Reflection-dominated nuclear X-ray emission in the early-type galaxy ESO
  565--G019
  We present the discovery of a reflection-dominated active galactic nucleus
(AGN) in the early-type radio-quiet galaxy ESO 565--G019 with Suzaku and
Swift/BAT. The source X-ray spectrum below 10 keV is characteristic of other
Compton-thick (CT) AGN, clearly showing an inverted continuum and prodigious
fluorescence iron emission above ~3 keV. A Compton shoulder to the neutral Fe
Kalpha line also appears to be present. There is evidence for long-term hard
X-ray flux variability which we associate with changes in the intrinsic AGN
power-law. The increasing sensitivity of ongoing and new hard X-ray surveys
means that more such reflection-dominated AGN ought to be uncovered in the near
future. ESO 565--G019 is hosted in an early-type galaxy whose morphology has
been variously classified as either type E or type S0. Only about 20 bona fide
CT-AGN have been identified in the local universe so far, and all exist in host
galaxies with late Hubble types (S0 or later). CT columns of nuclear obscuring
gas are uncommon in early-type galaxies in the local universe, so confirmation
of the exact morphological class of ESO 565--G019 is important. Infrared
photometry also shows the presence of large quantities of cool dust in the
host, indicative of significant ongoing star-formation. ESO 565--G019 may be
the first identified local example of minor-merger driven CT-AGN growth in an
early-type host, or may be the result of interaction with its neighboring
galaxy ESO 565--G018 in a wide pair.
