Praise for the novels of J.T. Ellison
“Mystery fiction has a new name to watch.”
—John Connolly
“The Cold Room combines
The Silence of the Lambs with The Wire.”
—January Magazine
“Outstanding…potent characterization and clever plotting, and Ellison systematically cranks up the intensity all the way to the riveting ending.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Immortals [starred review]
“Flawlessly plotted, with well-defined characters and conflict…quite simply a gem.”
—RT Book Reviews [Top Pick] on The Cold Room
“A tight and powerful story.
Judas Kiss moves at a rapid-fire rate…rushing like adrenaline through the bloodstream.”
—The Strand Magazine
“Carefully orchestrated plot twists and engrossing characters… Flawed yet identifiable characters and genuinely terrifying villains populate this impressive and arresting thriller.”
—Publishers Weekly on Judas Kiss [starred review]
“A twisty, creepy and wonderful book… Ellison is relentless and grabs the reader from the first page and refuses to let go until the soul-tearing climax.”
—Crimespree on 14
“A terrific lead character, terrific suspense, terrific twists…a completely convincing debut.”
—Lee Child on All the Pretty Girls
“All the Pretty Girls is a spellbinding suspense novel and Tennessee has a new dark poet.
A turbocharged thrill ride of a debut.”
—Julia Spencer-Fleming
Also by J.T. Ellison
THE IMMORTALS
THE COLD ROOM
JUDAS KISS
14
ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS
Look for J.T. Ellison’s next novel
WHERE ALL THE DEAD LIE
available September 2011
SO CLOSE THE HAND OF DEATH
J.T. ELLISON
For David Achord, who gave me the tools.
And for my Randy.
By three methods may we learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.—Confucius
Imitation is suicide.—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Contents
November 5
Chapter One
November 6
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
November 7
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
November 8
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five