All that We Touch

First Kiss Mystery #3

by Ray Else

For fans of Neil Gaiman and Tom Robbins comes this female wolf in sheep's skin tale of a woman born to be sacrificed, or born to kill us all.

Betrayed by her husband on a trip to Paris, crowned with sorrow, Fernanda is stolen away by Turkish thugs on a train across Europe. A taciturn FBI agent, along with his new acquaintance C.I. Phoebe Mullins of the London police, who happened to be in town investigating stolen Holy Thorns from the Crown of Thorns, get pulled into the pursuit.

Thrown into a prison for the criminally insane, Fernanda is put on trial before the Patrons of the Sacred Trust for being a dangerous heretic, a kind of human weapon of mass destruction. Unjustly accused, she must make a decision that could impact not only her baby but all mankind.

"Delightfully irreverent...mixes the magical-real with the Noir tradition." - Elly Millar, Galley Beggar Press

"Lovely writing...sparkling wit...a dreamy mystery with everyday magic." - NetGalley (5 stars)

Genres: Mystery, Suspense

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2016

About the author

American, Texan, Parisian.
Ray Else lived in Paris for 5 years and while there joined a writers group and dared to write with all his heart. A review published by the Sorbonne included his story "Surviving on Mexican Shade", and the BBC World Service broadcast that same story worldwide. Then he got busy making a living as a programmer for companies like IBM and Rocket Software.

Recently Ray returned to writing with some success. His short story, "First Kiss", was published by Galley Beggar Press in the UK. His latest Android Einna sci-fi novels, "Our Only Chance", "Fountain of Souls" and "Escaping Heaven" are thought-provoking and fun.

Ray has a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.A. in Technical Instruction / Film History. He is married with 4 grown kids and 14 grand kids.

Ray travels widely, to get inspiration for his books - you can check out his travel blog at rayelse.com.

Reviews

[Texjim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story populated by strange characters from equally diverse environments. The two main characters are Ed an aging FBI agent on loan to INTERPOL and Constance, the delusional nanny of "Fernanda the Innocent". Ed is assigned to determine who is stealing relic thorns from the crown of thorns on display in churches and museums throughout the world. He moves in pursuit from a church reliquary in Pittsburgh to a museum in London. He is assisted in London by Phoebe Mullins, a mature but comely freckle faced chief inspector. CI Mullins shares her theory that the crown is being reassembled for profit and convinces him to follow the trail to Notre Dame where the twisted crown sans thorns is on display. As they see the sights in each successive destination from London to Istanbul, Ed mulls over the romantic possibilities presented by his evolving attraction to CI Mullins.
A parallel but gradually converging story involves Fernanda a young Latin woman of great beauty who is studying to be a spiritual shaman while living in Arkansas with her husband Randy at their jointly owned commercial crystal mine. During her training her mentor determined that she is so full of love that she is destined to be sacrificed for the good of mankind. Randy who per his name, has difficulty controlling his other brain, suggest they take a romantic vacation in Paris where his former lover resides. Fernanda and her infant baby girl, "Rocky" are attended by the deeply religious, Latina, Constance who has decided that Fernanda is the second coming of the savior and she is to be her principal disciple. Constance has been circulating her description of and beliefs about Fernanda the Innocent on the internet which has produced an instant viral cult following. Of course Rocky and the nanny accompany the couple to the "City of Lights".

Of course Constance, Fernanda, Randy, Ed a Phoebe all converge in Paris and action heats up as the sinister forces and competitors for the crown emerge. Soon all of the principals and assorted thugs are involved in a merry chase across Europe. There is an inordinate amount of discussion of Fernanda's poorly controlled lactation and eventually its miraculous properties when she is imprisoned in Turkey.

This is a very engaging story told almost entirely in conversation. Thus, there is lots of open page space and the 200 plus pages fly by quickly. The quirky characters are gradually developed via their continued musings and sometimes inane repartee. Overall the structure and inherent seductive strangeness is somewhere between Robbin's "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues .." and Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49". While I enjoyed this easy read, I found the ending disappointing and very unsatisfying. After all this buildup and intriguing character development, the story just ends not with a bang but with a whimper (thus 3 and not 5 stars). Suitable for all audiences with no adult situations or objectionable language.

