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Taylor Jackson #1
All The Pretty Girls
Some secrets should stay buried. 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 this story really is -- or what it will cost her. As the killer spirals out of control, everyone involved must face a horrible truth -- that the purest evil is born of private lies.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
1111 people are currently reading
19126 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Ellison
81 books6,859 followersJ.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker.
With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards They have also been optioned for television, and published in 28 countries.
J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, one of whom is a ghost, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards They have also been optioned for television, and published in 28 countries.
J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, one of whom is a ghost, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 793 reviews
April 6, 2017
This book is the first book in the Taylor Jackson Series.
I think this is a good start to the series. I loved the gritty ending and will be continuing this series.
Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is called to the scene of a homicide, where the body of a young woman, and 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. As the killer spirals out of control, everyone involved must face a horrible truth -- that the purest evil is born of private lies.
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.
I think this is a good start to the series. I loved the gritty ending and will be continuing this series.
Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is called to the scene of a homicide, where the body of a young woman, and 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. As the killer spirals out of control, everyone involved must face a horrible truth -- that the purest evil is born of private lies.
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.
March 29, 2016
I am the wrong audience for this book.
It's not that Ellison can't craft a good story. She can. However, that story involves a lot of rape and murder, which is not something I find enjoyable to read about. In the course of this book, 9 females are murdered, about 20 are raped - including two 12-year-old twin girls and a 7-year-old girl.
It's not that I feel Ellison is writing rape porn. She writes rape in the correct way - offscreen. And she doesn't go into details. I don't feel like she is glorifying or romanticizing rape (unlike that awful book The Windup Girl or other icky books that are thinly disguised rape porn.) Nevertheless, the fact that there is such a plethora of rapes in this books make me queasy. And everything revolves around the rapes and murders of women.
Taylor Jackson, police lieutenant, is a strong female character. She is gutsy and brave and I liked the fact that Ellison lets her handle herself and doesn't make her FBI boyfriend run in and save her all the time. She is fully able to take care of herself and I like that.
But then we have this gem about Taylor:
The woman loved food, though her metabolism was filled with jet fuel. She could eat anything and never gain a pound.
I am completely disturbed and also angered by authors' overwhelming need to not only make their female protagonists thin, but ALSO to reassure us that they eat like a horse, and enjoy junk food, and wolf down ice cream and hamburgers. But are still so thin! Because metabolism! *rolls eyes* Listen, I know exactly 3 women in real life who have an actual metabolism like this. Three. Out of the hundreds and perhaps thousands of women that I know. Yet 95% of heroines in mysteries, romances, paranormal and urban fantasies are blessed with this magical "super-metabolism." It's such bullshit. I'm sick of it. If she's a thin woman, there's a 95% chance that she works damn hard for that body. And you are doing no one any favors by perpetuating this myth that the woman can eat whatever her man eats and still weigh 100 pounds, or whatever. Unless she's doing an Olympian's share of exercise, that ain't happenin'. As much as people get annoyed with Susan Silverman for a variety of reasons, I am eternally thankful to Robert B. Parker for making it clear that she often eats only a salad and also goes running everyday in order to be the trim and tiny woman that men admire and lust after. RIP, Parker. You are missed.
The mystery is not that good. I figured out who the killer was on page 134 - 32% through the novel.
What else? The best parts of this novel are Taylor interacting with people around her or her boyfriend Baldwin doing the same. The scenes between Taylor and Baldwin, Taylor and her best friend Sam (Samantha), and Taylor and Baldwin's interactions with their teammates and partners on the case are very well-written. Ellison seems to really capture the behind-the-scenes police work and camaraderie between law enforcement officials. The hands-down best writing and scenes come when
But all the stuff about rape, murder, child-rape, and serial killing was skeeving me the hell out. I simply don't enjoy reading books that center on these topics.
It's not that Ellison can't craft a good story. She can. However, that story involves a lot of rape and murder, which is not something I find enjoyable to read about. In the course of this book, 9 females are murdered, about 20 are raped - including two 12-year-old twin girls and a 7-year-old girl.
It's not that I feel Ellison is writing rape porn. She writes rape in the correct way - offscreen. And she doesn't go into details. I don't feel like she is glorifying or romanticizing rape (unlike that awful book The Windup Girl or other icky books that are thinly disguised rape porn.) Nevertheless, the fact that there is such a plethora of rapes in this books make me queasy. And everything revolves around the rapes and murders of women.
Taylor Jackson, police lieutenant, is a strong female character. She is gutsy and brave and I liked the fact that Ellison lets her handle herself and doesn't make her FBI boyfriend run in and save her all the time. She is fully able to take care of herself and I like that.
But then we have this gem about Taylor:
The woman loved food, though her metabolism was filled with jet fuel. She could eat anything and never gain a pound.
I am completely disturbed and also angered by authors' overwhelming need to not only make their female protagonists thin, but ALSO to reassure us that they eat like a horse, and enjoy junk food, and wolf down ice cream and hamburgers. But are still so thin! Because metabolism! *rolls eyes* Listen, I know exactly 3 women in real life who have an actual metabolism like this. Three. Out of the hundreds and perhaps thousands of women that I know. Yet 95% of heroines in mysteries, romances, paranormal and urban fantasies are blessed with this magical "super-metabolism." It's such bullshit. I'm sick of it. If she's a thin woman, there's a 95% chance that she works damn hard for that body. And you are doing no one any favors by perpetuating this myth that the woman can eat whatever her man eats and still weigh 100 pounds, or whatever. Unless she's doing an Olympian's share of exercise, that ain't happenin'. As much as people get annoyed with Susan Silverman for a variety of reasons, I am eternally thankful to Robert B. Parker for making it clear that she often eats only a salad and also goes running everyday in order to be the trim and tiny woman that men admire and lust after. RIP, Parker. You are missed.
The mystery is not that good. I figured out who the killer was on page 134 - 32% through the novel.
What else? The best parts of this novel are Taylor interacting with people around her or her boyfriend Baldwin doing the same. The scenes between Taylor and Baldwin, Taylor and her best friend Sam (Samantha), and Taylor and Baldwin's interactions with their teammates and partners on the case are very well-written. Ellison seems to really capture the behind-the-scenes police work and camaraderie between law enforcement officials. The hands-down best writing and scenes come when
But all the stuff about rape, murder, child-rape, and serial killing was skeeving me the hell out. I simply don't enjoy reading books that center on these topics.
