Next Girl

A Meg Thorne Suspense Thriller #1

by Kate Bold

“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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Detective Meg Thorne, haunted by the years of cold cases she could not solve, retires early, in her 50s, feeling stifled by the limits of the law and determined to do whatever she has to to solve them on her own, stop these killers, and rescue any victims. Outside of the red tape, she will be free to cross all lines, and do whatever must be done—as long as she doesn’t find herself, alone, in a killer's sights…

When a building's renovation reveals human remains linked to a cold case, Meg Thorne plunges back into a string of unsolved 1999 disappearances. From the shadows of yesterday's mistakes to today's urgency, Meg races against the bulldozers threatening to erase the final hopes for justice—and to save the next victim before it's too late…

NEXT GIRL is BOOK #1 in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT ME (a free download) has received over 3,000 five star ratings and reviews.

The Meg Thorne series delivers an exhilarating rush with non-stop action, gripping suspense, and enigmatic puzzles that will keep you captivated well past bedtime, featuring a compelling protagonist eager to decipher the mystery. Fans of Lisa Gardner, Kendra Elliot, and Teresa Driscoll are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also 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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Kate did an amazing job on this book and I was hooked from the first chapter!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Captivating and riveting serial murder with a twist of the macabre… Very well done.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Page turner for sure. Great characters and relationships. I got into the middle of this story and couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to more from Kate Bold.

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

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 15, 2025

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

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did I read the same book as everybody else?

I mean, I don't actually blame the protagonist's boss for wanting to fire her. She makes split-second, reckless decisions on the barest shreds of evidence with wild leaps of logic. She's always correct, of course, but only because the story needs her to be.

In real life there's no doubt she would have been fired a long time ago.

[Gloria Bachand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not much of a thriller reader, but this book had me in the edge of my seat. Good pacing, engaging, and all around a well rounded book.

[Patricia Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled upon this author and was pleasantly surprised...the story begins as a missing woman thriller and evolves into some detailed detective work filled with cold cases and corruption. The main detective in the novel Meg Thorne was easy to follow along and her instincts on the cases she investigated were full of clever twists. Great read

[Sandy Cebollero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, predictable but fun.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.

I’m honestly wondering if I read the same book as everyone else. This one felt really low energy and predictable, with very little that stood out or kept me engaged. I did appreciate that it didn’t force a romance subplot into a thriller—but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver as a thriller either. The ethical choices made by certain characters didn’t sit right with me, and I kept hoping the story would surprise me… but it ended exactly how I expected. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn’t work for me.

[Avid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Same cookie cutter story with the pieces changed out. It felt like a Mad Lib for authors. (If any of you know what I am referring to. 🤪)

2 1/2 stars 🌟, but not 3.

3 stars is a good book with anything above this rating, has earned extra stars for standing out among thousands of other books in some fashion.

This book worked as filler while I worked around the house. In that sense, it was perfect to listen to it on audio and it wasn't crucial to pay attention 100% of the time to understand what was happening.

Plot: Same as many others: insert the stereotypical female cop with a male chauvinistic boss out to get her, she doesn't follow the rules of course, has a male partner who she overrides, and she'll save the day through clues she's found no one else could because she's just that special, and never faces disciplinary action for her wrong doings yet basks in shaming the boss... what's new???

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

suspenseful

Someone is preying on the homeless in Boston. The government and police are trying to clean up the city, but there’s another sweeper out there as well. A hit-and-run investigation on hold, detectives Meg, and Gabe spend the interim investigating the death of three bodies found in a construction site. Their boss is a ladder climber, currying favor with the wealthy to move up another rung. Unfortunately, he has placed “unimportant crimes” and his officers behind him as he climbs. Meg isn’t having it, and is determined to solve this cold case. I think mystery lovers will really become engrossed in this book.

[Niamh Conway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love the first half of this book as I found it difficult to connect with the characters as we didn’t get much background, I also found the structure of the authors sentences slightly odd which took slightly longer to process than I would like.

However I did enjoy the 2nd half of this book when the mystery was starting to unravel and I have purchased the 2nd book in the series - I got both of these books for free on kindle however I’m not sure if I will purchase the 3rd.

The storyline of this book was what drew me in and it was hard to put down in the latter half - overall a nice quick read if you’re into thriller books

[Jim Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Persistent investigator

Kate Bold brings us a suspense thriller that you can't put down. Meg Thorne is a homicide detective that will not quit an investigation even when told to stop. She cares about the crime victims and their families.

Since her husband's murder she has the extra time to do the detailed research to solve cases. She is independently wealthy but hasn't used her trust funds tolive on.

