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Touched #1
A Touch of Murder
Officer Barret Whitestone loves the small town of Hidden Falls. After all, he grew up there. He takes his job of protecting the people seriously, and so when a case brings him to Touched, he's sure he has just met the biggest fraud and charlatan in town. With a murder case to solve, he doesn't have time to waste with someone he's sure is taking advantage of a grieving family.
Adam is a psychometric—a person who has the rare ability to sense an object's history through touch. But unlike most others with his gift, he can't turn the ability off. He's used to people not believing him, but when it comes to murder, he knows he can help identify a killer.
With pressure from the town, Barret humors Adam. At first, he's convinced he's wasting time and energy, but when what Adam tells him starts to match with the evidence, he can't help but believe there may be something to Adam's ability.
Forced to put their differences aside, the two slowly piece together what happened to a missing woman. Navigating through a confusing case while searching for evidence that can be used in court, they're both determined to bring a killer to justice and learn to trust each other along the way.
Adam is a psychometric—a person who has the rare ability to sense an object's history through touch. But unlike most others with his gift, he can't turn the ability off. He's used to people not believing him, but when it comes to murder, he knows he can help identify a killer.
With pressure from the town, Barret humors Adam. At first, he's convinced he's wasting time and energy, but when what Adam tells him starts to match with the evidence, he can't help but believe there may be something to Adam's ability.
Forced to put their differences aside, the two slowly piece together what happened to a missing woman. Navigating through a confusing case while searching for evidence that can be used in court, they're both determined to bring a killer to justice and learn to trust each other along the way.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2025
77 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Leya
100 books314 followersE.M. Leya lives surrounded by the beautiful mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah with her amazing daughter and loving pets. She is passionate about the world we live in and current events, deeming herself a "news junkie". She believes that we are all here to create something beautiful, whether it's through our talents or our actions. She enjoys writing stories that take us deep into real world problems while showing that love can happen for anyone, regardless of how dark their past might be.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 9, 2025
I'm a little bummed. I didn't know going into this it was going to be an ongoing series with just Adam and Barrett.
The romance was very mild. (Few kisses)
I still liked it though! I wanted the bad guys caught, and Adams' abilities were so cool.
I always have a hard time getting back into a story when it isn't finished... Hopefully I remember to come back to this when the second book releases.
I want to read their first intimate scene so bad.
The romance was very mild. (Few kisses)
I still liked it though! I wanted the bad guys caught, and Adams' abilities were so cool.
I always have a hard time getting back into a story when it isn't finished... Hopefully I remember to come back to this when the second book releases.
I want to read their first intimate scene so bad.
September 7, 2025
4.5 stars
September 30, 2025
My two biggest bones to pick:
1) Too much dialogue that doesn't move the story forward (info dumps dressed in quotation marks) slows the pace and makes large sections boring to read.
2) Barret's initial skepticism seemed out of place. He's been in town longer than Adam has is somehow the only local who doesn't believe in his abilities? It also didn't contribute to his character arc either.
1) Too much dialogue that doesn't move the story forward (info dumps dressed in quotation marks) slows the pace and makes large sections boring to read.
2) Barret's initial skepticism seemed out of place. He's been in town longer than Adam has is somehow the only local who doesn't believe in his abilities? It also didn't contribute to his character arc either.
September 20, 2025
Rating: 4🌈
E.M. Leya writes the terrific Ghostly romance mystery series and this is the first in her new paranormal murder mystery series, Touched.
The main characters , located in the small town of Hidden Falls , WA, are Barrett Whitestone, 34, PD detective skeptic and Adam Wrecker , 32,a psychometric psychic. That’s someone who can , by touch, sense events and experiences from an object they have been given.
A missing girl brings the two men together and the cosy nature of the small town dynamics repeatedly makes repeated visits necessary in various ways.
One aspect of this story that’s out of the usual box for this author is the graphic depiction of violent SA, torture and murder of the victim here. I suspect that, given the circumstances surrounding the psychic gift of Adam Wrecker that this will be a reoccurring issue.
I feel this series and story should have trigger warnings associated with it given those elements. FYI.
Leya is creating a new cozy mystery atmosphere for her series by introducing a full cast of townsfolk and shopkeepers, police officers included. It’s a tiny town that counts on tourism. But most cozy mysteries don’t have such raw material as part of their storylines.
There’s a sweet, slow burn romance between the two characters but countered by the graphic horror of the victim’s death.
