Stop Him

A Beth Drake FBI Suspense Thriller #1

by Kate Bold

Army Ranger-turned-FBI Agent Beth Drake is the perfect agent to handle violent serial murders connected to drug crimes.

But when the dark underbelly of West Virginia's coal country reveals a sinister chain of ritualistic murders, FBI Agent Beth Drake must dig deep into the mind of a killer to unearth the truth. Confronted with victims adorned in dust, she must navigate a minefield of addiction and corruption to catch a killer who leaves no stone unturned.

STOP HIM is the first book in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT ME (a free download) has received over 3,00 five star ratings and reviews.

The Beth Drake series delivers a page turning thriller of cat-and-mouse, packed with chilling twists. It breathes new life into the mystery genre by featuring a captivating female protagonist who will steal your heart and compel you to read on well past bedtime. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Lisa Regan, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Genres: Mystery, Amazon

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 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

[John Kowalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting journey

Well developed characters telling a well thought out story. I enjoyed the ride and the scenery along the way! Looking forward to more.

[Cidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Drake is an FBI Agent and I agree with Avid who said "it's good to read a book about someone who doesn't need to see a psychologist nor is the storyline so beyond belief it is unreadable." Or words to that effect!

I really enjoyed this book because it was different. Beth is searching for a killer in a town in west virginia (now there's a place I don't think I've read a book about murderers. That's a place to move to then!). It seems that drug addicts who are in recovery are being murdered and shoved down closed coal mines with a bit of coal in their mouths and some sparkling dust over their faces. Well. Beth and her partner Cole are working hard to solve this but Beth nearly finds herself dying like the recovering addicts with a needle in her body and shiney dust over her face.

I really liked this book because they took the time to make sure they were finding the right person with a knowledge of poisons and showed sympathy to the victims who had died and to the one elderly man they saved, they worked well with their partners too! No histrionics, no shouting matches, respected each other and just got on with their job. Yeah, a good book!

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close Call

Beth Drake, FBI, former ranger, is assigned a strange case involving missing former drug users. They’ve quit and are proud of their achievement then go missing. No one knows why or where they are.

Beth and her partner Cole are at a loss as to even know where to start with this mystery. The two kids discover a body in an abandoned mine and the hunt begins.

The author does a good job of keeping us reading into the night as she discovers one of the bodies in a strange situation.

I think you’ll find this story line very interesting.

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative. Different. Enjoyable to hear a new thriller with good characters who do not need psychological help or the storyline is so beyond belief it is unreadable.

This is a fast read that doesn't take much thinking. It's a simple crawl up on the couch and get lost in your book and forget your day type of thing.

👍

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, people were dying but they were ex-addicts and so considered not as important as other people. They were all attending NA and had been clean for various lengths of time.

There's a new drug killing them. Is it random or intentional?

Yay, the lead character isn't in trauma due to the death or disappearance of a family member or friend.

[Phil Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone is killing recovering addicts in a West Virginia coal town. Ex-ranger FBI staffer Beth Drake is sent to investigate. Story started off well. Drug and became a bit mundane as it reached its conclusion. I doubt I will read the follow up.

[Raberta Beckwith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book !

Scary how these things can happen … Beth and Cole have a good relationship as a team, maybe we’ll see them again soon. I think Gabe will be next for a relationship in her future- but you never know, could be Cole too !

[Pamela Faust · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beth is in the FBI. She used to work in the military in Afghanistan. She’s in a town with dead coal mines and people dying from heroin overdoses. Someone is killing NA members. Beth thinks the fact that the mine killings and drug users are related. It all tied nicely and boringly together.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smooth writing is always a win in my book (see what I did there!), and this is one smooth ride from start to finish. It's a fast read but don't pick it up if you don't have the time to finish it. Kate Bold is a new author to me but I will be looking for more of her work in the future.

[Chelsea Reith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical murder mystery, good for a simple, quick beach read

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book! It is suspenseful and addicting!

[Venkatesan]

good book

[Pete Woollven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book

Brilliant book well written and a great cast of characters and story line absolutely loved it I couldn't put it down hooked from the start

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different from other fbi/ police related books that I’ve read

[Sueanne Mockensturm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop Him

I read this in one setting, couldn’t put it down. Hope you enjoy Inkatha Bold as much as I did.

[Kim Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical average thriller. Interesting but not spectacular.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book in my opinion. Really loved the premise and how it all gets tied to the opening chapters while the story pulls you around the mines.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Bold has delivered yet another nail biting FBI story. Unputdownable

[Stephen Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line couldn’t put it down

[Carol Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

It is hard to put down once you start it. I can't wait to start the next book in the series

[John McGonagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pace, good story line with interesting characters.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspensful

Once I started this story I couldn't put it down.
I had to take a breath when I finished .
Once again Kate Bold kept her reader entranced.