Nashville, Tennessee and Quantico, Virginia - Present Day
Once upon a time a queen wished for a child as white as snow, with lips as red as blood and hair as black as ebony. Her wish was granted in little Snow White.
Many years later, another wished to see that vision come to pass. His canvas was the city of Nashville, and his brush was a sharp knife. The Snow White killer terrorized the city during the mid-1980’s only to retire from the scene after committing ten murders, saying his work was finished.
But now the killing has started again, and the citizens of Nashville are wondering why the dark fairytale has come back to life. Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson has a theory; this Snow White killer may really be just another copycat, though admittedly, a far superior version to the “normal” ones. It’s almost as if his hand is being guided by the original. A monster (or monsters) is loose in Nashville, and it’s Taylor’s job to catch him. With the help of her fiancé, John Baldwin (a forensic psychiatrist who works with the FBI), her crack investigative team, and some of the men involved in the original Snow White case, she just may do it. But, how many women will die until then?
14 features a woman who exhibits many traits today’s woman can appreciate (though the ability to handle all the blood and horror may not be a trait they’d all share). Taylor is brave, stubborn, and a dedicated cop. She’s also determined to catch Snow White, a task many women would shun. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing she fears. For instance, her big white wedding to John that’s supposed to happen in five short days. Taylor’s thinking maybe it should be put off. Her love for John (and his for her) seems real enough, but this cop just may not be ready. And, really, who can blame her for wanting to concentrate on Snow White? After all, fourteen are already dead, and more women are certain to die. Can Snow White be brought to justice, or is this fairy tale destined to have an unhappy ending?
The list of secondary characters who help bring 14 to life is long and varied. Taylor’s fiancé, John, is certainly important, and his expertise, as well as his contacts in the FBI, is certain to come in handy during the hunt. Dr. Charlotte Douglas, a profiler for the FBI, may also be a help; then again, as John’s former lover, she may be more of a hindrance than anything else. Frank Richardson is a reporter who covered the Snow White case extensively in the ‘80’s, and his help will be invaluable. Martin Kimball, retired homicide detective, was in charge of the original case; he too is eager to assist in any way he can. Lincoln Ross (computer guru), Peter “Fitz” Fitzgerald (Taylor’s second in command), and Marcus Wade complete Taylor’s team. Dr. Samantha Loughley is a medical examiner in Nashville as well as Taylor’s best friend. Together, all of these people, along with many I can’t mention here, will help Taylor bring Nashville to living, breathing, life.
Though this is the second Taylor Jackson novel (ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS came out in November 2007), the author has created a story that stands completely on its own. Thrills and chills, unexpected twists and turns, and enough scary bits to keep you awake long into the night make 14 a sure-fire winner. Don’t miss it.
Lori Ann
August 31, 2008
Romance Reviews Today Reviews 14
Romance Reviews Today
Bookpage Review of 14
Who's the fairest killer of them all?
REVIEW BY JAMES NEAL WEBB
In 14, J. T. Ellison's nail-biting sequel to her debut novel, All the Pretty Girls, Nashville Police Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is once again trying to balance her personal and professional lives. She's planning a Christmastime wedding with her fiance, the FBI profiler-at-large John Baldwin, but it seems that a couple of killers, plus the biggest snowstorm Music City has seen in decades, are conspiring to keep that from happening.
Murder is the same all over, and for Nashville Homicide it's definitely deja vu, because a serial killer is on the loose and all indications point to the return of a maniac who terrorized the city two decades before. The Snow White Killer is back--or is he? The bodies are the same: young women, with long black hair, pale complexions and slashed throats. Still, there are enough differences between the past and present murders to make the case even more puzzling. If this isn't the Snow White Killer, how does he (or she) know so much about that killer's MO?
