The Strand Magazine Review of JUDAS KISS

by Steven Steinbock

With a heartbreaking opening and a heart-stopping conclusion, J.T. Ellison's third novel is at times disturbing, at times titillating, and from start to finish a fast-paced pleasure to read. Like her previous two novels-All the Pretty Girls (2007) and 14 (2008)-Judas Kiss features Nashville homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her lover, FBI profiler John Baldwin.

The main plot of the novel centers around the murder of Corinne Wolff, a pretty young housewife with an eighteen-month old daughter and another child on the way. Corinne's sister arrives at the suburban home to pick up her sister for a tennis date and finds her beaten to death with her toddler crawling through the blood. The victim's husband is the first suspect. Despite claims of being out of town at the time, his story doesn't seem to hold up. Soon an intricate web of deceit, distrust, and pornography rises to the surface.

The novel is as much about the heroine, Taylor Jackson, as it is about her case. In fact, there are almost too many sub-plots to keep track of. Taylor's lover, agent Baldwin, is involved in an operation that brings sadistic revenge home to Nashville; someone is stalking and threatening Taylor; a video of Taylor with a prior lover appears on the Internet; someone is making sex-videos using hidden cameras; and, possibly unrelated, the dead Corinne Wolff and /or her husband have a pornography studio in their basement.

Specializing in contemporary new voices like Alex Kava, Debbie Macomber, Michelle Gagnon, Heather Graham, and Kate Wilhelm, Mira Books promotes itself as the publisher of "the brightest stars in women's fiction." And Ellison's writing does have the qualities that will appeal to lovers of romantic suspense. She is effective at dimming the lights to create plenty of steamy romance between Taylor and Baldwin, yet her writing is never tawdry and will appeal to thriller-readers of either gender.

The multiple subplots don't stop Ellison from weaving a tight and powerful story. Judas Kiss moves at a rapid-fire rate, its four hundred pages rushing like adrenalin through the bloodstream. As the novel comes to a close, nearly all the subplots are neatly tied up. Ellison leaves a few elements unresolved, giving readers something to look forward to in Edge of Black, the fourth book in the series, due out in September 2009.

Romance Reviews Today Loves JUDAS KISS!

JUDAS KISS - J. T. Ellison
MIRA Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2629-8
January 2009
Suspense Thriller

Nashville, Tennessee - Present Day

A young, pregnant woman lies dead on the floor of her bedroom, and her eighteen-month-old daughter wanders the empty house covered in her blood. Two days later, Corinne Wolff’s sister, Michelle Harris, arrives for their tennis date. They’ve been practicing for the upcoming tournament at their country club, something they’ve been doing for years with Michelle always playing the lackey to Corinne’s talented expertise. When she arrives at Corinne’s home, Michelle walks in through the unlocked door (no one in this quiet neighborhood locks their doors). The house is unnaturally quiet, and a horrific stench hangs like a cloak on the inside. Michelle finds Corinne’s bludgeoned body and calls 911.

Homicide Detective Lieutenant Taylor Jackson has just returned from a wonderfully relaxing three week vacation to Italy. This trip was supposed to be her honeymoon, but thanks to a criminal who thwarted her special day by kidnapping her (see 14, Sept. 2008), the wedding didn’t happen, and the honeymoon trip just turned into a lovely extended vacation for Taylor and her fiancé, FBI Profiler John Baldwin. Today, John is leaving for Virginia to follow up on an urgent case of his own when Taylor gets the call about the Wolff murder. A pregnant wife, a missing husband, and a disgruntled family are all fodder for rampant speculation and tabloid news. What kind of psychopath would murder a pregnant woman and leave her baby daughter wandering alone in the house? It’s Taylor’s job to find the answers.

A Taylor Jackson Mystery is always something special we can dig into and know that we will enjoy every single word of the ride. In this third episode, JUDAS KISS, Taylor is after Corinne Wolff’s killer, while another unseen killer is stalking Taylor. The love of her life, John Baldwin, is off to Quantico, but he's hiding the real facts of his case from Taylor in a lie that he has neglected to tell her about, never having found the right moment. Although it is something she should know so that she can protect herself from an unseen stalker, Taylor is oblivious to John's deception. They truly love each other, and Taylor trusts John implicitly, but their upcoming wedding just never seems to get off the ground. John even proposed a second time and presented her with a new ring while they were in Italy, but even so, Taylor is still l little bit commitment-shy.

