A Thrilling suspense novel (A Taylor Jackson Novel)
ByJ.T. Ellison★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | |
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ | |
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | |
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ | |
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ |
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Readers` Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
christina ensign
First book in the series and I'm hooked! Ellison is a local author from Tennessee so after a couple people recommended I give the series a try I ordered it and started right away! Can't wait to start the next book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
emily churchill
This was a page turner, don't want to put down read! I can't believe this was her first book. I live in the southeast so I could relate to the Nashville setting making it more interesting. Taylor Jackson is a smart, tough detective and interesting character. I hope to read about her in the future. I am eagerly waiting on the next J.T. Ellis book. If you like suspense this ones for you!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
steven wilson
This book is great! It's hard to put down and doesn't let up on the suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed the plots and subplots and the protagonists are really likeable. Taylor and John work together so well considering he's FBI and she's a Nashville cop! This is the start of a great new series! Pick this one up today!
Big Hair, Don't Care :: The Story of a Southern Girl Who Went through Fire to Find Her Way Home :: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters :: An Italian Journey ~ A Harvest of Revelations in the Olive Groves of Tuscany ~ A Pretty Girl :: A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves - Strong Is the New Pretty
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
lynda dickey
EXCELLENT first book!!! Keeps you on the edge of your seat with its well written suspense. J.T. Ellison is a new Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reich equal, if she keeps creating like this. I highly recommend this book if you love suspense like me!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
jamie george
I downloaded this book from a recommendation from the Kindle Discussion Forum.
It reminded me of a Grisham novel that I did NOT want to put down.
The writing is superb. Great characters and believable. Easy to read great fluidity. Don't pass this one up!
It reminded me of a Grisham novel that I did NOT want to put down.
The writing is superb. Great characters and believable. Easy to read great fluidity. Don't pass this one up!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
bookmaniac70
This was my first J.T. Ellison novel and I am hooked. The characters are well developed and by the end you definitely want more Taylor Jackson. I just couldn't put this one down. Just purchased the next one (14) and can't wait to finish it
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
susana amaro velho
Ellison writes well and book is a fast read. That said, she should get her facts right. First, when a suspect in custody asks for a lawyer the cop cannot ask for questions or even talk to the suspect. If the cop does so, any confession (or anything else the suspect says) cannot be used in court. Thus, if the cop ignores this, the author should have the cop recognize this as part of the plot. Second. conrary to what the book says, federal judges are appointed not elected. And yes, Guinness stout is drunk warm not cold!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
noushin jedi
It was fascinating to read this first book by J.T. Ellsion after completing the four Samantha Owens novels first(one right after the other). I am so amazed at how consistently outstanding this author is, that I bought the first four Taylor Jackson novels. I thought the pace of the story was initially slow but it did pick up about half way through. Overall it was an engrossing read with many subplots which were well juggled and created an on going tension. The book was rich in detail, humor, warmth and chills. The multi-facated plot was fraught with unexpected twists and turns, many unexpected. I must say that the author has a nack for creating interesting characters (good as well as chillingly evil). While I found Taylor likable, she just was not the three dimensional character I was expecting. She lacked real warmth and depth, from my point of view, I felt I got a better feel for John Baldwin, the FBI Profiler and Taylor's love interest. So I would rate the story plot a 4.5 but brought the overall rating down to 4 as I feel that the author needs to work on the character of Taylor to make her much more three dimensional.
As a fan of the Samantha Owens series, it was interesting catching glimpses of her as Taylor's BFF. I have started 14 and am looking forward to really getting further into the character development of Taylor. Hope you will join me, believe me you will not be sorry. This is an author worth reading!