July 8, 2010
It feels like I've read this same book about fifty times before. Police procedural? Check. Romance between cop and broodingly handsome FBI agent? Check. Escalating serial killer targeting attractive young women? Check. Mysterious tragedy in main character's past? Check. Above elements rendered in droningly unoriginal fashion? Check.
J.T. Ellison's debut is competent, well-crafted by genre standards ... and utterly colorless. The writer's voice is flat, wholly without affect, and actually becomes a complacent drag on the story as it marches dutifully through its requisite paces to an utterly unsurprising finish. As another reviewer here pointed out, the identity of the killer was tipped about midway through — and feeling certain that I knew who it was and finding out that I wasn't wrong drained a lot of the pleasure out of discovering a new book in my genre of preference.
But, as stated above, I think a lot of this falls on the author's shoulders. Detective Taylor Jackson isn't well-developed as a character, and her quirks and history feel more like contrivances copped from other stories and less like the creation of an original, living, breathing being (like the most appealing and enduring protagonists in the genre, like Elvis Cole or Lucas Davenport). Same with FBI profiler John Baldwin, whose character also seems borrowed from Allison Brennan or Lisa Gardner or Lisa Scottoline or Lisa Unger or any of several dozen other suspense authors who travel the same territory. I didn't finish the book feeling the kind of bond with either of them that would make me want to get to know them better in the subsequent books in this series.
Also, I felt Nashville could have been more developed as a character. The book took an "inside baseball" approach to the city that made me, a non-Tennesseean, feel shut out of any understanding of the character, culture and color of the place.
I feel I've been too harsh here, but with so many good genre authors trying to mine original territory with original voices in original ways and failing to find traction in the publishing industry, it's depressing to see another paint-by-numbers procedural plod through the gates on a free pass. Now that J.T. Ellison is inside, I'd like to see her take some risks, forge her own voice and develop work of lasting value — as opposed to something that seems cynically calculated to mine the market of the moment.
J.T. Ellison's debut is competent, well-crafted by genre standards ... and utterly colorless. The writer's voice is flat, wholly without affect, and actually becomes a complacent drag on the story as it marches dutifully through its requisite paces to an utterly unsurprising finish. As another reviewer here pointed out, the identity of the killer was tipped about midway through — and feeling certain that I knew who it was and finding out that I wasn't wrong drained a lot of the pleasure out of discovering a new book in my genre of preference.
But, as stated above, I think a lot of this falls on the author's shoulders. Detective Taylor Jackson isn't well-developed as a character, and her quirks and history feel more like contrivances copped from other stories and less like the creation of an original, living, breathing being (like the most appealing and enduring protagonists in the genre, like Elvis Cole or Lucas Davenport). Same with FBI profiler John Baldwin, whose character also seems borrowed from Allison Brennan or Lisa Gardner or Lisa Scottoline or Lisa Unger or any of several dozen other suspense authors who travel the same territory. I didn't finish the book feeling the kind of bond with either of them that would make me want to get to know them better in the subsequent books in this series.
Also, I felt Nashville could have been more developed as a character. The book took an "inside baseball" approach to the city that made me, a non-Tennesseean, feel shut out of any understanding of the character, culture and color of the place.
I feel I've been too harsh here, but with so many good genre authors trying to mine original territory with original voices in original ways and failing to find traction in the publishing industry, it's depressing to see another paint-by-numbers procedural plod through the gates on a free pass. Now that J.T. Ellison is inside, I'd like to see her take some risks, forge her own voice and develop work of lasting value — as opposed to something that seems cynically calculated to mine the market of the moment.
July 12, 2014
Like a songwriter who writes his chorus before he discovers his verse, I rarely ever start a mystery/thriller series at the beginning. ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS is no exception to this rule; however, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed J.T. Ellison's debut novel. Sure, it’s easy to make the argument that this book was a bit formulaic at times, but unless you write literary fiction, what book isn’t? With only 20 plots (or 3 or 7 or 36, depending on whom you ask) to work with, it’s not like authors have an abundance of choices out there. What it really boils down to is character and storytelling ability. And I’d say Ms. Ellison has both in spades.
Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and Dr. John Baldwin made the story interesting for me, even if they weren’t quite fully-formed, and I gathered pages the way a squirrel might gather nuts. I was suspended and dangling, although I still had a firm grip on reality.
Even as I reached the end, I found myself wanting more, of these characters and of this city. But I didn’t find myself craving more dead bodies. All in all I’ll be interested to see where this series goes next.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and Dr. John Baldwin made the story interesting for me, even if they weren’t quite fully-formed, and I gathered pages the way a squirrel might gather nuts. I was suspended and dangling, although I still had a firm grip on reality.
Even as I reached the end, I found myself wanting more, of these characters and of this city. But I didn’t find myself craving more dead bodies. All in all I’ll be interested to see where this series goes next.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
September 4, 2012
After reading other reviews, i feel like i read a completely different book. The stereotypical characters just killed me from the very beginning; same as The Closer, James Patterson, etc. Blond cop, FBI boyfriend, BFFs w/ medical examiner, blah blah blah. I figured out the serial killer at the same time as the reporter. And was there an editor? I found myself rewriting some parts as i read them and inserting my own, more appropriate, vocab words in several places. I have never done that before. My favorite part was when Baldwin turns off the t.v., gets lost in his thoughts, hears his phone ring and then TURNS OFF THE TV before he answers. At one point the author ends a sentence with a preposition (maybe that's a little nit-picky, but piled on top of everything else, i just couldn't take it). There were so many other jarring errors, but i can't remember them right now. i probably blocked them from my memory.
This book was so poorly written and unoriginal that i am getting angry.
I only finished it b/c i was on public transportation and had nothing else to read.
This book was so poorly written and unoriginal that i am getting angry.
I only finished it b/c i was on public transportation and had nothing else to read.
July 24, 2017
I read Field of Graves (Book #8) first and really liked it. It was actually a prequel to this book so going from book #8 to book#1 in the Taylor Jackson series actually worked quite well.