Working with Baldwin, Taylor must examine each gruesome clue in hopes of stopping the carnage before the killer strikes again. She's also coping with the recent loss at sea of her estranged father, whose disappearance will have surprising repercussions. At the same time, she's tracking a ruthless killer-for-hire in another case involving illegal immigrants, who doesn't seem to care who he murders in order to protect his secrets. Then there's something even deadlier: a beautiful FBI profiler with eyes on her husband-to-be. Though Taylor doesn't know it, all of these elements will come together in some unexpected ways.
All the Pretty Girls introduced us to Taylor, Baldwin and the cops of Music City; Ellison's second book fleshes out these characters and the city of Nashville even further. Be forewarned that murder isn't pretty, and Ellison doesn't pull any punches, but if you're a fan of the genre, you'll love 14.
James Neal Webb is a lifelong Nashville resident.
The Tennessean Reviews 14
Two decades ago, the Snow White Killer terrorized Music City with 10 grisly murders of beautiful young women — each with raven-black hair, pale skin and ruby lips — their throats slashed from ear to ear. The villain was never apprehended.
Fast-forward to the present and 14, J.T. Ellison's second novel, where four more young women are murdered. The killer's modus operandi suggests the Snow White Killer has resurfaced. Or is a copycat responsible? As even more murders occur, the story resembles a Shakespearean tragedy in which bodies pile up like cordwood. Homicide Detective Taylor Jackson and her love interest, John Baldwin, a profiler for the FBI, seek to stop the sociopath before he strikes again.
Ellison's third novel, Judas Kiss, will be published in January.
— ROY E. PERRY, FOR THE TENNESSEAN
Fast-forward to the present and 14, J.T. Ellison's second novel, where four more young women are murdered. The killer's modus operandi suggests the Snow White Killer has resurfaced. Or is a copycat responsible? As even more murders occur, the story resembles a Shakespearean tragedy in which bodies pile up like cordwood. Homicide Detective Taylor Jackson and her love interest, John Baldwin, a profiler for the FBI, seek to stop the sociopath before he strikes again.
Ellison's third novel, Judas Kiss, will be published in January.
— ROY E. PERRY, FOR THE TENNESSEAN
August 29, 2008
An Interview with the Nashville City Paper
Posted: Friday, August 29, 2008 3:00 am
“I was struggling along trying to do this literary and academic type of writing and one of my professors put a note on a paper and said it was too much like B-grade detective fiction,” Ellison said. “It took me quite a while and some time in other careers like politics and marketing before I realized that writing crime novels was really what I wanted to do.”
Ellison has now emerged as one of the nation’s hottest writers in the genre, with her second book 14 (Harlequin/MIRA) earmarked for fast tracking by her publishing company. Ellison, who’ll formally launch the book Wednesday at Past Perfect restaurant and also Thursday at Davis-Kidd Booksellers, said that there were some things she wanted to do with her series that differ a bit from past depictions of female detectives and law enforcement officers.
“I wanted to create a character who didn’t become a detective out of some traumatic event like being raped or the death of a sibling,” Ellison said. “Then I also wanted to establish a series of novels using Nashville as the backdrop. Our heritage as Music City is a great one, but there’s a lot more to Nashville than just the music community. It was my goal to really emphasize the many things that make the city so unique and special, and incorporate them into this series of stories about a female detective.”
The new 14 features detective Taylor Jackson involved in a difficult and complicated story that covers many other problem areas that arise during investigations. These range from issues of jurisdiction to problems with the chain of evidence, particularly when pursuing those whose criminal acts occurred many years ago.
There are also some professional and personal challenges that threaten to derail Jackson, and the political backdrop of a high profile crime and the second-guessing that comes from both media and superiors when it seems things aren’t moving quickly enough.
However, Ellison adds she wanted to show in her work that not every woman in law enforcement is mistreated or harassed.
“I felt it was important to have a woman investigator that’s not such a strident, harsh figure, and not someone who’s constantly battling for respect and suffering from bad practical jokes and hostility from her partners,” Ellison said. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive reinforcement and response from law enforcement people who’ve told me that they feel I’m accurately portraying what they do, how they operate and the problems that they face, and that’s a good feeling.”
