Tell Me Her Name

Margot Phalen FBI Series #1

by Kate Wiley

She profiles killers for a living. The man she loves just became a prime suspect.

When FBI special agent Margot Phalen enters a prison interview room, she knows how to make killers talk. She’s spent six years coaxing confessions from men already behind bars, uncovering the victims no one knew existed. Missing girls whose cases went cold. Families still searching for answers.

It’s dark work, but she can do it. She learned from the best. Her father was a serial killer.

But while on location interviewing a killer who targeted child beauty pageant contestants, she gets a call that almost breaks her. A teenage girl has been murdered in Margot’s small California hometown, and her partner Wes—the last person to see the victim alive—is under arrest. The evidence is damning. The timeline is impossible to explain.

Margot’s entire life depends on being able to read killers. What if she’s wrong about the one person she’s let into her carefully guarded world? The only man she’s ever trusted?

Some cases hit too close to home. This one might destroy everything she has.

An utterly gripping crime thriller that will have you holding your breath until the final confession. Perfect for readers who love Lisa Regan, A.J. Rivers and Robert Dugoni.

Genres: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Serial Killer, Mystery Thriller, Crime

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 18, 2026

Reviews

[Caseylt_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller! Margot is an FBI agent tasked with a team to get the truth from a serial killer that's away for life for unaliving young beauty pageant girls. While away out of state, things at home begin to turn upside down as another murder takes place. Margot who lives and breathes for this job has the overwhelming feeling to solve both cases. Will she or will things become too much? I cannot wait to grab the second book!

[Mikayla Larlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me Her Name is a dark, compelling crime thriller with strong psychological depth. The tension builds steadily, and by the second half I couldn’t put it down. The emotional stakes surprised me, adding a tenderness beneath the darkness that makes the twists feel earned. The ending left me unsettled and thinking about it long after the final page.

So glad that this is the beginning of a series, I can’t wait to continue!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

[Rary ⏾ ❤︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC: NetGallery / Storm Publishing

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had me hooked from the very beginning. I couldn’t put the book down!
The case follows Margot as she works with convicted serial killer Ricky as he sits in prison convicted of murdering pageant girls in an attempt to uncover the identity of his accomplice.
Another case closer to home that Margot isn’t working on. Gets involved due to her partner being a prime suspect to a murder of a teenager girl and ends in a cliffhanger!
The whole vibe reminded me of Criminal Minds and The Hunting Party with the FBI flying around on their own private plane.
Also includes a cliche where the female agent / detective has a serial killer dad. But that doesn’t stop me from reading those crime thrillers!

[Thrillergeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I started this one, I didn't know it was part of a series. But it didn't matter I understood it perfectly because some things were explained without spoiling the previous ones.
This is a police procedural which I really love! The pace is fast, every sentence is important so no nonsense. This is why I read this book in a day. I devoured this one, ate it up.
The characters are well developed and you come to like them. It is beautifully written, so it was like I was there on the farm. Than the end, need to read the next one!
I really recommend this one and I probably read some other books in this series.

[kylaaaxoxo3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this ARC and was so excited! Thank you NetGalley!

Wow!! This book was outstanding! I found myself reading it at any opportunity I had! The twist and turns were unexpected! The ending was great and set it up for the next book in the series nicely! First time reading this author and will continue to read other books published!

[Deni Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the book:
FBI Special Agent Margo Phalen moves to a small town with her partner, Wes, and begins working with her team on cold cases. They reopen the investigation of Ricky DeGraff, a man imprisoned for the murder of several girls. One of the girls is still missing, and they try to uncover what really happened to her.

At the same time, Margo’s life is turned upside down when she receives a call from Wes telling her that he has been accused of murdering a schoolgirl from the small town in California where they live.

My thoughts:
I am honestly shocked that I hadn’t picked up a book by Kate Wiley until now. This book deserves so much more hype - it is truly one of the best thrillers I have ever read.
It is incredibly well written and deeply impactful. After the fifth time, I stopped counting how many times I got goosebumps - especially during the chapters told from Ricky DeGraff’s point of view. Those chapters were absolutely terrifying.

I have always been afraid of porcelain dolls… well, this book definitely made that fear even stronger.

There are five previous books about Agent Margo, and this is the first book in a new series for her. After finishing this one, there is no way you won’t want to read the rest. The author hints so skillfully at Margo’s past that I am dying to learn more about her father, who he really was, and how her relationship with Wes began.
At the same time, the ending teases a new serial killer who will be explored in the next book - and yes, I already want to read that one too.

This book had nothing unnecessary and nothing I disliked. In my opinion, every fan of high-quality thrillers should read it.

I am extremely grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to meet Agent Margo and read this book in advance❤

[Taylor Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received this book as an ARC and quickly realized I needed to go back and read the previous series first because I wanted the full backstory. Best decision ever.
Let me tell you, I was HOOKED immediately. I blew through all five books in the previous series in about a week, which honestly says everything. Kate Wiley has created such lovable, relatable characters with realistic banter and just a touch of humor.

