J.T. Ellison is a graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman's College and received her Master's Degree from George Washington University. She was a Presidential Appointee and worked in The White House and the Department of Commerce before moving into the private sector. As a financial analyst and marketing director, she worked for several defense and aerospace contractors.
After moving to Nashville, Ellison began research on a passion, forensics and crime. She spent a great deal of time working with the Metro Nashville Police Department, and utilized those experiences to write her debut novel, All the Pretty Girls.
Splinter Effect (2025) (Splinter Effect, book 1) Andrew Ludington "A smart, inventive, wildly original adventure featuring a chrono-archeologist who is tasked with going back in time to save a famed menorah from ancient Rome, Splinter Effect combines time travel, archeology, history, and a dash of romance to great effect. Fans of Indiana Jones will flock to this rollicking story. A superb debut!"
A Killing Cold (2025) Kate Alice Marshall "A Killing Cold is a tightly wound thriller perfect for fans of Stacy Willingham and Gillian Flynn. Readers will flock to this outstanding story. The suspense is palpable, the danger obvious but obscured, and the isolation creepy enough to raise the hair on the back of your neck. Theodora Scott is a fascinating and complex character, and the entire Dalton clan is everything you'd expect from a family who spends two weeks every winter locked away at their Grand Lodge. Secrets and coverups abound. Marshall has created a feral and alluring gothic that you won't be able to put down."
Every Moment Since (2024) Marybeth Mayhew Whalen "EVERY MOMENT SINCE is unforgettable. Marybeth Whalen takes every family's worst nightmare and uses her amazing talent for exploring the aftermath to bring this story home. How do you go on when there are no answers? What does forgiveness really look like? In telling the story of Davy Malcor's disappearance, she's tapped into a whole new world of emotional family drama. Heartbreaking and suspenseful, this is Whalen's finest work to date."
You Shouldn't Be Here (2024) Lauren Thoman "A hip, fresh, mind-bending mystery with characters you'll love to pieces. Madelyn is incredibly real, and her clever sleuthing skills bring to mind a modern-day paranormal Nancy Drew - righting serious wrongs and bringing justice to the land. Not to mention she's the perfect foil to the jaw-droppingly yummy Alex. Loved it!"
Only One Survives (2024) Hannah Mary McKinnon "Perfect for Daisy Jones fans who want an element of mystery and twisted suspense with their music, Hannah Mary McKinnon's latest, Only One Survives, is a tour de force. Parts coming of age, subversive culture, and all kinds of thrilling, you'll be hooked to the very end."
You'll Never Find Me (2024) (Angelhart Investigations, book 1) Allison Brennan "You'll Never Find Me is classic Allison Brennan with a fresh twist. The Angelhart family of private investigators are whip-smart, courageous characters you can't help but root for, especially the truly compelling Margo. Faced with a complicated set of cases that leave you guessing until the very end, Brennan doles out just the right amount of family drama while moving the story effortlessly between cases. Coupled with the unique Arizona setting, chilling villains, and Brennan's signature snappy prose, this is the beginning of a fabulous new series from the queen of crime fiction."
Don't Forget Me (2024) Rea Frey "In a deviously clever story, Frey brings a top-notch thriller alive with insane tension and a shocker story. You won't soon forget this stellar read."
One Night (2023) Georgina Cross "What wouldn't a parent do to uncover the truth about their child's passing? In this atmospheric, gothic, beautifully realized story thick with tension that builds to a shriek, Cross establishes herself as a major player in the world of suspense. This book is so full of Christie-esque twists and turns, I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. . . . Deliciously creepy."
Broadway Butterfly (2023) Sara DiVello "A rip-roaring historical mystery with a true crime at its heart, Broadway Butterfly captures both the seedy underbelly and the glamour of New York in the 1920s - flappers and murderers and plots and gangsters and intrepid reporters and gruff detectives abound - and provides a pitch-perfect whodunit. DiVello's impeccable research and depiction of crimes and morality in Jazz Age New York will delight true-crime fans. Don't miss this!"
Forever Hold Your Peace (2023) Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke "Vivid settings, finely drawn characters, and realistic, human, unforgettable conflicts are the hallmarks of Lisa's and Liz's novels, but Forever Hold Your Peace is a cut above. Witty, clever, romantic, and poignant, this story swept me off my feet as easily as Zach does Olivia. Who doesn't want to find the partner of their dreams in Italy? And who wouldn't want their families to just get along so the wedding will go smoothly? The added twist of the ex-best friends forced to find forgiveness so their kids can find happiness just makes this story even richer. I felt summer begin the moment I opened the cover."