Ellison maintains a prolific schedule for a novelist. She’s already completed both Judas Kiss and Edge of Black, the third and fourth novels in the series. She completes the research, plotting, and writing for each novel in a six-month period, something that she says “means I have no life.”
“But it really isn’t work,” Ellison said.” I’m getting to do something I love — create characters and stories that I enjoy, and get paid for it as well. This is fun, even if it often means most of my time is spent on Taylor Jackson’s next adventure.”
What: Nashville mystery author J.T. Ellison discusses her new novel 14
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Past Perfect, 122 Third Ave. S. (Wednesday); Davis-Kidd Booksellers, 2121 Green Hills Drive (Thursday)
Cost: free and open to the public
Info: 736-7727 and 385-2645
_______________________
A negative comment from one of her college professors proved quite prophetic in the life of Nashville author J. T. Ellison.“I was struggling along trying to do this literary and academic type of writing and one of my professors put a note on a paper and said it was too much like B-grade detective fiction,” Ellison said. “It took me quite a while and some time in other careers like politics and marketing before I realized that writing crime novels was really what I wanted to do.”
Ellison has now emerged as one of the nation’s hottest writers in the genre, with her second book 14 (Harlequin/MIRA) earmarked for fast tracking by her publishing company. Ellison, who’ll formally launch the book Wednesday at Past Perfect restaurant and also Thursday at Davis-Kidd Booksellers, said that there were some things she wanted to do with her series that differ a bit from past depictions of female detectives and law enforcement officers.
“I wanted to create a character who didn’t become a detective out of some traumatic event like being raped or the death of a sibling,” Ellison said. “Then I also wanted to establish a series of novels using Nashville as the backdrop. Our heritage as Music City is a great one, but there’s a lot more to Nashville than just the music community. It was my goal to really emphasize the many things that make the city so unique and special, and incorporate them into this series of stories about a female detective.”
The new 14 features detective Taylor Jackson involved in a difficult and complicated story that covers many other problem areas that arise during investigations. These range from issues of jurisdiction to problems with the chain of evidence, particularly when pursuing those whose criminal acts occurred many years ago.
There are also some professional and personal challenges that threaten to derail Jackson, and the political backdrop of a high profile crime and the second-guessing that comes from both media and superiors when it seems things aren’t moving quickly enough.
However, Ellison adds she wanted to show in her work that not every woman in law enforcement is mistreated or harassed.
“I felt it was important to have a woman investigator that’s not such a strident, harsh figure, and not someone who’s constantly battling for respect and suffering from bad practical jokes and hostility from her partners,” Ellison said. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive reinforcement and response from law enforcement people who’ve told me that they feel I’m accurately portraying what they do, how they operate and the problems that they face, and that’s a good feeling.”
Ellison maintains a prolific schedule for a novelist. She’s already completed both Judas Kiss and Edge of Black, the third and fourth novels in the series. She completes the research, plotting, and writing for each novel in a six-month period, something that she says “means I have no life.”
“But it really isn’t work,” Ellison said.” I’m getting to do something I love — create characters and stories that I enjoy, and get paid for it as well. This is fun, even if it often means most of my time is spent on Taylor Jackson’s next adventure.”
What: Nashville mystery author J.T. Ellison discusses her new novel 14
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Past Perfect, 122 Third Ave. S. (Wednesday); Davis-Kidd Booksellers, 2121 Green Hills Drive (Thursday)
Cost: free and open to the public
Info: 736-7727 and 385-2645
August 26, 2008
August 18, 2008
14 "Top Pick" at Romance Reader at Heart
14 has received an absolutely wonderful review from Romance Reader at Heart's Debbie Jett.
Thanks, Debbie!
J.T. Ellison rocks!
Ms. Ellison's second Taylor Jackson mystery, 14, is right on par with her spectacular debut, ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS. With bold characters, a breathtaking pace and a gob of clever twists, 14 is unbelievably brilliant. This killer thriller is one of those "I can't put it down" novels. Yeah, 14 is that good!
