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Touch Sensitive
A thoroughly modern noir with a scifi twist.
John Ballard is a PI with a condition. One in a million born with a sensitivity. He absorbs the memories of whatever or whoever he touches.
The cops call him in to help on a case, a gruesome and inexplicably artistic murder that only someone with his gift can solve.
But absorbing the memories of the mutilated body is going to send John's life spiralling out of control, force him to cross every line, betray everyone who trusts him.
He doesn't just want to find the killer - he needs to find her - because the one thing that's clear about the woman behind the crime, is that she's a sensitive too.
And the more he learns about this mysterious woman that shares his gift, the more he's convinced he's in love with her, and will do whatever it takes to keep the police off her scent.
John Ballard is a PI with a condition. One in a million born with a sensitivity. He absorbs the memories of whatever or whoever he touches.
The cops call him in to help on a case, a gruesome and inexplicably artistic murder that only someone with his gift can solve.
But absorbing the memories of the mutilated body is going to send John's life spiralling out of control, force him to cross every line, betray everyone who trusts him.
He doesn't just want to find the killer - he needs to find her - because the one thing that's clear about the woman behind the crime, is that she's a sensitive too.
And the more he learns about this mysterious woman that shares his gift, the more he's convinced he's in love with her, and will do whatever it takes to keep the police off her scent.
- GenresThriller
374 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2017
71 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Lee Isserow
57 books43 followersLee Isserow is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, with over fifteen years spent trawling the back streets and dark alleys of the 'entertainment' industry.
Lee lives in Liverpool, England because they accidentally bought a house there. Don't ask how that happened - they used to drink a lot.
You may read more about the Book A Month project at ABAM.info
Lee lives in Liverpool, England because they accidentally bought a house there. Don't ask how that happened - they used to drink a lot.
You may read more about the Book A Month project at ABAM.info
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 28, 2020
Touch Sensitive by Lee Isserow is a book I won through the Kindle Scout program. It is a great paranormal book! A PI has a strange gift that helps him solve crimes by clues from the body by touching them and getting all sorts of memories, smells, tastes, senses of the dead person. Weird, I know but it makes for one great, fresh PI novel! Lots of twists and turns and great characters. Great story!
July 16, 2019
Only 2 problem:
1. The assault pieces were too graphic in my opinion. Guess I’m too sensitive (get it?).
2. The line where
1. The assault pieces were too graphic in my opinion. Guess I’m too sensitive (get it?).
2. The line where
March 14, 2017
Review: TOUCH SENSITIVE by Lee Isserow
A noir-ish paranormal featuring an unusual Liverpool private investigator with an unusual capacity: he is a sensitive, specifically tactilely. That is, while other sensitivities experience memories through visual, olfactory, auditory, or gustatory input, he receives through touch. I think it may be common to wistfully wonder what others think of us, or what may have occurred in a particular locale, but to be open to this flood of input, constantly, must be terrifying. Following his investigations is eye-opening, and elicits reader's empathy for this individual who desires to be tough and hard-boiled, but remains soft and vulnerable.
A noir-ish paranormal featuring an unusual Liverpool private investigator with an unusual capacity: he is a sensitive, specifically tactilely. That is, while other sensitivities experience memories through visual, olfactory, auditory, or gustatory input, he receives through touch. I think it may be common to wistfully wonder what others think of us, or what may have occurred in a particular locale, but to be open to this flood of input, constantly, must be terrifying. Following his investigations is eye-opening, and elicits reader's empathy for this individual who desires to be tough and hard-boiled, but remains soft and vulnerable.
April 8, 2019
It’s taken me a couple of years to get around to reading this one, after picking it up in one of those Kindle Scout promotions. Too many ARCS, too little time! But it’s yet another one from the program that has left me feeling unsure.
You can see the high point coming from a mile off, yet the build up to it isn’t so bad. But my biggest bugbear for this one is the beginning. Well, that plus any time the main character is stuck in his own monologue. It isn’t unusual for PI Noir books to have tons of monologue. This one, however, was extremely boring! I tend to stick it out with books, no matter what, but the beginning just dragged on and on and on and on and on and on and ad infinitum. Or so it seemed, at least. But, luckily, once I got past all the boring diatribe, there was some juice to be had. Nope, not in the form of Robbo, who was quite close to being two dimensional, but in the form of The Woman. Yet, for all the colours that she brought out, as I said, once their paths crossed you pretty much knew how it all was going to end. I guess the “why” was also somewhat interesting, but a shame she had to be put into the usual stigmatised corner.
