14 by J. T. Ellison

Title: 14
Author: J. T. Ellison

Series: Taylor Jackson (book #2)

Previous in series: All the Pretty Girls

Next in series: Judas Kiss

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Synopsis: The Snow White Killer has returned after a 20 year hiatus to finish his heinous fairy tale. Now homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson must determine if this new killer is the real thing or a vicious copycat before more innocent girls continue to die.  

Review: A multi-layered plot that can be difficult to follow at times but wraps up smoothly into a neat package.

Taylor Jackson is a compelling character, and more information is provided about her family and past. Nevertheless, her independence and self-reliance can be overbearing at times. She reminds me quite a lot of Jane Rizzoli in Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles series but is not as likeable (this is a personal preference and her personality may still improve in forthcoming installments).

The other characters are not as fleshed out. Each has some sort of physical or personality trait associated with them so that the reader can keep track but other than that, they are very one dimensional.

The writing flows, however, there is an imbalance in the amount of information provided about certain characters. On the one hand, some are over-developed and too much information is given away, which hampers the buildup of suspense. On the other hand, the clues as to the killer’s identity are insufficient and rely too much on descriptions of Taylor’s incomplete memories from childhood. Although, the facts are forthcoming, the book does not provide enough detail for the reader to figure out the mystery and we are forced to follow in Taylor’s footsteps. Moreover, the focus on her personal life distracts from the serial killer storyline.

The book ends on a slight cliffhanger and is a worthwhile read, especially for those planning on continuing with the series. Nevertheless, the first book, All the Pretty Girls, is better.