THE COLD ROOM

THE COLD ROOM
by J.T. Ellison
MIRA Books
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario M3B3K9
Canada
www.mirabooks.com
ISBN: 9780778327141

Due to restructuring of the Nashville Metro Police Department, homicide detective Taylor Jackson’s been demoted from her prior position of lieutenant. If that isn’t bad enough, she’s being pursued by a serial killer called the Pretender. Now another serial killer’s in Nashville, one who abducts young black women, starves them to death and, after performing necrophilia, poses them per scenes from famous paintings. It isn’t long before Jackson’s fiancé, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, connects Jackson’s serial killer to one he’s been investigating in Europe named the Conductor. Jackson and Baldwin team up with Scotland Yard detective James “Memphis” Highsmythe, and the chase is on as the three try to determine if they’re dealing with only one killer or perhaps two. As the investigation proceeds, Jackson’s trying not to be distracted by the chemistry between her and Highsmythe, which is unexpected and confusing, and her superior’s strange actions, which are hampering her efforts to investigate her case.

This fourth installment of the Taylor Jackson series is as suspenseful and intriguing as the first. This psychological thriller is gritty and realistic and filled with intense action. The chemistry between Jackson and Highsmythe, although not expected, is nicely delivered. Jackson’s a great character, a woman who’s tough mentally and physically but a real softy on the inside. The colorful backdrop of Nashville is a bonus to readers, as is Ellison’s intelligent writing.

ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS

ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
by J.T. Ellison
MIRA Books
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9
www.MIRABooks.com
ISBN: 9780778324430

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.