Dead Reckoning

A Kelsey Hawk Mystery #2

by Kate Bold

Tough and brilliant FBI special agent 30-year-old Kelsey Hawk is relocated to the desolate and unforgiving landscape of small town North Dakota, to which she’d vowed to never return, when, in a remote area, a body is found frozen to death. Kelsey, with few clues, suspects foul play—and enters into a deadly game of cat and mouse and soon realizes she may be walking right into a killer’s trap…

“This is an excellent book… When you start reading, be sure you don’t have to wake up early!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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DEAD RECKONING is book #2 in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT ME (a free download) has received over 1,500 five star ratings and reviews.

When she was just a child, Kelsey’s entire family was murdered, leaving her, the sole survivor, to grow up in the foster system. A rising star in the FBI, Kelsey set her ambitions on being assigned to a field office in the big city, away from the ghosts of her past. But when she’s reassigned to a small town in North Dakota, she can’t help but remember all the tragedy she fought so hard to leave behind.

Can she stop this killer in time?

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the KELSEY HAWK series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are now available.

“This book moved very fast and every page was exciting. Plenty of dialogue, you absolutely love the characters, and you were rooting for the good guy throughout the whole story… I look forward to reading the next in the series.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Kate did an amazing job on this book and I was hooked from the first chapter!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“I really enjoyed this book. The characters were authentic, and I see the bad guys as something we hear about daily on the news... Looking forward to book 2.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“This was a really good book. The main characters were real, flawed and human. The story went along quickly and wasn't mired in too many unnecessary details. I really enjoyed it.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Alexa Chase is headstrong, impatient, but most of all brave with a capital B. She never, repeat never, backs down until the bad guys are put where they belong. Clearly five stars!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Captivating and riveting serial murder with a twist of the macabre… Very well done.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“WOW what a great read! Talk about a diabolical killer! Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading others by this author as well.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
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“Page turner for sure. Great characters and relationships.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Ebooks

154 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2023

About the author

Bestselling author Kate Bold is author of the ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising ten books (and counting); of the KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting). Kate loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.kateboldauthor.com to join the mailing list, receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

BOOKS BY KATE BOLD

EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER

IN HIS BLOOD (Book #1)

IN HIS SIGHTS (Book #2)

IN HIS REACH (Book #3)

IN HIS MIND (Book #4)

IN HIS WAY (Book #5)

(and counting)

KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER

LAST BREATH (Book #1)

LAST CHANCE (Book #2)

LAST WISH (Book #3)

LAST SHOT (Book #4)

LAST MISTAKE (Book #5)

(and counting)

HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOWHERE SAFE (Book #1)

NOWHERE LEFT (Book #2)

NOWHERE TO RUN (Book #3)

NOWHERE LIKE THIS (Book #4)

NOWHERE GIRL (Book #5)

NOWHERE TO HIDE (Book #6)

NOWHERE CERTAIN (Book #7)

NOWHERE PURE (Book #8)

NOWHERE SOUND (Book #9)

NOWHERE SANE (Book #10)

(and counting)

CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER

NOT ME (Book #1)

NOT NOW (Book #2)

NOT WELL (Book #3)

NOT HER (Book #4)

NOT NORMAL (Book #5)

NOT AGAIN (Book #6)

NOT SAFE (Book #7)

NOT TODAY (Book #8)

(and counting)

ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER

THE KILLING GAME (Book #1)

THE KILLING TIDE (Book #2)

THE KILLING HOUR (Book #3)

THE KILLING POINT (Book #4)

THE KILLING FOG (Book #5)

THE KILLING PLACE (Book #6)

(and counting)

ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER

LET ME GO (Book #1)

LET ME OUT (Book #2)

LET ME LIVE (Book #3)

LET ME BREATHE (Book #4)

LET ME FORGET (Book #5)

LET ME ESCAPE (Book #6)

(and counting)

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kept making me think it was written by AI.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book which continues from the first book in the series. Strong female lead.

Not a huge fan of the lady who reads the books because she keeps pronouncing words wrong.

[Deborah Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book!

The author does a great job with character development and makes you feel as though you know them. The plot was really good and the way it unfolded was well thought out. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as Dead Inside but still interesting.