[Yana · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find a copy of this review at:
https://thequidnuncblog.wordpress.com...

Honesty comes first: Do not attempt at reading the book unless you have read books one and two... It is full of references to the two previous titles and it might get you confused. It took a while to get on track with all allusions, but after a while I was completely involved in the story.

It is told through dialogues, which makes it perfect play lovers, Thus, there is lots of open page space and the 200 plus pages fly by quickly. The quirky characters are gradually developed via their continued musings and sometimes inane repartee. Overall the structure and inherent seductive strangeness is somewhere between Robbin's "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues .." and Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49". It is a highly addictive read.

It is indeed a very enjoyable read, with unique voice and engaging prose... so much that it almost took me of guard. My expectations weren't very high to begin with, but I was astonished at the fluency of the narrative. I was expecting another cheesy novel, but it showed to be way deeper than that. Religion, morality - all themes that are never to easy to engage in the novel popped in-between the lines, to engage me.

So many questions, and so many small twist and turns in this book. It's hard to review it without giving away too much, or too little. I do wish I had read the prior books first, I was a bit behind on a few things that seem to have been covered in them.

It definitely echoes Dan Brown, as it is a very alluring read, it fell a bit flat in the ending, but maybe the reason is there is book four in the writing?! I hope so. It is not a read for everyone, but I believe it will find its public. Different, daring and enjoyable.

[Megalion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

That said, I was unaware initially that this was the 3rd book in a series.

This really threw me for a while as there's a lot of references to things that already happened and I was frustrated by the vagueness of it.

Once I realized it, it made sense and I was tempted to put it down. Yet I'd invested enough time in it and gotten enough of the background context to keep going.

Plus the denouement made it worthwhile even with only 1/3rd of the story. Was a fascinating thing to consider if such a thing should really come to pass.

I must be vague myself as it would definitely be a spoiler to elaborate.

I gave this a 3 for it not being a standalone and also simply okay writing.

Had I read the first two books, it's possibly I might have given a 4. Or at least 3.5 stars.

[Zippergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is stealing Holy Thorns from the Crown of Thorns, once worn by Jesus, from reliquaries around the world. FBI agent Ed Pushkin takes the case. It leads him from Pittsburgh to London.

Fernanda, a Mexican immigrant, is being followed. By the FBI. By a godstruck apostle-wannabe named Constancia. By young people who want her blessing. Agent Pushkin once followed her to Peru. She is Fernanda the Innocent. Or Fernanda the Ripper.

Serendipity, or the hand of providence, leads them both to Paris.

Lovely writing, in stripped down prose. The dialogue is genuine, with sparkling wit. The story sometimes leads and then pushes from behind. A dreamy mystery with everyday magic.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and I have to say it was definitely one of a kind. I expected it to be a fluffy suspense novel, but it was much deeper. There were different themes throughout the novel regarding religion and morality. I also liked how each character had their own individual plot. I enjoyed reading this unique novel and would recommend it to others.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you!

[Vickie Raynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had so many twists that it made for fast reading. The suspense, the travel was unmatched and the chase. It’s always fun when an author incorporates actual life facts, relics in this case, that it’s easy to feel a certain realistic quality making it exciting. I recommend this book. Provided by NetGalley.

[Alaina Maxam · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this story

[Anne Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to understand the idea behind this book, but totally failed. I thought in the metaphysical kind, Dan Brown had written the worst stories you can think of, but this one went beyond about it.
I know I have not read the first two books, but I tried to stay in the line of this tome, not wondering about what happened in India or in Peru. I mean, I did try to be honest about this book, and after finishing it, I just feel it is 269 pages of nonsense. It is always a sad thing to react like that, I know. But to be serious a minute, what do you think about a woman who gets by chance what is supposed to have been Jesus' crown of thorns, puts it on her head so that (bad choice of words, it seems to imply some logic where there is none) no one can get the crown away from her. Those who try feel nauseous, and close to a heart attack. Why? I don't know. Nothing makes sense...
I don't know if Interpol (I've only read about them in novels, never in the news) would use a FBI agent. I believe they have enough people available without the FBI's help, but I may be wrong.
It is said that the author lived five years in Paris. Well, he certainly was not too interested by French language. The two expressions I found in French had mistakes in both of them. "Bien sur" (it should have a ^ on the u, but I cannot find it on a North American computer) could never be "bien sure", unless you mean to speak about sour cream. And the station in Paris where trains leave toward Germany or eastern parts of France is la gare de l'Est, but to put capital letters anywhere makes it meaningless.
Why is Fernanda special? I still don't get it. She is not a saint, nor a messiah, just a woman taking care of her baby and -of course, breastfeeding the baby until the little one is almost a year old. If it exists, it is only in America...
The characters in this book are amazed to discover that Jesus is considered a prophet by Muslims, although it is common knowledge.
I just could not get interested or believe anything I read there. And I did not enjoy the author's style.

P.S.How the heck did Fernanda get on the cover of People? Were they out of Kim Kardashian's pictures?

[Rebecca Bacino · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often wait a while to review book, especially if it isn't one of my favorites. Often times, my opinion of a book will change after I sit with it for a while. That was the case with this book! My initial review of this book would not have been a vey good one; however, time has changed that opinion.

The plot was what attracted me to the book in the first place. Stolen religious artifacts, detectives hot on the heels of an "innocent" women who could possibly be the messiah and everyone wanting to get their hands on the stolen artifact and, in a sense, the main character were many of the things I found intriguing.

I didn't realize this was one of a collection of books called The First Kiss Mysteries. I have not read any of the other books in the collection. I don't think it mattered, the book definitely stands in its own. As I mentioned, at first I didn't like it, but for the last few months I found myself thinking about the book even while I was reading other books. I found it very slow moving at first, especially for a "suspense" type of book. When I finally got to a place where I felt the pace of the book picked up, I thought it was a little
anticlimactic.

I don't really feel that way anymore! Typically, when I find myself thinking about a book months after I've read it, I reread it and find it much better the second time around. I look forward to reading it again soon! One thing that I find very noteworthy is how well a male author wrote female characters. Very very rarely do I find men that really can write from a female point of view, but Mr. Else did a pretty good job! I find that quite rare, even from the most popular authors!

[Susan Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be aware that this is the third book in this series: I was not aware when I began reading and was lost for awhile. I recommend reading the first two books in the series before beginning this one. I could never figure out why they called Fernanda "the ripper."
Fernanda, along with her husband, Randy, baby, and nanny live next to a quartz mine in Arkansas. The nanny, Constance, is sure that Fernanda is to be the Messiah. She posts on the internet what she perceives as miracles performed by Fernanda. When Randy decides to take Fernanda on a second honeymoon to Paris, Constance comes along with the baby. She asks that they go to see the Crown of Thorns to be put on display in Paris.

Unbeknownst to them, someone has been stealing the holy thorns from the Crown from churches and museums. When a guard is killed during a robbery, FBI Agent Ed Pushkin, on loan to Interpol, is sent to investigate. Soon he is in Paris, investigating whether the Catholic Church is behind the thefts. When he learns Fernanda is also in Paris, he wonders if she is somehow involved.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot. What happens to the Crown, and Fernanda in Paris? What part does Constance play in what happens? These questions are answered in an interesting story. However, since I haven't read the first two books, I was stymied by not knowing the characters as well as possible.

I can recommend this book, but be prepared to be a little puzzled by actions and characters.

[Connie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different story than I ever read before. It has exciting facts about different countries mixed with a hard to believe plot, but that is what a great imagination is for. I picked this up in mid-morning and had had it finished before bedtime. I, like others, did not know this was the third book in a series. It is kind of like two different stories that meet up about two-thirds of the way through. It has a bit of romance, mystery, and theft. Most of all it has a lady whose nanny calls her Fernanda the Innocent, who she believes and blogs that this lady is the second coming of Christ.

This book takes you from Arkansas to England and Paris following the theft of thorns from the crown of thorns, to a kidnapping that takes a train through a whole lot of countries (where the interesting facts come in), on the way to Istanbul. The FBI and INTERPOL get involved. There are actually some funny moments in this intriguing, yet easy moving, mystery. It is interesting enough to keep you enthralled, if not to find out what kind of silly thing is going to happen or pop up that is strangely peculiar, next. Maybe it is a good thing to read books one and two first. This is not meant to be a stand alone book, although I enjoyed reading it very much.
NetGalley gave me an e-ARC of this book to read in exchange for my honest review.

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the title of this book. It's the first in a series by an author I hadn't read before.

Fernanda is truly innocent, and rather naive as well. Her world was turned upside down, and she was suppose to be safe. After all, she is so good and kind, why would a group called First Disciple plot her demise? Ah, that because these crazed people think killing her will bring about the apocalypse, the end of the world. They have a plant, and a plan. Her nanny is one of their minions and she is out to end Fernanda's life.

But it shouldn't be that easy to off someone, and it isn't in this book either. There are some holy relics, and they tie into the FBI and Fernanda and her family.

Is God protecting her? Is Satan using these other people? Is she really a demon in disguise and not the sweet person everyone thinks she is? Could the crown of thorns have amazing properties? Who is stealing the thorns from all over the world and why?

So many questions, and so many small twist and turns in this book. It's hard to review it without giving away too much, or too little. I do wish I had read the prior books first, I was a bit behind on a few things that seem to have been covered in them.

My copy came from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review, and nothing more.

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is she “Fernanda the Ripper” or is she to be a human sacrifice- is she the next Messiah? A strange set of circumstances come together when Randy, Fernanda’s husband decides to take her to Paris on a second honeymoon. It is decided their bby, Randy, and Fernanda’s cousin/Nanny, Constance will come along. Constance is a well-meaning, although a misguided girl seems to bring more trouble while trying to support Fernanda.
Ed is a CIA/INTERPOL officer who is sent to investigate who is stealing thorns from the crown of Jesus. Along the way he meets Phoebe, Chief Inspector who has some ideas of what is happening. She is determined- against his better judgment to help him search.
I liked the format of the book. It easily switches from Fernanda to Ed’s point of view and paints a wonderful picture of their experiences and feelings. I wasn’t sure which twists and turns would happen next. I was a little surprised by the ending, but it makes sense, I guess. I do wish it had ended differently though.
I do hope there is another book to continue Fernanda’s story.
I was given the opportunity to read All That We Touch by Ray Else, by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[CL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fernanda and her husband Randy and their baby Rocky live on the mine property that they work with Randy’s best friend. People start showing up when Constance the baby’s nanny starts posting the “miracles” she has witnessed Fernanda perform. Randy, Fernanda, the baby and Constance all go to Paris where it all goes awry from there. Fernanda unknowingly winds up with the “crown of thorns” and Constance sees it as the sign she has been looking for that Fernanda is the next Messiah. The people who have been after the “crown of thorns” kidnap Fernanda and Constance and they are pursued across the country by the people who want the crown back, an CIA agent who worked Fernanda’s case and his new Interpol friend who has convinced him there is still a case. I did not read the other books but this was a little hard to follow at times when they referred to the relationship Fernanda’s husband had with an old flame he saw while they were in Paris. Then when they referred back to her time when they had been in India or Peru. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Roxann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads Giveaway.

From the cover: What if your lover betrayed you, crowning you with sorrow? What if you were then kidnapped, threatened with death? Broken-hearted, you almost wish that the kidnappers would kill you. You wish your world would come to an end. Only, you slowly realize, your world is everyone else's. This is Fernanda's story.

This was a fast read. I read it in one evening (I put the book down several times so it really is a fast read.) The story contained had many things going on, i.e. a little romance, thief, murder, religion, kidnapping, affair, etc. Even with all of this, it mostly came together at the end. Some people may say there is also an underlying meaning to the book, but I will leave that for other readers. It was interesting.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd 27% in. I promised myself, after I read The Corner Store Witch, I would not force myself to finish reading something if it took more than a few days to get through something so short and I wasn't really liking it. I just couldn't get into it, maybe it was because it was the 3rd book in the series (I had no idea). I didn't connect to the characters and found the added random Spanish words, here and there, really annoying (I'm Salvadorian so I knew what they were saying, it just wasn't necessary). The only character I had any interest in was Ed the FBI guy, and it wasn't really his story. I also didn't really like the multiple points of views when it's such a short story, it just made it drag. As soon as I would like something in the chapter, the point of view changed.

[I Gaudet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this story reminds me of the excitement I felt while reading The DaVinci Code, but with a more human (i.e. imperfect) element developed in the characters' beliefs and values, and without the academic explanations of symbolism. A good mix of steady plot pace, historical context, and depth beyond the words. For anyone who has grown up with religion, and has gone full circle with it... i.e. reached a point of shunning it, then gradually finding understanding through life experiences that hope, the essential element of any religion, must be pursued in terms that you can personally understand, this book is an excellent read.

[Susan Beamon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little book, the story of Fernanda the Innocent. She is the embodiment of all innocence and goodness in the world and her sacrifice will bring about the end times. She escaped being sacrificed once before but this time the danger is closer to home in the form of her nanny Constance, the self-styled First Disciple. Fate is challenged by Ed from the FBI and CI Mullins from the London Police Department Who actually are on another case involving Holy Relics and Fernanda's husband and child. All Fernanda wants is to be with her child and her husband living a simple life. She does not want to be a leader or anything of the sort.
I read this book on NetGalley.

[Coleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is Book Three of the series, Not to worry. The story and characters are easily understood from the beginning and the plot can be followed without difficulty. It is an interesting and somewhat different type tale of the Crown of Thorns. It is enjoyable and moves right along. Important to note that some of the action takes place in Paris! Yes! Else is a good writer, and I want to read his other books, as well as read about his travels.

I won this book in a Goodreads lucky giveaway, and although the original copy went astray, the second one made it to me. Great.

[Philip Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical tale, total fantasy but written in a captivating way, as if your friend or a family member were sitting with you and narrating the story. Enjoyable for it’s very simplicity, no five dollar words to look up to understand the story. A few expressions in Spanish which failed to register in my memory and decent descriptions of Paris, again if that memory thing is still working. A great escape from the day to day drudgery and an enjoyable way to get lost in an evening of enjoyable reading.

[natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Goodreads, for allowing me to win this book. I get a lot of pleasure out of reading my wins.

I am quite ambivalent about All That we touch. It would have been a quick, short read had I kept reading it, but I put it down a few times over a few days because it was really hard for me to keep reading. Maybe because it was not really my type of book it seemed like there was too much confusion in it for me. Too many different characters, too much story.

[Newbee (JoAnn) Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very well written and enjoyable.

The beginning was a bit confusing tho. It was like starting in the middle of a story. How ever after a few pages the story really took off and capture your attention.

The plot was intriguing, the characters very unique.

The characters ranged from exotic to normal.

There was several story lines going that intermingled with each other.

Not your every day garden variety who done it.

Saint or serial killer? Read and see!

[Mon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley

So for some reason I didn't realise that this was a part of a series so I read it as a standalone...and I still liked it. This story is populated with strange characters and there are quite a few references to the other books that through me for a little there. The pacing was strange in this because while I did find it slow at times, I for some reason couldn't wait to pick it up again.

[Michael Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to Jonathan Carroll's magic realism, but not quite as powerful (to me). I've read two of Else's novels so far, and will likely read more, but for some reason his prose isn't quite as lyrical or as striking as Carroll's. That being said, the ideas, themes and descriptions Else employs are unlike almost anyone else writing today. Poetic and otherworldly, I've enjoyed the ride so far. (And still can't wait for the next Carroll excursion, too.)

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did not realize that this is the third book in a series, so it took awhile to catch up with the characters and plot. It was an alright read but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Possibly reading the first two in the series first would help.

[Babus Ahmed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realise when I was sent this ARC that it was the third book in a series, usually I don't start a series with our reading the first. However, despite the fact the book often refers back to events in the previous two books it is possible to read this as a stand also e, but not however, optimal for enjoying the series.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads win. Will review once received.

This was an okay read. It was a short book that I read quite fast. It was written well. I usually don't picj up mystery books , but this one was worth the time of reading. I am so happy to have gotten to read this book.

[Kristen Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful thriller. It is very eloquently written, almost conversationally, and reads fairly easily. I loved the spiritual aspects blended in with mystery, conspiracy and murder.
And Fernanda. Saint or Sinner? Maybe both.

[Joanne Hetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. An interesting story. I will be watching for more books written by Ray Else.

[Lora]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and will review once I've read it.