I will digress by saying that it was nice how the author used places he knows, as that definitely added colour to the story, aside from The Woman. The descriptions were a good distraction from the lonely detective’s mumblings.
This is certainly a story that, for me personally, needs some taming, like Columbo’s wild hair. (which is another thing, how does he get a haircut? How does he manage to brush his teeth? And don’t forget being caught out and having to sit down on a public toilet!!) Anyway, there are a few things that could have been done better here, yet it could also be someone else’s perfect cup of tea. We don’t all require sugar in our cup!
Final rating: ★★★☆☆ – Sort of liked/OK.
You can see the high point coming from a mile off, yet the build up to it isn’t so bad. But my biggest bugbear for this one is the beginning. Well, that plus any time the main character is stuck in his own monologue. It isn’t unusual for PI Noir books to have tons of monologue. This one, however, was extremely boring! I tend to stick it out with books, no matter what, but the beginning just dragged on and on and on and on and on and on and ad infinitum. Or so it seemed, at least. But, luckily, once I got past all the boring diatribe, there was some juice to be had. Nope, not in the form of Robbo, who was quite close to being two dimensional, but in the form of The Woman. Yet, for all the colours that she brought out, as I said, once their paths crossed you pretty much knew how it all was going to end. I guess the “why” was also somewhat interesting, but a shame she had to be put into the usual stigmatised corner.
I will digress by saying that it was nice how the author used places he knows, as that definitely added colour to the story, aside from The Woman. The descriptions were a good distraction from the lonely detective’s mumblings.
This is certainly a story that, for me personally, needs some taming, like Columbo’s wild hair. (which is another thing, how does he get a haircut? How does he manage to brush his teeth? And don’t forget being caught out and having to sit down on a public toilet!!) Anyway, there are a few things that could have been done better here, yet it could also be someone else’s perfect cup of tea. We don’t all require sugar in our cup!
Final rating: ★★★☆☆ – Sort of liked/OK.
March 17, 2017
‘There are no secrets you can keep from a sensitive.’
British author Lee Isserow is into film – as an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker. He has a sense of humor so necessary for artists in any field but Lee sense of humor keeps his novels with a guiding light to assure the suspense he can create is never so heavy that it prevents a reader’s breathing – almost….!
This is the first exposure to Lee Isserow’s writing for this reader and it is puzzling that a story so well crafted, unique, and polished has not been transformed into a film as yet. Lee writes so that even reading is prose feels as though reading a script for a pay or a film, so real are the words he places both in the mouths of his characters and in the manner in which he describes the manner of thinking that overtures dialogue.
The story involves a Liverpool (the location where Lee lives) private investigator blessed (or cursed) with tactile hypersensitivity. We meet this John Ballard immediately as me muses his job: ‘Ever since I discovered my sensitivity, s*** has done its very best to turn up on my doorstep. Today’s s*** is a missing girl. But rather than doing anything practical to track her down, I’m stuck here, waiting. Waiting is the majority of the job. I’ve become a little too good at it. Sitting or standing just out of view, sometimes even in plain sight. The key is to think yourself invisible, passive enough to be ignored. Inconspicuous. Nonchalant. You get good at word games and coming up with synonyms when most days are nothing but killing time. Without them, all this loitering isn’t great for one’s sanity. The mind wanders whilst the body lies fallow.’
To be brief in outline the synopsis serves well – ‘John Ballard is a PI with a condition. One in a million born with a sensitivity. He absorbs the memories of whatever or whoever he touches. The cops call him in to help on a case, a gruesome and inexplicably artistic murder that only someone with his gift can solve. But absorbing the memories of the mutilated body is going to send John's life spiraling out of control, force him to cross every line, betray everyone who trusts him. He doesn't just want to find the killer - he needs to find her - because the one thing that's clear about the woman behind the crime, is that she's a sensitive too. Liverpool private investigator And the more he learns about this mysterious woman that shares his gift, the more he's convinced he's in love with her, and will do whatever it takes to keep the police off her scent.’
Excellent mystery tinged with paranormal shadows and a lead character who becomes utterly unforgettable. Yes, Lee’s prose is pitch perfect, but oh, this would make a sensationally fine film.
British author Lee Isserow is into film – as an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker. He has a sense of humor so necessary for artists in any field but Lee sense of humor keeps his novels with a guiding light to assure the suspense he can create is never so heavy that it prevents a reader’s breathing – almost….!