However, if I had read this book first, I may not have chosen to read the series. All the pretty girls has an interesting plot but I felt like the character development was poor (I relied significantly on Field of Graves), the pace was excruciatingly slow, and the plot felt all over the place. There was the major plot of the girls turning up dead in another state and a secondary plot of a serial rapist. The secondary plot was to give the homicide department something to do, while the FBI worked on the serial killer case. It seemed like an unnecessary distraction to have Taylor's team work on something. Her team wasn't developed in this book and the case was conveniently solved. It seemed like filler. The plot line was the Baldwin working the serial killer plot and even this seemed choppy and the few facts seemed repetitive. There were lots of names and lots of places repeated a number of times. It didn't really create suspense.
From a personal development of the relationship between Taylor and her lover FBI profiler, John Baldwin standpoint, it was very slim so the their ending was surprising as they didn't spend any time together. A few interrupted telephone calls and thoughts don't develop a relationship. I'm a "less is better" kind of romantic suspense girl and even I thought this was too little. If you hadn't read Field of Graves, how would you even get their relationship?
Overall I was very disappointed. However, because I liked Field of Graves so much, I am going to give the next in the series a try, but not anytime soon.
However, if I had read this book first, I may not have chosen to read the series. All the pretty girls has an interesting plot but I felt like the character development was poor (I relied significantly on Field of Graves), the pace was excruciatingly slow, and the plot felt all over the place. There was the major plot of the girls turning up dead in another state and a secondary plot of a serial rapist. The secondary plot was to give the homicide department something to do, while the FBI worked on the serial killer case. It seemed like an unnecessary distraction to have Taylor's team work on something. Her team wasn't developed in this book and the case was conveniently solved. It seemed like filler. The plot line was the Baldwin working the serial killer plot and even this seemed choppy and the few facts seemed repetitive. There were lots of names and lots of places repeated a number of times. It didn't really create suspense.
From a personal development of the relationship between Taylor and her lover FBI profiler, John Baldwin standpoint, it was very slim so the their ending was surprising as they didn't spend any time together. A few interrupted telephone calls and thoughts don't develop a relationship. I'm a "less is better" kind of romantic suspense girl and even I thought this was too little. If you hadn't read Field of Graves, how would you even get their relationship?
Overall I was very disappointed. However, because I liked Field of Graves so much, I am going to give the next in the series a try, but not anytime soon.
November 25, 2017
I don't know how I went so long without starting this series. This book was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were great and I can't wait to read more of their stories. Needless to say, I will be continuing with book 2.
October 30, 2019
It was okay, just your basic murder mystery like an episode of series like CSI.
October 15, 2018
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
(Taylor Jackson: #1)
Written by J.T. Ellison
2007; Mira/Harlequin (411 Pages)
Genre: suspense, mystery, series, fiction, serial killers
RATING: 3.5 STARS
I have been wanting to read All the Pretty Girls since it first came out. I love the suspense books that Mira publishing puts out, so I bought this one without even reading the synopsis. Many moons later, I actually got to it when a friend suggested a buddy read.
Taylor Jackson, a Homicide Lieutenant in Nashville, is keeping her relationship with FBI profiler, John Baldwin a secret. They now find themselves involved in the same case. They are hunting a serial killer, The Southern Strangler who viciously kills women and leaves the former victim's severed hands as a clue. Also chasing the killer is journalist, Whitney Connolly. Is just steps away from breaking it big and she thinks this case will help her get there. Getting closer to the killer might just be her undoing.
If this was a standalone novel I would probably rate it lower as there are so many questions about Baldwin and Jackson. As a series I am willing to wait a few books for the characters to develop more. I am also hoping that we will see more development in their relationship too. In this book it wasn't as present. You could sense the chemistry but we just didn't get much passion. As we did not get much of character or romance development I thought the plot and suspense would be stronger. This book was a bit predictable but it was interesting to see where it went and how it would get resolved. The killer's identity became apparent a bit too early as there were several clues. I liked Taylor but John seems a more intriguing character, so I do hope we see more of him in the next several books. I gave this book a three instead of a four because it was a goo book but nothing exceptional.
My Novelesque Life
(Taylor Jackson: #1)
Written by J.T. Ellison
2007; Mira/Harlequin (411 Pages)
Genre: suspense, mystery, series, fiction, serial killers
RATING: 3.5 STARS
I have been wanting to read All the Pretty Girls since it first came out. I love the suspense books that Mira publishing puts out, so I bought this one without even reading the synopsis. Many moons later, I actually got to it when a friend suggested a buddy read.
Taylor Jackson, a Homicide Lieutenant in Nashville, is keeping her relationship with FBI profiler, John Baldwin a secret. They now find themselves involved in the same case. They are hunting a serial killer, The Southern Strangler who viciously kills women and leaves the former victim's severed hands as a clue. Also chasing the killer is journalist, Whitney Connolly. Is just steps away from breaking it big and she thinks this case will help her get there. Getting closer to the killer might just be her undoing.
If this was a standalone novel I would probably rate it lower as there are so many questions about Baldwin and Jackson. As a series I am willing to wait a few books for the characters to develop more. I am also hoping that we will see more development in their relationship too. In this book it wasn't as present. You could sense the chemistry but we just didn't get much passion. As we did not get much of character or romance development I thought the plot and suspense would be stronger. This book was a bit predictable but it was interesting to see where it went and how it would get resolved. The killer's identity became apparent a bit too early as there were several clues. I liked Taylor but John seems a more intriguing character, so I do hope we see more of him in the next several books. I gave this book a three instead of a four because it was a goo book but nothing exceptional.