I like this author. Her writing style is interesting. She does not repeat herself continuously with the demons her characters carry. There is not much filler and the pace is good and steady. While Hawk is reckless, she is not a stupid character, and the reader is not bombarded with "strong and independent woman" phrases. The story lines are interesting. I am surprised that somehow I missed this prolific author and happy at the serendipitous way I discovered her. Source: My Kindle library.

Kelsey Hawk Mystery Series:
Dead Inside,#1 - Good introduction to the world of Hawk and her fellow law enforcement officers. The killer and the investigation are interesting and the pages flew by quickly. I like the scene between her and Ernest. 4*

Dead Reckoning, #2 - This story begins soon after DI ends. More snow and freezing did not make this story as interesting as DI, but still a good story. I like the relationships developing between the three law enforcement officers, a nice change from the norm. 4*
Kelsey Hawk Mystery Series.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do you ever read something from an author you’ve read before and you could swear it was written by someone else? Yeah, I get those vibes from this.

Awful spelling mistakes, huge errors including getting names wrong, grammatical errors galore which just makes for a confusing read.

Not impressed.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book, but ...

I wanted to give this 5 stars, but at about page 100 the editor must have quit. It's very frustrating to lose immersion in the story due to the typos, switched names, and grammatical errors. It's still a good story, but can't be 5 stars with all the errors.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series for me, and it starts on a positive note. Kelsey Hawk, FBI Agent, starts her new assignment In North Dakota as sort of a punishment from her old boss because she has her own approaches and her own brain, and that is not to be accepted by her old boss. In actuality I do understand the importance of following rules even when they seem unreasonable-but saving lives is the ultimate goal... Anyway...
She starts right in on a big important multi murder case, and that sort of makes the “punishment" moot. But she's painted with deep flaws and emotions, and she starts to work through them and actually begins to share them. I love this book, and I may look forward to the next one in the series-but I have to be careful about saying that! I have so many series that I need to continue with And continuing some of the ones that I have had on my list for longer may be more important than getting started more with the newer ones...

[Staci Troilo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two of the Kelsey Hawk Detective series is once again set in a frigid North Dakota small town in the middle of a brutal winter. Even more brutal is the killer, who takes his victims’ footwear then chases them across snow and ice, extending their terror and their torture.

The plot moves at a brisk pace, and readers unravel the clues along with the protagonist. Hawk is a damaged and standoffish detective with a tragic past, and while she’s beginning to thaw, she has a long way to go. Watching her character arc progress throughout the series is going to be as satisfying as the development of each book’s plot.

I recommend this book (and series) and can’t wait to read the next installment.

[Jacqueline M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Inside/ Dead Reckoning

These are 1st & 2nd e-books in the series I've got the full FBI Kersey Hawk series if the others are as fast paced as these 2 then we're all in for a treat. FBI special Agent Kelsey Hawk likes her own way going it alone even if she gets in trouble and she knows that getting the killer and stopping them will be only way to end them no matter what....
Kate Bold you are the Mistress of Suspense . And can wait to read the rest of the series and others . Bought by mistake 🙃 but reading 📚 with haste......

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough and brilliant FBI special agent 30-year-old Kelsey Hawk is relocated to the desolate and unforgiving landscape of small town North Dakota, to which she’d vowed to never return, when, in a remote area, a body is found frozen to death. Kelsey, with few clues, suspects foul play—and enters into a deadly game of cat and mouse and soon realizes she may be walking right into a killer’s trap.
The second in this series was just as good as the first, it had plenty of twist in it and kept you guessing.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liking this series! The author really makes you feel everything - from the sadness from the parents to how cold it is in the Dakotas in winter. I wonder if Kelsey and her Deputy partner are going to end up together since they are having him and his wife have issues. I’m so excited to read the next installment especially after her call from the policeman who worked her family’s murder case!

[Kathryn Pharis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book in this series.

The villain’s sense of revenge just didn’t make sense to me. Everything else about the book was okay but WHY he was doing what he did just didn’t ring true. Maybe the author just wanted it to sound different? This isn’t the first book I have read about children from orphanages being the victim or the avenger, but none quite like this.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

suspense!

