The Meridian Line: A Blood Compass Novel Where Every Pattern Has an Origin

by Esme Reed

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Colorado · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a dark and depressing crime novel about the institutional failures that allow a serial killer to operate undetected for over 20 years. The author explicitly signals the identity of the killer up front but readers need to continue to discover the how's and to learn how the main character, Detective Constance Egan, figures it out.

The book explores a criminal justice system that's indifferent to the victims that nobody's looking for and that the powers that be having determined don't count. Those decisions are aided by companies who don't want business disrupted; truck and hotel companies interfering with witness testimony. There's no conspiracy or villainy.

While I am sure that there's truth to the portrayal, the book was sad and I wasn't engaged enough to keep turning the pages. The main character was smart and perceptive and hard working but, once again, I just didn't engage enough to care.

I read a third of the book before giving up.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another St. Louis book that I really liked. Detective Constance Egan is investigating the murder of a body found dumped near the Chain of Rocks, she starts to look into other unsolved similar murders of victims also being dumped along the highway for decades. Between no one looking for victims and the police sweeping the murders under the carpet, Contance is determined to solve the crimes.

I am about an hour west of St. Louis and the fact that that book brought in some of my hometown landmarks made me feel good. And the police investigation showed that nothing was going to stop Constance from getting the justice these girls/women deserve and getting a killer off the streets.

I look forward to more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Radomir Radomir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story by Esme Reed about complex heroine and how being the daughter of serial killer shaped her and made her a great detective and profiler that she is. Real origin story for future series.