Watching Margot’s growth throughout the series has been one of my favorite parts. Each case she works is unique and genuinely interesting, and I found myself completely invested every single time.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been this absorbed in a series, and now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book!

HUGE thanks to NetGalley for this ARC

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me Her Name by Kate Wiley

Synopsis /

When FBI special agent Margot Phalen enters a prison interview room, she knows how to make killers talk. She’s spent six years coaxing confessions from men already behind bars, uncovering the victims no one knew existed. Missing girls whose cases went cold. Families still searching for answers.

It’s dark work, but she can do it. She learned from the best. Her father was a serial killer.

But while on location interviewing a killer who targeted child beauty pageant contestants, she gets a call that almost breaks her. A teenage girl has been murdered in Margot’s small California hometown, and her partner Wes—the last person to see the victim alive—is under arrest. The evidence is damning. The timeline is impossible to explain.

Margot’s entire life depends on being able to read killers. What if she’s wrong about the one person she’s let into her carefully guarded world? The only man she’s ever trusted?

Some cases hit too close to home. This one might destroy everything she has.


My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Kate Wiley for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I first met Kate Wiley's bookish protagonist, Margot Phalen, when I read The Killer's Daughter. Back then, Margot was a homicide detective working for the San Francisco PD. What is unique about Margot is that she is the daughter of serial killer, Ed Finch. Finch admitted to seventy-six kills and is serving life in prison. Margot had a hand in putting him behind bars.

It was hard to trust that the good thing was good when your own father had turned out to be a serial killer.

Now, six years and whole lot of books later, Margot Phalen now works as a Special Agent for the FBI's cold case unit. They operate alongside their counterparts in BSU (Behavioural Science Unit), but Margot's group does a deep dive into the minds of serial killers. Delving into their psyche enables the Unit to understand who they are, what drives them, and importantly, what their triggers might be. Because it is likely, there are still victims of these killers that haven't yet been recovered.

Margot Phalen refused to think about serial killers until at least her second cup of coffee of the day.

In Tell Me Her Name, the Cold Case Unit has sought and been granted permission for a series of interviews with a notorious serial killer called Ricky DeGraff. Richard Floyd DeGraff had been arrested in the early 2000's following several high-profile child murders. His victims ranged in age from six to sixteen. Most had been beauty pageant contestants – DeGraff worked as a photographer developing photographic portfolios for pageant contestants. The Unit is investigating DeGraff as they suspect he has more kills to his name than he's owned up to.

While interviewing DeGraff, Margot receives news that a teenage girl has been murdered in her California hometown and Wes, as the last person to see the victim alive, has been implicated.

Wes Fox, who was her partner in the San Fran PD in the initial series, has now retired from the force but is still Margot's 'partner' in life. He is now a respected sports coach at the local school and a part-time volunteer local law enforcement officer. The couple now have a farm, rescue dogs, cats, and chickens and are living a quieter life. Margot's new boss/partner at the FBI is a guy called Andrew Rhodes. Rhodes runs the Unit his way and, by intent, keeps his team small. Margot was grateful for Rhodes, he granted her special privileges – allowing her to work from home, unless some part of the case required her to be elsewhere.

As Margot works to prove Wes's innocence, she discovers chilling links between current cases and cold murders from decades past, suggesting that DeGraff has been working with an accomplice, and that person is still at large.

Wiley’s prose is sharp and lean, focusing on high tension without unnecessary filler. The tone lends itself to being on the darker side, as you learn of the trauma of the protagonist's past as the daughter of a serial killer. Combined with vivid descriptions of the Northern California landscape, using locations like Muir Woods, Wiley creates a very haunting, chilling atmosphere.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for February 18, 2026.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me Her Name by Kate Wiley is the kind of book that politely ruins your plans and then watches you cancel them without remorse.
Storm Publishing, thank you for the gifted ARC, and thank you to NetGalley for enabling yet another late-night reading spiral I absolutely do not regret.

This book starts with a simple, horrifying idea: what if the one person you trust most becomes the one person you can’t defend with certainty? From that moment on, the story never loosens its grip. Margot Phalen has built her entire career on understanding killers. She interviews them, studies them, dissects their lies for a living. She is very good at it. Which makes it deeply unsettling when the man she loves becomes a suspect in a murder that hits far too close to home. If anyone should know whether someone is capable of killing, it’s Margot. And yet doubt creeps in anyway.

Kate Wiley excels at writing tension that feels personal rather than flashy. This isn’t a nonstop action thriller. It’s quieter, sharper, and more psychologically invasive. The dread builds in layers. Small-town suspicion. Damning timelines. Evidence that refuses to cooperate. And running parallel to all of this is Margot’s work with an imprisoned killer whose calm, calculated presence adds an entirely different flavor of menace. The prison interview scenes are chilling in a low-key way, the kind that makes your skin prickle because the danger feels intellectual, not loud.