My Novelesque Life
May 2, 2012
at the start of the book i found the characters to be lacking something.... not sure what but it made them boring to read about, but towards the end i started warming up to a couple of them.
this story was told from a mixture of POVs an a 3rd person narrator at times which made it pretty intense and gave the book decent depth and we got a little looksie into all the characters mind - which i thought was pretty cool.
the gore was decent, it didnt go over-board with it which i highly appreciate but there was a good amount.
the plot was incredible, i had an idea of who our "villain" was but then he tricked me into thinking someone else had committed the crimes, very trickster of him! but in the end the police caught him.
actually there might of been too many cases going on at once, i think they could of solved the case a lot ealier if the police were able to concentrate on one case as it was they tended to forget things or miss things.
oh and that dumb-ass Grimes, how on earth did he become an FBI agent?? he totally screwed up then he went and .
to me this book kinda felt like it should of been the second book in the series instead of the first... not 100% sure why i feel like that just do.
im pretty positive i'll be picking up the next book later on in the year.
this story was told from a mixture of POVs an a 3rd person narrator at times which made it pretty intense and gave the book decent depth and we got a little looksie into all the characters mind - which i thought was pretty cool.
the gore was decent, it didnt go over-board with it which i highly appreciate but there was a good amount.
the plot was incredible, i had an idea of who our "villain" was but then he tricked me into thinking someone else had committed the crimes, very trickster of him! but in the end the police caught him.
actually there might of been too many cases going on at once, i think they could of solved the case a lot ealier if the police were able to concentrate on one case as it was they tended to forget things or miss things.
oh and that dumb-ass Grimes, how on earth did he become an FBI agent?? he totally screwed up then he went and .
to me this book kinda felt like it should of been the second book in the series instead of the first... not 100% sure why i feel like that just do.
im pretty positive i'll be picking up the next book later on in the year.
March 22, 2018
It started a bit slow for me, but the second half had a great pace and I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.
Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and FBI profiler John Baldwin are on the hunt for a serial killer. Known as the Southern Strangler, he abducts young women, kills them and cuts off their hands. Then he dumps the bodies in a different state. And he is escalating, hardly giving anybody time to stop him.
What could be the motive?
Well, other than the fact that the story felt a little too long - which is due to the slow beginning - I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I can recommend this one to fans of police procedurals and those who are willing to stick with it until the end.
Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and FBI profiler John Baldwin are on the hunt for a serial killer. Known as the Southern Strangler, he abducts young women, kills them and cuts off their hands. Then he dumps the bodies in a different state. And he is escalating, hardly giving anybody time to stop him.
What could be the motive?
Well, other than the fact that the story felt a little too long - which is due to the slow beginning - I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I can recommend this one to fans of police procedurals and those who are willing to stick with it until the end.
July 10, 2017
All The Pretty Girls (Taylor Jackson, #1)
by J.T. Ellison
Romantic Suspense / Mystery / Thriller
Pretty disappointed with this one. The writing style was flat and storyline didn't grab my attention. Just when things started to get interesting, there was a switch of pov and it started to drag again. The characters lacked depth and I could not connect with any of them. Expected more from this story but it fell flat. Nothing new nor suprising. There are much better books in this genre.
by J.T. Ellison
Romantic Suspense / Mystery / Thriller
Pretty disappointed with this one. The writing style was flat and storyline didn't grab my attention. Just when things started to get interesting, there was a switch of pov and it started to drag again. The characters lacked depth and I could not connect with any of them. Expected more from this story but it fell flat. Nothing new nor suprising. There are much better books in this genre.
April 22, 2017
This was my first time reading a JT Ellison book and I was not disappointed. Taylor is a rough, tough Lieutenant for Nashville homicide. Her current case is that of serial rapist who comes to her town to commit his wicked crime. Taylor gets to team up with her boy toy, Baldwin, to track and bring this killer to justice before he disappears. Awesome read! Defiantly recommend!!
June 15, 2018
"'No, please don’t.'
Hear these words, and dream of hell."
That quote is more interesting than the entire novel. I'm nodding off a I'm typing this right now.
Girls have been dying in the South. Taylor Jackson and her boyfriend John Baldwin don't know why or how or who, but they're determined to find out.
And.... that's it folks.
Honestly, this book was absolutely nothing new. At first I thought it was because I might be just a tad burned out with mystery/thrillers since I've been reading so many of them lately. However, after looking at other reviews of this book, it seems to be that it's not just me. I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing to find out.
The author clearly stated in several interviews that what got her started with mystery writing and the inspirations for this novel included James Patterson and John Sandford, among others. However, there's a difference between being influenced by and following that blueprint to the letter. And this book didn't do anything to stand out from the pack. I was honestly so bored from reading this book that I had a hard time staying awake while reading this. I didn't even want to bother to get to the ending and see who the culprit was. And when I did find out, it was very lackluster.
Another problem this book had was the general plot and narration. Good heavens, this novel was all over the darn place! The action kept jumping back and forth between multiple different events, so it was hard to keep close track on things because it kept switching from one scene to the next without much time to catch a breath.
This is the author's first book and I hate to say it, but it clearly shows. A paint by numbers mystery with both an uncompelling mystery and uncompelling characters driving the story. While it's not horrible by any means, it's a very basic mystery that offers nothing new and exciting to veterans of the genre or anything interesting and insightful to those new to the mystery genre.
Now if y'all will excuse me, I need a nap.
Hear these words, and dream of hell."
That quote is more interesting than the entire novel. I'm nodding off a I'm typing this right now.
Girls have been dying in the South. Taylor Jackson and her boyfriend John Baldwin don't know why or how or who, but they're determined to find out.
And.... that's it folks.
Honestly, this book was absolutely nothing new. At first I thought it was because I might be just a tad burned out with mystery/thrillers since I've been reading so many of them lately. However, after looking at other reviews of this book, it seems to be that it's not just me. I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing to find out.
The author clearly stated in several interviews that what got her started with mystery writing and the inspirations for this novel included James Patterson and John Sandford, among others. However, there's a difference between being influenced by and following that blueprint to the letter. And this book didn't do anything to stand out from the pack. I was honestly so bored from reading this book that I had a hard time staying awake while reading this. I didn't even want to bother to get to the ending and see who the culprit was. And when I did find out, it was very lackluster.
Another problem this book had was the general plot and narration. Good heavens, this novel was all over the darn place! The action kept jumping back and forth between multiple different events, so it was hard to keep close track on things because it kept switching from one scene to the next without much time to catch a breath.
This is the author's first book and I hate to say it, but it clearly shows. A paint by numbers mystery with both an uncompelling mystery and uncompelling characters driving the story. While it's not horrible by any means, it's a very basic mystery that offers nothing new and exciting to veterans of the genre or anything interesting and insightful to those new to the mystery genre.
Now if y'all will excuse me, I need a nap.
July 14, 2008
CONTAINS SPOILERS
This was the strangest book I have read in a while. I am not usually picky when it comes to police procedurals (whether the author gets them right or not) but there were a couple of glaring ones that just about made me want to quit the book. One was when Taylor was discussing with fellow officers about the best approach to telling the media about Whitney's death. Now what pissed me off was that there was no way this would EVER happen before NOK was notified.
