Touchy and Feely

Sissy Sawyer #1

by Graham Masterton

The first in the new Sissy Sawyer series When Fidelio Valdes, a disaffected young Puerto Rican, and Robert Touche, a drunk and aggressive businessman who has lost his job and his wife, meet, they begin a spree of random shootings. The Connecticut Police are baffled until widowed fortune-teller Sissy Sawyer contacts them to say that her cards are predicting the murders and giving her clues to the identity of the killers . . .

Genres: Mystery, Horror, Crime, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2005

About the author

Graham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.

At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.

Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.

Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.

He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.

Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.

He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.

Reviews

[Agi · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh my... I wanted to read something by my fav author when i was a teenager. Something I haven't read yet. But I think I picked the wrong book. Its not too bad, its just- it feels like finnaly it starts, and then bam! Finished. Great build up for somethig, feels like a begining of a larger book, if it wouldn't be for the abrupt and feck up end.
I would skip it if I would have known, that (SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) all the actions of main characters have absolutely no sense or purpose whatsoever, which makes whole book pointless. No explanation. Blah.

[Edward Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of an auspicious start to a new book series. Book had potential, but I didn't really like any of the Characters, good or bad.

Graham Masterton is one of my favorite writers and there was enough going on in the series that I am willing to try the next in the series. Hopefully I'll have more of positive say for the next Sissy Sawyer reading.

[denudatio_pulpae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sissy Sawyer to urocza starsza pani, której hobby to wróżenie – z fusów, dłoni, kart. Urządzała również seanse spirytystyczne, ale jej specjalnością są karty DeVane, czyli osiemnastowieczne francuskie „karty miłości”, które potrafią przepowiedzieć przyszłość. Kiedy pewnego zimowego popołudnia Sissy postanowiła rozłożyć karty, nie spodziewała się takiego upiornego wyniku. Wyciągnęła bowiem dwie karty burzy, a to nie mogło oznaczać niczego dobrego. I oczywiście miała rację – zaczęli ginąć ludzie, zabijani przez nieuchwytnego snajpera. Czy Sissy będzie w stanie pomóc w znalezieniu mordercy?

Tym razem Masterton stworzył thriller z elementami nadprzyrodzonymi. Sissy Sawyer jest całkiem sympatyczną główną bohaterką, ale sama intryga jest bardzo prosta i niewiele tutaj jest elementów, które mogą zaskoczyć. Chyba wolę horrory w wydaniu autora, przynajmniej można liczyć na trochę makabry.
6/10

[Fred Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a terrible book, but there's not much to it. Another clairvoyant who is reading clues into crimes. Some misfits causing mayhem. It's Graham Masterston, so, of course, there's a gratuitous sex scene. But this is supposed to be the first in a series. There's nothing here that's so special that would make a non-Masterton fan want to move on to the next in the series. And I've got a complaint, but I'm giving a spoiler alert first.

**** SPOILER ALERT *****

I have the same complaint here that I had regarding The Sweetman Curve. At the crucial point in this novel, a car explodes. Why? Because it's a thriller, and cars are supposed to explode in thrillers? Cars do not explode as much in real life as makers of these movies and novels would lead us to believe, and it's annoying when they do with no good reason. There was no need for an explosion here.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is different. She's a sixty-seven year old fortune teller and her deck of cards tells her that two storms are coming to town.

The descriptions of the images on each of the cards was very well done; I could picture the cards as I read.

Sissie and her cards were probably the best thing about this book.

It felt like the story was cut short, though, as if it never had a chance to get going before it ended. There was no 'high point' where my nerves were wound up tightly, waiting for the story to be resolved.

A good read, but something was missing. As a writer, I suspect the something was an element in the story structure.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating is 3.5 and full review is to be posted on The Cubicle Escapee

I love how I discover new series on Kindle Unlimited and the fun I can have with the series. this is one of those series that I will continue to read and I enjoyed the gritty writing style the author has. Certainly recommend this for those that love fortune tellers and a little crazy

[Daniel DeLappe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I have been reading this author since Manatou in the late 70's. I loved the twist in this book. If you have never read any books by this writer. Start anywhere you want. They are all great (his fiction-the non-fiction not my cup of tea).

[Laura C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this whole book today; it was a fast-paced terrific story that I obviously couldn't put down. It was not too gory which surprised me based on some of the comments that were listed on the back. I am seriously considering going right back to my cozy bed to read the next one in the series right now.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighter style of mystery from Graham Masteron, but written in his usual style, so well-written with well-developed characters. A nice in between read that has a bit more "body" than many cozy-mysteries.

[Stargazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

First audio book i've listened to in ages. Love the title, the nicknames of two of the characters, - that pulled me in and really helped me through a couple of nights insomnia, will try more of his books.

[Matt Kight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Graham Masterton and I liked it. My next book of his will probably one of his more popular horror novels. This one was easy to read (and short) and I especially liked the Sissy Sawyer character and definitely plan to read more of the series with her.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love his books.....

[Amk256 King · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok!! Filled a few hours. Nothing to get too excited about, some parts were better than others. Quite a strange mixture!!

[Siobhan Leahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5


Not really sure I'm this books target audience. But I normally like Graham Masterton.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read couldn’t put it down!

[Jamie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sissy Sawyer is a physic, in her 70's living in Connecticut. She is a widow and her son disapproves of everything from her smoking to her Tarot readings , but despite nagging her constantly, he thinks it is a good idea they all go to Florida for a vacation.

While she is trying to decide on the vacation offer, Sissy reads her own cards and sees dark times ahead, she is convinced the cards hold the answer to the spate of recently, seemingly random shootings in the county.

Sissy is reluctant to tell the police what she thinks she knows, sure they will dismiss her as a flake, but she decides to try anyway.

I did like this,will probably read the rest of the series, it wasn't as long as some of his books and it was bit gentler than some of his longer novels.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! I found the main characters to be quite amusing. A nice quick read. :)

[Lucas Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good thiller, as like every Masterton's book. But maybe a little bit too short.

[Ronnie, · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read, not horrific like other Masterton novels. Some good ideas and a couple of laughs along the way,

[Abnieszka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...