Kate Bold knows how to keep the reader on the edge of the seat. She does a masterful job of laying out characters, circumstances, and clues. In the second Kelsey Hawk book, there seems to be no reason for the murder that is discovered in this cold town. However, a murder many years ago is soon discovered to be just that, not accidental death. Then the horrifying motive is discovered. What an imagination this writer has!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another easy reading winner. Book 2 continues in the cold with Kelsey settling into her new post. This is an enjoyable series if you can suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride. There were a lot of typos and once or twice a wrong word (!), but your brain fills in what it is supposed to be. She should hire a good proofreader. I already bought book 3.

[diannscollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punished Agent in South Dakota

Agent Hawk was sent to South Dakota because of a superior who was out to get her. She is a smart agent and earns the respect from others in the police force. The latest crime she is investigating is a serial killer with a stupid reason for punishing other people he knew.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story of FBI special agent Kelsey Hawk. As Kelsey tries to find the latest serial killer in the small North Dakota town that she now calls home, she is confronted by a lack of clues. With fierce determination, Kelsey sets out to find the predator who is stalking and killing young women in the area. This one will keep you engrossed till the end.

[Diane McGovern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book (and the first one)! I think this is going to be a great series - my only complaint was the number of mistakes/typos.... there were a lot! Maybe it's because before I was retired, I was an executive secretary and my eyes are just trained to pick them up, but they were quite obvious in this book! That said, I will definitely keep reading the series!

[Cynthia A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trouble follows Kelsey Hawk

Body of a young frozen girl is found. First believed her death was accidental until they saw bruises on her wrists. Hawk then realized that the other death recently was not accidental either. Trying to find the killer before he killed again kept the suspense going in this book. Good story.

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to be had.

A fun character to read about. Hawk stands out to the reader. She is loner she shipped to North Dakota and it changes her life for the better.people in this neck of the woods are kinder then she is use to and it makes her feel good that they care about her not knowing her that long.

[Tracey Schriver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the first book in this series but Kate Bold did an excellent job of keeping the reader caught up. It was a fast paced on the edge of your seat thriller. I enjoyed the protagonist Kelsey and am looking forward to see what is next.

[Josephine Pizzimenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great second book

Good to see the proof reading is getting better, not so many silly mistakes. Great storyline. Now there is a bit of will they won't they, I look forward to the next book. Highly recommend

[Jan Stier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific

The story line was crisp and the action nonstop. I really enjoyed it. However, the editing was not up to par. Most of the errors were he/she or him/her, but they did rather take the edge off a perfect resd!

[Alice Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

As unbelievable as it seemed to me at the time, this book just kept better and better. It seemed to suddenly speed up. That's it for now. After reading it, you'll know what I'm talking about.

[Nicola Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Special Agent Hawk is quite a remarkable woman. I love reading about her character well done Ms Bold, I am off to read the next book in her journey, I hope she gets the answers that she has been looking for.

[Patricia Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This series is really good and has alot of mystery. Small town but big town problems have followed Kelsey on being sent to North Dakota. Serial killers have seemed to follow her. Read if you want great mystery.

[Darlene Doty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frozen to the bone

FBI agent Kelsey Hawk was on the cases of a killer. She was new to the area but she could almost read the killer mind. Can she find the next victim in time?
A must read. Enjoy.

[Evelyn Launderville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter in North Dakpta

Two young women had frozen to death in North Dakota. One had been ruled an accident and no clues could be found. Finally a common thread was found. Kelsey nearly died finding the killer.

[Jeanette S. Stracner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel!

Kate Bold did a great job. Special Agent Kelsey Hawks meets up with Deputy John Gallant in North Dakota. Kelsey’s family was killed when she was ten, raised by her aunt. Very good book. Jeanette Stracner

[Judy Scaife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay read

I found book 2 not as good as book 1. The idea of 2 serial killers in one small town is a little bit off. Kelsey is still too much, no one is that good and takes as many risks. All in all still a reasonably good read

[§amantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book about girls and freezing to death. Hoping the series isn't all like that. Kelsey as a main character is likeable enough for me however the main story and finding out who killed her family is repetitive for most mystery books. I'm intrigued enough to keep the series going though.