I really enjoyed this book. Crime fiction, serial killers, and well written characters that had depth to them. It's definitely a book for me.

From the get-go, this book pulled me in. It didn't matter that I hadn't read the previous books. This is completely fine as a stand-alone. That being said, now I need to read the other two.

One of the things I loved enjoyed was how Wiley gave you insight into Ed's character. I found this part so fascinating to read this. How he gets under your skin and the hatred I felt for him. You get to see how Margot is the way she is and the chemistry she has with the partner. I really enjoyed the plot. The pacing was just right for me, and I didn't see the twists coming. Addictive reading. I can't fault this book. It was a pleasure to read.

I eagerly await book 4. Brilliant.

Thank you Storm Publishing for my advanced copy.
My opinions are my own

The 3rd book was a blast!

I love reading the scene from Margot and Wes!

Their chemistry is amazing and her opening to him slowly.

The Muir Woods case is getting interesting, however I hope they can solved it in the 4th book. (keeps getting long).

I love how the author include scenes from Ed's childhood.

And lastly I want to give my thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Wiley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Can't wait for the 4th book!

Slow to start.
The last 40% of the book really picked up and I didn’t want to stop reading. The last page of the book is crazy. I can’t wait for book 4 to come out.

Definitely recommend this series!

This book was good. It was a little bit slower paced than what I’m used to but it was good nonetheless.

The third book in the series featuring Detective Margot Phalen has to be the best yet! it's packed full of suspense, great characterisation and the usual twisty plot line. If you have yet to discover this series, you are in for a treat. The ending left me eagerly waiting for book 4 in this highly recommended series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The detective Margot Phalen series has me in a chokehold 😮‍💨 this is the third book in the series and each book gets better and better. I love the character development the author has done in this series. I love the serial killer aspect of this series and the interviews with the detectives serial killer father in prison. Each page leaves me wanting more and I can’t wait for book four🤞🏽👏🏽

Synopsis:
Detective Margot Phalen knows the mind of a serial killer better than most. She learned from the her father, Ed Finch.

When bodies keep appearing in the tranquil Muir Woods, California, and a woman is killed in Chinatown, Margot begins to realize these are no ordinary homicides. The eerie similarities to her infamous father’s crimes send chills down her spine. But Ed’s been behind bars for years now – surely he couldn’t mastermind this from his cell, could he?

As evidence mounts – a bloodied image of Ed’s first target found in a victim’s home, stab wounds that match Ed’s trademark pattern – Margot uncovers a sinister obsession that hits far too close to home. She must use all her skills to outwit a killer who seems to know her history better than she does.

To solve this case, she’ll need to confront the dark secrets of her past, and face her worst that she may be more like her father than she ever dared imagine.

Thanks to @stormbooks_co for the NetGalley review copy. The Killer Instinct publishes October 28.

We continue in Book 3 with the Muir Wood case or the Redwood Killer ( to quote Margot " Stupid goddamn Sebastian" ). This continue to be a great case which spans over multiple books. and the Chinatown case drops us into a storyline which is absolutely chilling and leads us to the ending that made me go "oh NO"!
This is how you end a book and how you build the suspension for the next book.

Also in this book we get again a lot of Ed, especially his childhood which is brilliant!

Can't wait for Book 4!

Kate Wiley has found the perfect balance of mystery, suspense and character driven drama. I was so excited to see there was a third arc available in this series and was in no way disappointed once I started reading.

I like the way there is a new crime to solve while continuing an unsolved case from the previous book. I love the dynamics between the two detectives. I enjoy the level of suspense which is much more than a cosy mystery but not so gritty that I'm traumatised.

Anticipating the next book in this series!

A cracker of a read. Every time I thought I had a handle on the murders and I could see what was coming next there was a twist or a surprise, Margot is very damaged and lives her life in a very particular way. She doesn’t let people in and has protection measures in place to get through each day, the ongoing park murders are almost background for this series of books, with the murder of an elderly lady the focus of this one. Central to the power and strength of this book are the relationships that, despite it all, Margot manages to have with those in her circle.

When I picked up The Killer Instinct, I didn’t realize it was book 3 in a series. Now that I’ve finished it, I will be going back to read the first two books and will be waiting impatiently for book four!
This book had me on the edge of my seat and dying to read it every chance I had!
Detective Margot Phalen is on the case, or cases, of a copycat and a serial killer. Bodies keep turning up in the forest and an old woman is found stabbed to death in her apartment. With her past, Phalen always has to wonder what part her father is playing in these cases.

This brilliant series just keeps giving! Yet another amazing installment that is a story itself. The way the plot unravels is brilliant and the background longer story plays beside it so well. Excellent characters, can't wait for the next book

This is easily becoming one of my most favourite series!