Taylor Jackson is a fantastic creation... a kick-ass kind of female who never loses her femininity. Taylor's talents are stretched to the limit in 14 as she hunts for a killer while planning her wedding to the divine Dr. Baldwin. Oh, and her bad daddy is acting up again... maybe.
And maybe there is a copycat serial killer. Or could the Snow White killer of 20 years ago be on the prowl again?
Taylor is once again the star, but Baldwin is her perfect match. These two balance each other beautifully, in good times and bad. 14 delves further into this pair's lives and their compelling love story. Ms. Ellison has a soul mate thing going on with Taylor and Baldwin. The romance does not overwhelm the suspense, but adds a lighter tone to 14. This story also boasts a number of intriguing secondary characters, lead by a trio of psychopaths. This little band of sickos is so skillfully written, it's enough to make a person's skin crawl.
14 is terrific. The characters, the plotting and the relentless action are meticulously drawn. The terrifying surprises just keep on coming. And Ms. Ellison is on her way to becoming a major new talent.
Debbie Jett
Thanks, Debbie!
J.T. Ellison rocks!
Ms. Ellison's second Taylor Jackson mystery, 14, is right on par with her spectacular debut, ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS. With bold characters, a breathtaking pace and a gob of clever twists, 14 is unbelievably brilliant. This killer thriller is one of those "I can't put it down" novels. Yeah, 14 is that good!
Taylor Jackson is a fantastic creation... a kick-ass kind of female who never loses her femininity. Taylor's talents are stretched to the limit in 14 as she hunts for a killer while planning her wedding to the divine Dr. Baldwin. Oh, and her bad daddy is acting up again... maybe.
And maybe there is a copycat serial killer. Or could the Snow White killer of 20 years ago be on the prowl again?
Taylor is once again the star, but Baldwin is her perfect match. These two balance each other beautifully, in good times and bad. 14 delves further into this pair's lives and their compelling love story. Ms. Ellison has a soul mate thing going on with Taylor and Baldwin. The romance does not overwhelm the suspense, but adds a lighter tone to 14. This story also boasts a number of intriguing secondary characters, lead by a trio of psychopaths. This little band of sickos is so skillfully written, it's enough to make a person's skin crawl.
14 is terrific. The characters, the plotting and the relentless action are meticulously drawn. The terrifying surprises just keep on coming. And Ms. Ellison is on her way to becoming a major new talent.
Debbie Jett
August 16, 2008
14 gets 4 1/2 Stars from Romantic Times!
Fabulous news! 14 has just received a whopping 4 1/2 stars from Romantic Times. Thanks, RT!
New Beginnings
Thank you so much for joining me here at JTEllison.com. Design credit goes to my amazingly talented husband, Randy Ellison, a man of great patience and vision.
I'll be using this spot to update my status, give reports on tours, reviews, and any other news that comes available.
Just a note: I started the blog "The Tao fo JT" the day I received the first major rejection on my very first manuscript, back at the end of 2004. I was planning to use it to document my journey to publication. It didn't work out that way -- Murderati took over as my main blog. Instead of deleting and starting fresh, I decided to keep the four short entries that I did make. If you're a new writer, read from the beginning. It won't take you long. Read it, and remember to keep the faith. We've all had speedbumps on our journey. Perserverence is the key to getting published. Don't give up.
Wishing you all the best,
JT
I'll be using this spot to update my status, give reports on tours, reviews, and any other news that comes available.
Just a note: I started the blog "The Tao fo JT" the day I received the first major rejection on my very first manuscript, back at the end of 2004. I was planning to use it to document my journey to publication. It didn't work out that way -- Murderati took over as my main blog. Instead of deleting and starting fresh, I decided to keep the four short entries that I did make. If you're a new writer, read from the beginning. It won't take you long. Read it, and remember to keep the faith. We've all had speedbumps on our journey. Perserverence is the key to getting published. Don't give up.
Wishing you all the best,
JT
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