Customer Reviews

Judas Kiss (Taylor Jackson Series)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

JUDAS KISS is the third in Ms. Ellison's Taylor Jackson series. Each of the books has built comfortably on the previous ones (ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and 14) and gotten better. The voice is clear and the plotting first rate. There are enough twists to keep any thriller reader engrossed, and the release of information to the reader about the killer occurs at the most interesting moments.

I am trying to figure out why this author doesn't have a hardback publishing contract yet. Her stories are well worth the time invested. JUDAS KISS is a definite sit down and read it all at once, and also a read it slowly so it doesn't end too soon. Highly recommended -- as I would all J.T. Elllison's books.

Well developed characters and perfect pacing make this book impossible to put down. Ellison's writing gets tighter and stronger in each installment in her series---and this is without question my favorite so far!

I don't read too many new books (I spend much of my time in books written before my time) but stumbled upon JT Ellison's "All The Pretty Girls" last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. When "14" came out, I devoured it as well. As you might imagine, I was waiting on "Judas Kiss" and--man, oh man--it did not disappoint. While there are many common threads with her previous books, including the protagonist Taylor and the venerable Dr. Baldwin, this book crackles with an excitement and magnitude that makes the reader know that Ellison is onto something special. Reading "Judas Kiss" reminded me of when I first read "The Firm" and "Chiefs"--my first exposure to Grisham and Woods. I remember knowing, about halfway through each book, that the author was going to do great things. "Judas" gave me the exact same feeling.

Prepare yourself for a thrill ride of scares, turn-ons, shockers and twists--you will not want to put it down. It's not too short, not too long. And if you have the time, you'll read it in two days like I did. I hope you enjoy it as much as me.

Amazingly, I had never heard of J.T. Ellison before reading this book. After I googled her, I discovered that she has quite a nice selection of books and all appear to have been highly rated.

In Judas Kiss, we find our main character Taylor Jackson back again! She is a tough homicide lientenant and she is called to a particularly gruesome murder scene - one worthy of a media frenzy. The body of a young, pregnant woman by the name of Corinne Wolff is found - lying right next to her toddler, who is thankfully very much alive. So, who killed this young, healthy woman??

After some investigating, it appears that our victim, Corinne was involved in a porn ring. Little does Taylor know that this victim is also connected to another case - one being handled by Taylor's love interest Baldwin.

As Taylor becomes personnally involved in the porn ring investigation, in more ways than she cares to admit, long-held secrets will be revealed, threatening to shatter all that is dear to her.

I really loved this author. She has a way of writing the storyline that kept me holding my breath and I didn't even realize I was doing it! There are twists and turns that I never saw coming and the plotline is intricate enough to have kept me guessing.

I am thrilled that I have found a new author and look forward to going backwards to read all of Ellison's books.

On a day in early Spring in Nashville, Tennessee, in a brief prologue the reader "sees" Corinne Wolff, lovely, athletic, 26-year-old mother of a beautiful little toddler and seven months pregnant, being bludgeoned to death by a raging killer, apparently her husband, the reader is led to believe. The question of whether that is the correct assumption, however, is not soon resolved. A police investigation is launched, headed by homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson, during the course of which some startling evidence is discovered, with enormous and very personal and professional consequences for Taylor, as well as calling into question the seemingly perfect life of the victim I couldn't help but agree with Taylor, of whom the author says: "It took a lot to shock her. This qualified." And in the background a malevolent presence hovers.

Taylor has a complex back story: She is thirty-five years old, nearly six feet tall, engaged to Dr. John Baldwin, Acting Director of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. She has been on the force for 13 years, the last five in homicide, during which she has had her throat slashed by a suspect, been kidnapped on what was supposed to be her wedding day; and has had to arrest her own father, who had been into money laundering and human trafficking. Plus she has had to shoot her former lover to save her own life.

A key element of the plot is a top-secret covert organization whose very existence and purpose seems less than credible. But as the plot heats up a willing suspension of disbelief becomes easier as the tale inexorably drew me in with some startling twists and turns building up the suspense along two different avenues. [The parallel story line deals with a killer being hunted by Taylor's fiancé, that murderer in turn doing some hunting of his own.]

Some of Taylor's lines fall with a thud, e.g., "She twisted the top and drank deep, washing the taste of murder out of her mouth;" on seeing a beautiful sunset above the skyline of Nashville, "It was gorgeous and filled her, making her feel whole and drowsy." She speaks of a copycat killer "who masqueraded in other killers' emotional garments," and of a "stupid confidential informant" who got her "in a world of hurt," etc. In the end, however, it was the author's story-telling ability that won me over. This is the third novel by Ms. Ellison, though it is the first read by this reviewer - it almost certainly won't be the last. [Her next one featuring Taylor Jackson, "Edge of Black," is due out in September.]

This is the third book in her series and I didn't quite like it as well as the 1st two books, mostly because I like books about serial killer's a little better than just murder mysteries. This was still a good book and it gives you plenty of suspects for the killer and keep's you guessing. I had to hurry up and finish this book so I can start her next book in this series (The Cold Room)tonight.

I discovered this author by happy accident from my recommnedations by Amazon and have now read all her books. Can't wait for a new one! The characters are real and the story has a twist.

I've recently discovered Ms. Ellison's books after reading 'All the Pretty Girls' which was both engaging and suspenseful, definitely a page-turner. 'Judas Kiss' brought new tidbits and extra dimensions on each of the main and sub characters as well as solving the key crime story but the ending was frustrating as it has now become a soap opera that strings the readers along for the next novel release in Sep09 after some bad professional news were delivered at the end of the book. I am sorry if I've spoiled the plot. I just like my stories to end clean even if there are more stories about the same characters in the future.

ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS was great, and 14 surpassed it by building on the first book; Now JUDAS KISS is the high point, but you'll want to read the previous ones.Taylor Jackson has lots on her plate this time around. There's a gory murder made even worse and more heart wrenching by the victim's infant as a witness. The husband is the prime suspect, but there are others, none of them sympathetic, too look at.In addition, Taylor is the target of her lover and FBI profiler John Baldwin.Besides that, a seriel killer who's been tagged "The Pretender" is interested in her.And as if all this isn't enough, the Oompa of the Office of Professional Accountability is out to ruin her career. Don't expect all these threads to be resolved. The author has guaranteed that readers will be anxiously awaiting EDGE OF BLACK which is due in September.The major plot and the subplots are expertly woven by J.T. Ellson and I will be one of those who will be pre-ordering the next installment. .

Nashville police homicide investigator Lieutenant Taylor Jackson leads the investigation into the brutal murder of pregnant Corrine Wolff. There is a first hand witness to the homicide, Corrine's young daughter Hayden whose stunned aunt finds her blond hair strawberry colored by blood.

The violence of the crime normally means a family member in a fit of rage committed the murder. Thus the prime suspect is Corrine's husband, Todd. Taylor has some reservations especially when she learns the Wolff pair were filming pornography. To her chagrin, an X-rated film of Taylor surfaces that could destroy her police career and end her engagement to FBI agent John Baldwin; who has his own woes as an enemy plots to enact revenge on him and his loved ones.

The third Nashville police procedural (see ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and 14) is a fast-paced action-packed thriller in which the three prime subplots work to make a terrific novel. Taylor is concerned over what her youthful indiscretion will do to her personal and professional lives while trying to remain focused on the horrific murder case. Readers will enjoy JUDAS KISS, a strong investigative tale.

Harriet Klausner