As what I've started to come to expect, Kate delivers the most immersive storyline, told over dual timeslines and points of view.

Now, whilst I absolutely loved the first two installments, this has got to be my favourite so far. To say it kept me engrossed was an understatement, it literally kept me up ALL NIGHT, I just couldn't put it down, that promise to myself of 'just one more chapter' was a promise I couldn't keep.

I'm fully invested in the dynamics of Margot and Wes and love how she is realising that someone truly has her back for the first time in her life.

The character development is sublime, Ed's character throughout has been one of pure evil and manipulation, but in book #3, he is just absolutely despicable - which is a testament to the authors writing.

In this book, Margot and Wes are investigating 'The Redwood Killer' and a possible copycat of her serial killer father, Ed Finch. On top of heavy caseloads, Margot is still working alongside her colleague Leon on the Muir Woods killings, will they finally get some answers?

This one was a lot more insightful to Ed's past and childhood. It shows just how his life was not only shaped but also how young he was when he realised he was 'different' to his peers around him.

This is an absolute masterclass in psychological suspense. As with the previous two books, there is SO much going on, so many plates spinning, but I found it really easy to stay immersed as the writing style has you gripped from the very first page and does not let go of its hold at all. The vivid scenes depicted and the oppressive atmosphere this book creates is phenomenal

I can't wait for book #4, patience will not be my friend in this case 😄

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Taught and intense detective mystery with an interesting take on the serial killer child trope. Strong characters and many twists weave through two murder investigations and flashbacks to the early development of the serial killer, as they also work to get cold case info from him. Complex plot all works, and the main detectives are well developed and likeable. Definitely recommended!

Kate Wiley has done it again! In this book, there are two different timelines and points of view, similar to the other books in this series. Although the twists were predictable for me, it is so well-written that one can not help but be engrossed in it. Margot and Wes are fantastic. I adore their dynamic, and their banter is simply delightful. I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars, only because it was somewhat predictable. If you enjoyed the other Detective Margot Phalen books, you will undoubtedly enjoy this one as well.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with the opportunity to read another Kate Wiley thriller.

The Killer Instinct will be available on October 28, 2024.

Impressive!!!!!
My heart was pounding as I read the last line.

What a book! I must say after the last one, I didn't want to keep my hopes up for The Killer Instinct. But this one delivered.

This book shows more progress in terms of character development for Margot. She is more accepting and her friendship with Wes is charming. The back and forth of the timelines especially when we get Ed's background always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. But this is a compliment to the author. He is despicable.

I liked that they made progress with the Muir murders and the recent homicide just elevated the book. Overall, i enjoyed every page and I really hope now that Margot gets the upper hand with Ed. As a reader, I am not sure how many more books I can go with dealing with Ed.

I give this book 5 stars because I couldn't just put it down.

Thank you Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When I tell you I am obsessed with this series, I MEAN IT! Each book in this series keeps getting better and better!
I really enjoyed the cases this book focused on. The "Redwood Killer" and then the possible Finch copycat... I didn't want to put the book down. I don't want to spoil anything but wow! Margot really stood her ground in this book and wasn't taking any shit. I am excited to see her character continue to develop and grow into this new stronger self.
Just like I said during my book 1 review of the series, I love Margot's relationship with her partner Wes. They definitely started to cross over into forbidden lover vibes for me, which I am so here for! Their banter and coworker/friend relationship is so relatable. I cannot get enough of them. If they ever aren't detectives, I need a whole book of just them.
The ending of this book had me reeling! I NEVER saw the ending come... my jaw was on the floor. I am not so patiently waiting for book 4! I never want this series to end, Kate Wiley has such a good writing style, and a perfect balance of explanation and dialogue.
Everyone needs to run out and get a copy of The Killer Instinct when it releases Oct 28, 2024!
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Thank you, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(3.5 rounded up)

I LOVED the first book in the series (The Killer's Daughter) and also enjoyed the second book (Her Father's Secret). I thought Wiley did a great job keeping the overarching story of Margot's complicated relationship with her father and the copycat killings lurking in the background while she worked on other crimes... however... still having no answers about the copycat by the end of book 3 is starting to make things feel a bit overly drawn out. I need some forward momentum on that plot line! That said, I still overall love this series and think Margot is a fantastic character. I think fans of Louisa Scarr would like this!

I didn't realize this was the 3rd book in the series, but I will definitely be reading the others in it! I was hooked from the very beginning. Reading this, it felt like it was one of my favorite crime shows. The details and all of the steps that go into solving the murder were absolutely perfect, in my opinion. I kind of wish we could see how Wes really feels about Margot. I like how protective he is of her. I enjoyed all of the added details that come to light when they find the killer. I thought I knew how it was going to end, but the added information definitely proved me wrong.