As a fan of the Samantha Owens series, it was interesting catching glimpses of her as Taylor's BFF. I have started 14 and am looking forward to really getting further into the character development of Taylor. Hope you will join me, believe me you will not be sorry. This is an author worth reading!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
scott gano
I listened to this on CD. The story was about a serial killer. Lt. Taylor Jackson and her lover, FBI profiler Baldwin end up in the same investigation. The killer is murdering girls and cutting off their hands. He leaves one hand from a previous murder where he dumps the latest victim. It was a very good story. I'm going to get the next one in the series. I would have liked it better if the two main characters hit it off more with me -- they were okay, just nothing that stood out. Usually I'm driven by a character to read the next book in a series, but the story was very good and I will go on because of that.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
joy olivia
With a high body count, gory details and some added intrigue, this debut novel has a quite accomplished feel to it. It is a fast-paced and exciting thriller, and one that has a distinctly "series" feel to it. In fact, it almost seems like a mid-series novel with the way that Ellison so effortlessly incorporates many of the characters' thorough backstories into the story. These glimmers into an exciting past make the present all the more engaging.
And though the main plotline is rather predictable, the side storylines really display a lot more creativity and are less easily solved. The Nashville setting is fun, too - as well as the side trips into other towns during the investigation of the Southern Strangler. And even though the identity of the serial killer is not that much of a mystery, this is an entertaining story. The characters are for the most part sympathetic and likable, too. And since this is a series, I am really looking forward to the next novel, 14!
And though the main plotline is rather predictable, the side storylines really display a lot more creativity and are less easily solved. The Nashville setting is fun, too - as well as the side trips into other towns during the investigation of the Southern Strangler. And even though the identity of the serial killer is not that much of a mystery, this is an entertaining story. The characters are for the most part sympathetic and likable, too. And since this is a series, I am really looking forward to the next novel, 14!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
gabi constantin
First, of course, there are other female thriller writers who can get down and dirty, but too often I find myself unable to connect and wind up laying their books down. Not this one. Living in the south myself, I found I was staying up an extra half hour each night (read it in a week) to see what might happen next.
Taylor, the main character, is tough, vulnerable, and loves her sidearm. My gosh, what man wouldn't love her? Dr. Baldwin, her FBI boyfriend, is the perfect sidekick: incredibly intelligent and adept, but not so much that he overpowers Taylor or the story.
The book races from high-point to high-point, and Ellison provides just enough layering and texture to allow the reader to breathe. Completely believable, All The Pretty Girls left me wanting more. Fortunately, Ellison wrote two more--I devoured them as well. I've read this one twice and am getting ready to read 14 again this week.
I highly recommend this knockout debut.
Taylor, the main character, is tough, vulnerable, and loves her sidearm. My gosh, what man wouldn't love her? Dr. Baldwin, her FBI boyfriend, is the perfect sidekick: incredibly intelligent and adept, but not so much that he overpowers Taylor or the story.
The book races from high-point to high-point, and Ellison provides just enough layering and texture to allow the reader to breathe. Completely believable, All The Pretty Girls left me wanting more. Fortunately, Ellison wrote two more--I devoured them as well. I've read this one twice and am getting ready to read 14 again this week.
I highly recommend this knockout debut.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
angela irvine
The serial killer kidnaps young women and takes them to the next state before killing them. After having his fun with his chosen pretty ones, he slices off their hand to take with him and leaves behind the previous victim's hand with the fresh corpse. When a female is found by a Nashville highway with the trademark hand of the "Southern Strangler", homicide detective Taylor Jackson is assigned the case.
However, she and her team go nowhere as there are neither witnesses nor have any useful evidence beyond the hand. Taylor turns to her lover, FBI profiler John Baldwin but he fails to help her solve the case. When a local TV reporter dies in what seems an accident, Taylor is assigned that case, leaving John to deal with the Southern Strangler.
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS is an interesting police procedural romance in which the serial killer steals the show from the two cops pursuing him. The story line is at its best when the Southern Strangler performs his deadly deeds and when the police investigate; when the subplot turns to romance, it seems forced as the heroine is obviously not ready for dangling alliances. Still sub-genre fans will enjoy this exciting cat and mouse game in which the culprit makes the rules that the vulnerable mouse must play by.
Harriet Klausner
However, she and her team go nowhere as there are neither witnesses nor have any useful evidence beyond the hand. Taylor turns to her lover, FBI profiler John Baldwin but he fails to help her solve the case. When a local TV reporter dies in what seems an accident, Taylor is assigned that case, leaving John to deal with the Southern Strangler.
