Customer Reviews

Touching Evil

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

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!! ;-)

Now I knew there were tons of psychos out there in general, but psychics in one town? This book started out very promising and gave me chills simply because the victims resembled those of Ted Bundy or the Manson Family. However, in all of Maggie Barnes and company's adventures with this case, I kept wondering who in this book WASN'T psychic. Hell, even one of the surviving victims became psychic after being brutalized by this creep. Okay, she wasn't psychic; she was guided by the killer's sister in a past life. Hey, I'm not making this stuff up!

I can accept clairvoyants because they have truly helped solve real crimes, such as the Gacey murder, and so I went along with the idea of Maggie Barnes' artistic ability combined with "seeing" to help solve crimes. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep track of who was who in the book very well, and then Kay Hooper threw in karma and reincarnation. It got to be too much, but I was still glued to the gruesome story of a serial rapist/killer who cut the eyes out of his victims. "Lovely" touch there with the pregnant victim having her baby chopped out of her womb a la Sharon Tate.

OKAY, SPOILER TIME:

The ending was what really made me angry. This guy (who is Maggie's boyfriend's supposedly deceased brother-in-law) does all these vulgar, gross, horrifying things, then when confronted by Maggie (who was conveniently this guy's wife in their past lives), one of his surviving victims with a successful eye transplant, and the ghost of his sister screams "NO, NOOOOOOOOO!" before being shot at the end? That's IT? Who knew an evil butcher could turn into such a whimp when told by his victims that they "see" him? The only thing I "saw" was that the killer was only mentioned once before earlier in the book so that he could have been anybody at all, because you would have missed him if you blinked.

To sum it all up, I guess you could say the premise was good, but the execution fell flat quickly. Like others here, I was left scratching my head, feeling dissatisfied and confused with a story that should have been more solid. In fact, the only thing I came away certain of with the gory nature of the crimes is that Kay Hooper must have a huge crush on Charlie Manson.

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.

This book was a total let down. There was too much gore! And the plot had too many loose ends. I had to reread a section because I thought I had missed a clue. The fate of the woman and her unborn child was over the top and totally unnecessary.

I became familiar with Kay through the Shadows series. Her mystery romance novels never interested me.

As far as I'm concern, a Touch of Evil is in the same league as a slasher movie. This book, from this author, was my last.

Ive started this review several times, and I just cant seem to come up with words and descriptions to do justice to this book. In my wildest dreams I didnt see how Kay Hooper could possible top her Shadows trilogy which I thought was fantastic, but you know what, I think she has managed to do just that.

Maggie Barnes is a police sketch artist working with the police in Seattle. She has a unique gift of being able to draw crucial information out of victims and therefore sketching whoever has harmed them. No matter how terrifying or gruesome the crime is, Maggie finds a way to relate to the victims. That is until the Blindfold Rapist hits Seattle.

John Garrett is a powerful businessman who has just managed to worm his way into a high profile case. Someone is attacking the women of Seattle, savagely raping and brutally beating them. Then, for reasons known only to the attacker, he cuts their eyes out. Why is John involved? One of the victims was his sister.

While Seattle has a good police department, John becomes frustrated and takes matters into his own hands by calling Quentin, boyhood friend. Quentin works for a special unit at the FBI. This special unit deals with psychic abilities and the unknown. Sound familiar? You got it. Some friends from the Shadows trilogy make an appearance and play a vital part of this story.

As I said before, there are so many factors in this story that I cant do it justice. I will say this before you dive into it, pay attention to the numerous characters introduced. They all play vital roles. If I have any complaints about this new series it would be the fact they are not going to be released one after another for three months like the last trilogy Ms. Hooper wrote. I have to admit while reading the Shadows trilogy, I got spoiled knowing I only had to wait one month before the next book came out.