This was the most glaring error, but there were enough minor moments like these peppered all through the story that I couldn't not notice them (if you know what I mean). Like the secretary who glared at her boss, when he simply told her that would be all. What's up with that? That's what bosses tell a secretary.
I knew who the perpetrator was about 1/2 way into the book, but not why until the end. So in this way the author kept me going. There were also enough moments of great writing throughout the book, that I wanted to find out what happens at the end. The romance was....already set so there was no build up and no chemistry.
The biggest no-no for me was that I did not connect in any way with any of the characters in the book. I just couldn't get a handle on either Taylor or Baldwin. I would just start to feel I liked either of them and then something else would piss me off.
After saying all this, I will read her next one. There is just something about the author that kept me reading. Go figure!!!
This was the strangest book I have read in a while. I am not usually picky when it comes to police procedurals (whether the author gets them right or not) but there were a couple of glaring ones that just about made me want to quit the book. One was when Taylor was discussing with fellow officers about the best approach to telling the media about Whitney's death. Now what pissed me off was that there was no way this would EVER happen before NOK was notified.
This was the most glaring error, but there were enough minor moments like these peppered all through the story that I couldn't not notice them (if you know what I mean). Like the secretary who glared at her boss, when he simply told her that would be all. What's up with that? That's what bosses tell a secretary.
I knew who the perpetrator was about 1/2 way into the book, but not why until the end. So in this way the author kept me going. There were also enough moments of great writing throughout the book, that I wanted to find out what happens at the end. The romance was....already set so there was no build up and no chemistry.
The biggest no-no for me was that I did not connect in any way with any of the characters in the book. I just couldn't get a handle on either Taylor or Baldwin. I would just start to feel I liked either of them and then something else would piss me off.
After saying all this, I will read her next one. There is just something about the author that kept me reading. Go figure!!!
September 13, 2017
Great cover. Interesting premise. Lots of good reviews.
Horrible book.
I hated All The Pretty Girls. Not because it was gory — that didn't bother me, and in fact, it wasn't nearly as gory as some previous reviews made it out to be (although the descriptions of maggots were cringeworthy). Not because it was more than a little cliche. Not because it was repetitive, and characters were constantly repeating their discoveries in great detail to other characters and reading those damn poems aloud, over and over (though that was a contributing factor). Not because every other sentence was a run-on (albeit it was a huge distraction...Ever heard of a semicolon, J.T.? Editors? The word "and"?) Not because I was bored for about 85% of the book (though, again, a contributing factor).
No. I hated it because...
Because the characters were so flat and unrealistic it's downright laughable—and I didn't give a rat's patootie about any of them. Tell me if you've ever heard of any of these: A hot-shot woman cop who's the first/youngest/prettiest/most accomplished/female cop who's ever done (fill in the blank), and has a team of men reporting to her. (Castle, anyone?) A handsome, accomplished FBI agent who takes over cases and irritates local police. (Every cop show ever?) A pretty, young, floofy receptionist who flirts with the handsome, accomplished FBI agent; rolls her eyes at her domineering male boss; and then reveals a deep, dark secret with tears in her eyes seconds later. Bloodthirsty reporters who only care about getting the story and becoming famous, no matter how many people they hurt along the way. Etc. etc. etc.
I could not have cared less for any of them. I felt no chemistry between Taylor and Baldwin, and their ending was something straight out of a romance novel—so out of character that it actually pissed me off. I laughed out loud about the fatal car accident. I lost count of how many times one character would refer to another character by name in the space of one conversation. I rolled my eyes at the fact that Baldwin could immediately name not only the poet but the name of the poem for each and every note the killer left behind. It was completely unbelievable that Betsy was more concerned with how she would look to her fellow detectives if they found out that she'd been raped by a perp than the fact that she had just been violated in one of the most violent and horrifying ways anyone can be violated. And the worst part about the suicide was how the sheriff described it as "a little accident." ("Oh, I'm sorry, you can't talk to him now—he's blown his brains out—but can I take a message?" Really??)
Because it was full of pointlessness. What was the point of Taylor's pregnancy scare? (And by the way, I lost what little respect I had for her when she immediately got drunk and smoked a bunch of cigarettes after talking to her doctor.) What was the point of the Rainman? What was the point of DA Page and the drug dealer who bribed a judge? What was the point of spending four pages on the structure of the Nashville Police Department? If you, as an author, don't have enough of a story to fill an entire novel, then that's a problem you need to fix by fleshing out the plot—not by adding in a bunch of irrelevant side stories and dumping extraneous information that distract from the main conflict.
Because of how backstories were handled. Taylor hints at a life-threatening incident that happened previously, but we never actually find out what happened. Meanwhile, we learn everything there is to know about characters that are about to be killed off. Which do you think is more important: The reason why the main character almost died not too long ago and how it's affecting her life today, or the fact that one of the victims is an asthmatic Italian girl?
Because of the endless head hopping. You can't give one scene to a character and then kill them off. Why bother giving us another perspective and getting the reader to care about that person (or should I say, trying to get her to care) if they're going to die in the middle of the scene...and then summarize it to another character in the next scene? This is a) repetitive, b) pointless, and c) wasting the time you should be spending showing your readers why they should care about your main characters.
The only reason I gave a second star is because I did want to know the killer's motivation (not enough to continue reading page by page; I actually skimmed the last quarter of the book), and there was a decent twist at the end. Obviously some people were impressed by this book, based on all the four-star reviews, but I wasn't one of them. Y'all can keep reading J.T. Ellison; I'm moving on to greener (more exciting, less stereotypical, better edited, twistier) pastures.
Horrible book.
I hated All The Pretty Girls. Not because it was gory — that didn't bother me, and in fact, it wasn't nearly as gory as some previous reviews made it out to be (although the descriptions of maggots were cringeworthy). Not because it was more than a little cliche. Not because it was repetitive, and characters were constantly repeating their discoveries in great detail to other characters and reading those damn poems aloud, over and over (though that was a contributing factor). Not because every other sentence was a run-on (albeit it was a huge distraction...Ever heard of a semicolon, J.T.? Editors? The word "and"?) Not because I was bored for about 85% of the book (though, again, a contributing factor).
No. I hated it because...
