All the Pretty Girls - J. T. Ellison [0]
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
“J.T. Ellison’s debut novel rocks. Darkly compelling and thoroughly chilling, with rich characterization and a well-layered plot, All the Pretty Girls is everything a great crime thriller should be.”
—Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of Fear No Evil
“Taylor Jackson is a fresh portrayal of a cop with a serial killer to catch. Creepy thrills from start to finish.”
—James O. Born, author of Burn Zone
“An impressive debut that is rich not just in suspense but in the details. Fast-paced and creepily believable, Ellison’s novel proves that there is still room in the genre for new authors and new cops. There’s no novice showing in All the Pretty Girls. It’s all gritty, grisly and a great read.”
—M. J. Rose, internationally bestselling author of The Reincarnationist
“All the Pretty Girls is a spellbinding suspense novel and Tennessee has a new dark poet. J.T. Ellison’s fast-paced, clever plotting yields a page-turner par excellence. A turbocharged thrill ride of a debut.”
—Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar Award finalist and author of All Mortal Flesh
“Ellison hits the ground running with an electrifying debut. All the Pretty Girls is a masterful thriller, shockingly authentic and unputdownable. Fans of Sandford, Cornwell and Reichs will relish every page.”
—J. A. Konrath, author of Dirty Martini
“A word of advice before you read J.T. Ellison’s brilliant debut, All the Pretty Girls: keep the lights on. With a masterful hand, Ellison delivers a villain to make you quail, pitted against the thriller world’s freshest new detective since Tess Gerritsen’s Jane Rizzoli. Complex and sharp-tongued, Taylor Jackson is destined to become an icon in crime fiction. With a deft command of the language and a refreshing respect for the delicate balance between killer, victim and detective, Ellison is an original worth keeping an eye on.”
—Kristy Kiernan, author of Catching Genius
“In J.T. Ellison’s impressive debut, we’re taken on a gripping ride into the seemingly nonsensical world of a serial killer and the passionate urgency of those who try to stop him. From the tragedy of missed potential in an ebbing life to the frustration of a crime unsolved, All the Pretty Girls spurs us to confront our own complicated humanity and to acknowledge what can rip us from its grasp. Ellison’s characters—whether major players or quiet students—will stay with you long after you close the book.”
—Pari Noskin Taichert, two-time Agatha Award finalist and author of the Sasha Solomon mystery series
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
J.T. ELLISON
For Randy
and
my parents.
Love you more.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The process of writing All the Pretty Girls was without a doubt a group effort. There are many people who graciously gave their time and expertise to help me get the details straight. I would like to send my deepest thanks to the following:
My extraordinary editor Linda McFall, of MIRA Books, and all of the MIRA team, especially Margaret Marbury and Dianne Moggy. A very special thank-you to Tara