This is the first exposure to Lee Isserow’s writing for this reader and it is puzzling that a story so well crafted, unique, and polished has not been transformed into a film as yet. Lee writes so that even reading is prose feels as though reading a script for a pay or a film, so real are the words he places both in the mouths of his characters and in the manner in which he describes the manner of thinking that overtures dialogue.
The story involves a Liverpool (the location where Lee lives) private investigator blessed (or cursed) with tactile hypersensitivity. We meet this John Ballard immediately as me muses his job: ‘Ever since I discovered my sensitivity, s*** has done its very best to turn up on my doorstep. Today’s s*** is a missing girl. But rather than doing anything practical to track her down, I’m stuck here, waiting. Waiting is the majority of the job. I’ve become a little too good at it. Sitting or standing just out of view, sometimes even in plain sight. The key is to think yourself invisible, passive enough to be ignored. Inconspicuous. Nonchalant. You get good at word games and coming up with synonyms when most days are nothing but killing time. Without them, all this loitering isn’t great for one’s sanity. The mind wanders whilst the body lies fallow.’
To be brief in outline the synopsis serves well – ‘John Ballard is a PI with a condition. One in a million born with a sensitivity. He absorbs the memories of whatever or whoever he touches. The cops call him in to help on a case, a gruesome and inexplicably artistic murder that only someone with his gift can solve. But absorbing the memories of the mutilated body is going to send John's life spiraling out of control, force him to cross every line, betray everyone who trusts him. He doesn't just want to find the killer - he needs to find her - because the one thing that's clear about the woman behind the crime, is that she's a sensitive too. Liverpool private investigator And the more he learns about this mysterious woman that shares his gift, the more he's convinced he's in love with her, and will do whatever it takes to keep the police off her scent.’
Excellent mystery tinged with paranormal shadows and a lead character who becomes utterly unforgettable. Yes, Lee’s prose is pitch perfect, but oh, this would make a sensationally fine film.
May 10, 2017
This is an unusual and thrilling story that kept my attention from beginning to end. It surprised me just how much I enjoyed it and how easily the author illicited empathy towards the main characters. The concept of reading the memories of both people and things with the use of one of your senses is fascinating, but the prospect of having that kind of sensitivity is horrendous. The author does a great job of letting you feel the restriction, difficulty and loneliness of being a sensitive, while still spinning a suspenseful yarn of murder, longing, intrigue, deception and desperation. The feeling of being inundated with the memory of all that has happened to an object, or every memory or thought that person has had, comes through well and you can understand why he acts like he does. The plot is suspenseful, keeps you guessing and the "villain" in this story is fascinating. I hope the author will give us more stories with these great characters.
June 8, 2018
A PI series like you have never read before! What else to expect from one of the few truly talented, original, prolifiic authors alive?
Meet John Ballard, Liverpool private investigator. See but more importantly, touch the world with him. Each creature, living or dead, his bare skin barely brushes imbues John with the memory of their life. Every inamimate object John dares touch he knows from far beyond its existence in the present form through each being that has even touched it before him. These memories come with the price of pain, a 23 second seizure which cannot be avoided by the sensitives in this place. Lee Isserow's writing is visceral. Step into these pages and step not only into the very unique world of John Ballard, but his very skin.
There are other types of senitives than touch. Each of the senses is respresented, some a more excruciating gift to bear than others. The sensitivity comes on unexpectedly, sometimes in childhood, maybe teens, rarely even adults. No one takes sensitivity the same. Some go to extremes to escape. A few end things when it becomes too much.
John lives in a somewhat self created isolation. The public looks askance at sensitives fearing for their hidden secrets. He cannot leave his home with exposed skin to be brushed by others, long sleeves, hoods, gloves, long pants, no matter the weather. When going out for a drink, he takes his own glass. Imagine the nightmare of attempting to dine out, the silver, plates, cups, glasses. Even trying to wear gloves, as soon as something touched your lips, even the food, you would know its essence, before manufacture, through the process, moving from there to each person to interact, then from birth if flesh to slaughter to plate, or seed to harvest to plate and on to lips. All this for every bite! No one writes is like Lee Isserow!
Still with the help of his loyal friend, John Ballard has managed to create a productive if sometimes boring life as a PI in Liverpool. Most cases are mundane, repetitive. He could probably charge more. He could probably bring in more clients, but that would entail effort. Getting by is more John's speed. He does get a bit of excitement, something interesting to investigate, when the police call him in on cases.
