Description
Releases July 15, 2026. e-Pub ebooks are available NOW!
Some children disappear. Others are erased.
When billionaire philanthropist Kensington Taite discovers impossible patterns hidden within the child relocation network he helped create, he hires investigative consultant Nicolas Gunthar to uncover the truth. Every audit is flawless. Every safeguard appears intact. Every record insists the system is working exactly as designed.
But children are still vanishing.
At the same time, child advocate Ira Rowan refuses to accept the unexplained disappearance of a young girl from the foster system. As her investigation collides with Nic’s, they uncover evidence of a hidden operation concealed beneath layers of bureaucracy, sealed records, and institutional trust.
What begins as the search for one missing child quickly becomes a race against an organization powerful enough to rewrite histories, silence witnesses, and eliminate anyone who gets too close. Every discovery reveals another layer of a conspiracy designed to operate in plain sight, protected by wealth, influence, and the assumption that no one will ever question a system that appears flawless.
As the body count rises and time runs out for children trapped inside a network no one knows exists, Nic and Ira must decide how far they’re willing to go to expose the truth. Because once they cross the line, there is no turning back.
Hold the Line: Chain of Custody is the gripping first novel in The Meridian Files, a suspense-filled conspiracy thriller where every clue matters, every choice carries a cost, and the greatest threat is hidden in plain sight.
Available Editions
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- Ebook (EPUB)
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Order your paperback or hardcover directly from Healthy in Heart Media to receive an author-autographed copy at no additional charge. Simply select the autographed option before adding the book to your cart.
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Alejandra Abreu –
investigative thriller
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2026
Format: Hardcover
If you like thrillers that has conspiracy and slow burning suspense. This is the right book for you. This book makes you question what are you going to happen next, you think you what going to happen next. You can’t put the book down; it keeps you engaged.
~Amazon Customer Review — Reprinted with implied consent via BookReverb ARC Program
Dorothy Morrow –
A Thriller That Trusts Its Reader to Keep Up
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2026
Format: Hardcover
A child welfare system that runs too smoothly shouldn’t be alarming. Angel Tate Keaton makes you understand exactly why it is.
Hold the Line: Chain of Custody is built around a premise that’s uncomfortably plausible: a technology initiative created with genuinely good intentions, streamlining interstate custody transfers so efficiently that the efficiency itself becomes the red flag. When former special operations consultant Nicolas Gunthar is brought in to audit the system, and independent investigator Ira Rowan is pulled in through her own network of whistleblowers, they end up circling the same disturbing discovery from completely different directions. Watching their separate investigations slowly close in on each other is genuinely one of the best parts of the book.
What really impressed me was how much technical detail Keaton was willing to include and trust her reader to follow. Badge-cloning, working out a keypad code from wear patterns, mapping camera blind spots — none of it feels like lazy Hollywood shorthand. It feels earned. And the evidence builds the same patient way, one uncomfortable detail at a time, until the picture becomes impossible to ignore.
The relationship between Nic and Ira is really the heart of the book, and I appreciated that Keaton didn’t rush it. They start off wary and clipped with each other, and the trust that builds between them comes from watching each other work, not some convenient spark.
If I have one complaint, it’s that the data-heavy sequences in the back half slow the pacing down a bit. But if you enjoy a slow-burn conspiracy thriller with real technical grounding and a premise that will genuinely unsettle you, this is a strong start to a series.
~Amazon Customer Review — Reprinted with implied consent via BookReverb ARC Program
jessica –
Hold the line
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Hold the Line: Chain of Custody is a gripping crime thriller that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with plenty of suspense, unexpected twists, and enough tension to keep the pages turning. The investigation feels compelling, and the emotional stakes add depth to the story without slowing the action.
The author does a great job creating an atmospheric setting and believable characters, making it easy to become invested in the outcome. If you enjoy detective stories, missing-person cases, and suspenseful mysteries with plenty of intrigue, this is definitely worth picking up.
A satisfying read for fans of crime fiction and psychological suspense.
~Amazon Customer Review — Reprinted with implied consent via BookReverb ARC Program
🦈Trisha🦈 –
Crime fiction and thriller all in one!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Hold the Line: Chain of Custody is a gripping, action-packed thriller that combines military precision, investigative suspense, and compelling character development into a story that is difficult to put down. As part of The Meridian Files series, this installment delivers high stakes, intricate plotting, and a strong sense of realism that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and tactical thrillers alike.
~Amazon Customer Review — Reprinted with implied consent via BookReverb ARC Program
Katerina P. –
A Thriller That Kept Me Hooked
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2026
Format: Hardcover
I really enjoyed this book. From the first chapter, it pulled me in and kept me wanting to know what would happen next. The characters felt believable, and the suspense kept building without slowing down. I especially appreciated that it wasn’t just action—it also made me think about trust, justice, and doing what’s right. If you enjoy smart, fast-paced thrillers with great characters, I definitely recommend this one. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
~Amazon Customer Review — Reprinted with implied consent via BookReverb ARC Program
Kaylan Durant –
I read this book three times now
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Its absolutely amazing!! Love suspense and mystery in this book. Its my third time reading it!!
~Amazon Customer Review — Reprinted with implied consent via BookReverb ARC Program