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS is an interesting police procedural romance in which the serial killer steals the show from the two cops pursuing him. The story line is at its best when the Southern Strangler performs his deadly deeds and when the police investigate; when the subplot turns to romance, it seems forced as the heroine is obviously not ready for dangling alliances. Still sub-genre fans will enjoy this exciting cat and mouse game in which the culprit makes the rules that the vulnerable mouse must play by.
Harriet Klausner
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
bretbenesh
Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is called to the scene of a homicide, where the body of a young woman, sans hands, has been discovered. When a hand is found near the crime scene, DNA proves it doesn't belong to the murdered woman but to another woman, whose body was found in another state. This brings the FBI into play, via Taylor's lover, profiler Dr. John Baldwin. The Southern Strangler, as the killer comes to be known, goes on a killing spree throughout the South, crossing state lines, leaving the bodies of young women behind, all missing their hands, but with another woman's hand nearby. And his kills are escalating at a fast rate. Baldwin and Taylor team up to catch him although Taylor gets temporarily sidetracked pursuing a serial rapist named the Rainman while Baldwin travels in the killer's footsteps. But soon the two are back together, hot on the heels of the killer.
Taylor Jackson is not your archetypical Southern Belle. A woman from a wealthy family, she chose the life of a cop over that of a privileged soccer mom. She's well-educated, intelligent and tough mentally and physically, but her one weakness is Baldwin. The two are a winning combo and their personas complement one another. Peripheral characters are nicely developed, as is the chemistry between Taylor and Baldwin. The plot moves at a fast pace, with gut-wrenching suspense and plenty of action. Ellison's smart writing places this one apart from other mystery series and is sure to garner a plethora of fans eager for the next book.
Taylor Jackson is not your archetypical Southern Belle. A woman from a wealthy family, she chose the life of a cop over that of a privileged soccer mom. She's well-educated, intelligent and tough mentally and physically, but her one weakness is Baldwin. The two are a winning combo and their personas complement one another. Peripheral characters are nicely developed, as is the chemistry between Taylor and Baldwin. The plot moves at a fast pace, with gut-wrenching suspense and plenty of action. Ellison's smart writing places this one apart from other mystery series and is sure to garner a plethora of fans eager for the next book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
wolf yener
Thoroughly enjoyed this first Taylor Jackson episode. The primary mystery was so-so, as you know pretty early on that the villain is one of two candidates. Secondary cases are handled nicely, without detracting from the primary story. The key thing is that the characters are so likable that you keep rooting for them to resolve all the bad situations. Taylor, Baldwin and her staff of detectives leave you wanting to read more about them. Here's hoping that Ms. Ellison keeps developing all of the characters.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
raffi bagdasarian
Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson works in Nashville Tennessee. She is working on a case involving a serial killer, that the media has dubbed 'The Southern Strangler'. Taylor is working on the case with her love interest, FBI profiler, John Baldwin.
In the middle of all this, there is also a rapist on the loose...nicknamed 'The Rainman' since he only strikes when it rains.
I found this book to be creepy at times, full of suspense, with enough twists and turns to keep you hooked. The characters were likeable, the plot was believable and the storyline was interesting. It was an intense read. It kept me hooked till the very end!
If you're in the mood for a suspenseful thriller, something to keep you guessing, I recommend this read.
In the middle of all this, there is also a rapist on the loose...nicknamed 'The Rainman' since he only strikes when it rains.
I found this book to be creepy at times, full of suspense, with enough twists and turns to keep you hooked. The characters were likeable, the plot was believable and the storyline was interesting. It was an intense read. It kept me hooked till the very end!
If you're in the mood for a suspenseful thriller, something to keep you guessing, I recommend this read.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
anne marie rivard
If you love thrillers and are on the lookout for new authors, get a copy of ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS. It was hard for me to believe this was her first novel. J. T. Ellison got so into the characters that I thought for certain she was retired police or work in the field. Also there is a fine line of too many details, at least for an ADD reader like me, but she never once crossed over to the dull side.