John's only friend,Robbo, is with the police his in as a paid consultant on the worst of murder cases, the ones where the only possible leads arrise when John removes his glove to touch the brutalized corpse! When John is called to scene of a murder, it proves to be the most baffling of his career. The only thing he takes away from the "read" is that the killer, a woman, may also be some type of sensitive.
This case will eventually change everything John belives about his world. The moral dilemna will test his friendship. With only one friend, can he afford to lose Robbo?
As a mystery, the very end is unpredictable and could go either way. You won't know until you get there, quite nice. As a thriller, breathtaking, heart-stopping, adrenaline pumping, filled with great action that is backed up with an even better and inticately lovely plot. As noir, it is hard to get much darker! I don't find anything negative to say about this book. I have seen stars taken off for foul language, look up intrinsic to character, coming from someone who doesn't personally use it but that is me, I am irrelevant to the novel.
Meet John Ballard, Liverpool private investigator. See but more importantly, touch the world with him. Each creature, living or dead, his bare skin barely brushes imbues John with the memory of their life. Every inamimate object John dares touch he knows from far beyond its existence in the present form through each being that has even touched it before him. These memories come with the price of pain, a 23 second seizure which cannot be avoided by the sensitives in this place. Lee Isserow's writing is visceral. Step into these pages and step not only into the very unique world of John Ballard, but his very skin.
There are other types of senitives than touch. Each of the senses is respresented, some a more excruciating gift to bear than others. The sensitivity comes on unexpectedly, sometimes in childhood, maybe teens, rarely even adults. No one takes sensitivity the same. Some go to extremes to escape. A few end things when it becomes too much.
John lives in a somewhat self created isolation. The public looks askance at sensitives fearing for their hidden secrets. He cannot leave his home with exposed skin to be brushed by others, long sleeves, hoods, gloves, long pants, no matter the weather. When going out for a drink, he takes his own glass. Imagine the nightmare of attempting to dine out, the silver, plates, cups, glasses. Even trying to wear gloves, as soon as something touched your lips, even the food, you would know its essence, before manufacture, through the process, moving from there to each person to interact, then from birth if flesh to slaughter to plate, or seed to harvest to plate and on to lips. All this for every bite! No one writes is like Lee Isserow!
Still with the help of his loyal friend, John Ballard has managed to create a productive if sometimes boring life as a PI in Liverpool. Most cases are mundane, repetitive. He could probably charge more. He could probably bring in more clients, but that would entail effort. Getting by is more John's speed. He does get a bit of excitement, something interesting to investigate, when the police call him in on cases.
John's only friend,Robbo, is with the police his in as a paid consultant on the worst of murder cases, the ones where the only possible leads arrise when John removes his glove to touch the brutalized corpse! When John is called to scene of a murder, it proves to be the most baffling of his career. The only thing he takes away from the "read" is that the killer, a woman, may also be some type of sensitive.
This case will eventually change everything John belives about his world. The moral dilemna will test his friendship. With only one friend, can he afford to lose Robbo?
As a mystery, the very end is unpredictable and could go either way. You won't know until you get there, quite nice. As a thriller, breathtaking, heart-stopping, adrenaline pumping, filled with great action that is backed up with an even better and inticately lovely plot. As noir, it is hard to get much darker! I don't find anything negative to say about this book. I have seen stars taken off for foul language, look up intrinsic to character, coming from someone who doesn't personally use it but that is me, I am irrelevant to the novel.
May 19, 2017
I wish I could write like Lee Isserow. This paranormal detective story draws its strength from Isserow’s ability to get into the character’s head. The interiority and PoV of the story are so deep and well done that it should be studied by writers everywhere.
I remember Brandon Sanderson recommending ‘I’m Not a Serial Killer’ as way to study deep PoV, but after reading this, it is the book I would recommend. The PoV is deeper the interiority is better.
The one issues I had with the book was the excessive profanity and negativity of the main character. As much as I enjoyed the story. I had to take a break from it a few times because of this.
The story follows a detective with a unique gift; seeing the memories of the things and people he touches, but it feels more like a curse to him. When he’s brought in on a case where the murder has been performed by someone with a gift like his, and the ability to hide things from him his world changes.
I remember Brandon Sanderson recommending ‘I’m Not a Serial Killer’ as way to study deep PoV, but after reading this, it is the book I would recommend. The PoV is deeper the interiority is better.