I thank Kate Bold for writing such a suspenseful thriller without the use of foul language, sexual content or graphic violance. This was an entertaining nail bitting rale.

[Mary Matroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a smart cop

Meg is a great cop stymied by a bully of a boss. He was only after his own personal gains. He failed to realize the negative atmosphere and work environment he created ostracized him from his staff. Meg has great mental sharpness and connective thinking. She makes logical conclusions. She is the perfect detective to solve cold cases, which l am sure is how this series will continue.

[mary thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summer beach read

Liked that I can easily recommend this by to any friend, as there is no profanity, no gratuitous sex, no unpleasant details just a good basic story. This is a factor when suggesting books to others. The story flows easily and the story has a good rythm.

[D.C. Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a fantastic time reading Next Girl by Kate Bold! Meg stands out as a compelling protagonist and a sharp detective, and her character development was a definite highlight for me. Kate Bold has a wonderful descriptive tone that really pulls you into the story, making this exactly the type of crime fiction I gravitate towards. Highly recommend!

[janis louthis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and Exciting!

This is an exciting read. I always like female heroes, too. The very beginning, while figuring out the characters, etc., was a little slow but it soon became very interesting and exciting. And it was a good long story. The characters were pretty believable along with the story line. Highly recommend this book!

[Josephine Pizzimenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great page turner

This book had it all, a dead relative brought up on a regular basis, a bully boss and a lead character ready to break the rules. So tempting to read the book in one sitting. It was ....just one more page then one more chapter. Don't read it at bedtime as you won't want to put it down.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda mixed feelings.

Meg and Gabe do a reasonable job investigating a hit-and-run as well as the missing/murdered women over the years but I don't accept that the station commander would have such a political attitude to the investigations.

Also, how would a related department have someone go on leave and not have someone filling those duties?

[J And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of Red Herrings and an Unexpected Conclusion

I refuse to provide spoilers. This is a real page-turner of a story, with a main character detective who doesn't give up and several other characters who temporarily throw her off the trail. Ms. Bold has written a masterful whodunit. I will look for others she has written!

[GRivera23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good detective book

The overall story rating is more of a 3.5. I liked it but it felt a bit too clean. The detective has spot-on instincts, she comes from money, and she's met with little to no hesitation from people. She just didn't feel relatable and it took away from the story.

[Barbara J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this book had a lot of unnecessary word salad added to make it a longer story. I had to skim through a lot of pages because nothing seemed to relate to the story. It rememinded me of when I was younger and used to watch soap operas. The way they stretched story lines for weeks saying nothing.

I did enjoy the actual premise of the story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in a detective series. Meg Thorne is nearing retirement when she comes upon a cold case involving the murder of three homeless women from thirty years ago. Then, she finds the same MO repeated in ten year increments. Can she help the homeless some who have just been reported missing?

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read...

Kate Bold is a clever lady, writing these books that end far too quickly.
There is nothing to dislike. You can feel the tension when Meg is not shown the credit she deserves.

[Sam Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read as are all her books. No fluffing it up with boring drawn out info, just a straight to the point, tense storyline with Meg & her work partner dealing with everything thrown at them, including their obnoxious boss.

[Designsk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

The best for the best for you oyoyhsjdj you are not repro the book and the best to call me to call you in prod and call kar diya hai to call karta hai to call karta hai to call karta

[David R. DeJoseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A puzzling who done it!

This was an excellent read. Meg Thorne and Gabe worked well together and tirelessly to solve the crime. Two excellent officers that any department would want on their team.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book felt like an episode of chicago pd. it didn't necessarily have me begging for more, but I did enjoy it even though the plot twist at the end didn't really do it for me. I feel like a lot of story lines started that I can see will likely carry over into the next book(s).

[ShaSha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book was a good short story to read, I did find it not to be as fast paced and found the story dragged a little bit. Worth a read if you are wanting something you can pick up for a quick read without focusing fully.

[shirley james · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

As always Kate Bold has written yet another brilliant thriller.
It's kept me reading from beginning to end and the ending was a surprise but the killer was caught with the heroine's determination,skill and refusal to give in, as I have already said 'brilliant'

[Makayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not bad at all. I do feel it was slow-paced. At first, I wasn’t wanting to read the rest but after a minute, I was like I want to read the rest because I truly want to know what happened to her husband!

[Jd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good crime novel. It was more effective because it had more than one pov. We were able to see the victims' pov so, we knew the circumstances that led them to being homeless in Boston.

[Ferenc · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/5 - Mystery/Thriller
4/5 - Crime/Detective
4/5 - Characters
4/5 - Story

3.75/5 - Rating

[E.A. Briginshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story, but the ending felt a little rushed.