I'm a big fan of Kay Hooper, and her books always make for a good read on a rainy afternoon. "Touching Evil," however, was rather overblown in the "psychic" department - there were enough psychics in this book to float a battleship, and I completely and totally agree with the other reviewers who found the never-ending parade of characters to be a needless distraction. I would have liked to see more chemistry between Maggie, the protagonist, and John; however, their romance appeared throughout the book almost as though it were an afterthought. There wasn't any connection between these two, other than a brief sexual encounter which was very quickly elevated to "true love" by the last few pages of the book. "Touching Evil" wasn't the worst suspense book I've read, but I do believe that Hooper can do much better - in fact I know she can, I've read her "Shadows" series.

I was so jublilated to discover that Kay Hooper has written another psychic murder mystery series. I absolutely loved all of her previous "Shadow Series" novels and I think that the "Evil Series" will be just as good. "Touching Evil" featured everyone's favorite psychic FBI Agent, Noah Bishop! The plot: Women are getting murdered, maimed, and mutilated in Seattle, Washington. Luckily, one of the victims survived her horrific experience. Sketch artist Maggie O'Connor is called in by the Seattle PD to help recreate a picture of the city's latest psychopath from the surviving victim. Maggie has psychic abilities. When she goes to visit the crime scenes, visions come into her head. Either of pictures of the murder or scenes from the victims eyes. A powerful businessman needs Maggie to help catch this killer because this psychopath butchered his sister. As the case intensifies, and the danger for Maggie's life escalates, Agent Bishop is called in to help. This novel keeps the suspense pounding the whole way like a nerve shattering roller coaster ride all the way until the exciting finale. I can't wait for "Whisper of Evil" in March 2002!

You must have an open mind when reading Ms. Hooper and I find that if you are not open to different ideas you won't care for this author.

Maggie is an artist that works independently with the police as a sketch artist. She has the amazing ability to talk to a victim, walk a crime scene and produce a drawing that is a perfect likeness of the criminal. Seattle women are currently being hunted by a serial rapist. He is abducting the women, blinding them, and raping them leaving them for dead in abandon buildings. Maggie has been unable to get a feel for this 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 and that he has a spearmint scented breath.

John is the brother of one of the victims of the blindfold rapist. His sister Christine is dead by her own hand or so the police think. John thinks otherwise and comes to Seattle to follow the investigation and bring in a few friends (Shadow Series) to help tract down the rapist before he starts killing as well.

The police have no clues as to who the rapist is and who he will strike next. Their investigation takes them in all kinds of directions including the fact that these crimes are real similar to crimes that were unsolved from 1934. The victims of the 1934 rapist look almost like twins to the present day victims. What is the link?

First off I must admit to feeling that the ending was a bad one and did not seem to be well thought out almost as if Ms. Hooper forgot that she must wrap up the book soon. Perhaps if there was at least a chapter to explain how the bad guy became the bad guy would have helped. Trust me you will never guess who the killer is unless you read the end first. The second thing that bothered me was the fact that there were a few parts of the story that I did not feel have closure and did not seem to have much to do with the story ending so why bother. There was also the fact that there were a couple of characters that did not seem to really belong to the story. They were introduced but they were never explained as to who they were, and what they were all about, and how they came to be involved in the investigation. Otherwise this was still a good book with great suspense. As for the killing, and the raping I don't feel that she went into incredible detail and I must admit to having read more graphic detail in other authors. Be warned that this is more of a suspense thriller with a paranormal slant and less a romance. There is romance between John and Maggie but it is a backseat storyline. The sweet with the sour really. Have an open mind when you read this story. May not be 5 stars but it is still worth reading.

I read the "Shadows" series and thought it was okay, though the paranormal isn't really my thing. This one, however, was unbearable. It's unnecessarily gory, and too many psychics spoil the plot.

Definitely not worth the money, and definitely the last one of this author's books for me.

Maggie's psychic. Quentin's psychic. Beau is psychic.
Miranda's psychic. Kendra's not quite as psychic. Hollis is
psychic. The killer is psychic. The whole blasted book is boiling with psychics. Too many rules about being psychic in order to keep the plot moving. Too many people with too many mysteries in their past...quickly turns what was an interesting
plot twist into an annoying plot contrivance....I was ready to shred the book before I got to the end...irritating, grating and
just not very good.