For me, the other seems jarring here. I get that it helps authenticate Adam as a psychometric, but it’s out of “character “ for the rest of the narrative. If this was a harder type of story with characters who are hardcore, a romance with an edge , and darkness, then I’d expect this aspect of the novel.
But with donuts, small towns communities dynamics and cozy spaces, along with the occasional slow burn sweet kisses, it other feels out of place.
Adam comes across as very believable in his gifts. The slow investigation of the culprits and frustrations of the small police force also seems real and credible.
A Touch of Murder is a good start to a new series. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us next.
Cover Art by: Annabella Stone
E.M. Leya writes the terrific Ghostly romance mystery series and this is the first in her new paranormal murder mystery series, Touched.
The main characters , located in the small town of Hidden Falls , WA, are Barrett Whitestone, 34, PD detective skeptic and Adam Wrecker , 32,a psychometric psychic. That’s someone who can , by touch, sense events and experiences from an object they have been given.
A missing girl brings the two men together and the cosy nature of the small town dynamics repeatedly makes repeated visits necessary in various ways.
One aspect of this story that’s out of the usual box for this author is the graphic depiction of violent SA, torture and murder of the victim here. I suspect that, given the circumstances surrounding the psychic gift of Adam Wrecker that this will be a reoccurring issue.
I feel this series and story should have trigger warnings associated with it given those elements. FYI.
Leya is creating a new cozy mystery atmosphere for her series by introducing a full cast of townsfolk and shopkeepers, police officers included. It’s a tiny town that counts on tourism. But most cozy mysteries don’t have such raw material as part of their storylines.
There’s a sweet, slow burn romance between the two characters but countered by the graphic horror of the victim’s death.
For me, the other seems jarring here. I get that it helps authenticate Adam as a psychometric, but it’s out of “character “ for the rest of the narrative. If this was a harder type of story with characters who are hardcore, a romance with an edge , and darkness, then I’d expect this aspect of the novel.
But with donuts, small towns communities dynamics and cozy spaces, along with the occasional slow burn sweet kisses, it other feels out of place.
Adam comes across as very believable in his gifts. The slow investigation of the culprits and frustrations of the small police force also seems real and credible.
A Touch of Murder is a good start to a new series. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us next.
Cover Art by: Annabella Stone
September 8, 2025
Loved it!
I am addicted to E.M. Leya’s Ghostly series so when I saw this book I downloaded it I immediately and I wasn’t disappointed, I loved it.
It was nice to read about a psychic with a different ability. Adam has been bullied and called a freak his whole life but now in his thirties he has come to terms with his ability to touch something and get visions of its history and as these visions drain him and unlike some who can turn their ability on and off, Adam can’t and so he spends his life wearing gloves. As you can imagine this means his love life is non existent.
On a visit to Yellowstone Adam stubbles upon the small town of Hidden Falls and immediately falls in love, buys a store and apartment and leaves Denver behind.
Barret is a cop in the small town of Hidden Falls in Idaho. He left for the bright lights of city life in Seattle but was drawn back to the town where he was born. When he first meets Adam he is a huge sceptic and bordering on rude, but when Adam proves to be a massive help when a teenage girl is murdered, giving them their only leads, Barret admits that whilst he doesn’t understand Adam’s abilities, Adam doesn’t either, he is the real deal. In fact Barret becomes his biggest cheerleader.
This book had all the elements I love, paranormal, small town, murder mystery and two MC’s attracted to one another but with huge obstacles to overcome. Can you imagine whenever your partner touches you, he can see everything in your past and present flashing through his head, there are no secrets and it’s not for the faint hearted, but Barret is a decent and honest man and thinks Adam is worth it.
Loved this book and I really hope that it is the first in a new series as there is so much potential for Adam to assist the local police with his psychometric abilities.
I am addicted to E.M. Leya’s Ghostly series so when I saw this book I downloaded it I immediately and I wasn’t disappointed, I loved it.
It was nice to read about a psychic with a different ability. Adam has been bullied and called a freak his whole life but now in his thirties he has come to terms with his ability to touch something and get visions of its history and as these visions drain him and unlike some who can turn their ability on and off, Adam can’t and so he spends his life wearing gloves. As you can imagine this means his love life is non existent.
On a visit to Yellowstone Adam stubbles upon the small town of Hidden Falls and immediately falls in love, buys a store and apartment and leaves Denver behind.