Margot herself is a standout character. She’s not written to be endlessly likable. She’s guarded, blunt, emotionally bruised, and occasionally frustrating. That’s what makes her feel real. Her internal monologue carries much of the story, and it works because it’s honest and unsentimental. She doesn’t romanticize her trauma or her instincts. She questions them. She questions herself. And she keeps moving forward anyway, even when the cost is high.

The dual storylines are handled with care, never feeling disjointed. Instead, they mirror each other in uncomfortable ways. One case is professional, the other painfully intimate, but both force Margot to confront the same question: how well can you ever truly know another person? The pacing tightens steadily, and by the second half I was fully locked in, reading with that familiar thriller-reader anxiety where you don’t want to turn the page but also cannot stop.

The emotional stakes here surprised me. There’s a tenderness beneath the darkness, particularly in Margot’s relationship with Wes, that makes the danger feel sharper. When the story twists, it doesn’t feel cheap or purely shocking. It feels earned. And the ending? Let’s just say Kate Wiley has no problem leaving readers emotionally unbalanced and desperate for the next book. I closed this one feeling impressed, unsettled, and slightly betrayed in the best possible way.

“If you make your life studying monsters, sooner or later one will step into your home.”

Tell Me Her Name is a dark, compelling crime thriller that blends psychological depth with procedural tension. It asks uncomfortable questions, delivers genuine suspense, and leaves plenty of scars behind. If you enjoy FBI thrillers, morally complex characters, and stories that linger long after the final page, this one deserves a spot at the top of your list.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

#TellMeHerName #KateWiley #StormPublishing #NetGalley #BookReview #ARCReview #CrimeThriller #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryBooks #FBIThriller #Bookstagram #BookTok

[Veronica Salib · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Criminal Minds, this is 100% the book for you!

3.7 out of 5 Stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.

Kate Wiley’s newest book, Tell Me Her Name, follows Margot Phalen, an FBI profiler who works cold cases for the Behavioral Surveillance Unit, interviewing serial killers who are serving life sentences or on death row to identify victims that may have gone undiscovered during their convictions. In this book, Margot is off to interview Richard DeGraff, the Sleeping Beauty Killer, who kidnapped and murdered girls whom he photographed for beauty pageants. But while she is away, she gets a call from her former partner at the San Francisco PD and current live-in boyfriend, Wes Fox, telling her that he’s been arrested. A girl in their hometown (one of the students Wes was coaching and drove home) has gone missing and turned up dead, and he was the last person to see her alive.

Torn between doing her job, interviewing DeGraff, and going home to help Wes, Margot is dealing with some significant emotional turmoil. And, as the daughter of a famous serial killer herself, Wes’s arrest is dredging up some old feelings for her, making everything that much more difficult! Watch two different stories unfold in Tell Me Her Name: DeGraff’s cold case and the mystery of Wes’s arrest.

This book was SOOOO interesting to read as someone who ADORES Criminal Minds and crime-related TV. I honestly typically limit the number of thrillers and true crime that I read, but this one was so well done! The author did such a great job at setting up Margot and Wes’s relationship as something you root for, even though it isn’t a romance. So, even though the book jacket/description already tells you he will be under suspicion, the reader is still shocked when it happens.

All of the characters in this book were very interesting, and I would have loved to learn more about each of them. I am hoping that future books in the series offer more context on these characters.

I hadn’t read the previous series on Margot, so I wasn’t fully aware of her background as the daughter of a serial killer, and when I requested this ARC, I saw that it was the first in a series, so I didn’t read Kate Wiley’s other books. That wasn’t at all an issue for me. While I do want to go back and read the Margot Phalen detective series, I think I got enough background and understanding from this book to say that you can hop in here and be OK!

Overall, the writing was really engaging, and I thought the plot remained interesting, with multiple twists that I could not anticipate or predict.

Now for critiques. ****THESE CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS****

I will say throughout the whole book I felt like I was following two different storylines, which was a little odd for me. I didn’t necessarily mind it, but for some reason, I was expecting them to converge, and they didn’t, which was odd. The perspective from Whitney’s killer was strange to get when we never actually got any information or resolution about him in the end; however, I understand that this is a series, so I will likely be waiting until future books come out so I can get some closure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me an eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Wiley for the ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

I’m honestly shocked it took me this long to pick up a Kate Wiley book because Tell Me Her Name is hands down one of the strongest, most chilling thrillers I’ve read in a long time.

This novel follows FBI Special Agent Margot Phalen, a woman uniquely qualified to read killers… because her own father was one. Margot now works in the FBI’s cold case unit, interviewing imprisoned serial killers to uncover victims who were never found. It’s dark, heavy work, and Wiley doesn’t flinch from it. While Margot is interviewing convicted serial killer Ricky DeGraff (whose crimes against child beauty pageant contestants are genuinely horrifying), her personal life implodes, a teenage girl is murdered in Margot’s small California hometown, and the last person to see her alive is Wes, Margot’s partner, the one person she has ever trusted. Suddenly, Margot is forced to confront the question she’s spent her entire life avoiding: what if she’s wrong about him?