Because the characters were so flat and unrealistic it's downright laughable—and I didn't give a rat's patootie about any of them. Tell me if you've ever heard of any of these: A hot-shot woman cop who's the first/youngest/prettiest/most accomplished/female cop who's ever done (fill in the blank), and has a team of men reporting to her. (Castle, anyone?) A handsome, accomplished FBI agent who takes over cases and irritates local police. (Every cop show ever?) A pretty, young, floofy receptionist who flirts with the handsome, accomplished FBI agent; rolls her eyes at her domineering male boss; and then reveals a deep, dark secret with tears in her eyes seconds later. Bloodthirsty reporters who only care about getting the story and becoming famous, no matter how many people they hurt along the way. Etc. etc. etc.
I could not have cared less for any of them. I felt no chemistry between Taylor and Baldwin, and their ending was something straight out of a romance novel—so out of character that it actually pissed me off. I laughed out loud about the fatal car accident. I lost count of how many times one character would refer to another character by name in the space of one conversation. I rolled my eyes at the fact that Baldwin could immediately name not only the poet but the name of the poem for each and every note the killer left behind. It was completely unbelievable that Betsy was more concerned with how she would look to her fellow detectives if they found out that she'd been raped by a perp than the fact that she had just been violated in one of the most violent and horrifying ways anyone can be violated. And the worst part about the suicide was how the sheriff described it as "a little accident." ("Oh, I'm sorry, you can't talk to him now—he's blown his brains out—but can I take a message?" Really??)
Because it was full of pointlessness. What was the point of Taylor's pregnancy scare? (And by the way, I lost what little respect I had for her when she immediately got drunk and smoked a bunch of cigarettes after talking to her doctor.) What was the point of the Rainman? What was the point of DA Page and the drug dealer who bribed a judge? What was the point of spending four pages on the structure of the Nashville Police Department? If you, as an author, don't have enough of a story to fill an entire novel, then that's a problem you need to fix by fleshing out the plot—not by adding in a bunch of irrelevant side stories and dumping extraneous information that distract from the main conflict.
Because of how backstories were handled. Taylor hints at a life-threatening incident that happened previously, but we never actually find out what happened. Meanwhile, we learn everything there is to know about characters that are about to be killed off. Which do you think is more important: The reason why the main character almost died not too long ago and how it's affecting her life today, or the fact that one of the victims is an asthmatic Italian girl?
Because of the endless head hopping. You can't give one scene to a character and then kill them off. Why bother giving us another perspective and getting the reader to care about that person (or should I say, trying to get her to care) if they're going to die in the middle of the scene...and then summarize it to another character in the next scene? This is a) repetitive, b) pointless, and c) wasting the time you should be spending showing your readers why they should care about your main characters.
The only reason I gave a second star is because I did want to know the killer's motivation (not enough to continue reading page by page; I actually skimmed the last quarter of the book), and there was a decent twist at the end. Obviously some people were impressed by this book, based on all the four-star reviews, but I wasn't one of them. Y'all can keep reading J.T. Ellison; I'm moving on to greener (more exciting, less stereotypical, better edited, twistier) pastures.
December 10, 2022
c2007. Thrillers are not normally my genre of choice - but it was **personally** recommended to me by GR so I obediently checked it out. Oh, so bland, unoriginal and I am not even sure if it was a thriller. I am getting very tired of uber attractive (but self deprecating), haunted, long blonde haired heroines. And another cop falling in love with FBI colleague - does this ever happen or is it like the old Mills and Boon chestnut of doctors and nurses? Baldwin remembered how his heart skipped a beat, revving in anticipation. His senses went on high alert. Grimes wasn’t calling him on his own accord, he’d been instructed to do so by a higher up. He had dropped the niceties as well.. The comment on the front cover is a quote by Lee Childs stating "Terrific suspense, terrific twists." I was wondering if it was referring to the same book I read but then noticed in the acknowledgments that Lee Childs was cited as a ITW mentor. Not being in the writers stratosphere, I had to look up ITW and found out it was a website "Information and news about reading, writing and publishing thrillers from the professional thriller writers' association". I feel another Hmmm coming on! FWFTB: sadistic, hand, Nashville, horrible, secrets. FCN: Taylor Jackson, Whitney Connolly, John Baldwin, Pete Fitzgerald, Jake Buckley. "She stood over the body, drinking in the scene. Her blond hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, her long body casting grotesque muted shadows in the high grass."
January 29, 2010
This is J.T. Ellison's first novel, though you'd never know it. Ellison writes likes she's got a string of bestsellers behind her.
I found the characters interesting and believable, with little human quirks that brought them to life. The plot kept me guessing and turning pages. While this was a story about tracking a serial killer, there was not the usual blood and gore that tends to come with this genre. There was also not a lot of cursing. Ellison holds the reader's attention with character development and intrigue, rather than a lot of gory details.
All The Pretty Girls is the first book in Ellison's Taylor Jackson series. If you're looking for a new mystery/suspense series that will keep you on the edge without totally creeping you out, this one's for you.
I found the characters interesting and believable, with little human quirks that brought them to life. The plot kept me guessing and turning pages. While this was a story about tracking a serial killer, there was not the usual blood and gore that tends to come with this genre. There was also not a lot of cursing. Ellison holds the reader's attention with character development and intrigue, rather than a lot of gory details.
All The Pretty Girls is the first book in Ellison's Taylor Jackson series. If you're looking for a new mystery/suspense series that will keep you on the edge without totally creeping you out, this one's for you.
May 3, 2019
It was a good book, and if there was a checklist for a decent crime novel this book probably hit every single box.
As per Goodreads stars, I liked it. The book sorta kept me engaged, though for a better part of the story I was hoping I'd magically learn to read faster so that I could speed up the reading process. But alas, that did not happen.
The characters were fine and dandy. Each had their own little backstory, (the main characters, not so much) which each contributed to the plot. There wasn't a lot extra that was needed to the plot. Plus there.
The characters, unlike most thriller/crime fiction, also weren't horrible. Which was great. But then again I wasn't entirely drawn to any of the characters. And did I think that between Baldwin and Jackson one loved the other more? Yes. (PS. it was Baldwin). But that's a bit of side commentary and usually happens in any relationship anyways.
So the characters weren't interesting enough to keep me wanting to keep going back to the story. Though at parts there were some interesting tidbits. Albeit a little predictable, given the way Ellison lined up the evidence.