Taylor's team of detectives are back in this third novel. Pete Fitzgerald, Lincoln Ross, and Marcus Wade are busy helping her fight some new personal battles that loom while they all are searching for Corinne Wolff’s killer. Someone is trying to smear Taylor’s name and her reputation, and her team won’t let that happen, not on their watch. Taylor’s best friend, Dr. Sam (Samantha) Loughley, is also on board. Sam will lend a friendly ear, if only Taylor would share her troubles, which she doesn’t.

JUDAS KISS is the third Taylor Jackson Mystery and follows ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS, (November 2007); and 14, (September, 2008). And get ready for the fourth book in this series, EDGE OF BLACK, due out in September 2009. JUDAS KISS stands totally alone, and although the focus this time is only on just one murder and a single killer, there's another danger queuing up in the shadows, and the final spine-tingling chapter ends with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into in the next installment of Taylor’s adventures! JUDAS KISS is a wonderful edge-of-your-seat novel. It is a guarantee that you will not put it down until the very last page!

-Diana Risso

BookBitch Loves JUDAS KISS!

Lt. Taylor Jackson returns from her much needed vacation to face what could be the toughest challenge of her career. When classy housewife Corrine Wolff is discovered bludgeoned to death in her home, the suspicion naturally falls upon her husband. Then Jackson and her team make some disturbing discoveries regarding the Wolff family and their extra-curricular activities and a whole new avenue of suspects opens up. Meanwhile, a run-in with a stranger leads Taylor to a startling discovery of her own, one that threatens her professional life. Plus, a crazy hit man is gunning for Baldwin, and has recently gone missing, and the Pretender still evades capture. It will take all of Taylor's strength to make it through this one and still keep her cool.

With each new installment to this series, JT Ellison continues to prove that she is one of the best and the brightest in the genre - she should be on everyone's must read lists. 01/09

--Becky Lejeune

Romance Reader at Heart Loves JUDAS KISS!

Whew! JUDAS KISS vibrates with such energy, it maybe could single handedly fuel electricity to New York City for a day. The third in the Taylor Jackson series provides such an adrenaline rush, readers may feel drained by the last page as well. JUDAS KISS takes readers on a spectacular twisty, unrelenting chilling ride full of unexpected surprises.

J.T. Ellison definitely has a keen sense of suspense. The mega talented Ms. Ellison not only gives readers an incredible thriller, she has created a truly fantastic female character in Taylor Jackson. In JUDAS KISS, Taylor's mettle is put to the extreme test as she deals with a puzzling murder, an unsavory surprise from her past, a sanctioned assassin turned serial killer who is after her as well as another serial, The Pretender—part of a deadly duo from 14—who keeps lurking in the background. Instead of cluttering JUDAS KISS with too much baggage, Ms. Ellison smoothly dovetails these four seemingly unrelated elements into non-stop excitement.

JUDAS KISS also delves deeper into the normally unflappable Taylor Jackson, showing a more vulnerable side. Likewise, more insight is given to Taylor's fiancee, super FBI agent John Baldwin. These two characters balance each other so well, are so attuned, so connected, their relationship adds another intriguing layer to the Jackson series.

J.T. Ellison is terrific. This relative newcomer is on her way to becoming a major star in the suspense genre. Her timing is flawless, her characters are full-bodied, her storylines are wonderfully convoluted. And creepy. If you haven't read Ms. Ellison, I strongly recommend her Jackson series. JUDAS KISS continues the brilliance.

Debbie Jett

Mystery Scene Loves 14

JT Ellison's 14 (Mira, $6.99) holds up against any top drawer suspense novel. The title refers to the number of people slain in the serial killings. Troubling, though, is the fact that 10 of the murders were committed in the 1980s by an unidentified serial slayer designated as "The Snow White Killer." When an additional four bodies, replete with the serial killer's signature, appear now, the question is whether the long dormant Snow White killer has returned or whether the recent murders are the handiwork of a similarly depraved copycat. Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson lands and solves the case, but not without chilling challenges along the way. You won't want to read this when you're home alone at night, but you will want to read it.

(Thanks to Mary Alice Gorman and friends at the Mystery Lovers Bookshop!)