The Senator's Wife (2023) Liv Constantine "A thrilling new story from Liv Constantine set in the dark heart of Washington, DC, The Senator's Wife is full of grit, grift, and tons of insider secrets. It's insidiously clever and utterly mesmerizing."
Lovely Girls (2023) Margot Hunt "I couldn't turn the pages fast enough - mean girls, mean moms, the new girl in town, capped off by a superb mystery - Margot Hunt has such a deft hand with the clues that you'll never see it coming."
Dead Drop (2022) (Detective Nathan Parker, book 1) James L'Etoile "An incredible story that grabs you by the throat and tosses you across the room. L'Etoile is a gem."
Complicit (2022) Winnie M Li "COMPLICIT is simply brilliant. Beautiful writing, a compelling story, an intriguing structure - I was captivated from the first paragraph to the last. Li pulls back the veil on the glamorous film industry to show its less-than-savory side, yes, but it's the empathetic lead Sarah Lei who makes the novel truly special. Her journey from eager film student to capable producer to wise and remorseful screenwriting teacher blowing the whistle on a former colleague will touch the hearts of anyone who's made choices that they later regret. Like the fallout from the #MeToo movement, this story will resonate for years to come."
Smile Beach Murder (2022) (Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery, book 1) Alicia Bessette "A perfectly plotted mystery from a wonderful writer, Smile Beach Murder is everything I want from a cozy--barrier-island beaches, a welcoming bookshop, a quaint small town--all balanced against deep secrets and complicated deaths. Callie Padget is a sharp and compassionate amateur sleuth with a compelling backstory, and a quirky cast of characters, family and townspeople alike, round out the story. I can't wait to see what washes up next on the shores of Cattail Island!"
The Lawless Land (2022) (Tales of the Lawless Land, book 1) Beth Morrison and Boyd Morrison "A gallant knight, a witty heroine, a quest for the ages... The Morrisons have created a thrilling medieval adventure packed with fascinating historical detail. The Lawless Land combines the rich historical tapestry of Umberto Eco and the relentless pace and adventure of Clive Cussler into a brilliant new series. I can't wait to see where Fox goes next!"
Last Girl Ghosted (2021) Lisa Unger "Lisa Unger is our most inventive suspense author, and she's created another fascinating, timely, and insanely good story with LAST GIRL GHOSTED… Clear your calendar and lock the doors. You will not be able to stop reading."
Where I Left Her (2021) Amber Garza "Amber Garza's Where I Left Her taps into every parent's worst nightmare, a child gone missing, and worse, the discovery of a hidden internet world that shows they've been hiding a life from you. In this high-tension domestic drama, nothing is as it seems. Don't look away, you won't want to miss a thing!"
Dark Roads (2021) Chevy Stevens "Aptly named, Dark Roads is deep, dark, and unsettling. From the opening page, it's clear you're in the hands of a master storyteller. The missing, the dead, those left behind, the ones who know what's happened, all explode onto the page. With brilliant characterizations, tight plotting, and a setting bound to give you chills, this is Steven's finest book to date. A tour de force mystery you do not want to miss."
Six Weeks to Live (2021) Catherine McKenzie "Every time I open the covers on a Catherine McKenzie novel, I know I'm in for a ride. Six Weeks to Live proves my theory right yet again. With its impeccable plotting and ticking clock, it is the best kind of domestic suspense—a story both heartbreaking and visceral, surprising yet inevitable. Jennifer and her triplets will shock you from start to finish."
The Jigsaw Man (2021) (Inspector Anjelica Henley, book 1) Nadine Matheson "I love a good cat and mouse between a detective and a killer, and Nadine Matheson’s thriller debut The Jigsaw Man fits the bill. The relationship between DI Anjelica Henley and Peter Olivier is perfectly creepy—not to mention Olivier's freaky copycat slaughtering his way through London. From the shocking opening to the explosive ending, I couldn’t look away. The chilling storyline, intense characters, vivid prose, and unflinching crime scenes make Matheson the heir apparent to Mo Hayder and Thomas Harris. Smashing!"
Do No Harm (2021) Christina McDonald "Christina McDonald has a real talent for bringing suburban domestic suspense to life, and showcases it to great effect in Do No Harm. Tense, taut, and absolutely unmissable, you'll find yourself wondering how far YOU would go to save your child's life."
Sweet Water (2021) Cara Reinard "A remarkable tale of family loyalties and lies set in a fresh new world. Fans of Defending Jacob—both the book and the television show—will relish this sinister story of the lengths two parents will go to in order to protect their child."
White Out (2020) (Badlands, book 1) Danielle Girard "White Out is a superb thriller—intense, intricate, and so intriguing. Detective Kylie Milliard is a badass, and Girard is a one heck of a storyteller. The start of a fabulous new series."