The mystery itself was pretty good. Though, the killer basically finished his task, and killed as many girls as he had planned to, they managed to get him. So that was good.....
There were a few twists, and the major one, I smelt a mile away. So I had a fairly good idea of who the culprit was.
So the plot kept me semi-engaged.
But I think what most impressed me about this book was the way it was written. From the second chapter I was already getting the feeling that the author wasn't writing in the cut and dry format that most thriller authors tend to adopt, which very sets the author up to create sentences with double meaning and include a couple of twists. (Though, I must admit, if an author is able to write in such a cut and dry format, YET manage to put in a couple of twists, I am amazed).
Summary:
Good book.
As per Goodreads stars, I liked it. The book sorta kept me engaged, though for a better part of the story I was hoping I'd magically learn to read faster so that I could speed up the reading process. But alas, that did not happen.
The characters were fine and dandy. Each had their own little backstory, (the main characters, not so much) which each contributed to the plot. There wasn't a lot extra that was needed to the plot. Plus there.
The characters, unlike most thriller/crime fiction, also weren't horrible. Which was great. But then again I wasn't entirely drawn to any of the characters. And did I think that between Baldwin and Jackson one loved the other more? Yes. (PS. it was Baldwin). But that's a bit of side commentary and usually happens in any relationship anyways.
So the characters weren't interesting enough to keep me wanting to keep going back to the story. Though at parts there were some interesting tidbits. Albeit a little predictable, given the way Ellison lined up the evidence.
The mystery itself was pretty good. Though, the killer basically finished his task, and killed as many girls as he had planned to, they managed to get him. So that was good.....
There were a few twists, and the major one, I smelt a mile away. So I had a fairly good idea of who the culprit was.
So the plot kept me semi-engaged.
But I think what most impressed me about this book was the way it was written. From the second chapter I was already getting the feeling that the author wasn't writing in the cut and dry format that most thriller authors tend to adopt, which very sets the author up to create sentences with double meaning and include a couple of twists. (Though, I must admit, if an author is able to write in such a cut and dry format, YET manage to put in a couple of twists, I am amazed).
Summary:
Good book.
September 15, 2018
Really well put together thriller, if a bit gory and violent (yes, I *know*.... It's a thriller). I followed along almost exactly with the way the author wants you to believe things are going to play out, and therefore thought I knew whodunit, but was wrong, and then was right, and then was still surprised. All without feeling like she had played me for a fool. Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is a great character to root for. I'm a fan.
February 19, 2017
It was an okay read. I wasn't impressed as much as I thought I would be as the story sounded great. It seemed to get started off with a bang, but then it just fizzled out for me and I became bored with it. Two stars for effort on this one.
July 2, 2021
Rating: 4.5
If you like your thrillers fast paced, bloody, disturbing, and with a high body count, then this is definitely one for you!
I’ve been in a huge reading slump recently (I’ve been getting a bit too addicted to drama series) but I managed to finish this book in under 24 hours, it was so freaking addictive! There wasn’t a single dull moment, and I was genuinely shocked by some of the plot developments, which is saying quite a lot.
Taylor and Baldwin were cute but they’re not entirely my cup of tea, I’m too much of a sucker for the bickering opposites-attract trope when it comes to crime fighting duos. (See: Bones, Castle, Lucifer, etc.) Whitney was the character who I found the most interesting, probably because she reminded me a bit of NBC Hannibal’s Freddie. Quinn didn’t particularly stick out to me early on, but I liked her more and more as the story went on.
The identity of the culprit was made far too obvious far too early for my liking, but this could just be because of my overfamiliarity with the genre. That being said, I didn’t actually figure out the whydunnit until much later, a crucial part of the story, so it still remained an intriguing mystery for the majority of the book.
This book was an absolutely wild ride, I’ll definitely be reading more from this series and from this author!
If you like your thrillers fast paced, bloody, disturbing, and with a high body count, then this is definitely one for you!
I’ve been in a huge reading slump recently (I’ve been getting a bit too addicted to drama series) but I managed to finish this book in under 24 hours, it was so freaking addictive! There wasn’t a single dull moment, and I was genuinely shocked by some of the plot developments, which is saying quite a lot.
Taylor and Baldwin were cute but they’re not entirely my cup of tea, I’m too much of a sucker for the bickering opposites-attract trope when it comes to crime fighting duos. (See: Bones, Castle, Lucifer, etc.) Whitney was the character who I found the most interesting, probably because she reminded me a bit of NBC Hannibal’s Freddie. Quinn didn’t particularly stick out to me early on, but I liked her more and more as the story went on.
The identity of the culprit was made far too obvious far too early for my liking, but this could just be because of my overfamiliarity with the genre. That being said, I didn’t actually figure out the whydunnit until much later, a crucial part of the story, so it still remained an intriguing mystery for the majority of the book.
This book was an absolutely wild ride, I’ll definitely be reading more from this series and from this author!
July 24, 2017
This book was an experience, and not in a good way. Before I say the bad I will say the plot kept me reading, so the basic concept of a murderer killing in one state and dropping the body, sans hands, in another was pretty good. But, as I read the book I kept thinking that maybe this was the middle of a series. The author keeps referring to things that have happened in Sheriff Jackson's past that me as a reader has no frame of reference.
The characters are not fleshed out leaving them as cardboard cutouts. I have no idea what Baldwin sees in Taylor Jackson and vice versa. I couldn't feel Whitney's hunger for being the top reporter so much that she was willing to keep her information to herself allowing more girls, ages 18-early 20's to die. I'm guessing the author was trying to get his readers hooked on the plot, rather than the making you feel something for the characters. This doesn't work for me.
Ellison mucked up the story by throwing in a rapist and a criminal that may have either bought off or threatened the jury, witnesses or judge. None of this has anything to do with the plot and it seemed like minutia.
Finally, one of the things that really irritates me is that neither the police nor the FBI think to even ask about surveillance cameras. This book was written in 2007 and the setting is the present day. Even 10 years ago there was a lot of surveillance cameras. One girl was taken outside a library. One was killed inside a motel. I hate when me as a reader can think of these things, but supposedly the professional crime fighters don't. It doesn't work for me to think it is only a story. I want it to be accurate.
