Her father was one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Now Detective Margot Phalen must face a chilling possibility: what if it runs in the family?

As the daughter of notorious serial killer Ed Finch, Margot has spent decades escaping her past—changing her name, her appearance, and building walls no one can breach, except her partner, Detective Wes Fox, whose growing closeness threatens the isolation she depends on.

When her troubled brother shows up needing a place to stay, pressuring her to participate in a true crime documentary about their father, Margot’s carefully controlled world begins to unravel. Then she notices blood on her brother’s shoes just as a body is discovered in a dumpster near her home. Is she being paranoid, or might the monstrous legacy of her father be closer than she ever imagined?

A visit to her imprisoned father delivers another gut-punch: Ed had an accomplice who’s still free—and still hunting. As Margot investigates, she must confront the question that’s haunted her entire life: how much of her father’s darkness might she carry within herself?

Dark, gripping, and emotionally raw, this taut thriller will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Tana French, and Lisa Gardner.

Readers are totally addicted to the Detective Margot Phalen series:

“Omg! Literally couldn’t put this book down! I was hooked, I need the next one to be released yesterday!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This fast-paced thriller is utterly addictive and should come with a warning – once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down until the final page.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Oh my goodness, what an incredible story. I felt like I was reading an episode of Criminal Minds... I was hooked and I did not want it to end.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book sucks you in hardcore… literally had me in a choke hold!! I could not put it down....” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“OMG another cracker from Kate Wiley! I loved the first book in this series and begged for another. Fabulous.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An absolute page-turner. Every chapter is filled with suspense. A must-read!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Kate Wiley has done it again! So riveting... I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! What an incredible sequel!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“WOW! Another page-turner! I didn’t want it to end… It honestly reads like a Criminal Minds episode/true crime podcast and I’m obsessed!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Absolutely spellbinding… five stars almost seem too mundane for this incredibly riveting thriller.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A great psychological thriller that has nail-biting suspense and is action-packed.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Are you kidding me!? What a great book!!! I couldn’t put it down!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow, what a great read… this series of books could be made into a Netflix series. Brilliant.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Phenomenal… Margot is a brilliant leading character and her relationship with her father is enough to set your teeth on edge!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was hooked! I never wanted to put this book down! Trust me – if I didn’t have to act as a functioning human, I would’ve devoured this book even quicker.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“If you like thrillers with strong female main characters, police work, and fast-paced mysteries, you need to read this series, like yesterday!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lauryn Allman