Barret is a cop in the small town of Hidden Falls in Idaho. He left for the bright lights of city life in Seattle but was drawn back to the town where he was born. When he first meets Adam he is a huge sceptic and bordering on rude, but when Adam proves to be a massive help when a teenage girl is murdered, giving them their only leads, Barret admits that whilst he doesn’t understand Adam’s abilities, Adam doesn’t either, he is the real deal. In fact Barret becomes his biggest cheerleader.
This book had all the elements I love, paranormal, small town, murder mystery and two MC’s attracted to one another but with huge obstacles to overcome. Can you imagine whenever your partner touches you, he can see everything in your past and present flashing through his head, there are no secrets and it’s not for the faint hearted, but Barret is a decent and honest man and thinks Adam is worth it.
Loved this book and I really hope that it is the first in a new series as there is so much potential for Adam to assist the local police with his psychometric abilities.
December 28, 2025
Other people said in their review that they thought this book seemed a bit amateurish, and I agree with that assessment. The writing itself is fine (it's the reason why I was able to read the entire book), but the plot could have landed much better if it had been structured differently.
Here are a few other things I didn't like :
- Too much dialogue.
- The characters were boring; they all felt like goody two-shoes and lacked depth.
- I feel like logic was missing in... quite a few things. For example, why would Barrett share new developments in his case with Adam, or anyone for that matter, if the case is ongoing?
- I wasn't convinced with the portrayal of the community? The story took place in a small Americain town where everyone knows everyone else. The two main characters (and many other characters) seemed very taken with their community, and they were very giving to other people. TOO giving. No one is that nice all the time. Like, you can't just keep doing your job for free or while giving discounts left and right. You need money to live! So, yeah, it sounded over the top to me, but I'm not an Americain, so what do I know? Maybe small towns really are like that.
Here are a few other things I didn't like :
- Too much dialogue.
- The characters were boring; they all felt like goody two-shoes and lacked depth.
- I feel like logic was missing in... quite a few things. For example, why would Barrett share new developments in his case with Adam, or anyone for that matter, if the case is ongoing?
- I wasn't convinced with the portrayal of the community? The story took place in a small Americain town where everyone knows everyone else. The two main characters (and many other characters) seemed very taken with their community, and they were very giving to other people. TOO giving. No one is that nice all the time. Like, you can't just keep doing your job for free or while giving discounts left and right. You need money to live! So, yeah, it sounded over the top to me, but I'm not an Americain, so what do I know? Maybe small towns really are like that.
October 16, 2025
Romance with a touch of pnr
This was a very sweet, mellow romance, even with the addition of a pretty nasty brutal murder mystery.
The main story is Barret a small town, police officer, and Adam who is able to read the history of objects touching them.
Barret reluctantly visits Adam shop in order to get assistance with a missing girl, and a brutal murder. He is an adamant unbeliever until he’s not.
The romance is very, very, very slow burn, especially due to the fact that Adam wears gloves 100% of the time and has difficulty touching people because every time he does, he gets intimate flashes of their history.
Very sweet well written little romance story with a touch of the paranormal .
This was a very sweet, mellow romance, even with the addition of a pretty nasty brutal murder mystery.
The main story is Barret a small town, police officer, and Adam who is able to read the history of objects touching them.
Barret reluctantly visits Adam shop in order to get assistance with a missing girl, and a brutal murder. He is an adamant unbeliever until he’s not.
The romance is very, very, very slow burn, especially due to the fact that Adam wears gloves 100% of the time and has difficulty touching people because every time he does, he gets intimate flashes of their history.
Very sweet well written little romance story with a touch of the paranormal .
October 12, 2025
This story is so good!
I loved reading about someone with the gift of psychometry. Adam's ability is fascinating. He's so brave.
Barett is a brat to Adam at first but once he gets over himself I love how sweet he is to him. It really made me love him when he was willing to try and love Adam in spite of the issues that his gift caused. They're adorable together.
I wish this story was a little faster paced. I understand that their relationship has to go slow, but I mean the storyline itself Overall I enjoyed reading A Touch of Murder. I hope it will be coming out in audio. It would be cool to be able to listen to it.
I loved reading about someone with the gift of psychometry. Adam's ability is fascinating. He's so brave.
Barett is a brat to Adam at first but once he gets over himself I love how sweet he is to him. It really made me love him when he was willing to try and love Adam in spite of the issues that his gift caused. They're adorable together.