The characters are not fleshed out leaving them as cardboard cutouts. I have no idea what Baldwin sees in Taylor Jackson and vice versa. I couldn't feel Whitney's hunger for being the top reporter so much that she was willing to keep her information to herself allowing more girls, ages 18-early 20's to die. I'm guessing the author was trying to get his readers hooked on the plot, rather than the making you feel something for the characters. This doesn't work for me.
Ellison mucked up the story by throwing in a rapist and a criminal that may have either bought off or threatened the jury, witnesses or judge. None of this has anything to do with the plot and it seemed like minutia.
Finally, one of the things that really irritates me is that neither the police nor the FBI think to even ask about surveillance cameras. This book was written in 2007 and the setting is the present day. Even 10 years ago there was a lot of surveillance cameras. One girl was taken outside a library. One was killed inside a motel. I hate when me as a reader can think of these things, but supposedly the professional crime fighters don't. It doesn't work for me to think it is only a story. I want it to be accurate.
March 31, 2021
I thought when the book started I would be completely engrossed in it. However, it just got worse and worse the further I read. For starters, there are too many things going on for a series debut. The main story revolves around a serial murderer called The Southern Strangler. He’s moving from state to state, killing young women, chopping off her hands, and leaving one hand at the site of his next victim. If Ellison had just stuck with that case, giving more details and strengthening the plots, it would have been so much better. But, there is also The Rainman, a serial rapist on the loose, and another case the Nashville ADA wants help investigating. None of the storylines come together, all completely separate. This is something a reader would see in a later sequel to an established series.
What really bothered me as I continued to read is the writing got much sloppier. Less details, and the detectives didn’t act and speak like what you’d see in the real world. For instance, when they’re scrambling to a scene or get important information that could be a big break, the two main characters, lovers, have thoughts of jumping into bed. I would think in real life, the adrenaline of being on the heels of a killer would keep the sexual thoughts on the back burner.
I don’t think I’ll be rushing out to buy any additional books from this series.
What really bothered me as I continued to read is the writing got much sloppier. Less details, and the detectives didn’t act and speak like what you’d see in the real world. For instance, when they’re scrambling to a scene or get important information that could be a big break, the two main characters, lovers, have thoughts of jumping into bed. I would think in real life, the adrenaline of being on the heels of a killer would keep the sexual thoughts on the back burner.
I don’t think I’ll be rushing out to buy any additional books from this series.
May 14, 2013
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!
September 11, 2011
Loved this book. Loved Taylor...the main character...loved the southern setting...loved the creepy serial killer plot in this first book.
It is different from other mysteries...sort of refreshing in a serial killer with tons of subplots kind of way...lots of surprises...lots and lots of mystery.
Taylor is the strong savvy detective who can handle almost anything. She is recovering from an almost deadly attack...although this seemed to have happened in another book but I think that All The Pretty Girls is the first book in this series.
I actually began reading another J.T.Ellison book prior to this one but when I discovered that it was written after this one I stopped it to read this one. I personally needed the character background and descriptions that this book provided for me.
I will read them all because I loved this book but I need to read them in order.
Again...if you love Simon Beckett or Elizabeth George or Carla Neggers...you will most likely love this author and this series.
It is different from other mysteries...sort of refreshing in a serial killer with tons of subplots kind of way...lots of surprises...lots and lots of mystery.
Taylor is the strong savvy detective who can handle almost anything. She is recovering from an almost deadly attack...although this seemed to have happened in another book but I think that All The Pretty Girls is the first book in this series.
I actually began reading another J.T.Ellison book prior to this one but when I discovered that it was written after this one I stopped it to read this one. I personally needed the character background and descriptions that this book provided for me.
I will read them all because I loved this book but I need to read them in order.
Again...if you love Simon Beckett or Elizabeth George or Carla Neggers...you will most likely love this author and this series.
December 30, 2021
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS is the fifth book in my alphabetical author challenge. I absolutely love J.T. Ellison and her stand alone books, so I was excited to start this series.
This was a great police procedural. Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is busy working the Southern Strangler case, which overlaps with that of her FBI profiler boyfriend. She’s also trying to find a serial rapist plaguing the area. As the duo work their case, an ambitious local TV reporter thinks she has the inside track on solving it.
I really liked Jackson—she was no nonsense, but also an interesting and multifaceted character. The book keeps you guessing but without gimmicks and tricks. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series. 3.5 stars.
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This was a great police procedural. Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is busy working the Southern Strangler case, which overlaps with that of her FBI profiler boyfriend. She’s also trying to find a serial rapist plaguing the area. As the duo work their case, an ambitious local TV reporter thinks she has the inside track on solving it.
I really liked Jackson—she was no nonsense, but also an interesting and multifaceted character. The book keeps you guessing but without gimmicks and tricks. I quite enjoyed it and look forward to the next book in the series. 3.5 stars.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
November 12, 2011
I thought the murder case, while graphic, was extremely interesting. About halfway through the book, I had my suspects down to two and the author does a great job of providing relevant clues that give you a shot at figuring it out. The case work was presented without being overly procedural and was interesting.
This being the first of the Taylor Jackson series, I expected more in the way of character development and definition. There are a lot of details about the main characters but the book lacked depth in this area, or at least what I've come to expect to connect with a series. The romance between Taylor and John hits low on that meter as well.
I recommend reading this book because it's a really good mystery and a very good read. I plan to read the second book in the hope that I learn more about Taylor Jackson and John Baldwin and find the connection to keep me in the series. I'd rate this 3.5 stars.
This being the first of the Taylor Jackson series, I expected more in the way of character development and definition. There are a lot of details about the main characters but the book lacked depth in this area, or at least what I've come to expect to connect with a series. The romance between Taylor and John hits low on that meter as well.
I recommend reading this book because it's a really good mystery and a very good read. I plan to read the second book in the hope that I learn more about Taylor Jackson and John Baldwin and find the connection to keep me in the series. I'd rate this 3.5 stars.
October 20, 2011
I thought this book was just OK. It took more than half of it to become interesting enough to really want to continue with it, but at the same time that point was where it became totally predictable and I saw the end coming. There was only one thing I didn't guess right away but I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone else to read. It took me over 2 weeks to get through it and for a short paperback, that is a lot of time.
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July 31, 2017I loved this book, great characters. I hope to read more of this series. If you love thrillers, you'll like this one.
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