This was a fantastic way to wrap up a must read series.
So much so I couldn't not add it to my top reads list.
Considering it's the final book, anything I say will be a spoiler BUT be prepared to be transfixed from cover to cover as so much goes down between the pages.
You'll finish the book feeling content and excited for what the author plans to do next.

I love this series - as soon as this book was available, I dropped everything to read it. Margot Phelan is a fascinating character who evolves across the series to become a stronger version of herself. This is the concluding book in the series (though I understand and deeply hope that she will be back in a new series). Loose ends were satisfyingly tied up, but in a way that does not close off a new series around the character(s). If you like mysteries and thrillers, you need to read this five book series, starting with The Killer’s Daughter. Just make sure you have lots of down time, because you’ll read through the night and start the next one right away!

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

I'm always happy to support Canadian authors. This series has come to a close, but - not really a spoiler alert - the main character, Detective Margot Phalen will appear in a new series - so stay tuned!

Margot is a likeable character, dedicated to doing the job right. Many heads will roll in this action-packed conclusion. Will Margot -and her career - survive the dirt that she must expose as well as the culprits who have been hiding in plain sight?

The twist was a doozy! No spoilers here! Let's just say that while a few apples, like Margot Phalen, do manage to fall far enough away from the tree, others don't!!

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel, in exchange for an honest review. 4 out of 5 well written and engrossing stars!

This was a fab last instalment to this series. I was lucky to get an ARC of this book and I’m so glad I did, I have really enjoyed this series.

Sadly this is the fifth and final book in the Detective Margo Phelan series, a series which I thoroughly recommend.
Kate Wiley has created a great set of complex but likeable characters, non more so than Margot Phelan. Margo was born Megan Finch but when her serial killer father, Ed, was arrested when she was fifteen years old, her mother committed suicide leaving Megan alone, angry and determined to prevent other young women from being murdered, to do this Megan became Margo Phelan and she became one of the best homicide detectives to force had seen.
Margo and her partner Wes Fox, lead by her friend Leon Telly had been chasing a prolific serial killer known as The Redwood Killer for a year. At the same time she was contacted by FBI agent, Andrew Finch, a call which, although Andrew was her friend, Margot dreaded, she knew that her father wanted to speak to her again, Margo hated these prison visits, they made her skin crawl but each time she visited Ed gave her the location of more bodies of his victims, Margot knew that she had to go, she needed to bring closure for their loved ones.
Margot also came by a USB with information that would blow the police department wide open starting at the very top, information that Margot couldn't trust anyone with, only Wes knew her secret.
This story is action packed and suspense filled, would they ever find the Redwood Killer ? Would these be Ed's last two victims ? How could Margot reveal her secret without both herself and Wes loosing the jobs that they loved ?
I love how the author has brought this series to an explosive close with a little bit of romance thrown in for good measure. I look forward, hopefully, to reading more about Margot and Wes in a new series.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, the review is totally voluntary.

OMG this book grabbed me from the first page and had me in a CHOKEHOLD! Margot is a detective, and a force to be reckoned with. Chasing a serial killer through San Francisco trails, facing corruption which affects her own department, and confronting her.... father. GAHH. It's so tense, emotional, and impossible to put down! I loved it so much@
Even if you haven't read the other books in the series, you can still feel the weight of the books. Although you will feel some characters are thinned out without a backstory but soooo worth the read!
This emotional thriller packs a punch!

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of Out Of The Woods.

Detective Margot Phalen and her partner Wes have been on the hunt for the Redwood Killer. Two bodies are found in a very short time frame and Margot believes this is when the killer will make a mistake. They start taking a look at the other cases to see if there is anything they missed. On top of this case Margot is taking one last meeting with her imprisoned serial killer father to find more of his victims. Can she lay both of the cases to rest?

This is the fifth and final book in the series. I have really enjoyed this series and I loved how everything was wrapped up in this one!

In the climactic conclusion of the Detective Margot Phalen series, Margot embarks on a pursuit of the Redwood Killer, a serial murderer whose victims are associated with San Francisco's affluent families. As she delves into this intricate investigation, she uncovers entrenched corruption within her own police department, leading to confrontations with influential figures, including her Chief of Police.
The narrative examines the theme of duality in human nature, reflecting on how trauma and familial connections shape one's identity. Margot is portrayed with meticulous detail, illustrating her resilience and depth as she navigates not only the complexities of her case but also her evolving relationship with her partner.

At times, the pacing was slow, but as I enjoyed the storyline, I kept on and it picked back up. I enjoyed the thoroughness with which Margot’s character was developed, as her psychological turmoil was put on display. Additionally, the setting was clearly depicted which also added to my enjoyment of the novel.