From that point on, the tension is relentless. The chapters from DeGraff’s point of view were absolutely terrifying, the kind that make your skin crawl and force you to take breaks. I lost count of how many times I got goosebumps. And yes… if you’re already afraid of porcelain dolls, consider this your warning. 😭

Kate Wiley’s writing is sharp, lean, and incredibly effective. There’s no filler here; every scene matters. The Northern California setting adds such a haunting atmosphere, and the emotional weight of Margot’s past as a serial killer’s daughter makes everything feel raw and deeply personal.
What impressed me most is how skillfully Wiley balances plot with character. This is a thriller, but it’s also a story about trust, inherited trauma, and what it means to know someone truly. The twists feel earned, not cheap, and the ending? Absolutely unhinged (in the best way). It teases a new serial killer, and I already need the next book immediately.

There are five previous books featuring Margot Phalen, and this marks the start of a new chapter in her story. After finishing this, there is no way you won’t want to read them all.
This book had nothing unnecessary and nothing I disliked. If you’re a fan of dark, intelligent, high-quality thrillers, this one is a must-read.

Final verdict: read it. Then clear your schedule for the rest of the series. Dark, emotional, and incredibly raw. I found myself reading well into the night because I just couldn’t bear to stop… perfectly blends suspense and character-driven storytelling.”

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* That KW is such a prolific writer makes me forgive the utter cliffhanger this 1st tale in Margot Phelan's new series ends in.

Though this tale comes out around 6 months after the 5th and last book in the original Margot Phelan series, it starts 6 years later. Margot and Wes are settled about 3 hours outside of San Francisco and she's still working for law enforcement, now for the FBI manager that'd wanted to poach her, Andrew. A guy she's got a complex relationship with.

Wes is a sports coach and part-time volunteer local law enforcement officer. They're raising rescue dogs, cats and chickens, living a quiet life. They're happy, she's off the booze, more trusting and learning to not be paranoid and listen to her late dad's teachings. She's succeeding with some but not all, which in fact, ends up helping her out professionally and personally. In some ways, she's her father's daughter and always will be. It's her superpower.

Then Wes gets arrested when a local student last seen in his company is found dead, and he's the only suspect. This happens whilst Margot is away on the case of a jailed pageant photographer serial killer, trying to find the bodies of more little girls that are unaccounted for, and who fit the guy's M.O.

Margot is torn between her home, her lover and her job. A job she excels at and gets results at. What ensues is an excellent tale where she's torn between people and places, and doing the right thing, but for whom?

It's a very good tale but we find out absolutely almost nothing about the current-day killer. We find out some troubled and sad things about the jailed killer, Ricky, and Margot ends up unwittingly finding his accomplices, with things coming good for one person/victim; a possible breakthrough in Ricky's past killings, but also the possibility of more time away from Wes and her new, mostly healthy, happy life.

At the end, her cop's - to use the word loosely - antenna finds a clue that will completely exonerate Wes. It felt a little too convenient and easy, but we'd been in the current killer's mind by this point and she's lucky that the timing of her discovery wasn't worse and that she didn't become his next victim. From the synopsis of the next book, it sounds like it's already written and will be out soon. It, too, sounds like it'll have 2 storylines running concurrently. I can't wait.

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

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Tell Me Her Name By Kate Wiley
Publication Date: February 18, 2026
Publisher: Storm Publishing

📚MY RATING: 4.75/5
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this #gifted e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Fans of Kate Wiley's Detective Margot Phelan series, REJOICE! Phelan is back -- and badass as ever -- in the first book of the brilliant new Margot Phelan FBI Thriller series from Wiley! Tell Me Her Name is another unputdownable crime thriller from Wiley, with the fast-paced plotlines that fans of Detective Margot Phelan have always loved. I'm already eagerly anticipating the second book in this new series... and I've only finished Book #1 moments ago.

Tell Me Her Name picks up 6 years after the last book in the original Detective Margot Phelan series. Now, however, it's FBI Special Agent Phelan, who has been hired as a part of a team of FBI investigators who profile serial killers to coax confessions from those already behind bars, uncovering the victims no one knew existed. Missing girls whose cases went cold. Families still searching for answers. This new role gives Phelan an opportunity to do the work she's born to do, because if anyone can get serial killers to talk, it's her. After all, she's the daughter of one of the most notorious serial killers of all time.

If you were a fan of the Detective Phelan series, you're going to absolutely love this continuation of her story. This book was just as gripping as the first series - maybe even moreso if that's possible. Phelan is such a captivating and well-developed character, and Wiley's writing of her is masterful. Fans of crime thrillers, police procedurals, and heart-pounding suspense will love both of these series. And though I honestly don't know why you wouldn't want to read all 5 books of the Detective Phelan series, you could very easily read this book as a standalone since it's kicking off a new series. You won't have all the details of Phelan's life before, but the important info is shared throughout this book in a way that will allow you to dive right in!

This book publishes February 18th from Storm Publishing and I highly recommend you grab it as soon as you can!

#TellMeHerName #KateWiley #StormPublishing #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #crimethrillerseries #thrillerbooks #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #thrillerreads #thrillerseries

[Britney Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Crime Thriller

Margot Phalan and Wes, both former detectives, relocated from the demanding urban environment of San Francisco to a modest ranch in Elk Creek.

