⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Stunning and Satisfying Conclusion—But Make Sure You Start from the Beginning!

Out of the Woods is a powerful and emotionally charged finale to this season of Detective Margot Phalen’s journey. Kate Wiley has crafted a masterful blend of suspense, character depth, and emotional reckoning that truly rewards readers who’ve been with Margot from the beginning. This isn’t a standalone—you really need to read the series in order to fully appreciate the intricate layers of Margot’s past, her fraught relationships, and her transformation from haunted detective to someone finally glimpsing a future beyond the shadows.

The Redwood Killer case reaches a heart-stopping conclusion, and the stakes have never been higher. Wiley skillfully weaves police corruption, personal demons, and the chilling return of Margot’s serial killer father into a storyline that is equal parts gripping and devastating. The tension is relentless, the emotional beats are raw, and the resolution is incredibly satisfying.

Fans of gritty, emotionally intense crime fiction—especially readers of Karen Rose, Karin Slaughter, and Mary Stone—will not be disappointed by this series. And while this book closes a major chapter in Margot’s life, it also opens the door to a compelling new direction that promises fresh mysteries and personal challenges ahead. I, for one, can’t wait to see where the next season takes her.

Thanks to Ms Wiley, the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Margot Phalen is back - Out of The Woods is the fifth instalment in this series and it’s safe to say it absolutely did not disappoint, what a way to end it!

Margot continues her visits to her father, Ed Finch, who is serving time in prison for committing many murders throughout her childhood. The trauma Margot is living with can be seen through her relationships, work, and general life, but the way this book unravels really shows the progression Margot has made, and I found myself smiling to myself as I read some parts.

There’s absolutely nothing negative that I can say about this book, it was an exceptional read from start to finish and a real page turner. Every chapter ended leaving me desperate to read on, and any moment that I wasn’t reading, I wished that I was. Kate Wiley tied up all of the loose ends perfectly and left no questions unanswered - I’m so glad Margot got the closure she needed and deserved, and I can’t wait to experience what is to come for her!

I really am so glad that I came across these books on NetGalley because they quickly became my favourite detective series. The excitement I feel when I see a new one announced is unmatched and I would highly recommend them to anyone! Is it time for Margot and Wes to be back yet?!

For over a year, Detective Margo Phelan has been on the hunt for The Redwood Killer, who is terrorizing the San Francisco area's Muir Woods by leaving the bodies of women along its scenic trails. The connection of the victims to some of the area's prominent families leads her to the investigation of members of the town's police department.
Margo is still trying to deal with her past, trying to live up to her reputation as the daughter of a convicted serial killer. When Margo and her partner, Wes, become trapped within the town's lack of justice, she finds herself trapped in the shadows of her past.
Her imprisoned father will not let her go. He insists he can lead her to the grave site of his final victims. Amid her doubts about whether he is telling the truth and how she can move on, she is offered a job by the FBI. A new start and a chance to get away from the town that holds so many bitter memories for her.
A riveting story that will have you on the edge of your seat until the explosive ending.

What an incredibly tense and riveting book. This is the last book of this series and the conclusion of this book was perfect. There are a lot of moving parts to this story. Margot was at her best. There was suspense and intrigue. I couldn’t read this book fast enough. It was just so good. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I have been waiting for the conclusion to this series and it DID NOT disappoint!!

Margot is brought in for the final showdown with the Redwood Killer case, as well as her father's unknown victims.

The Redwood Killer has been plaguing Margot and the team for over a year and they're finally getting close to solving it. But bringing in the killer is no easy task especially in a corrupt police station, leaving Margot and her partner Wes trying to decide who to trust.

Ed Finch- Margot's serial killer father- demands one last visit with her. If she does. he'll reveal the location and names of his last two unsolved murders? Will she do it?

Lots of suspense and it was great that they were able to wrap up cases mentioned in other books. I am sad this series is over but awesome that this won't be the last we see of Margot!!

This is so good, I have been waiting for this final book in the series to come out and it so didn’t disappoint. Margot has a serial killer on the loose in her job as a police officer and with her partner Wes she is skirting a dangerous line with some nasty people to get to the bottom of this case. Alongside is her work with the FBI meeting with her serial killer father to get him to share snippets of his victims so that the bodies can be found d and families given closure. The tension is excellent and the screw slowly tightened over the book until the unravelling starts. The loose ends from earlier books are picked up and woven into the plot beautifully. The 5 books are amazingly crafted and this end finale is as fab as the rest.

Out of the Woods is a satisfying and intense conclusion to the Margot Phalen series. I’ve always loved a good detective story, and this one hits the mark with a complex main character, a twisted case, and an emotional undercurrent that adds real weight to the story.

The Redwood Killer plot is full of suspense, corruption, and danger, with Margot finding herself entangled not only in a chilling case, but also in a personal reckoning with her past. The authors did a great job weaving in Margot’s personal trauma—especially her history with her serial killer father—without it ever feeling melodramatic or forced.

While the romance with her partner Wes felt slightly rushed at the end, I still appreciated the warmth it brought. It gave the story a lightness and a hopeful finish that Margot (and readers!) needed after all the darkness she’s endured.

The writing is tight, the pacing is strong, and the emotional beats hit just right. A very solid detective thriller that wraps up the series well. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an extremely satisfying ending to this five book series. I really like the way they wrapped up Ed story and I made movement in the relationship between Margot and Wes. I really liked the story of the serial killer and why the killer did what he did. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Margot and Wes are still hunting The Redwood Killer.
Margot's serial killer father has promised to reveal the location of the final bodies.
She wants to be done with meeting Ed, and hopes that these are the final victims.

As usual, I was thrilled to read this latest instalment of Detective Margot Phalen. She is determined to bring criminals to justice, and a work-a-holic. Because of her past, she shies away from relationships and close friendships.

This instalment was as good as the previous, and there is a new chapter opening up for Margot - I hope that there will be further books with her as the MC, as I have grown to really like her character. If there are further books, she won't be working for the Police Department.... I just hope this isn't the final book featuring Margot.
She deserves happiness.

I don't want to say too much, as I don't want to spoil the book for readers, but I am sure that fans will enjoy this as much as I did.

You always check under your bed for monsters before you go to sleep. You never think to look right across the dinner table. Detective Margot Phalen has spent over a year hunting San Francisco’s most elusive predator, the Redwood Killer, who leaves his victims alongside the scenic trails of Muir Woods. Each murdered woman connects to the city’s most powerful families and the corruption leads straight to Margot’s own police department! Wow fantastic book and series!! So sorry to see it end! Can’t wait for the new series though! This book had chilling suspense, gruesome murders, mystery, intrigue, action, and some jaw dropping twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book and series! They’re well worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me! Can’t wait for more!

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Out of the Woods by Kate Wiley due to be published August 20, 2025.

Detective Margot Phalen is hunting the Redwood Killer. When her father, and former serial killer, wants to be released to show the graves of his final victim, Margot feels she can’t say no. Will this be the end of her dealings with her father?

I love this series because it is so easy to fall back into the characters of Margot, Wes, her partner, and Ed, her father. They are easy to read, keep me on the edge of my seat and guessing, and a true delight to read! This one was probably the best of all five in the series. It brought several stories to a conclusion (no spoilers), and I was sad to see the series end. The good news is there will be another series with Margot and Wes – can’t wait to read it!
#NetGalley #KateWiley #OutOfTheWoods #StormPublishing

What a way to end a series, I loved it! When I saw this book was available I dropped everything. I devoured this book to find out how all the slow-burn plot threads would resolve. Too often I think series become formulaic and predictable, but this series is refreshingly not that.

I really love that Kate Wiley has allowed her series to move forward with each book, especially with Margot's personal growth over the series. She's gone from being a fearful loner, brittle and self medicating to cope with her PTSD, to someone slowly dipping her toe to deal with her emotions and opening herself up to trusting others so she can create a better life for herself. Importantly, this book tackles the slow-burn 'will they/won't they' between the skittish Margot and Wes, her steady rock of a partner, who understands what she needs. It represents a huge step forward and I really hope that the next series builds upon that because she deserves happiness given all she's overcome.

I can't wait for the next Margot series, the wait is already killing me. I am looking forward to also getting my hands on the audiobook.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a delightful conclusion to this wonderful series.
This is a collection of spoilers, so I am simply going
to suggest that fans read this book with the excitement
we have for each book, knowing that the Author took
care to wrap things up perfectly.
My thanks to Storm Publishing for the download copy
of the book for review purposes.

!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH !!!! This was a perfect conclusion to one of my favorite series! All of the loose ends were satisfyingly tied up, and (even more exciting) Margot will be back (!!!!!) in a new series!

This book features two storylines that are fast-paced. One storyline is engaging though somewhat exaggerated, while the other seems implausible and lacks thorough research.
The series concludes with a dramatic ending.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Book review: Kate Wiley’s Out Of The Woods. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

I’ve followed Detective Margot Phalen from the beginning, and this fifth installment absolutely wrecked me—in the best way. Out Of The Woods is raw, relentless, and emotionally charged. Wiley brings us full circle, and Margot has never been more layered, more human, or more on the edge. The Redwood Killer case has been the slow-burning fuse at the heart of this series, and here it explodes. The stakes aren’t just professional anymore—they’re personal, brutal, and final. Margot isn’t just chasing a killer. She’s chasing ghosts, legacy, and some version of peace she may never fully reach.

As someone who lives in Northern California, I have a soft spot for any story set here—and Wiley nails the atmosphere. The foggy trails of Muir Woods, the tension of San Francisco’s elite circles, the undercurrent of corruption in places that feel all too familiar—it all hits differently when it’s close to home. She captures the beauty and danger of this place with a sharp eye and just the right amount of grit.

What really hit me in this book was how Wiley writes about trauma—not as a theme, but as a weight Margot carries in every scene. She’s exhausted, frayed, furious—and still, she fights. There’s a moment when Margot says, “Some monsters make you; some you make. And sometimes, you look in the mirror and can’t tell the difference.” That line gutted me. It’s not just about her father, Ed Finch—it’s about the system, the lies she’s uncovered, and the way survival demands transformation.

The pacing is razor-sharp. I read this in two sittings because every chapter ends like a blade twist. The tension between Margot and Wes? Finally, something real breaks through the surface. Their bond has been slow-burning for so long, but now there’s no more room for half-truths. They’re all in—or they’re dead. Wiley doesn’t give her characters easy outs, and I respect the hell out of that.

This finale delivers everything: closure, consequence, and that tight-throated rush you only get from high-stakes fiction that refuses to play it safe. It’s not just a thriller—it’s a reckoning.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5* Everything the finale of this series needed. And it's not the end for Margot and Wes, professionally or personally. Yay on the first, kind of meh on the latter.

This series was a bit of a slow burner over the first couple of books, making me wonder if I'd missed seeing Margot in another book by the author. I hadn't, but she had so many issues and had been living with mistrust and fear for so long, that this book was slowly in the making even back then. I'm so grateful to Storm Publishing letting me know as soon as book after book was ready, and for the author being so prolific, and today I dropped everything to read this in under 2 hours.

What. A. Book. A perfect ending to the Ed arc and the serial killer storyline, because of courage on Margot's part for the former and plain good detecting from a character introduced in this last book as a minor character and junior detective, which worked perfectly for the latter. Nothing planted, nothing out of place, just the perfect plum falling into their collective laps, plus a stroke of luck, plus a strong woman fighting back, to deny the killer the notoriety he sought. By the sounds of it, he was probably both MAGA and an incel, a disciple of that obnoxious Tate guy - I really liked how the author brought IRL stuff into the hook without sensationalism, just plausibility.

As for the Ed arc? A bit of a blinder on his part, though everyone should've expected something along the lines of what happened from him. Was it suicide by cop? Was it his crushed ego crushing him? Was it him releasing Margot from his prison? Maybe all of it?

The book ends in new life for Margot, personally and professionally. The tiniest critique that I have is that her self-professed bisexuality was all mouth and no trousers, which niggled a little over the last couple of books. Still, the tale ends well for her and Wes, though I'm not sure their rush to 'those words' and talk of a future rang that true. But, onwards and to the FBI for her, which according to the author, should see the light of day shortly.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.