While I didn’t read all of the other novels in this series, it did not detract from my understanding nor my enjoyment of this book. It made me want to go and read all of the other books in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

This was the perfect wrap up to this chapter for Margot! Full of suspense, it will keep you up way past bedtime. I was hooked. I've loved every book in this series and this was a very satisfying read. Especially that ending. I cannot wait for the new series to start. This is one of my favorite authors and this book is a prime example of why.

"Out of the Woods” by Kate Wiley is an entertaining 5-star crime thriller! Margot and Wes, San Francisco homicide detectives, return in this thrilling conclusion to the series. The hunt for the elusive Redwood Killer continues as more bodies are discovered, and Ed is back, causing Margot plenty of stress and turmoil.

If you have read the previous books and enjoyed them, this finale is a must read. If you haven’t started the series yet, now is the time to fix that and begin at the very start. Do not jump in with this book, or you will miss the backstory and tension that make this conclusion absolutely perfect.

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

Fantastic book with fast pacing and intriguing characters. The characters all felt so real and the descriptions made me feel like I was right there with them. Very well done.

I love a Detective Margot Phelan novel! This one has topped all the other ones I've read.
Margot is back with her crew, trying to solve multiple murders and put a serial killer behind bars. As usual, it hits close to home for Margot, with her father being the infamous Ed Finch. Ed is also present in this book, and his presence always adds something extra to these stories. However, in this installment, things take quite the turn, and I was completely here for it! By the end, all I was able to say was, "It's about time" (in regards to both Ed and Wes!) 4.5 stars, rounded up!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and the incredible Kate Wiley for this one!

The end of the Detective Margot Phalen series definitely makes me sad, but what a way to go out! There’s a lot going on in this book! Margot and her partner, Wes, continue to search for the Redwood Killer. There are so many connections in this case to some very influential people - including the Chief of Police. Margot and Wes are the only ones who know about some of the evidence and they struggle with when and how to release it. In the meantime, Margot wants to be rid of her serial killer father, and that might just be in her future. He wants to show her where his last victims are located. To top it off, Margot is given an opportunity to join the FBI on an elite task force doing what she does best.

As I’ve come to expect from this author, the story is an intricate web of puzzle pieces that come together so nicely at the end of book. It was exciting, suspenseful, and intriguing. The series closed as it should. I don’t feel like I was left hanging with unanswered questions. I loved the constant pace of action and how well the characters synced. I loved seeing Margot’s character emerge into happiness. I definitely think you have to read the other books in this series to fully understand all the connections to the past. However, that’s no hardship as this series was so very thrilling and amazing! I’m also very excited to see what the author will come up with for Margot next in her new series!

I didn't realize Out of the Woods was part of a series, so I read it as a standalone. The story was captivating, thrilling, and suspenseful. This story was a chase for a serial killer with non stop action. I really enjoyed the plot of the story, especially with the little backstory going on with her father, Ed Finch, who was also a serial killer who is currently in prison. I did, however, have a hard time connecting with the characters in this story. I think maybe, it's possible that I felt this way because I didn't start with book 1 in the series. So I will go back, start with book 1 and see if that changes my connection with the story and characters.

I have read enjoyed all five books in Kate Wiley's Margot Phelan series. This was a great a tie up the series but to promise a follow up series in 2026 is a blessing. Strong emotions appear throughout this book and the seeking for justice is finally met. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for the advanced reader copy! This book was AMAZING! Although i have not read the other books in the series, i still felt like i knew what was going on and who was who. This book was easy to follow and the characters were easy to love.

Although I did enjoy this book, I felt it was rather wordy; tighter editing would have sharpened it up without losing anything. However, I liked the plot and the characters of Margot and Wes. It’s great to read a strong female character in what can be a misogynistic job. Margot and Wes’ developing relationship was interesting and added depth to the story. There’s a very satisfying take down near the end!

So sad this series is over!!!!
Margot has been such an interesting character to read and learn about. I loved seeing things tie up with the Redwood Killer. It was such a good twist. The twists didn’t end there.
Wed and Margot finally making moves.
This series definitely didn’t disappoint!!!

This is a first time reading this author or about these characters but I'm sure I'll try a few more of her books. Interesting characters and story. Not filled with a lot of graphic scenes, conversational and an easy quick read. If you like police procedurals, you will like this book. The relationship between the two detectives reminded me a little of Bones & Booth from the tv show Bones. It is read easily as a standalone even though there are several books featuring these characters. I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy at my request and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book..

This grabbed me right from the first page. Totally addictive I read it one day. I raced through this like I was being chased. A heart-pounding thriller of a book which I highly recommend. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.