[.ca] Touching Evil (ISBN 0786237198)

Too Many Psychics Spoil the Book:
I was pleased to see Noah Bishop back and I bought into Maggie Barnes and her empathic ability, but maybe one, or at the most two psychics in a story is enough. I have loved Kay Hooper's books for a long time and plan to go on loving them, but this one was just a little bit off her usual high caliber. Still I enjoyed it, but I'd recommend reading the Shadow series first. Sadly I can only give this one three stars. On a brighter note I rated both "Whisper" and "Sense of Evil" higher. Don't let this one put you off of Kay Hooper, because she's a gem not to be missed. Reviewed by Vesta Irene

Psychic thriller .... too many psychics render unbelievable:
This is the story of Maggie, a psychic empath who listens to crime victims horrible experiences and creates an exact sketch of the criminal. She's very successful up until she begins to help the police with their hunt for a serial rapist who wears a plastic mask and blinds his victims by gouging their eyes out. John, a wealthy business mogul, joins the cast of characters in this story after his sister is victimized by the killer. After healing from the attack she commits suicide - at least that's what the police think - Maggie and John know better. Enter the plot points that spoiled the story: Maggie's brother is also psychic and talks to someone who isn't named during the course of the story at all. Then John brings in two friends from an FBI special unit to help with the investigation. They are also psychic. So there I was reading a thoroughly engrossing story when suddenly the story contained FOUR psychics. That was a bit much. I almost abandoned the book at that point, but didn't. The other spoiler was that all the characters said "Yeah" when they agreed with something - wasn't there an editor involved in this book? Fortunately the story was entertaining enough to finish, but it's not a keeper.

More like 3.5 Stars...Engaging and Fun, If Somewhat Shallow:
The basic premise of the book includes Maggie (main character), an artist that works independently with the police as a (surprise...he, he) a sketch artist. Her main "claim to fame" in this particular book is a seemingly uncanny knack for being able to wade into the misery and pain of the events and talk to a victim, she then walks each crime scene and invariably produces a drawing that is a perfect likeness of the criminal. Enter the present story line...Seattle women, hunted by a serial rapist -- abducting women, blinding them, raping them and finally leaving them for dead in abandoned buildings. The rub...Maggie is unable to get a "feel" for this particular animal and is unable to assist the police since all of the victims have been unable to give any details except that he smells like Ivory soap, has long hair and that has mint scented breath. Enter John (main character also)...he is the brother of the second (?) victim of the "blindfold rapist." Christine presumed dead by her own hand according to the police...but John thinks otherwise and comes to Seattle to follow the investigation and eventually brings in a some old FBI friends (also with an "uncanny knack" for solving crimes) to help tract down the rapist before he starts killing as well. With no clues as to who the rapist is, where he will strick next or who he will choose, the police find that their investigation takes them in all kinds of directions including the fact that these crimes bear a striking resemblance to several that are in old files and remain unsolved from 1934. Even more amazing is that the present day victims are dead ringers (;-) pun intended) of the victims of the 1934 rapist...the book takes on a a whirlwind adventure as Maggie, John, Andy (lead investigative cop), Quinton (FBI) and their respective team members...as they try to solve this mystery before more victims are maimed and brutally murdered! I must say right off the bat that this book is FUN and ENGAGING! Despite some very serious reservations about the ultimate outcome of the story line...I did thoroughly enjoy reading 'Touching Evil' - though it might have been more aptly titled Feeling Evil or Sensing Evil (maybe that's another book though...lol). I read it in one sitting! The plot if FULL of twists and IS suspenseful...as I said previously...I found it very, very hard to put down! Yet...at the end of the book, I felt a little let down. A book so full of fast paced, engaging plot twists manages to be simultaneously stimulating while lacking any true depth...both where the plot is concerned and with the characters as well!! I think this is in large part due to inferior scene descriptions and lack of very in-depth tantalizing plot descriptions...and the characters, while good, lack any real depth (they simply are not fleshed out enough). I found most of them only mildly interesting and would have liked to have "known them better" to enjoy this novel to its fullest possible potential!!! At the very end...ugh...this is the part I was the least happy with when I was done reading it...it built up to an exciting climax...and fizzled...the ending was MUCH too abrupt. Mrs.. Hooper could have put a lot more into making this a hauntingly engaging conclusion rather than the abrupt end it came to!! I almost felt like she reached the end of the book and rather than taking her time with really engaging, descriptive plot revelations...just took a hurry get it done...tie up the loose ends...approach to the ending that we got stuck with! Don't get me wrong...I got the ending...I understand what she was doing and how all the events tied together...but it's the WAY it was done that left me cold...I wanted MORE...I wanted an in depth explanation of the WHY of it, and that was just not there!! The only other "annoying" things about 'Touching Evil,' are internally within the story line, there were a few instances where the events lacked "closure" and seemed pointless or totally unconnected to the story line (possibly from other books or lead in's for future characters in other books????)....that leaves these chapters feeling muddled and unfinished....i.e. most of the mid-read events regarding Maggie's brother...and who in the HECK is Galen??!!???!! Honestly...I could have done without that! And finally...TOO MANY psychics, potential psychics, and pseudo-psychics in the mix here...honestly....two or three TOPS was enough -- but the team member who might be, the assistant who's mildly...give it a rest...and I think there was FAR too much emphasis on "hiding" the fact that Maggie is an empath and the FBI team is comprised of psychics...especially AFTER most of the characters have accepted it and even embraced it!! John...and his all to practical, down-to-earth un-acceptance of it for most of the book is a bit too much...there were several places early in the story line to allow him to "get on board" with it, but the author choose to drag it out until WAY too late in the book! BUT...even having said all that...I think this book is definitely worth a read!! This isn't quite a "B" movie book...but it's better than that...but it's not a blockbuster hit either!! This is a great book for a Saturday in bed read!! You might be a little annoyed at the end...but you'll truly enjoy reading it!! I give it a B+ for readability and content!! It has substance...but there could be more meat on this bone!! I'm going to read the next in this series when I get the chance...and based on other reviews...I think the "shadows" series might be worthwhile reading as well!! Stay tuned for more reviews!! ;-)

Kept me on the edge of my seat!:
This book was wonderful, had a wonderful plot and once I started reading I did not want to put it down, I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Hooper Makes the Unbelievable Believable:
I was hooked by "Touching Evil" by the very first line. Police sketch artist Maggie Barnes, an empath (she feels other's pain) has uncanny psychic abilities. She can see through the eyes of the victims, but when a serial rapist blinds his victims, Maggie needs help. Enter the FBI special crimes unit. A lot of psychics in this book, including Noah Bishop, but I've met him before, so I was glad to see him back. This book is a fast read and though it's graphic, it's certainly not as graphic as a lot of others out there. Hooper makes the unbelievable believable, peoples her pages with characters we want to see more of and gives us the chilly willies late at night. What more could you want from a book. This five star thriller is a must read for fans of the paranormal mystery genre. Review submitted by Katie Osborne