The Perfect Marriage (2020) (Perfect , book 1) Jeneva Rose "A book to be read in one gulp-this dastardly debut flies to a shocking reveal. I couldn't put it down; I had to see what happened. Twists galore..."
All Your Twisted Secrets (2020) Diana Urban "ll Your Twisted Secrets is an absolute nail-biter. Diana Urban takes the locked room puzzle mystery and gives it a modern, scary, young adult twist. Young fans of Agatha Christie will be entranced. A stellar new voice to watch."
Dear Wife (2019) Kimberly Belle "Subtle, insidious, clever... DEAR WIFE is spellbinding. I was hooked from the first page. You're going to love Kimberly Belle's latest outing. And you aren't going to see it coming..."
The Stranger Inside (2019) Laura Benedict "Laura Benedict turns her unique voice in suspense to this elegant scary mystery, where nothing is as it seems and one woman's truth is shattered by the hidden secrets of her past."
Hunting Annabelle (2018) Wendy Heard "Dynamic, compelling, and totally twisted, Hunting Annabelle blew me away. I'm still reeling. What a mind Wendy Heard has. What a debut!"
Before We Were Strangers (2018) Brenda Novak "What a book! Before We Were Strangers is dark and compelling, an excellent thriller with heart-pounding twists, full of secrets and lies, and all too real. This is Novak at her sweet and sinister best in a story that could be happening in the house next door. Who is telling the truth? You won't know until the explosive end..."
Rush (2018) Lisa Patton "What a beautiful, haunting novel. In addition to being an engaging, lush portrait of the phenomenon known as rush, and the importance of friendships that bond women for life, RUSH tackles some social injustices lingering in the South. Lisa Patton's work personifies 'be the change.' You have to read this book, and share it with everyone you know."
Desperate Girls (2018) (Wolfe Security, book 1) Laura Griffin "It takes great mastery to combine the terror of a scary killer with a fun, sexy romance. Griffin handles the balance perfectly in Desperate Girls. A nail-biting page turner…"
Somebody's Daughter (2018) David Bell "David Bell never disappoints. Somebody's Daughter is a stunner, full of twists and turns and duplicitous motivations. Bell's solid storytelling is as sharp and scary as ever. Fans of Harlan Coben will love this one."
The Darkest Time of Night (2018) (Darkest Time of Night, book 1) Jeremy Finley "A long-overdue Close Encounters for the modern age, The Darkest Time of Night is a top notch, scary and all-too-real debut with Hollywood written all over it. Thrilling speculative fiction at its finest. Finley is a talented new name to watch."
The Last Thing She Ever Did (2018) Gregg Olsen "Olsen's latest examines how a terrible, split-second decision has lingering effects, and the past echoes the present. Full of unexpected twists, The Last Thing She Ever Did will keep you guessing to the last line."
Just Between Us (2017) Rebecca Drake "Fans of Liane Moriarty and B.A. Paris are going to love this twisty, diabolical suburban thriller. Clear your evening, you won't be able to put it down."
The Vanishing Year (2016) Kate Moretti "The Vanishing Year is more than an engaging tale of utter betrayal. It’s an intricate dance of realities, full of twists and turns you won’t see coming. Kate Moretti has outdone herself. You’ll miss your bedtime, guaranteed."
Flight of Dreams (2016) Ariel Lawhon "A magnificent, tour-de-force story, Flight of Dreams will break your heart and satisfy every conspiracy theorist who’s wondered what really happened to the Hindenburg. Simply spectacular. . . . Lawhon has written the book of the year. She’s a writer to watch—now, and for many years to come."
The Final Seven (2016) (Lightkeepers, book 1) Erica Spindler "Erica Spindler has long been an innovator, but she's created something truly special with this debut in her new thriller series, THE FINAL SEVEN. Engrossing, exciting, and genuinely scary, Spindler takes you on a relentless ride that doesn't let up until the last line. I can't wait to read the next Lightkeepers installment featuring Detectives Michaela Dare and Zach Harris - Spindler has created a partnership for the ages."
Bohemian Gospel (2015) (Bohemian Gospel, book 1) Dana Chamblee Carpenter "A grand, thought-provoking adventure in sorrow, joy and magic. One of the most intriguing novels you'll read this year."
Hide and Seek (2014) (September Day, book 2) Amy Shojai "...a creepy must read for animal lovers...Shojai knows her stuff."
The Summoner (2011) (Dominic Grey, book 1) Layton Green "Part international thriller, part theology text, part philosophic treatise on good and evil, part intricate, unforgettable nightmare-inducing fever dream, The Diabolist has everything you want from a thriller. Layton Green is a master of intellectual suspense. This one’s a killer."
