, Margot struggles with her relationship with her father, as she works tirelessly to provide closure to families affected by murders from decades earlier. The chapters set in the past offer a frightening glimpse into Eddie's childhood, giving readers a firsthand look at the events that shaped him into the killer he would become.

If you enjoyed the first two books, this third installment is a must-read. The final page left me eager to dive into the fourth book—I can’t wait!"

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

If I could recommend one book or series it would be this one, I absolutely love them. I get totally hooked in at the first word and can’t put them down until it’s over, then when it’s over I’m devastated I have to wait for the next one!! Love, love, love!!!

Margot Phalen faces her darkest fears in The Killer Instinct, a chilling crime thriller that plunges deep into the complexities of familial bonds and inherited darkness. When a series of grisly murders in California’s Muir Woods and Chinatown echo the trademark methods of her father—infamous serial killer Ed Finch—Margot is thrust into a case that’s as personal as it is haunting.

Ed Finch has been behind bars for years, but the evidence implicates a chilling connection. Margot must confront the horrifying possibility that someone is mirroring her father’s crimes—or that Ed’s influence extends far beyond the prison walls. Flashbacks to Ed’s childhood offer new insights into his transformation into a killer, adding depth to the series and elevating the psychological tension.

Despite not having read the two previous books, I found this instalment worked well as a standalone. However, series fans may have a richer understanding of Margot’s character arc and relationships. The interwoven timelines and psychological exploration were standout elements, offering a fresh perspective on what shapes both victim and predator.

A highlight of the book is Ewan, a character whose complexity and sharp wit add an intriguing counterbalance to the intense narrative. His dynamic with Margot brings depth to the story and helps ground it amidst the high-stakes investigation.

Fans of Karin Slaughter and Tana French will appreciate the expertly crafted tension, while Michael Connelly readers will enjoy the procedural elements. The Killer Instinct is an engrossing and thought-provoking thriller that probes the boundaries of nature versus nurture, delivering a compelling and unforgettable ride.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

*The Killer Instinct* is a gripping psychological thriller and the third book in the Detective Margot Phalen series. It follows Margot, a tough yet vulnerable detective grappling with the trauma of being the daughter of a notorious serial killer, Ed. Despite changing her identity and starting fresh, her father’s reach persists, forcing her to meet with him in prison as part of her FBI work to help victims' families.

The story alternates between Margot’s current cases in San Francisco and flashbacks to Ed’s abusive childhood, revealing the roots of his sinister nature. Margot’s guarded personality, her rare connection with her partner, and her struggles to overcome her past make her a compelling character.

Packed with action, suspense, and unexpected twists, the book works as a standalone but also sets up future installments. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

The Killer Instinct is book 3 in the series. I highly recommend this book and series especially if you enjoy crime thrillers. I have read the other books as well and they're all fantastic! I couldn't put this book down!! I can't wait to read more!

AHHH!! I absolutely devoured this book! I managed to read it in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down, what a terrific author and book, I need the next book right now!

Kate Wiley’s The Killer Instinct is a masterful exploration of human psychology wrapped in the tense, edge-of-your-seat storytelling of a stellar thriller. Wiley crafts a narrative that delves into the darker corners of the mind, examining the fine line between instinct and morality, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.
Wiley’s pacing is impeccable, with each chapter ending on a note that leaves readers hungry for more. The plot twists are sharp and unpredictable, yet carefully foreshadowed, ensuring they feel earned rather than contrived. Her prose is both sharp and evocative, creating vivid imagery and a mood of simmering unease.
The theme of "killer instinct" is woven brilliantly throughout, challenging readers to question their own capacity for self-preservation and morality under extreme circumstances. The novel’s exploration of these primal urges adds depth to the suspense, elevating it beyond a conventional thriller.
While the book is nearly flawless, some readers might wish for a more expansive backstory for certain secondary characters. Nonetheless, the intensity and intrigue of the narrative more than compensate for these minor shortcomings.
The Killer Instinct is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a story that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping. Kate Wiley has proven herself to be a remarkable storyteller, delivering a novel that is both thrilling and unforgettable.