Margot is currently affiliated with a specialized FBI team that investigates cold cases and conducts interviews with serial killers on death row, seeking confessions to additional crimes, given the subjects have no further punitive exposure.

Wes is employed part-time at the sheriff's office on an as-needed basis and also contributes to the local high school by assisting with coaching the girls' softball team.

Margot becomes involved in a case centered on the child serial killer Ricky DeGraff. With the expectation that DeGraff may admit to the murders of other girls who fit his established killing profile, she and her team proceed to interview him at the correctional facility where he awaits execution.

During Margot's absence, Wes is apprehended in connection with the demise of a local Elk Creek teenager, as he was the last person to have seen her alive.

Margot endeavors to make progress with the serial killer interviews while simultaneously coping with the anxiety concerning Wes's incarceration and the wrongful accusation regarding the murder of the teen, Whitney.

The situation escalates when Margot discovers that Ricky DeGraff maintained an obsession with a doll he named Mathilda, and that his child victims were selected so that Mathilda would have a companion.

As the narrative unfolds, further details concerning Mathilda are revealed, illuminating the true origin of the name.

Navigating between her responsibilities with the FBI and her personal life with Wes, Margot seeks to unravel the mystery surrounding the missing or deceased teenagers, and the missing local teen, Whitney.

The novel culminates with a significant plot twist, providing Margot with some of the answers she has been seeking. As the story concludes, she discovers a kill kit situated near her residence on an abandoned property. This volume represents the inaugural installment in a new series focusing on FBI agent Margot Phalan, and the second book is slated to reveal the identity of Whitney's killer.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC read of this book. #TellMeHerName #KateWiley

[Pamela Shrewsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚
Title: Tell Me Her Name
Author: Kate Wiley
Format: ARC
Pub Date: 2/18/26
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley, @stormbooks_co, and @katewileyauthor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She hunts killers for a living—until the case comes home and the man she loves becomes the suspect. Dark, personal, and quietly unsettling, Tell Me Her Name doesn’t just ask who did it?—it asks what it costs to keep digging when the truth cuts too close.

Margot Phalen is an FBI agent who interviews convicted killers, coaxing confessions that bring long‑missing victims back into the light. It’s work shaped by a truth she keeps buried: her father was a serial killer.

When a teenage girl is murdered in her hometown, the case turns personal fast. As suspicion lands on the man Margot loves, she’s forced to confront the investigation, her past, and the darkness she fears she inherited.

I didn’t realize going in that this was part of a series, but it didn’t take away from the experience. The story stands on its own, with enough context to follow everything without spoiling earlier books. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

This is a tense, emotionally charged thriller about guilt, loyalty, and the fear of becoming what you came from. Wiley blends procedural grit with intimate character work, giving Margot a raw, vulnerable edge that makes her easy to root for. The small‑town claustrophobia and interrogation scenes add pressure, and the misdirection keeps the story engaging without feeling forced. The ending wasn’t what I expected—in the best way. Quiet, intentional, and still echoing after the final page.

✅ What Worked
• Compelling, emotional premise
• A layered, believable protagonist
• Strong exploration of inherited trauma
• Claustrophobic small‑town atmosphere

❌ What Didn’t
• A slower middle for twist‑hungry readers
• Wanted a bit more fallout at the end

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Kate Wiley book. I hesitated to read it because this is the sixth book in a series, and not having read the first five, I thought I would be lost. The author does a great job of making this a part of the series, but giving enough information that it was a great stand alone book as well.

Margot Phalen works for the cold case unit of the FBI. Her team questions convicted killers about other unsolved crimes. The team travels to Montana to interview Ricky DeGraff, a convicted child murderer, about other missing girls that fit his profile. During these interviews, Ricky gives information that leads the team to believe that there are other victims out there. At the same time, a girl in Margot's hometown is murdered and her partner, Wes, is the prime suspect. Margot is pulled in two different directions - finding DeGraff's other victims and protecting her home and those she loves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pace was great; it was a page turner for sure! I loved Margot. She was a no nonsense detective, an animal lover, compassionate with the victims, and hard-nosed when the situation called for it. She had quite an involved back story that the book referenced, which I assume was covered in the first five novels of the series. Reading this book made me add those five to my TBR pile. I can't wait to read more about her!

My one complaint about this book was that there was still one big lingering question that wasn't answered at the end of the novel. I don't know if that will be answered in the next book of the series, but I was disappointed that there wasn't more closure on one of the main story lines. I'll anxiously await the next book to find out!

4 ⭐s!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of this book. It's scheduled to be published on February 18, 2026.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

FBI Special Agent Margot Phalen was at the prison with her small team, about to interview a serial killer who they suspected had murdered more than he'd confessed to. The beauty queen circuit were where they'd mostly gone missing from, and Margot was determined to get the answers they needed. While she was away from home, her partner, Wes, phoned her. One of his young students, sixteen year old Willow, had been murdered, and Wes had been arrested. Margot was shattered, heading home the minute she could.