It gets five stars, because I can't recommend a better thriller. In fact, I want to read her next one, 14. It's to be on sale in September. I plan on getting it. Got to find out more about Dr. John Baldwin. Is he really going to quit? How does their (Taylor & John) relationship progress? I was given enough in the first book to want to know more.
It gets five stars, because I can't recommend a better thriller. In fact, I want to read her next one, 14. It's to be on sale in September. I plan on getting it. Got to find out more about Dr. John Baldwin. Is he really going to quit? How does their (Taylor & John) relationship progress? I was given enough in the first book to want to know more.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
margaret h
An interesting serial killer story told from several perspectives. The primary viewpoints are of lady Lt. Taylor Jackson, in charge of a homicide team in Nashville, and her FBI profiler boyfriend John Baldwin. We get occasional pieces of the story from the killer, and various other players in the story, mostly meant to make the reader scream "just call Taylor, or Baldwin and tell them this crucial detail". I am sad to say I bought into the main red herring until I was a disk and a half from the end of the audio. Overall an interesting story though occasional details made me stop and say "wait, what?!" I do plan on picking up the rest of the series.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
harris
I read a lot, and I usually have to struggle through a book by a new author. Not this book. It started off great, and stayed that way through the entire book. It was fast moving and I never once thought,"that would never happen that way in real life". When I had to put it down, I looked forward to getting back into it. I am glad that we now have a great female author that can realistically write a mystery/suspense novel, and not get so drowned in detail or a supposedly clever remark every few paragraphs. J.T. Ellison is a great author, and has written a great five star first book. Thanks J.T.
Lena McCann
Lena McCann
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
jim pennington
I picked up this little gem at my favorite local wholesale club after reading the cover and thinking the storyline was right up my alley. It grabbed my attention from the begining and took off like wild fire. Mrs.Ellison's expressionable writing brought life to Taylor and John Baldwin (but hey, why does she keep calling him "Baldwin"? I don't call my husband by his last name, even when we were dating ???). I enjoyed all the interactions between the characters - even though there were quite a few, it was still an easy story to follow. I look forward to her next book(s) and can't wait to read more of Taylor and John, er, Baldwin. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fast-paced thriller.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
elisabeth bier
If you like a good murder mystery this is your book!
Everyone's involved from plain clothes all the way up
to the FBI ! Looking forward to reading another novel
From this author J.T.Ellison !!!
Everyone's involved from plain clothes all the way up
to the FBI ! Looking forward to reading another novel
From this author J.T.Ellison !!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
tim westen
It was an exceptionally written debut, the plot was clever and unpridictable, I liked the shocking twists like the deaths of Whitney Connolly and Agent Grimes, or one of the protagonist's fellow officers getting raped by her own suspect. Now THAT was something I never saw coming! There were some qualities of the story I did not like however. Take the rainman subplot for example. Subplots are important, but I was disappointed with the culprit. I was hoping it would have been someone who was more involved with the story, but i am glad the bastard was caught. I was also hoping there would be at least one Southern Strangler victim would survive, I would just get so pissed at this guy, it's like he won everytime!
Nonetheless, JT Ellison is definitely an author to watch and I'm glad I found her. Anyone who reads mysteries or likes female mystery writers should give her a try!
Nonetheless, JT Ellison is definitely an author to watch and I'm glad I found her. Anyone who reads mysteries or likes female mystery writers should give her a try!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
karen lawrie
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.
