The Cold Room by J. T. Ellison
6/30/26; 397 pages (reissue)
Thomas & Mercer
Taylor Jackson #4
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 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.
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