Margot contacted her lawyer as well as Wes' sister, who both arrived in town. The evidence against Wes was only circumstantial, but the Sheriff had nothing else. Would Wes be released? Would they find the actual killer? Meanwhile, Margot continued with her team - she could do nothing else because of a conflict of interest - following up on leads and interviewing people far and wide. Was her mind fully on what she was doing? Not really - but her determination to concentrate on both kept her going...

Tell Me Her Name is the 1st in the Margot Phalen FBI series by Kate Wiley and I loved it! Right down my alley! Margot had been pushing things uphill for a long time, with her past the way it was, and finding Wes gave her some measure of peace. A new life for both of them; would what was happening mess it all again? Margot and Wes are excellent characters, and I'm looking forward to #2, hopefully not too distant into the future. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Stephanie Burow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of Tell Me Her Name in exchange for an honest review.

Tell Me Her Name was one of the most captivating thrillers I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a very long time. I quickly realized that while it is book one of its own series, the central story and background to Margot’s life is actually its own separate series and can be read prior to this spin off. However, if you find yourself wanting to dive straight in here, never fear, it can be read as a standalone and the author provides more than enough backstory to get you through the previous series, which I assume takes you through Margot’s adolescent years and into adulthood. Even without having read the first series, I found myself able to easily track her upbringing and previous work in the field with the SFPD and FBI.

I find the angle that Wiley created here of Margo’s father being a serial killer absolutely genius and adds such an interesting perspective to her role and her gained insight into the criminal mind. I also love that fact that the agent that took down her father is the same agent she works for today through the FBI. This story took so many unexpected turns but I just couldn’t put it down once I was 40% the way through. I also loved that the ending of this book perfectly sets up book two in the series and I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on it. Because I have a strong enough foothold on Margot’s previous history and how that’s gotten her to where she is today, I likely won’t go back to read the first series, but I’m going to keep it on my radar if I’m in need of a new series to dive into, because if the first series is anything like this one, I know I won’t be disappointed.

[Zeynep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Special Agent Margot Phalen profiles cold-blooded killers for a living. While on location interviewing a murderer who targeted child beauty pageant contestants, she learns that a teenage girl has been killed in her small hometown. Even worse, Margot’s partner, Wes, the last person to see the victim alive, is now under arrest.

Given the premise, I found the storyline very exciting. The book definitely gave me Law & Order and Criminal Minds vibes, and as someone who enjoys FBI profiling stories, those chapters were especially engaging.

I really enjoyed getting to know Margot. She is a strong, capable, and very likeable female protagonist, and reading from her perspective felt like a breath of fresh air. Her emotional depth added a compelling layer to the story.

That said, despite being a slow-burn, I found myself confused in parts. The two main storylines, the FBI case and the hometown murder, didn’t always feel well integrated, and as a result, the suspense didn’t build as strongly as I had hoped. This felt more like a procedural, crime-focused thriller rather than a fast-paced, “popcorn” thriller.

Additionally, the book ends on a cliffhanger, which personally wasn’t very satisfying for me. I had expected the plot twist to involve one of the characters we already knew, so the ending felt a bit underwhelming.

Overall, this was a 3.5-star read for me. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy criminal thrillers with an emotional edge and a strong female lead.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell Me Her Name by Kate Wiley is such a creepy and emotional psychological thriller. The protagonist, Margot Phalen, is an FBI special agent specializing in profiling killers and stands as a pillar of strength and resilience. Yet, her personal ties to crime run deeper than most. A haunting legacy left by her father, a serial killer.

Wes, her partner, becomes a prime suspect in a murder case that hits perilously close to home. The author creates great tension throughout the story, weaving Margot’s professional life with her emotional struggles. The pacing is perfect, with moments of suspense balanced against tender interactions, like the charming phone conversation between Margot and Wes that showcases their relationship’s tender side. These moments of levity make the characters feel real and relatable, adding depth to the narrative’s darker themes. The plot unfolds with a strong sense of urgency. The twists and turns are unpredictable, keeping me on the edge of my seat as Margot navigates the murky waters of crime and deception.

Overall, Tell Me Her Name is an amazing novel that combines elements of suspense, psychological depth, and emotional resonance. It’s a book that lingers long after the last page is turned, and I am looking forward to more in this series. I would recommend this book for fans of thrillers that delve into the darker aspects of the human psyche.

#TellMeHerName #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

[Mugs & Manuscripts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tell Me Her Name is a crime fiction police procedural by Kate Wiley (a secondary pen name for Sierra Dean) with a premise that immediately caught my attention. The story follows Margot Phalen, a former San Francisco detective turned FBI agent, whose father was a serial killer and who now works as a criminal profiler on cold cases. When Wes, her boyfriend and former partner, is accused of murder, the novel wasted no time pulling me in. At first, I found Margot likable and the setup full of promise.

