Books On Board

Taylor Jackson Books in Order

  • 11 Books
  • 2007 – 2023 Published

Amazon links here are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reading order
1 of 1 reading orders shown

Welcome to Music City: The World of Taylor Jackson

Step into the dark, gritty, and atmospheric world of Taylor Jackson, where Nashville’s glitz and glamour collide with the depravity of twisted serial killers. Created by New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison, the series follows Lieutenant Taylor Jackson, a tough-as-nails investigator who heads the Nashville Metro Homicide unit. Known locally as Nashville's Athena, Taylor commands respect through her razor-sharp intellect, fierce determination, and deep compassion for the victims she fights for.

Taylor doesn't walk this dark path alone. She is paired professionally and romantically with Dr. John Baldwin, a brilliant FBI profiler. Their complex relationship adds a layer of emotional depth and psychological tension to the series. Together, they hunt down brutal murderers while navigating their own personal demons and the high-stakes pressure of public investigations. For fans of Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner, and forensic thrillers, this series offers the perfect blend of Southern grit, realistic police procedures, and heart-pounding suspense.

Recommended Reading Order: Where to Start

When diving into the Taylor Jackson universe, readers have a couple of main pathways. While there is a prequel novel that takes place first chronologically, the most satisfying way to experience the series is in the order the books were written and published. Reading in publication order allows you to watch the character dynamics, romantic tension, and over-arching subplots evolve naturally as the author intended.

Option 1: The Publication Order (Recommended)

This is the standard and recommended reading path. It starts with Taylor Jackson's debut in 2007 and traces her career and life chronologically, inserting the prequel and the companion novellas later in the experience as breathers and backstory builders.

  1. All the Pretty Girls (2007) – The novel that introduces Taylor Jackson as she hunts the Southern Strangler, a killer who leaves severed hands behind.
  2. 14 (2008) – Taylor chases a copycat killer replicating the crimes of the Snow White Killer.
  3. Judas Kiss (2008) – A deeply personal case that forces Taylor to confront her past and deal with a killer targeting those close to her.
  4. The Cold Room (2010) – Taylor is pitted against "The Conductor," a killer with a macabre artistic flair. This novel won the 2011 ITW Thriller Award.
  5. The Immortals (2010) – A dark investigation involving pagan rituals, goth culture, and a series of deaths at a local university.
  6. So Close the Hand of Death (2011) – The stakes rise as Taylor hunts a serial killer copycatting the world's most famous killers.
  7. Where All the Dead Lie (2011) – Following severe physical and emotional trauma, Taylor travels to the Italian coast to heal, only to find herself embroiled in another deadly mystery.
  8. Field of Graves (2015) – A prequel novel that serves as an origin story, taking readers back to how Taylor Jackson and John Baldwin first met.
  9. Blood Sugar Baby (2015) – A companion novella featuring a bite-sized case that details Taylor's interactions with a celebrity-obsessed killer.
  10. Whiteout (2015) – A companion novella set in the snowy mountains, focusing on a high-stakes standoff.
  11. The Wolves Come at Night (2023) – Taylor returns in a full-length novel to investigate a double homicide in a prestigious Nashville neighborhood.

Option 2: The Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer to read the events in the exact order they happen in the timeline, you should start with the prequel. However, note that the prequel was written later, meaning it assumes some familiarity with the characters and may feel slightly different in style.

  1. Field of Graves (Book 0 / Prequel)
  2. All the Pretty Girls (Book 1)
  3. 14 (Book 2)
  4. Judas Kiss (Book 3)
  5. The Cold Room (Book 4)
  6. The Immortals (Book 5)
  7. So Close the Hand of Death (Book 6)
  8. Blood Sugar Baby (Book 6.5 / Novella)
  9. Where All the Dead Lie (Book 7)
  10. Whiteout (Book 7.5 / Novella)
  11. The Wolves Come at Night (Book 8)

The Dr. Samantha Owens Spin-Off and Crossovers

One of the highlights of the Taylor Jackson series is its rich cast of supporting characters. Chief among them is Dr. Samantha Owens, Nashville’s brilliant medical examiner and Taylor’s closest friend. Samantha serves as the analytical, logical foil to Taylor’s intuitive policing. After appearing in the first seven Taylor Jackson books, Samantha's character experienced a massive life transition following the devastating 2010 Nashville floods, in which she lost her husband and children. This personal tragedy set the stage for her own spin-off series.

The Dr. Samantha Owens series shifts the focus from homicide investigations to forensic pathology and psychological healing, with Samantha moving to Washington, D.C., to start over. To get the complete picture of this shared literary universe, you can read the Samantha Owens books alongside the main series. The spin-off series consists of the following titles:

  • A Deeper Darkness (2012) – Samantha tries to rebuild her life in a new job, only to be pulled into a bizarre case involving the death of a former lover.
  • Edge of Black (2012) – Samantha investigates a mysterious pathogen and a bioterrorism threat.
  • When Shadows Fall (2014) – Samantha is targeted by a killer who seems to know all of her deepest vulnerabilities.
  • What Lies Behind (2015) – Samantha returns to help solve a complex case that involves cameos from Taylor Jackson and John Baldwin.

If you want to read both series in a unified timeline, the best approach is to read the first seven Taylor Jackson books, then read the first three Samantha Owens books, followed by the Taylor Jackson prequel Field of Graves and the final Samantha Owens book What Lies Behind, before finishing with the novellas and The Wolves Come at Night.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into J.T. Ellison's thrillers, keep in mind that the author conducts extensive research alongside the Metro Nashville Police Department and the FBI to ensure her books are authentic. The forensics, profiling, and procedural elements are highly realistic, which also means the stories do not shy away from the graphic, dark realities of violent crime. If you enjoy authentic, fast-paced police work mixed with deep psychological analysis, the Taylor Jackson series is an absolute must-read.

Frequently Asked

What is the best Taylor Jackson book to start with?

You should start with All the Pretty Girls, which is the first novel published in the series. It introduces Taylor Jackson, her team, and her relationship with FBI profiler John Baldwin.

Is Field of Graves a standalone or part of the series?

Field of Graves is a prequel novel to the Taylor Jackson series. It can be read first chronologically, but it was published eighth, so reading it after the main series books provides richer character context.

How does the Samantha Owens series connect to Taylor Jackson?

Dr. Samantha Owens is the medical examiner and best friend of Taylor Jackson in the main series. Following a family tragedy, she gets her own spin-off series beginning with A Deeper Darkness, which features cameos from Taylor.

Where do the Taylor Jackson novellas fit in the reading order?

The novellas Blood Sugar Baby and Whiteout fit chronologically as companion stories. Blood Sugar Baby takes place as book 6.5, and Whiteout takes place as book 7.5.

Are the Taylor Jackson books standalone novels?

While each book features a self-contained murder mystery, the personal lives, romantic arcs, and recurring subplots of Taylor Jackson and John Baldwin develop across the books. It is highly recommended to read them in order.