All The Pretty Girls (Taylor Jackson) [Mass Market Paperback]

J. T. Ellison (Author)

Book Description

Series: Taylor Jackson | Publication Date: November 1, 2007

When a local girl falls prey to a sadistic serial killer, Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her lover, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, find themselves in a joint investigation pursuing a vicious murderer. The Southern Strangler is slaughtering his way through the Southeast, leaving a gruesome memento at each crime scene—the prior victim's severed hand.

Ambitious TV reporter Whitney Connolly is certain the Southern Strangler is her ticket out of Nashville; she's got a scoop that could break the case. She has no idea how close to this story she really is—or what it will cost her.

As the killer spirals out of control, everyone involved must face a horrible truth—the purest evil is born of private lies.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this tame debut, the body of a young girl discovered by the side of a Nashville highway puts homicide detective Taylor Jackson and her lowdown boyfriend, FBI Agent John Baldwin, on the trail of the Southern Strangler, a playful, brutal killer who likes to carry his victims across state lines before murdering them and removing their hands. Before long, however, Taylor's reassigned to the suspicious death of a prominent TV personality, leaving John struggling to keep ahead of the Strangler's mounting body count. Meanwhile, Taylor is still recovering from a near-fatal neck injury earned in her last case and worrying over her own demons—not the least of which is John's threat to marry her. The real victim is Ellison's plot, strangled by slow pacing, egregious subplots (a serial rapist, a crooked officer, a pregnancy scare) and a clichéd cast of characters: the shady Southern belle, the veteran detective pushed over the edge, the evil genius who stays a step ahead of everyone—even the appealing Taylor strikes a numbingly familiar tough-yet-vulnerable pose. Though a climactic showdown injects some much-needed excitement, readers may have a hard time getting there. (Nov.)
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Review

"A taut, striking debut. Mystery fiction has a new name to watch." -- John Connolly, author of The Book of Lost Things

"A terrific lead character, terrific suspense, terrific twists ... a completely convincing debut." -- Lee Child, author of Bad Luck

"An impressive debut that is rich not just in suspense but in the details. Fast-paced and creepily believable, Ellison's novel proves that there is still room in the genre for new authors and new cops. There's no novice showing in All The Pretty Girls. It's all gritty, grisly and a great read." -- M. J. Rose, author of The Reincarnationist

"Ellison hits the ground running with an electrifying debut. All the Pretty Girls is a masterful thriller, shockingly authentic and unputdownable. Fans of Sandford, Cornwell, and Reichs will relish every page." -- J. A. Konrath, author of Dirty Martini

"Everything a great crime thriller should be." -- Allison Brennan, author of Fear No Evil

"J.T. Ellison's All the Pretty Girls is mystery magic, a first-rate, creepy, hold-your-breath story of suspense." -- Robert Fate, author of Baby Shark

"A taut, striking debut. Mystery fiction has a new name to watch." -- John Connolly, author of The Book of Lost Things

"A terrific lead character, terrific suspense, terrific twists ... a completely convincing debut." -- Lee Child, author of Bad Luck

"Everything a great crime thriller should be." -- Allison Brennan, author of Fear No Evil

"J.T. Ellison's All the Pretty Girls is mystery magic, a first-rate, creepy, hold-your-breath story of suspense." -- Robert Fate, author of Baby Shark

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Mira (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324435
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324430
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J.T. Ellison is the international award-winning author of seven critically acclaimed novels, multiple short stories and has been published in over twenty countries. A former White House staffer, she has worked extensively with the Metro Nashville Police, the FBI and various other law enforcement organizations to research her novels. She lives in Nashville with her husband and a poorly trained cat, and is hard at work on her next novel. Visit www.JTEllison.com for more insight into her wicked imagination, or follow her on Twitter @Thrillerchick.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding first novel, October 21, 2007

By 

Henry W. Wagner (Rockaway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All The Pretty Girls (Taylor Jackson) (Mass Market Paperback)

First novels seem to fall into two categories--they're either outrageously bad, full of rookie mistakes, or surprisingly good, well-written, well-conceived, well- executed tales that create favorable attention for their authors. Books that fall into the first category are extremely tough reads, books that you keep hoping will get better but never do. Books that fall into the second category are distinct pleasures to read, if only because you feel so good for their authors.

All The Pretty Girls falls solidly into the second category. A suspenseful tale of an urgent police investigation into several murders committed by a depraved serial killer (who leaves the hands of his/her previous victim with the handless corpse of his latest victim), it will keep most readers engrossed for several pleasurable hours. Ellison, whose writing is remarkably accomplished for a first time novelist, does a terrific job of getting into her characters' heads, creating a sense of immediacy that is as impressive as it is engrossing. Although the book's final twist is not the outrageous surprise that Ellison no doubt intended, it still provides a highly satisfying climax to an outstanding first novel. Highly recommended.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious tension, October 17, 2007

By 

K. Lauder "Nashville Historical Newsletter" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All The Pretty Girls (Taylor Jackson) (Mass Market Paperback)

I stayed up very late to finish this book - it's a great read. JT Ellison has a good feel for Nashville and populates the city with fascinating characters. Her protagonists are honest, decent people who put their lives on the line because they believe in what they are doing. The snapshot moments we have with the victims make us agonize over their perils and bemoan their deaths, but even the bad guys have their own sad appeal. Ellison juggles sub-plots like a much more experienced writer - her parallel stories create delicious tension. And I found the ending touching and heart-breaking . . . after my heart stopped pounding! It's a book rich in detail and character, humor and tension, warmth and chills. I can't wait for Taylor Jackson's next case!

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine first novel!, November 30, 2007

By 

B. G. Ritts "Old Beeg" (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All The Pretty Girls (Taylor Jackson) (Mass Market Paperback)

I must not have read the same book as the Publishers Weekly reviewer. I thought J.T. Ellison's ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS was a remarkable debut novel. The characters were real, the voice was clear, and the 'bad guy' wasn't obvious. The book was engrossing to read and required no suspension of disbelief. While Ms. Ellison may not be in the MWA's Grand Master category yet, she's a fine writer who's produced a first-class book that's well worth your time and money. Mine was well spent on both accounts. I'm now looking forward to the next installment in the series: 14. You should too.