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.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lance weller
I downloaded this onto my pda on a whim one night from another site and only stopped reading when my battery was giving out. I have to agree with everyone else who said that they found it hard to believe that this was a debut novel. I'm sure Ellison has more unpublished gems hiding away some where and I want them! I know that the next book in this series is coming out in a few months, but I don't want to have to wait that long :)
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
zephikel archer
Baldwin was really sweet, but Taylor was kind of abrasive and I really hated the whole stupid mistaken pregnancy thing in the middle of the book; it was just completely irrelevant and unnecessary and really made me dislike Taylor for a while because of how she handled it (getting drunk and smoking--two wonderful ways to harm your baby). I also would have liked to see more interaction and cooperation between Baldwin and Taylor; there just didn't seem to be much character development. I think if Elliott had spent more time on the characters and the Southern Strangler rather than the side plots of the Rainman and the Terrence thing it would've been more fulfilling. Will give the next book 14 a try and see if it's better.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
william hertling
All The Pretty Girls, Taylor Jackson. The is a writer who I truly hope to see "make it". Extremely talented and creative. Her writing style is imaginative, descriptive and crisp. Her story telling is bone chilling, teeth chattering and shocking. I love it. A wonderful suspenseful thriller which is very difficult to put down.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
st phane moracchini
I picked up this little gem at my favorite local wholesale club after reading the cover and thinking the storyline was right up my alley. It grabbed my attention from the begining and took off like wild fire. Mrs.Ellison's expressionable writing brought life to Taylor and John Baldwin (but hey, why does she keep calling him "Baldwin"? I don't call my husband by his last name, even when we were dating ???). I enjoyed all the interactions between the characters - even though there were quite a few, it was still an easy story to follow. I look forward to her next book(s) and can't wait to read more of Taylor and John, er, Baldwin. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good fast-paced thriller.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tom scanlan
If you like a good murder mystery this is your book!
Everyone's involved from plain clothes all the way up
to the FBI ! Looking forward to reading another novel
From this author J.T.Ellison !!!
Everyone's involved from plain clothes all the way up
to the FBI ! Looking forward to reading another novel
From this author J.T.Ellison !!!
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
rebekah
I enjoyed this book for the most part. My biggest issue was that they should have stuck to the main crime and not put in the Rainman crime it was more of a filler then an actual case. I would rather have a nice flowing and fulfilling short story then a longer book with filler thrown in and taking away from the true story line.
The stranger case was intriguing and had some good twist to it, the characters where likable as well.
The stranger case was intriguing and had some good twist to it, the characters where likable as well.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sarahcz
For Lt. Taylor Jackson, she is racing against the clock to figure out the puzzling case of a serial rapist that is hitting Nashville now. The Southern Strangler is crossing state lines, leaving dead bodies as well as leaving a memento that just as gruesome as it is puzzling. Along with her lover, FBI Profiler DR. John Baldwin, Taylor finds herself racing against the clock as another girl is taken and they pursue a vicious madman. But Taylor doesn’t know that TV personality Whitney Connolly is being sent messages from the killer and as she tries to figure out who it is and get the scoop of the century that will propel her into the big time; Whitney has no idea just how close this killer really is.
I just devoured ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and could not stop reading it. It was a fast paced thrill ride from start to finish. It had me glued to the pages as I tried to puzzle the clues out alongside Taylor and was shocked over who the killer was. The author does a bang up job in capturing Taylor’s frustration as the bodies rack up and the way this intelligent killer moves about. I loved meeting Taylor in a past book and was eager to delve into her series with gusto and I was not disappointed at all. The story flows quickly and smoothly with sprinkles of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat till the very end. The conclusion left me speechless but I don’t want to spoil to much if you haven’t read this book yet. All I can say is WOW! It’s quite a twisted and winding road of a story. We got a cast of characters that just flew off the pages, a storyline that kept my interest from start to finish and a mystery that just haunted me when I wasn’t reading the book.
This is a truly master storyteller that delivers a heroine that is complex as is vulnerable at times (though Taylor hates showing any weakness) and I loved the dynamics she has with other characters. The characters are diverse and intriguing on their own but put them together and you got a cast that will steal your hearty, leaving you aching for more. With the right amount of tension, suspense and a little romance to keep things interesting, the reader is treated to a story that will chill you to the bone yet you can’t help but fall in love with as well.