Huge thank you to Storm Publishing, Kate Wiley, and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

This is the third book in one of my favourite series featuring Detective Margot Phelan. It reads well as a stand-alone but I would definitely recommend reading the previous two books first. Margot is still struggling to deal with her father who is a convicted serial killer. He keeps wanting her to visit him as there are victims still out there that have not yet been found and he will only give Margot the information. She complies with his request as she feels she owes it to the victims and their families. Margot and Wes (her partner) are also investigating the discovery of bodies that seem like copycat murders of her father. They realise that they must have another serial killer on the loose as Ed Finch, her father, is still in prison. The book was divided into two timelines with insights into Ed’s childhood and past. This was another amazing book that had me totally captivated. I cannot wait for book number four.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Just finished reading this book, and damn. I LOVE IT.

Firstly, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishers for providing me the ARC of this book. And I am expressing gratefulness because MANY publishers have rejected me, and while I understand why they did it, little old me still felt hurt every time I saw the 'rejected' response to my requests. I have never even THOUGHT of letting someone know I want to be friends with them unless I'm 100% sure they won't reject me...

Now, moving on to the book! The cover was pretty, the title and description really inviting, so I dived in. I also needed to read a book whose title starts with the letter 'K' (articles don't count) for my reading challenge. So I started reading it. And oh God, I need a LOT of people (who're into the genre, of course!) to give it a try! This isn't exactly a "suspense" thriller, but it's the kind of thriller that keeps you asking the "how's" and "why's" instead of the "who". And I, for one, really welcomed the change, because it's something I haven't found much in thrillers before.

In the simplest words, the book has the POV of a detective trying to free herself from the haunting shadow of her past and her serial killer father (warning: his POV can have some really disturbing scenes, so please check the trigger warnings if needed!). There were times when I got the chills while reading this. I don't know how much more I can say without giving a spoiler, but I really think you should try it if you like thrillers with a focus on the characters! I myself want to read the entire series, but I'm not rich enough to buy it, and I wouldn't want a pirated copy of an indie author's book! That would be REALLY UNETHICAL. So, I'll just hope to get more ARCs of this series in the future!

Another fast read and great addition to the Phalen series. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Thank you #netgalley and #stormpublishing for the eARC.

What a great addition to this series! Margot is such an interesting character to me. She could have a whole team of psychiatrists studying her life, the poor thing. Even though we didn’t get to see as much of Ed as I had hoped, I still feel like we got more from him than we did in the previous two books. Of course, that could be because of what he did during his one and the ending. At first glance, everything in the book seems to be completely unrelated, but oh man! Of course, I knew it had to happen eventually. But still, it was chilling! What a piece of work! The question is, what happens from here? Margot is just starting to think about life outside of Ed Finch, and then he turns everything upside down - again. This left a beautiful setup for the next book in the series. But it also makes me wonder if Margot is going to shut down again so she can avoid any meaningful relationships. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!

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

This was my first time diving into a book by this author, and I was totally blown away. The story was such a page-turner, keeping me on my toes as I tried to figure out who the culprit was. As a fan of thrillers, if a book hooks me like that, you know it’s a winner. There were definitely moments that left me speechless! I also really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect. I’ll definitely be recommending it and can’t wait to check out more from Kate Wiley.

Detective Margot Phalen is back!!! I just love Margot. I could not put it down. Its book three in the series and so far they are all fantastic. Just like the other two books, the chapters from the past are my favorite. I loved the way the past chapters were in this book. Ugh... is it time for book four yet?!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Detective Margot Phalen series. It just keeps getting better and better! Another body is found in the Muir Woods, and the body of an elderly Chinese woman is found in China Town. Margot sees a resemblance to the victims of her father- Ed the serial killer. Her father is in prison, but Margot fears he has some connection to the deaths. As Margot and Wes investigate, Margot discovers a page torn out of the book about her father's first victim. They eventually discover someone who seems to be obsessed with her father- buy why does this man seem to worship Ed?
I can't type too much, because i do not want to give away any spoilers!
This case is twisted, dark, and emotional. Margot has to open up and dig deep into her emotions and psyche to fully face her past. She continues to visit her father because he keeps dropping suggestions and nuggets of information that could help the case.
We also get insight into Ed's character. He is creepy and awful, but it helps the reader understand things about Margot.
If you like a dark, emotional mystery with great depth in characters and a twisted plot- this is definitely the series for you! I cannot wait for the next book!!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Absolutely phenomenal. This book is told from two different point of views, Margot, who is a Detective and assists the FBI with gathering information from a serial killer about his past victims and those that have not yet been accounted for, who is actively working to solve several murders that may possibly be related to the same serial killer, and Ed, Margot's father, the infamous serial killer.