JUDAS KISS gets 4 1/2 Stars from Romantic Times

Ellison has a flair for the macabre shared by few writers, and her latest is heartily recommended to anyone who enjoys a scary-good mystery and/or a strong female protagonist.

The murder of Corinne Wolff is horrifying on many levels. A well-off, happily married mother who was expecting a second child, she seemed to be living the American dream. Suddenly, she's the victim of a violent assault, and her daughter's left alone with her corpse for at least 36 hours. Who'd do such a thing? Homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her team have to find out.

Their attention turns to Corinne's husband, Todd, who claims he was out of town on business. Certain elements of his story don't add up, but the evidence suggests his crimes are of a different nature. Taylor's stymied and distracted by a number of things: the absence of her fiancé, FBI profiler John Baldwin, and the distinct feeling that she's being watched. The two are connected in a way that she can't imagine - and that's not the only peril she's facing.

-Catherine Witmer

Chicago Tribune Loves 14

by Paul Goat Allen, Chicago Tribune 11/15/08

Fans of intelligently written, intricately crafted thrillers should definitely check out J.T. Ellison's latest Taylor Jackson novel, "14." This sequel to 2007's "All the Pretty Girls" pits Nashville homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her soon-to-be husband, FBI profiler John Baldwin, against a plethora of adversaries, including an apparently returned, infamous serial killer who vanished 20 years earlier. Plot twists include the disappearance and likely death of Taylor's morally bankrupt father, the discovery of a sexual slavery ring, and—perhaps most terrifying of all—a looming wedding ceremony.

Fusing gritty cop drama with dark psychological thriller, Ellison distinguishes herself with exceptional character development, consistently breakneck pacing and a sense of authenticity throughout "14."

JUDAS KISS gets Starred Publishers Weekly Review!!!!

Judas Kiss J.T. Ellison. Mira, $6.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-7783-2629-8

Carefully orchestrated plot twists and engrossing characters combine in Ellison’s explosive third Lt. Taylor Jackson investigation (after 2008’s 14). Nashville homicide investigator Taylor is called to the scene of a disturbing murder: beautiful, pregnant Corrine Wolff, brutally beaten in front of her young daughter. Signs point to Corinne’s husband, Todd, but Taylor has her doubts. When she learns that the Wolffs were making and distributing amateur pornography, other investigators in her office turn up old X-rated footage of Taylor that could destroy her career and her engagement to FBI agent John Baldwin. Meanwhile, an old enemy of John’s has resurfaced and is intent on revenge. The story moves at breakneck speed, seamlessly flowing from Taylor’s world into John’s until they intersect for electrifying results. Flawed yet identifiable characters and genuinely terrifying villains populate this impressive and arresting thriller. (Jan.)

Crimespree Loves 14!!

14 (Mira) is a twisty creepy and wonderful book from JT Ellison, her second. Nashville thought the terror of the 1980's was over when the Snow White Killer stopped and even sent a letter saying so. But now Taylor Jackson of Homicide is seeing a return of the killings. Possibly a copy cat, maybe the elusive original killer returned, either way Taylor has her work cut out for her as the murders are escalating. With pacing that makes Nascar look dull this book is a real ride on the lightning. Ellison is relentless and grabs the reader from the first page and refuses to let go until the soul tearing climax.

(J Jordan, Crimespree, September 2008)

BookBitch Loves 14!

Review by Becky Lejeune

Lieutenant Taylor Jackson is just days from walking down the aisle when she’s called to the scene of a gruesome murder. Strangely, the MO resembles that of a serial killer who struck Tennessee in the early 80’s. Dubbed the Snow White Killer thanks to his dark haired, pale skinned victims, and his penchant for smearing bright red lipstick across their faces, he left behind ten victims before apparently throwing in the towel; he was never caught. Has Snow White reemerged after such a long break or are they facing a copycat. Then new evidence is found to support the copycat theory and Jackson and her team are faced with uncovering both of the killers’ identities in order to solve the case. With just two titles released, J.T. Ellison has proven herself to be one of the best new thriller authors out there. Her characters are solid and her plots are refreshingly original - and what a great ending. The third title in the series, Judas Kiss, is due out next spring.
(Note: Judas Kiss will be available January 1, 2009)

Romance Reviews Today Reviews 14

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

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

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

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!