Unfortunately, as the story unfolded, that initial spark began to fade. The characters, especially Margot, didn’t feel fully realized or realistic. For a seasoned detective and FBI profiler, she lacked the emotional depth and professional gravitas I expected. I wanted to feel her inner conflict, her struggle with her past, and the weight of her expertise but those elements never fully landed. Rather than building tension and intrigue, the story lost momentum about a third of the way in and never quite recovered.

In the end, Tell Me Her Name felt a bit too light and emotionally restrained for my taste. I’m drawn to crime fiction that makes me feel something, unease, tension, or deep inner turmoil, and while the premise was exciting and intriguing, it didn’t deliver on that promise. For me, this ultimately landed as an average read with unrealized potential.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Wiley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell Me Her Name is one of those thrillers that grabs you by the collar from page one and refuses to let go. Margot Phalen is such a compelling lead — sharp, guarded, and shaped by a past most people couldn’t survive. The fact that she profiles killers for a living while carrying the legacy of her own father’s crimes gives the story a rich, unsettling edge that I loved.

The plot moves with a steady, confident pace. One moment we’re inside a prison interview room, watching Margot coax confessions from men who’ve long stopped pretending to be innocent; the next, her world is upended by a phone call that sends her straight back to the hometown she’s tried to outrun. The emotional whiplash is handled beautifully.

The central question — can you truly know the person you love? — is threaded through every chapter. Wes being named the prime suspect adds a personal, almost claustrophobic tension that makes the stakes feel incredibly real. I found myself second‑guessing everyone, including Margot, which is exactly what I want from a crime thriller.

The writing is clean and confident, the atmosphere dark without being heavy, and the final stretch had me holding my breath. Fans of character‑driven suspense and twisty investigations will be very happy here.

A gripping, emotionally charged thriller that lingers long after the last page.

With thanks to Kate Wiley, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars in the book universe go to Ms. Wiley. She is amongst my very favourite authors, and I simply can not get enough of her work. Whenever someone asks me for a book recommendation, she is an author that I recommend highly.
Now for the book. My only complaint is to myself asking why it took me so long to read it. I love Margot, and I love Wes, and I love their relationship and where they've ended up. Margot is such a strong, smart, and inspiring woman. She is so talented at her job with the FBI. Wes is an amazing partner for Margot. He has her back and is equally as strong and smart as her. They are so in tune with each other and I really enjoy reading about their connection. I love the addition of Wes's sister Sadie, which also happens to be my name. And I love Lucy.
Something I also find is that with Ms. Wiley's books, I'm not guessing ahead. I'm not worried about figuring out who the bad person is before the reveal. I'm simply along for the ride, enjoying every minute as it happens. I don't find that this is something I do with other books. It's a fun and different experience for me as a reader.
I am so, so happy that Margot and Wes are back. I can't wait to see what Ms. Wiley has in store for us next. I super highly recommend this book and the previous detective Margot Phalen series to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and of course, Kate Wiley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kas_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margot is an FBI agent tasked with uncovering the truth from a serial killer who is already behind bars for life for the murder of young girls. While she’s away pursuing the case, things begin to unravel back home when a murder takes place and the prime suspect may be her partner, Wes. She’s devastated by the possibility that the person she loves most could be a killer, forcing her to confront the terrifying idea that she may have let the wrong person into her life.

This book was amazing. I enjoyed it so much. The author made me feel like I was right there, actively working the case alongside Margot, which I absolutely loved. The ending was so good that I genuinely sat with it for an entire day afterward. As someone who loves trying to figure out the “whodunit,” this book was everything I want in a thriller.

This was my first time reading a book by Wiley, and it definitely will not be my last. The tone was dark and deeply emotional, especially given that Margot is the daughter of a serial killer and carries the trauma that comes with that reality. It reminded me a lot of Criminal Minds, which I loved. The plot was incredibly well written, and the California setting was described so vividly that, despite never having been there, it felt like I was.

Overall, I loved this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. I will absolutely be recommending it to my friends.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a fast-paced police procedural that pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go… "Tell Me Her Name" needs to be on your radar.

We follow FBI Special Agent Margot Phalen, whose job is literally to make killers talk. She’s sharp, tough, and deeply layered—especially since she carries a chilling secret: her father was a serial killer. So when a teenage girl is murdered in her small California hometown, it’s already personal… but then it becomes unthinkable when the prime suspect turns out to be the one person she trusts most— her partner, Wes.

And honestly? The tension in this book is SO good.

The pacing is fast and addictive, the plot keeps moving, and the characters are written so well that I felt like I was right there alongside them trying to untangle the truth. I really ended up liking the characters and getting emotionally invested in what happened to them.

I also didn’t realize going in that this book is part of a series, but it truly didn’t matter. Enough background is explained without spoiling the earlier books, and I never once felt lost.

This was my first Kate Wiley book, and it definitely won’t be my last. I’m already planning to go back and read more in this series because I’m officially hooked.

If you’re a fan of twisty investigations, strong characters, and a mystery that keeps you turning pages late into the night… I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Wiley for the ARC!

[Shreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this I was unaware that this book is part of new series with already established characters and backstory. Given that I still dove right in and didn’t feel lost. I really appreciated how Kate Wiley gave enough information about the previous Margot Phalen series without feeling like a large info dump.

The plot was well paced and the mystery kept me wanted to keep reading well past my bed time.
I enjoyed the two mysteries side by side, which really kept me guessing the whole way through the book. There a few chapters from the killers perspective, which I thought helped break up the story, allowing the reader to explore the story from a different lens.

Margot is a very well established character and easy to follow. She’s smart but also has a lot of baggage that allows for the reader to question how she will handle a situation. The way she interacts with other characters and the dialogue throughout the book is well done and is believable.

I’m a big fan of thrillers so I tend to overlook poor writing if the plot is entertaining. In the case of Tell Me Her Name I enjoyed both the writing style and the plot, which I was very pleasantly surprised by. I would highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of thrillers or want a fast paced book to get you out of a reading slump without compromising on writing quality.

I really enjoyed this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @NetGalley for access to this book!

Tell Me Her Name is a story that follows an FBI agent who follows serial killers, connecting cold cases that may not have been "owned" by those incarcerated. Margot, the agent, has left the big city for a small-town life which feel like the perfect escape, especially when you’re trying to leave the weight of these cold cases behind, until it isn’t. The tension between doing a demanding job away from home and protecting your home sits at the heart of this story.

This is a beautifully written psychological thriller, layered with twists you truly don’t see coming. The author plants hints along the way, making you earmark details as they arise, but never enough to give anything away. This allows the story to unfold in a way that feels both surprising and earned. The atmosphere is slow-burning and unsettling, pulling you in while keeping you constantly on edge.

Perhaps the most tantalizing part is how many questions remain unanswered by the end. There are so many stones left unturned and storylines untold. The story ends, and rather than feeling frustrating, it feels intentional to set the stage perfectly for the teased sequel coming soon. This is a gripping, thoughtful read that lingers, leaving you wanting more and ready for the next installment!

#NetGalley

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new series for the character Margot Phalen, who now works as a special agent for the FBI. Her department specializes in tying probable victims to known killers who didn’t previously claim those victims as their own. They are currently focused on a man whose victims were child beauty pageant contestants. He has several known victims, but the FBI is hoping Margot can make him confess to more.

While she’s away visiting the killer in jail in Montana, her partner, Wes, is tending their ranch and working as a PE coach at the local high school. But when he calls to check in, Margot hears something she never expected – he’s been arrested for the murder of one of the students. He took the girl home when her car wouldn’t start, and no one saw her again. Margot knows it’s all a misunderstanding – Wes is a volunteer deputy! But then again, her father was a serial killer for years, and she had no idea. Is it happening all over again?

This new series looks to be as good as the previous one, with a mix of new and familiar characters. The killers are as creepy and disturbing as ever, while Margot is newly settled and content. I was surprised by the eclectic mix of animals she’s rescued and collected, but I think they’re doing her some good! She’s as tough and stubborn as ever, and I don’t think the readers would have it any other way.

[Savannah (chapters_of_mayhem) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and at the start I was worried I wasn’t going to. I will preface this review by saying there is a lot of information given to you at the start, which if you’ve read more of this authors work around this character you may not enjoy, but for those who haven’t it’s really helpful in submerging yourself into the story.

This book is definitely for someone who enjoys an internal monologue. We get a lot of the thought processes of Margot as the scenario is happening. I liked how rational it was and it didn’t lead to insane situations that weren’t realistic to the plot which can happen with thrillers.

I enjoyed that we had the separate POVs as the story unfolded to add some extra layers to the plot, it also helped to break up some of the internal monologue that was becoming dense in areas. I always love an insight into the mind of the murderer and their motivations.

The way the storyline unfolded wasn’t what I was expecting from the blurb but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. I think Lucy may be my favourite character overall, I was devastated when she was missing.

I am definitely going to pick up the next book. I need to know what happens next. Especially if they can recover from the judgment of a small town.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for the arc of this book. This is my honest opinion.

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first series featuring Margot Phelan, so I was delighted to see her return in Tell Me Her Name, the start of a new series set five years later. Margot is now working with the FBI cold case team and living with her partner Wes, who has left the police department, and it was great to see how both her personal and professional life have evolved.
The police and FBI procedures are brilliantly written—detailed and realistic without feeling heavy. I especially enjoyed seeing Margot try to open up more emotionally. As a normally very private person, this doesn’t come easily to her, but it adds depth and makes her even more compelling.
There are two strong storylines running alongside each other, one deeply personal to Margot. Her interviews with convicted killer Ricky DeGraff are particularly chilling—he’s a genuinely creepy character—but Margot remains unfazed. The multiple points of view add extra layers to the mystery, and the characters are all well developed.
You don’t need to have read the earlier Margot Phelan books to enjoy this one, as enough of her backstory is included, though this book will definitely make you want to read them. Dark, suspenseful, and gripping, with some challenging themes handled well, Tell Me Her Name completely hooked me. The ending was brilliant and left me desperate to read the next book immediately.