Ed's chapters are from the past, when he was young and shows how his childhood was and the signs that indicated that he was different from the other kids, and how he had become a serial killer. So much insight was given for Ed and his actions/what was in his mind, which is not often seen in these types of books.

Margot's chapters focus on her active investigation, along with her assistance with another case of a potential serial killer, and her helping the FBI with getting more information from her father about his passed murders. Margot was such a complex character that I found myself rooting for every step of the way. Every time she had to confront her father about his crimes, she was so strong and did her best to get what she could out of the master manipulator. There were also times where she wondered if what she was doing as a profession, was actually doing anything when she began to question why victories and breaks in her cases, didn't help her feel happy anymore.

In the end, most of my questions were answered, although I do hope we get closure on the murders in the woods in the next book, even if Margot was just assisting, and it wasn't technically her case. But the ENDING, the last couple of pages, threw me for a loop and I really need the next book right now. The story of Margot and her father intrigues me so much. I need more.

This is a murder/ thriller that is part of a series that follows our heroine, a police detective. She carries a lot of emotional baggage because of who her father is. That also often helps her investigations.
A fascinating story with a great heroine. There are also visits to the past and the mind of a budding serial killer.
I haven't read the previous books, but I will definitely go back and find them. I do need the next because this one leaves a killer on the loose.
Fascinating story.

Book three in Margot Phelan’s story has a slow build but reaches a powerful crescendo tying the core investigation of this entry in the series to the ongoing story arc of Margot’s relationship with her serial killer father. I’m really enjoying how the author is revealing just enough more about Margot, her father, and a couple of her co-workers to make the story intriguing and making me ready for the next book as soon as I close the one I’m reading. San Francisco during the Chinese New Years provides an interesting backdrop to this investigation. Wiley hits all aspects of story development on the nose with perfectly balanced character development, plot, setting, pacing, and theme. This is one of those series I rather wish I’d found once there were several books completed, as I could easily devour them one after the other.

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

Although I did not read the previous books in this series it did not impair my understanding of the story. The Killer Instinct has a great plot, is well-written, and grabs the reader's attention from the start. Margot is running from her past and punishing herself because of her serial killer father and the fact that he will only confess his crimes to her. Added to that, she has two new cases to work on and one of them seems to be related to her father. The author gradually builds the characters, their machinations, how they operate, till the real culprit is brought to light.Great story and great ending! Looking forward to reading the next story, hoping it will be published soon.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

As this series grows, we are learning more about both Margot and her serial killer father Ed and with another body found in the Muir Woods and the body of an elderly Chinese woman in China Town, Detective Phalen is seeing a close resemblance to her father’s victim’s, could they be linked in some way, she knows her father didn’t commit them but could he be masterminding them from behind bars, Margot is determined to find out.

Searching for evidence in China Town sees them find a page torn out of the book on her father’s first victim has the hairs on her body stand on end, what her and Wes discover bring them in contact with someone who obviously has an obsession with her father but are there reasons this young man hold Ed in such esteem?

This case is going to have Margot digging deep into her mind to confront her past, wondering more and more about herself and with her father pushing her for more visits telling them about more victims, Margot is just about at the end of her tether with him, will the visits continue and will they ever find out the truth about the serial killer, Margot’s father Ed Finch?

This is another great installment in this series one that I highly recommend to any reader who loves a good mystery thriller, I do look forward to the next book.

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

Kate Wiley is back with instalment number 3 of the Margot Phelan books and I could not wait to start The Killer Instinct.

I love Margot as the main female lead in this novel and was not disappointed in book 3.

Margot is a detective and her father is serial killer Ed Finch who now resides in jail, and he is still under her skin in book 3. When a body is found, Margot seemingly notices the killing as very similar to her fathers and she needs to investigate further.

We are taken on a journey once again, to Margot's past and I really found it was a great way to get to know Margot more and how she feels.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading more in this series.