I wish this story was a little faster paced. I understand that their relationship has to go slow, but I mean the storyline itself Overall I enjoyed reading A Touch of Murder. I hope it will be coming out in audio. It would be cool to be able to listen to it.
October 28, 2025
This book has the kind of premise I really enjoy so I was looking forward to reading it. And I was left disappointed due to almost amateurish writing. It's too dialogue heavy with little description and the dialogues are just awkward. Nobody talks like they do in this book, it's so unnatural! Characters also tell instead of show - then to make it worse they repeat it to another character and then once again for good measure. So you read an event described three times! The romance is flat, no chemistry, no spark. I thought this was a debut novel, but then I found out E.M. Leya is a prolific writer. Wut.
September 5, 2025
The first book in a new series with an MC who can see the history of things by touching them.
Barret, a local police officer and sceptic visits Adam in the hope he can help with a missing person.
Barret is shocked when he tests Adam out by handing him his new handcuffs only for Adam to have visions of Barret's grandmother.
However Barret does come round the the 2 work together to solve the missing person , who is now a murder.
Loved this book. I love her Ghostly series and it was nice to have an MC with a different ability.
I can't wait for the next book
Barret, a local police officer and sceptic visits Adam in the hope he can help with a missing person.
Barret is shocked when he tests Adam out by handing him his new handcuffs only for Adam to have visions of Barret's grandmother.
However Barret does come round the the 2 work together to solve the missing person , who is now a murder.
Loved this book. I love her Ghostly series and it was nice to have an MC with a different ability.
I can't wait for the next book
October 19, 2025
Adam & Barret
A girl has been abducted and Adam sees her death through touch. Barret is investigating and believes Adam to be a fake. The case takes a turn and the two end up working together which leads them to begin to understand each other. I didn’t read any trigger warnings and I was fine but if someone has triggers, please read them, Adam describes Trina’s assault and death as he sees it in detail.
Enjoyed this book and the characters. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
A girl has been abducted and Adam sees her death through touch. Barret is investigating and believes Adam to be a fake. The case takes a turn and the two end up working together which leads them to begin to understand each other. I didn’t read any trigger warnings and I was fine but if someone has triggers, please read them, Adam describes Trina’s assault and death as he sees it in detail.
Enjoyed this book and the characters. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
January 1, 2026
Maybe a 3.5
While an interesting idea, this didn't capture me as much as I thought it would.
While Adam and Barret were an interesting couple and I enjoyed their slow introduction, the dialogue felt a little wooden at times. There also seemed a lot of over explanations and repeated convos.
I also had issues with Barrets injury and how fast he was discharged from hospital and then went hiking two weeks later.. I really hate serious injuries being dismissed so easily.
Overall a solid story, with an interesting theme and a gruesome murder, but I feel it let itself down somewhat.
While an interesting idea, this didn't capture me as much as I thought it would.
While Adam and Barret were an interesting couple and I enjoyed their slow introduction, the dialogue felt a little wooden at times. There also seemed a lot of over explanations and repeated convos.
I also had issues with Barrets injury and how fast he was discharged from hospital and then went hiking two weeks later.. I really hate serious injuries being dismissed so easily.
Overall a solid story, with an interesting theme and a gruesome murder, but I feel it let itself down somewhat.
October 9, 2025
Just so you know that I don’t hate this book. I wished I could love it since I enjoy the first 30% so much but things so slow with a peaceful writing and not that much mystery in this book. Mostly they just talking about the shop, the community and the ability he has. The suspects also dull. We had no idea why they did horrible things to the girl. Lots of things seemed off and I’m sad because I kind of like it at first 😢
October 13, 2025
Adam and Barret
Berrit is a police officer who is in charge of a case where the girl was killed. His partner suggests they go to Adam for a reading on the bracelet that was found in her car. Adam is a psychometric reader. He touches things to see what happened to them or what their provenance is. Berrit does not believe in Adams visions at all.
This was an incredible book! Highly Recommended
Berrit is a police officer who is in charge of a case where the girl was killed. His partner suggests they go to Adam for a reading on the bracelet that was found in her car. Adam is a psychometric reader. He touches things to see what happened to them or what their provenance is. Berrit does not believe in Adams visions at all.