Now I am eager to read book two and get sucked into Taylor’s world in Nashville as she alongside her homicide squad and lover. If you are looking for a different kind of mystery and love to get pulled into a story that snags your imagination, then grab ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and fall into the story from page one. I look forward to seeing where this author goes for Taylor and company in future books.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement
I just devoured ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and could not stop reading it. It was a fast paced thrill ride from start to finish. It had me glued to the pages as I tried to puzzle the clues out alongside Taylor and was shocked over who the killer was. The author does a bang up job in capturing Taylor’s frustration as the bodies rack up and the way this intelligent killer moves about. I loved meeting Taylor in a past book and was eager to delve into her series with gusto and I was not disappointed at all. The story flows quickly and smoothly with sprinkles of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat till the very end. The conclusion left me speechless but I don’t want to spoil to much if you haven’t read this book yet. All I can say is WOW! It’s quite a twisted and winding road of a story. We got a cast of characters that just flew off the pages, a storyline that kept my interest from start to finish and a mystery that just haunted me when I wasn’t reading the book.
This is a truly master storyteller that delivers a heroine that is complex as is vulnerable at times (though Taylor hates showing any weakness) and I loved the dynamics she has with other characters. The characters are diverse and intriguing on their own but put them together and you got a cast that will steal your hearty, leaving you aching for more. With the right amount of tension, suspense and a little romance to keep things interesting, the reader is treated to a story that will chill you to the bone yet you can’t help but fall in love with as well.
Now I am eager to read book two and get sucked into Taylor’s world in Nashville as she alongside her homicide squad and lover. If you are looking for a different kind of mystery and love to get pulled into a story that snags your imagination, then grab ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and fall into the story from page one. I look forward to seeing where this author goes for Taylor and company in future books.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
mary jo
It was an exceptionally written debut, the plot was clever and unpridictable, I liked the shocking twists like the deaths of Whitney Connolly and Agent Grimes, or one of the protagonist's fellow officers getting raped by her own suspect. Now THAT was something I never saw coming! There were some qualities of the story I did not like however. Take the rainman subplot for example. Subplots are important, but I was disappointed with the culprit. I was hoping it would have been someone who was more involved with the story, but i am glad the bastard was caught. I was also hoping there would be at least one Southern Strangler victim would survive, I would just get so pissed at this guy, it's like he won everytime!
Nonetheless, JT Ellison is definitely an author to watch and I'm glad I found her. Anyone who reads mysteries or likes female mystery writers should give her a try!
Nonetheless, JT Ellison is definitely an author to watch and I'm glad I found her. Anyone who reads mysteries or likes female mystery writers should give her a try!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
michael duggan
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.
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.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
rhianon borg
I downloaded this onto my pda on a whim one night from another site and only stopped reading when my battery was giving out. I have to agree with everyone else who said that they found it hard to believe that this was a debut novel. I'm sure Ellison has more unpublished gems hiding away some where and I want them! I know that the next book in this series is coming out in a few months, but I don't want to have to wait that long :)
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
nancy schroeder
Baldwin was really sweet, but Taylor was kind of abrasive and I really hated the whole stupid mistaken pregnancy thing in the middle of the book; it was just completely irrelevant and unnecessary and really made me dislike Taylor for a while because of how she handled it (getting drunk and smoking--two wonderful ways to harm your baby). I also would have liked to see more interaction and cooperation between Baldwin and Taylor; there just didn't seem to be much character development. I think if Elliott had spent more time on the characters and the Southern Strangler rather than the side plots of the Rainman and the Terrence thing it would've been more fulfilling. Will give the next book 14 a try and see if it's better.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
will williams
All The Pretty Girls, Taylor Jackson. The is a writer who I truly hope to see "make it". Extremely talented and creative. Her writing style is imaginative, descriptive and crisp. Her story telling is bone chilling, teeth chattering and shocking. I love it. A wonderful suspenseful thriller which is very difficult to put down.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
franchesca
This is a strong and memorable debut introducing Nashville Homicide Lt. Taylor Jackson. The story develops through complex forensic and evidentiary details which keep the reader attentive and involved. By tracking down not only a serial killer but a serial rapist at the same time, it is clearly apparent that she is a tough, intelligent and dedicated cop. I sincerely hope that Taylor Jackson has a long and productive career... and that we get to read about each and every case.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
dan savage
All The Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison is one of those books that you had better not start unless you have the time to sit and read, because I guarantee, once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down until you have read that final, wonderful word! The characters and the story line will suck you in until the only bad thing about finishing the book is that you'll wish you had more time with them! Set in Nashville and wandering all over the southeast, this criminal stays one step ahead of everybody until the very end, and the twists and turns in the characters' lives make them so real, you will want to pick up the phone and call them to make sure they are okay! Fantastic job for this debut author! Can't wait for more!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
oscar aguilar
This book grabbed me with the first paragraph. I wish I had the time to read it straight through but every chance I get I've got the book out reading to see what happens next.
I love the fact that it's a mystery tied in with a romance that's already established. Taylor reflects back periodically to when the relationship with Baldwin started, but leaves out some items to be discovered later in future books.
The police procedures are pretty close to accurate - I have a feeling this author will do nothing but get better with each book.
LOVED IT!!!!!
I love the fact that it's a mystery tied in with a romance that's already established. Taylor reflects back periodically to when the relationship with Baldwin started, but leaves out some items to be discovered later in future books.
The police procedures are pretty close to accurate - I have a feeling this author will do nothing but get better with each book.
LOVED IT!!!!!
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
benjamin thomas
I had no Idea this was her first novel. Usually I get let down by new authors, but not Ellison. I actually finished this novel. It was not the best one I had read, but not the worst by a long shot. I think she could have backed off a little on the fellow police officers backgrounds, love interests and such, there was a little too much details some times, but other times it was an interesting and disturbing read, which i enjoy being disturbed by stories. The ending was the best, the surprises and more disturbing information. It was pretty good over all for a first time author.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
cozmainia
Finally, a crime writer who has an extensive vocabulary and knows good grammar. Add to that, she writes a tight, page turning crime story that will keep you up way past your bedtime!
To my thinking, J.T. Ellison ranks up there with Richard North Patterson--maybe surpasses. Loved this book!
To my thinking, J.T. Ellison ranks up there with Richard North Patterson--maybe surpasses. Loved this book!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
heartdaisy
As an avid mystery reader I get frustrated with the formulaic approach taken by many first time writers. Ellison escapes much of these problems by not dragging out the personal drama in the plot. One character that I knew was going to cause problems in the later part of the book died midway through the story. It is these types of twists that kept me turning pages and "happy" with the conclusion. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
trisha schmit
You won't get a synopsis of the book from me -- I will be bluntly honest by just telling you that I enjoyed it and finished it within 3 days. The plot is strong and I definately connected with the lead POV. I will continue to read and suggest JT Ellison's works to other readers I know. That's the fun of finding new authors...I enjoy telling others about them.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
marcela vaccaro rivera
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!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lyal avery
It was such a page turner....My first time read of this Aurthor and I must say won,t be my last, have bought the other 2 of the triolgy. Am so blessed my son came home to (Australia) with a Kindle fire for me
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
paula wallace
For Lt. Taylor Jackson, she is racing against the clock to figure out the puzzling case of a serial rapist that is hitting Nashville now. The Southern Strangler is crossing state lines, leaving dead bodies as well as leaving a memento that just as gruesome as it is puzzling. Along with her lover, FBI Profiler DR. John Baldwin, Taylor finds herself racing against the clock as another girl is taken and they pursue a vicious madman. But Taylor doesn’t know that TV personality Whitney Connolly is being sent messages from the killer and as she tries to figure out who it is and get the scoop of the century that will propel her into the big time; Whitney has no idea just how close this killer really is.
I just devoured ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and could not stop reading it. It was a fast paced thrill ride from start to finish. It had me glued to the pages as I tried to puzzle the clues out alongside Taylor and was shocked over who the killer was. The author does a bang up job in capturing Taylor’s frustration as the bodies rack up and the way this intelligent killer moves about. I loved meeting Taylor in a past book and was eager to delve into her series with gusto and I was not disappointed at all. The story flows quickly and smoothly with sprinkles of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat till the very end. The conclusion left me speechless but I don’t want to spoil to much if you haven’t read this book yet. All I can say is WOW! It’s quite a twisted and winding road of a story. We got a cast of characters that just flew off the pages, a storyline that kept my interest from start to finish and a mystery that just haunted me when I wasn’t reading the book.
This is a truly master storyteller that delivers a heroine that is complex as is vulnerable at times (though Taylor hates showing any weakness) and I loved the dynamics she has with other characters. The characters are diverse and intriguing on their own but put them together and you got a cast that will steal your hearty, leaving you aching for more. With the right amount of tension, suspense and a little romance to keep things interesting, the reader is treated to a story that will chill you to the bone yet you can’t help but fall in love with as well.
Now I am eager to read book two and get sucked into Taylor’s world in Nashville as she alongside her homicide squad and lover. If you are looking for a different kind of mystery and love to get pulled into a story that snags your imagination, then grab ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and fall into the story from page one. I look forward to seeing where this author goes for Taylor and company in future books.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement
I just devoured ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and could not stop reading it. It was a fast paced thrill ride from start to finish. It had me glued to the pages as I tried to puzzle the clues out alongside Taylor and was shocked over who the killer was. The author does a bang up job in capturing Taylor’s frustration as the bodies rack up and the way this intelligent killer moves about. I loved meeting Taylor in a past book and was eager to delve into her series with gusto and I was not disappointed at all. The story flows quickly and smoothly with sprinkles of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat till the very end. The conclusion left me speechless but I don’t want to spoil to much if you haven’t read this book yet. All I can say is WOW! It’s quite a twisted and winding road of a story. We got a cast of characters that just flew off the pages, a storyline that kept my interest from start to finish and a mystery that just haunted me when I wasn’t reading the book.
This is a truly master storyteller that delivers a heroine that is complex as is vulnerable at times (though Taylor hates showing any weakness) and I loved the dynamics she has with other characters. The characters are diverse and intriguing on their own but put them together and you got a cast that will steal your hearty, leaving you aching for more. With the right amount of tension, suspense and a little romance to keep things interesting, the reader is treated to a story that will chill you to the bone yet you can’t help but fall in love with as well.
Now I am eager to read book two and get sucked into Taylor’s world in Nashville as she alongside her homicide squad and lover. If you are looking for a different kind of mystery and love to get pulled into a story that snags your imagination, then grab ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS and fall into the story from page one. I look forward to seeing where this author goes for Taylor and company in future books.
This is an objective review and not an endorsement
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
lisa laughlin
This is a debut novel and the beginning if a series
The story opens in a Nashville summer, with the body count beginning to rise as a new serial killer makes his mark in the South. A pattern begins to emerge geographically, but more disturbing is the fact he removes the hands of his female victims and leaves them with the next body in his macabre spree. Taylor Jackson is a tough yet vulnerable Nashville homicide lieutenant who also happens to be in a relationship with an FBI man who is also on the case, John Baldwin.
As the killer's timetable accelerates, Taylor and Baldwin believe they are closing in on their man, even as a local reporter uncovers clues of her own. The intersection of their personal and professional lives will lead them to past secrets and the ultimate uncovering of the villain's identity.
I enjoyed it - and will definitely be reading the follow-up novels in this series
The story opens in a Nashville summer, with the body count beginning to rise as a new serial killer makes his mark in the South. A pattern begins to emerge geographically, but more disturbing is the fact he removes the hands of his female victims and leaves them with the next body in his macabre spree. Taylor Jackson is a tough yet vulnerable Nashville homicide lieutenant who also happens to be in a relationship with an FBI man who is also on the case, John Baldwin.
As the killer's timetable accelerates, Taylor and Baldwin believe they are closing in on their man, even as a local reporter uncovers clues of her own. The intersection of their personal and professional lives will lead them to past secrets and the ultimate uncovering of the villain's identity.
I enjoyed it - and will definitely be reading the follow-up novels in this series
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
rachael kipp
It was such a page turner....My first time read of this Aurthor and I must say won,t be my last, have bought the other 2 of the triolgy. Am so blessed my son came home to (Australia) with a Kindle fire for me
Please RateA Thrilling suspense novel (A Taylor Jackson Novel)