Step into the thrilling world of Taylor Jackson, where Nashville’s dark underbelly meets heart-pounding crime drama! J.T. Ellison’s Taylor Jackson series follows the fearless homicide lieutenant as she tackles twisted serial killers in Music City, blending gritty police work with psychological depth. With her sharp instincts and complex personal life, Taylor is a heroine you’ll root for from page one.
From chasing sadistic murderers to navigating her own demons, Taylor’s journey is as much about inner strength as it is about catching criminals. Perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter or Lisa Gardner, this series delivers suspense, Southern charm, and a vivid Nashville backdrop that feels like a character itself.
How Taylor Jackson Began
J.T. Ellison, a former White House staffer turned New York Times bestselling author, created Taylor Jackson inspired by her love for Nashville and crime fiction. After moving to the city, Ellison dove into research with the Metro Nashville Police and FBI, crafting a heroine who’s both a tough cop and a local legend. The series kicked off in 2007 with All the Pretty Girls, introducing Taylor as a bold detective with a knack for cracking gruesome cases.
Ellison envisioned Taylor as Nashville’s Athena—a warrior-goddess who commands respect without sacrificing her humanity. Her experiences, from studying autopsies to exploring the city’s vibrant culture, shaped a series that’s authentic, intense, and deeply tied to its Southern roots.
The Heart of Taylor Jackson
The Taylor Jackson series spans nine novels, each plunging readers into a new case laced with psychological suspense. In All the Pretty Girls (2007), Taylor hunts the Southern Strangler, a serial killer leaving severed hands at crime scenes, while grappling with a nosy reporter dangerously close to the case. 14 (2008) sees her chasing a copycat of the Snow White Killer, whose gruesome murders echo a chilling past. The Cold Room (2010), a standout that won the 2011 ITW Thriller Award, pits Taylor against the Conductor, a murderer with a macabre artistic flair.
The series shines through its themes of justice, resilience, and the psychological toll of facing evil. Nashville’s duality—glitzy music scene meets stark class divides—grounds the stories, making the setting as vivid as the characters. Taylor’s personal struggles, from family tensions to her romance with FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, add emotional depth, while her friendship with medical examiner Dr. Samantha Owens (later spun off into her own series) brings warmth to the darkness.
Ellison’s style is fast-paced yet intimate, weaving forensic detail with character-driven storytelling. Fans praise her ability to balance breakneck plots with Taylor’s growth, creating a series that’s both a thrilling ride and a study of a woman defying expectations in a high-stakes world.
Why Taylor Jackson Resonates
The Taylor Jackson series has carved a niche in crime fiction, earning acclaim for its authentic Nashville setting and compelling heroine. Readers and critics, like those at BookPage, laud Ellison for capturing the city’s soul, while the Nashville Scene compared her to Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter for her vivid portrayal of Music City. With over a million books in print, the series has reached fans in 28 countries, proving Taylor’s universal appeal.
Its lasting draw lies in Taylor herself—a strong, flawed woman who faces unimaginable horrors yet remains fiercely human. By blending psychological thrills with Southern grit, Ellison has crafted a series that feels fresh and timeless, inviting readers to explore Nashville through a lens of suspense and heart.
- Number of Books: 9, plus a novella
- First Published: 2007
- Notable Award: The Cold Room won the 2011 ITW Thriller Award
- Spin-Off: Dr. Samantha Owens series
Grab All the Pretty Girls and dive into Taylor Jackson’s thrilling world of crime, courage, and Nashville charm!