This was an incredible book! Highly Recommended
October 27, 2025
A new series from EM Leya! I love the Ghostly series…and it looks like I’m falling in love with this new Touch series. Adam has the gift of visions whenever he touches something/someone. Barrett is a small town cop who at first thinks Adam is a scam artist. But once Adam proves his gift helping with finding a missing teen and her killers, Barrett eyes and mind are now open. Not only to Adam’s gift, but to Adam as a man.
December 16, 2025
visions lead the way
To great story. Nice mixes of the paranormal, killers and friends to more.
The author did a great job stitching together the characters and plot. It was nice to see the main character not thrust into the common life and death struggle one often sees in these books. The supporting characters develop well as the story progresses. Hope for more adventures of Adam and Barrett
To great story. Nice mixes of the paranormal, killers and friends to more.
The author did a great job stitching together the characters and plot. It was nice to see the main character not thrust into the common life and death struggle one often sees in these books. The supporting characters develop well as the story progresses. Hope for more adventures of Adam and Barrett
December 8, 2025
Great mystery, sweet romance, black pepper level spice
And annoying grammatical errors. At a pivotal emotional point, the wrong main character's name is used. I don't want to be a grammar Karen, but errors like that do take me out of the book, even for a nanosecond. Makes it hard to stay in the book, which makes it hard to totally enjoy.
Pay for good editors, folks!
And annoying grammatical errors. At a pivotal emotional point, the wrong main character's name is used. I don't want to be a grammar Karen, but errors like that do take me out of the book, even for a nanosecond. Makes it hard to stay in the book, which makes it hard to totally enjoy.
Pay for good editors, folks!
October 7, 2025
Meh
It’s an interesting idea but the writing is very plain. It’d be good if someone introduced this writer to adjectives. I found it kind of boring even in the parts that were supposed to be exciting.
It’s an interesting idea but the writing is very plain. It’d be good if someone introduced this writer to adjectives. I found it kind of boring even in the parts that were supposed to be exciting.
November 10, 2025
New great read
Loved the premises of this story, not being able to have physical contact with another person without being hit with their memories, sad. But this story was actually pretty great and made you feel for the characters . Highly recommend.
Loved the premises of this story, not being able to have physical contact with another person without being hit with their memories, sad. But this story was actually pretty great and made you feel for the characters . Highly recommend.
November 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this one, the bit of paranormal alongside the cozy small town vibe, the crime aspect, and the sweet budding romance were great. I can’t wait for the next one, hopefully we have it soon! I think there is a lot of plot material to work with, especially the crime-solving aspect.
January 9, 2026
Enjoyable read
Easy read. There are a couple of fairly intense crime related scenes, so be careful if you are not interested in that side of things. Otherwise it's pretty tame. It also has a sweet slow building romance plot.
Easy read. There are a couple of fairly intense crime related scenes, so be careful if you are not interested in that side of things. Otherwise it's pretty tame. It also has a sweet slow building romance plot.
January 15, 2026
The book has an interesting premise which is what kept me reading to the end. Overall, I didn't get along with the writing style and there were a few errors that made it through editing that I found a bit jarring
September 6, 2025
another great read
This book is a great start to a new series by E.M. Leya. I look read about characters with special abilities that use it to help others.
This book is a great start to a new series by E.M. Leya. I look read about characters with special abilities that use it to help others.
September 18, 2025
I'm glad this will be a series!
September 21, 2025
a great start to a new series
September 29, 2025
Great Start Book 1
New series and a slow burn story , an enjoyable read, hoping book 2 has some sexy times. Loved previous books by this author.
New series and a slow burn story , an enjoyable read, hoping book 2 has some sexy times. Loved previous books by this author.
October 18, 2025
Terrible, awful writing (the book is a 200 page long dialogue, ALL tell zero show, even when it’d make sense for the characters to just shut up) and weak, boring plot.
I didn’t check if this book comes with trigger warnings as I am not easily triggered, but if there isn’t one the author should add it ASAP. There is a very graphic and imo totally avoidable description of
I didn’t check if this book comes with trigger warnings as I am not easily triggered, but if there isn’t one the author should add it ASAP. There is a very graphic and imo totally avoidable description of
October 16, 2025
Good but no trigger warning
It's a great story, but I'm taking a star off for a complete lack of trigger warnings. There's a detailed, on page account of SA.
It's a great story, but I'm taking a star off for a complete lack of trigger warnings. There's a detailed, on page account of SA.
Read
October 17, 2025DNF @34%
October 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this slow burn romance paranormal mystery. Both MCs are interesting and it’s a different kind of story. I’m looking forward to more in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews