My first Kate Wiley book but definitely not my last. I went in blind, not knowing this was a sequel. But it read very well as a stand-alone. Great police procedural without over doing too many specific details. Enjoyed the multiple POVs. An all round great read.
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Wiley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed the first book, introducing Detective Margot Phalen, so I was thrilled to see the second instalment coming up. It didn't disappoint! Totally engrossing, so much so I was disappointed when I finished, but what a perfect ending..... Didn't see it coming but sets it up perfectly for the next book!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

You had me at serial killer! I quite enjoyed this book, great story a lot of intrigue. Detective Margot Phalen tries to figure out how her serial killer father is involved in a new murder. Great charecters and plot.

This is only the second book that I have read by Kate Wiley but I need more, definitely my kind of story, I am completely invested in Detective Margot Phelan.
Could her father be orchestrating murders from his prison cell ?......... no it wasn't possible but Margot was uneasy, it had to be a copycat killer, or did it ?
An elderly woman had been murdered in Chinatown, the MO was too close for comfort to the MO of her father, this was just another murder to add to the ones that had happened in Muir Woods, could they be connected ? was there another serial killer on the loose ?
Detective Margot Phelan of the SFPD had fought hard to get past her horrifying childhood, her name had been changed, only her partner Detective Wes Fox and two other colleagues knew her true identity, only they knew that she was the daughter of serial killer Ed Finch.
Finch was in San Quentin jail serving a life sentence for the murder of 78 women, he was playing a cat and mouse game with the FBI unit that had been set up to clear cold cases, they knew that he was responsible for the disappearance of more missing women but the only person that he would talk to was Margot.......visits that Margot dreaded.
This story follows Margot trying to juggle doing her job on the homicide team whilst trying to assist the FBI by interviewing her psychotic father.
The author has written wonderful characters in Margot and Wes, Margot a complicated, strong woman but a strong woman with insecurities, with guilt, with a fear of being discovered, and a fear of letting people get close with the exception of her partner Wes, Wes who knows her better than she knows herself, Wes who is always there for her, would she let him get closer ?.
This is a disturbing, psychological thriller with well defined characters, I found it very hard to put down and I look forward to more of Margot Phelan.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is my own opinion.

Omg what a fantastic read I couldn't put it down. So excited for next instalment. These books could be made into a tv series they are So good .

This was a good read and I did enjoy the book but I struggled to get into it until thee quarters of the way through. That said, I would read a follow on to this book if written.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #KillerInstinct by #KateWiley. This third installment of the Margot Phalen series was a book I could not put down. Someone has been killing people the way her father, Ed, a notorious serial killer used to kill. They know details that were never released. Who could be doing this? And how do they know the kept secret details?

A solid 3.5!
I haven’t read the two prequels so I was going into this one completely blind. From my experience this can be read as a standalone book just fine, but having read the previous two you’d probably be more acquainted with the characters.
What I liked about this story is that we get flashbacks to Ed’s childhood which shows how he was shaped into the killer he later ends up becoming. It seems like a new addition to the series as it starts from his very early childhood. I thought it was a very great touch.
Another thing I quite enjoy was Ewan’s character. In my opinion he was very interesting and quite well written.
What I was somewhat disappointed by is that
A) There is no real mystery who the killer is, not enough intrigue but maybe that’s the point of this one.
B) We never get the closure for the second case aka Redwood Killler, but you got to get a sequel from somewhere.
C) Our main character isn’t as sympathetic as I’d like. Obviously this makes her even more human but I felt she was somewhat cold and cruel at times.
Overall a quite enjoyable fast paced read. Definitely good for fans of detective novels but maybe not that good for fans of mystery and intrigue.

First time reading anything from this author and I was very surprised. This book was such a good read and had me guessing and second guessing who was the suspect. Being a thriller girl, if a book has me wanting to keep reading to try and figure out who did it, it’s a good book.
It had my mouth on the floor a couple of times for sure.
I especially loved how it was dual timeline as well.
Will definitely recommend and can’t wait to read more from Kate Wiley.

An exciting psychological thriller that combines a police procedural with the continuing personal trauma of the lead detective as the child of a serial killer. A man that her work with the FBI requires her to meet with on a regular basis to try and find closure for the families of his many victims. The Killer Instinct is Book 3 of the Detective Margot Phalen series. I have not read the first two books and this book works just fine as a standalone, but I am intrigued and want to learn more about Margot so will be reading those books as well.

Margot is an interesting character, often gruff and standoffish but gets your sympathy right away. She changed her name, moved away, started a new life, except her father somehow seems to have connections everywhere and knows who she is, where she lives and what she does for a living. And insists she is the only one he will talk to in prison. So much for rebuilding her life and putting away bad guys. She’s wary, has a number of defense mechanisms for blending in, not following visible patterns and not getting close. She has very few friends, except for the connection with her partner, the only one who really seems to get her. There is a hint of attraction there but in addition to always being hesitant about opening up, Margot is afraid to jeopardize the friendship.

The chapters in The Killer Instinct alternate between the present in San Francisco and Margot’s progress in trying to solve her current cases and the unwelcome visits to her father in prison, and the past in Oakland, where her father Ed is a child, tormented, ridiculed and humiliated by his mother. Just as you begin to feel sorry for this poor little boy you are treated to his innermost thoughts and actions: wanting to kill a cat to cause pain to the cat’s owner, wanting to hurt and kill his mother because of how she treats him. A scary little boy that grew up to be a scary man.

The Killer Instinct is non-stop action and suspense, full of twists and turns and huge surprises and the perfect tantalizing setup for the next book. Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing an advance copy of The Killer Instinct via NetGalley. I recommend it and the entire series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

I received this book before realizing this was #3. I read the first two in days and the same with this one. I enjoyed this book. I liked learning about the history of Ed and not just his kills. I could see this being a tv show. I can't wait for #4.

While the beginning of the story felt a little slow paced to me, I'm thinking it may be due to my not having read the first two books in this series.

I found this a very intriguing story with the multiple storylines - the murders in Muir Woods, a new homicide in Chinatown, and Margot's serial killer father. Then there's Margot's confliction as to whether to keep her relationship with Wes on a professional basis or let it lead to something more. I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 Stars

Detective Margot Phalen is investigating a string of murders occurring in Muir woods, but when a body in Chinatown turns up, she is stunned to see the brutality of the murder is similar to the motive of her fathers first victim. Her father is Ed, a notorious serial killer who is currently serving life with no parole for his crimes. She thinks that maybe she can get some insight into her current cases if she uses her dad’s criminal mind to help her solve the case.

Margot must figure out if her dad is the mastermind behind the new killings or its a sinister copycat at work. In order to solve this case, she must comfort her past and face the possibility that she is more like her father than she originally thought.

Typically I don't usually like police procedural books. They can get bogged down by dialogue and the characters seem to blend into each other but this was quick and fast paced and didn’t lag. There was the overall case of the serial killer in Muir Woods and the main single case of an old woman who was stabbed in her apartment.

This is book three in the series and I feel like I did miss out on some background by not reading the first two books. I feel like these books were set up to be read as a series and I am interested enough to not only go back and read the first two but also continue on with the series as well.

This book gave me some Hannibal Lector vibes. Margot needs to meet with her dad in order to get him to confess his crimes but he also is playing a long game and I'm curious enough to keep reading to find out what the game plan is.

Overall solid thriller but I wish I had some more backstory before I dove into this one.

The Killer Instinct is the third book in the Detective Margot Phalen Series by Kate Wiley. This is a truly addictive series with Margot who changed her name because of her father’s crimes. In the story a crime of murder happens that is eerily like her father’s, but he is in prison for life. Strong plot and excellent character development makes this an incredible if scary at times read. Margot’s father certainly creeps me out so I feel for her any time she must go to see him as part of an on-going taskforce. The ending of this book is especially creepy.

Many descriptions of books say that the book is a totally unputdownable crime thriller, but this one is true. Read The Killer Instinct today even if you haven’t read the first two books, it stands well on its own. Be prepared to then to be compelled to catch up on the series. Books one and two are just as good.

I am completely hooked on Margot! This series keeps getting better. The mystery case is dark and twisted. The revelations are shocking. We see more about Ed. I loved everything about this story. I was up late into the night finishing. I couldn't put it down.

While I don't like to put the dampers on any book or author but I found this book just so-so.
This is the 3rd book in the series so can't make any comments about the other 2 as I have not read them, but this one it seems as lacking oomph, a bit slow at starting and the characters did not seem to have any warmth to them. The main protagonist Margot seems frighten of her own shadow and still dancing to her father's tune. which would not give me any faith as a DI police officer
I think the story has some bite to it but not really played out.
I would like the thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC copy to review I'm sorry I just didn't find it so exciting as other readers did.

A compelling and atmospheric read. In this third instalment, the daughter of a serial killer navigates her role as a detective, balancing her own investigations with the unresolved cases tied to her father's crimes.
The characterisations are rich and nuanced, making each development feel both personal and tense. It's an absorbing blend of mystery and emotional depth, and I'm eager to see where the story goes next.

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of The Killer Instinct.

Detective Margot Phalen and her partner Wes are called to a crime scene where an elderly woman has been brutally murdered. During the investigation they find a page from a book about a notorious murderer Ed Finch and they think this murder is a copycat of his first crime. Margot knows more than anyone about Ed Finch because he is her father. Is someone trying to send her a message?

This is the third book in the series and I do recommend reading the first two books before reading this one. The whole series is so good! The characters are very well written and the suspense aspect to the whole series is fabulous. I cannot wait to see what happens in book four.

Detective Phalen is the daughter of a well know serial killer. Does this mean though she get into the minds of killers or have a better understanding?
This story gripped me from the start, is a serial killer at work and are all the cases related?
The twists and turns in this story might have you looking over your shoulder.
Great story and the end....oh my. I highly recommend this series.

Really enjoying the Margot Phalen series from this Author, an author that I’d previously never read before but am very glad I discovered them.
The writing is easy to read and flows well, characters are well thought out and descriptive, the will they/wont they chemistry between Margot and Wes is both entertaining and hopeful.
The plot is fast paced and tense in places, with a main story and the side story of Margot and her father.
Can’t wait to read more!