The Cold Room

This book is my first read from JT Ellison and I plan to read more of her work. Her main character development of Taylor Jackson who works with the Nashville Homicide PD as well as that of Jackson's fiance, who works for the FBI, is engaging while adeptly presenting them as emotional and professional individuals. The premise of the book, which of course involves murder/serial killer, is unique, macabre and full of twists and turns as well as having a little aside (segue to another book!). Ellison brings you into a level of human atrocity most of us cannot fathom. If I knew how to navigate the "star rating" i would give this 4 stars!

The Cold Room by J. T. Ellison is a highly recommended procedural/thriller and the fourth book featuring Nashville detective Taylor Jackson. This is a revised and reissued edition of the novel originally published on 3/1/2010.

A murder victim has been starved and then the body is found posed like a famous painting, Il Macellaio. Nashville Metro Homicide Detective Taylor Jackson, who was demoted in the last novel, is called to the scene along with her new partner Renn McKenzie. Once she views the positioning of the body, she calls her fiancé, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin. Baldwin has been working with the CIA following a serial killer who has been operating in Europe and leaves bodies in a similar macabre manner.

The plot captures your show more attention immediately and kept a tighter focus for more of the narrative in this outing. The serial killer is creepy and disturbing. The plot didn't seem to scattered in as many different directions this time. However, there are still sections where the plot and the focus seem to be dropped for lighter fare and the pace slows down. Skim these parts to get to the actual procedural and investigation. Again, some disbelief must be set aside. It can be read as a standalone novel, but it is clear that following the series will give you more background information on the various characters and past events.

Two drawback in this outing. The addition of New Scotland Yard detective James "Memphis" Highsmythe and the sudden plot shift to a romance novel/love-triangle, left me cold. Not interested. Again, Taylor needs focus, better control of her emotions, and to try to act in a logical manner. Second, get serious Taylor, cut your hair so you can stop messing with it. Obviously it's getting in your way. I noted this quirk in the last novel. This time it was annoying.

The actual case was disturbing, compelling, and strong enough to carry the narrative without adding all the additional emotional/relationship drama along with the personal threats. It also could be reading the two reissued novels back to back was too much Taylor all at once. I was also left questioning what editorial revisions were made because it certainly wasn't to tightened up the plot. 3.5 rounded up when required.

The Cold Room is another good choice for those who enjoy procedurals that also include some subplot and romance. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
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It should have been a page turner novel (the hunting of a necrophiliac serial killer), but instead was a book-closer one. It was a run of the mill procedural, that takes after Key Scarpetta's books, "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal" for the Florence part. The killer is a pale shadow of "The Travelling Man" in Every Dead Thing and lets out the difficulties met by Ellison during the writing ("Necrophilia is a taboo subject ... It disturbed me to no end, gave me nightmares and writer’s block, and I often thought of abandoning the topic")
The explanation of the murder's habits was too mechanical (the trite dilemma between nature and nurture) and the resolution of the case is based on many coincidences to be unrealistic.
I thought show more often to quit the reading, but I felt obligated to finish "The Cold Room" (even if I was cringing my teeth for the broken Italian in the last chapters), because it was part of my Challenge "Travel in U.S.A". show less

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 show more 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. show less

The Cold Room was my first foray into J.T. Ellison as an author, and I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised. From the first few pages written from the point of the killer, straight through to the end, this is a solid, well-written book. The plot moves along at a good pace, the characters were well-written and I was given just enough of a glimpse into their back stories to want to get the prior novels that I haven't read yet.
The only distracting parts involved the inspector from England and his attraction to Taylor (and her sort of confused attraction to him). The book could have done without that, but overall it was kept to a minimum.
There's nothing new or particularly twisty in this novel, just a solid cop procedural drama that show more is well written and pulls you in from the start.
I'll definitely be reading more J.T. Ellison and I look forward to the next book in the series. show less

One of the most chilling and disturbing crime stories I’ve read, avid enthusiasts of this genre should greatly enjoy. JT Ellison has the skill of a seasoned writer while clearly defining her own style for a fresh take on the psychological thriller.
Taylor Jackson is a believable main character, focused on her career as a Homicide Detective yet trying to balance it with a life outside of her work – one that involves her FBI fiancé. And in addition to her current case, Taylor is being stalked by another serial killer known as “the Pretender”.
The Cold Room gripped me from the very first pages and held on tight until the end, setting things up well for a sequel. Starting out in Tennesee, the story takes you half way around the show more world to arrive at its conclusion.
The suspect is set up from the get go to be just an average person with an average job and an average life. He’s a normal looking fellow who goes to the gym after work and picks up food for his cat on the way home. But what lies beneath all outward images will give you the chills. show less

I, like several other reviewers, had never read J.T. Ellison until I snagged a copy of The Cold Room in the early reviewers club. She is now the newest addition to my favorite authors, and I have already ordered her earlier books.

Taylor Jackson is a Nashville homicide detective investigating a series of homicides in which the victims appear to have died of starvation and are left in posed positions based on various artworks. The killer, a sadonecrophiliac, has constructed a double sided plexiglass coffin where he keeps his "dolls" after kidnapping them and watches them slowly starve. Her fiance, John Baldwin, head of a profiling unit of the FBI, just happens to have a similar series of deaths in Italy. When the same type murders show up show more in England, James "Memphis" Highsmythe from the New Scotland Yard becomes involved in the investigation and also becomes obsessed with Taylor who resembles his deceased wife. That part of the book got a bit old. The investigation leads them across Tennessee and Italy to an interesting conclusion.

The book was well written. There were some points where background from previous novels would have been helpful but not enough to diminish the strength of this one. Generally I feel books have a tendency to move a little slowly. I felt at times that this one moved a bit too fast. For anyone interested in crime and psychological thrillers, I would highly recommend this book. show less