All the Pretty Girls (Taylor Jackson Series #1)

Reviewed for Midwest Book Review

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.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

I was surprised

I was very surprised by this book. It was one that I saw and downloaded on my nook to try. I got into it easy enough and was very surprised that I ended up liking it. I enjoyed the twists and turns and subplots.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Okay

This wwas an okaay read.. I figured the killer out in the first 30 pages

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

My Advice To You...Avoid At All Cost.

This book was really predictable, hard to finish, and had characters that were too perfect. The secondary case was the only interesting part of the book. I would only recommend this book to people I hate.

1 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

5 stars

It's the best book I've read in awhile. I couldn't put it down all the twists and turns. It's so exciting! This book grabs you and sucks you into it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

an interesting police procedural romance

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

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great book!

Teresa to myth

U wanna have some fun with me?

Great Read!

I had never read any of JT Ellison's works before this one. What a treat! Bought the second in the series, entitled "14." Can't wait!

Anonymous

I don't think I will be reading any more books by this author. I bought the book and read it from beginning to end, it just did'nt grab me. Way too many bodies, after a while, it was like I want to put this book down and not pick it up again. This book did'nt have any substance to it, way too many murders, it seems this is what this book was all about. UHG!

Best gift

This book was gifted to me by my awesome friend. I couldn't put it down. I'd find ways to sneak a few pages LoL. Will definitely continue the series.

Loved it

Couldnt put it down i had to know what was going to happen next! I liked all the twists and turns in it:) Will be buying more from this author!

Get Your Hands On This!

I received this in paperback as a free teaser for a book club. I loved it. It was creepy, creative, and kept me guessing. I was finding ways to sneak in time to read until I finished it, then hit the library for more by this author.

Great little crime thriller!

This was the debut novel for J. T. Ellison and I think she did a great job. The story revolves around Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her FBI profiler boyfriend John Baldwin. There are a couple of crimes that are followed in this book, one dealing with the Southern Strangler and the other dealing with the Rainman rapist. While the Rainman rapist is primarily using Nashville as his playground, the Southern Strangler is moving around the southern states, but Nashville is where he visits so Taylor and John Baldwin will end up working together to solve the case.

There were a lot of twists and turns to follow which will keep the mystery loving folks happy. The crime buff will like that, other than a couple of little things, the police procedural parts were good too.

I like mysteries that keep you guessing to the end, but that don't throw unbelievable stuff in just to throw you off. This book was good in that all the clues lead you to the conclusion. Although I was able to guess the who-done-it before the ending, the why-did-he-do-that was not something I could guess. Overall I think this was a great beginning to what I am sure will be an awesome series.

Highly recommend

Absolutely loved this story; couldn't put it down; hope this author comtinues to write'!

Awesome writing!

I stumbled upon this book thru a review from a writer that I also enjoy. I am so glad I found her, her stories are so well-written and the story lines hold you from the very first chapter. Taylor Jackson is a great character, I enjoy it being a southern girl who still has an education and not afraid to use it. I am looking forward to reading all the titles in this series.

Awesome....

A great suspence story. Hard to put down even when my eyes got tired! Comparable to the great writing of James Patterson!

Best Female Detectave Series

This is without a doubt the best series out there right now and yes I read alot, I got my nook for christmas and have already read 25 books on it. You can not beat the price on this book and it was well worth it. Before I finished this one I bought the whole series. I am only disapointed the next book wont be out until March

Loved it!!

Great book. Hard to put it down. Bought the 2nd one as soon as I finished this!!

A great read!

I truly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more by this author. The plot moves along at a nice pace and makes you want to know what happens next. The story is great, the characters are wonderful and I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good Serial Killer Thriller!