Book Review: "The Killer Instinct" by Kate Wiley

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kate Wiley’s "The Killer Instinct" is a masterclass in psychological suspense that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the final page. As an ARC reader, I was completely captivated by the intricate web of mystery and emotion woven around Detective Margot Phalen, a character who navigates the murky waters of her past while confronting the chilling reality of her present.

Margot, whose childhood was overshadowed by her father’s infamous legacy as a serial killer, finds herself thrust into a case that echoes his horrific crimes. The juxtaposition of her familial ties and professional duties creates a riveting tension that propels the narrative forward. The Muir Woods setting, with its serene beauty juxtaposed against the horrific murders, adds an eerie layer that enhances the novel's chilling atmosphere.

Wiley’s writing is taut and atmospheric, painting vivid scenes that pull you deeper into the investigation. The pacing is relentless, with twists that keep you guessing and a mounting sense of dread that lingers like a fog. The shocking revelations about Margot’s father and the disturbing patterns of the current murders build a suspenseful crescendo that is both compelling and harrowing.

What truly sets "The Killer Instinct" apart is its exploration of identity and the fear of becoming what you despise. Margot’s internal struggle to differentiate herself from her father adds depth to her character, making her journey not just one of solving crimes but of self-discovery. The emotional stakes are high, and Wiley navigates them with a deft hand, ensuring readers are fully invested in Margot’s fate.

The supporting characters are equally well-developed, providing a rich backdrop against which Margot’s story unfolds. Their dynamics add layers of complexity and tension, enhancing the overall narrative without detracting from the main plot.

In a market flooded with crime thrillers, "The Killer Instinct" stands out as a must-read for fans of authors like Karin Slaughter, Michael Connelly, and Tana French. It’s a thrilling ride filled with unexpected turns and a haunting exploration of the darkest corners of the human psyche.

Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions and a gripping plot that will keep you up at night—this book is a true page-turner. I found myself unable to put it down, eagerly devouring each chapter and craving more. Kate Wiley has outdone herself with this unforgettable sequel, and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next!

As soon as I had the opportunity to dive into "The Killer Instinct," the third book in the Detective Margot Phalen series, I didn’t hesitate—I was instantly hooked. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two instalments, I was eager to continue this thrilling journey, and Wiley did not disappoint.
This time, Detective Margot Phalen is plunged into a chilling investigation marked by eerily familiar patterns. As bodies start turning up in Muir Woods and murder rocks Chinatown, I can immediately sense the tension rising. Margot, armed with her unique insight into the mind of a serial killer thanks to her infamous father, Ed Finch—an imprisoned killer—sets out to uncover the truth. The way Wiley expertly juxtaposes Margot’s investigation with her difficult visits to Ed makes for both a riveting and emotional read.
Margot is not just chasing down leads; she’s also grappling with her complex relationship with her father. I felt the weight of her emotional struggles spilling onto the pages as she delves into her past and confronts the fear that she might share more than just blood with Ed. The flashbacks to Ed's childhood were particularly haunting and added a depth that fuelled the narrative. It’s a testament to Wiley’s writing that the reader can see how Ed’s heinous actions formed, giving the story more layers to unravel.
The pacing in "The Killer Instinct" was fantastic—an adrenaline-fueled ride from the very first page. I found myself unable to put it down, racing through the chapters in search of answers. Each plot twist and turn kept me on my toes, making it a genuine page-turner. I was thrilled to see the chemistry between Margot and her partner, Wes, continue to develop; their dynamic adds a lively spark to the overarching tension. I am so invested in their relationship and can't wait to see where it leads in the future!
One of the aspects I really appreciate about this series is how Wiley navigates character development. The relationships feel authentic and evolve realistically; there are no quick fixes or neat resolutions here. Characters face their demons, and that realism makes their journeys even more gripping. Margot remains a relatable and flawed protagonist, and watching her erratic emotional landscape makes the story more compelling.
The ending left me gasping, a bittersweet mix of tension and relief, perfectly setting the stage for the next book. Although I saw some of the twists coming, the way they were revealed felt satisfying and cleverly plotted. I can't emphasize enough how eager I am for the next instalment—Kate Wiley has truly cemented herself as a masterful storyteller with this series.
I wholeheartedly recommend "The Killer Instinct," but I urge any new readers to start with the first two books to truly appreciate the depth of characters and the intricacies of the plot. For fans of crime thrillers, this series is nothing short of essential reading.