The one issues I had with the book was the excessive profanity and negativity of the main character. As much as I enjoyed the story. I had to take a break from it a few times because of this.
The story follows a detective with a unique gift; seeing the memories of the things and people he touches, but it feels more like a curse to him. When he’s brought in on a case where the murder has been performed by someone with a gift like his, and the ability to hide things from him his world changes.
November 15, 2017
This is a different kind of detective story, with paranormal and romance melding nicely into the storyline. There's swearing (which I find unnecessary) and brutal sex, all part of the detective's normal foray into the seedy side of life. The writing is good. It has a lot of introspection into the detective's own life, and frequent examples of what inanimate objects "think" or have experienced. These slow the story down, but also make the story interesting.
May 17, 2019
Bravo, a rare literary journey I thoroughly enjoyed, I enjoyed so much I reread two more times.
I have placed a purchase request for this book with my library and I have had for three days, yes once you pick this book up, you don't want to put it down without finishing & now see there is already a waitlist for this book so I shall return, not before I requested the most recent book by Lee Isserow "Shadowmancer", hoping this arrives sooner than later.
I have placed a purchase request for this book with my library and I have had for three days, yes once you pick this book up, you don't want to put it down without finishing & now see there is already a waitlist for this book so I shall return, not before I requested the most recent book by Lee Isserow "Shadowmancer", hoping this arrives sooner than later.
August 1, 2020
A special gift/curse
John is called to a crime scene that could use his special gift of touch. But when he tries a few things happen that doesnt normally happen. And the more he tries the more he wants to find this mystery woman and get answers and help her. Further In the investigation he keeps wondering if she is innocent or guilty and how can he figure this out without betraying his only friend. This book was great till the end.
John is called to a crime scene that could use his special gift of touch. But when he tries a few things happen that doesnt normally happen. And the more he tries the more he wants to find this mystery woman and get answers and help her. Further In the investigation he keeps wondering if she is innocent or guilty and how can he figure this out without betraying his only friend. This book was great till the end.
March 20, 2018
Senstive
This is a totally different crime . loved from beginning to end. You won't want to put down. Great book.
This is a totally different crime . loved from beginning to end. You won't want to put down. Great book.
September 25, 2018
Good story. Coming to the realisation that the person who sleeps beside you can also transfer their memories to you is scary. This book had me reading until the end
March 4, 2019
Original!
Wow! This book is truly a great, wonderful and fantastic book! An original story and genuine hero, who is filled with suspense, twists and turns and love.
Wow! This book is truly a great, wonderful and fantastic book! An original story and genuine hero, who is filled with suspense, twists and turns and love.
March 31, 2017
Kindle Unlimited or got on freebie day depending on which story/collection. Very odd writer, not a bad thing, unusual, and for someone such as me that read, a LOT {10-20 or more book, a DAY} that's saying something. See the list of books below? That's just not a be nice and list them all, that's the list of books am reading at this sitting, pretty sure that was all of them. If I missed any or it says not verified {because no matter how many hundreds have spent over the last 3 years, plus ku, never says verified on mine unless freebie day etc} the writer can feel free to send them to me lol {serious not serious but mostly serious}. The more I read of him, the more the southern 'bless his heart' kicks in, wondering just how many times and ways that poor boy was dropped on his head, how hard, and if on purpose. Interesting reading though...because of?
Touch Sensitive - A Sensitive Time
The APEX Cycle series - @ 1 - The Whistle 2 - NLI-10 3 - Testing Ground 4
What A Day To End The World {spin off is Tangents}
also I Hate Time Travelers - Dead City- Due Date - Murder by Natural Causes with follow up Simon & Emily Are Going To Hell: A love story (sort of) - Footprints: A short fantasy tale - Shadowmancer -- Unknown: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology (Hidden Worlds Book 1) {Testing Ground} is Anthology writer is & so is Vernal Equinox: Short Stories from the Worlds of KP Novels (Kindle Press Anthologies Book 2){A Sensitive Time}
Touch Sensitive - A Sensitive Time
The APEX Cycle series - @ 1 - The Whistle 2 - NLI-10 3 - Testing Ground 4
What A Day To End The World {spin off is Tangents}
also I Hate Time Travelers - Dead City- Due Date - Murder by Natural Causes with follow up Simon & Emily Are Going To Hell: A love story (sort of) - Footprints: A short fantasy tale - Shadowmancer -- Unknown: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology (Hidden Worlds Book 1) {Testing Ground} is Anthology writer is & so is Vernal Equinox: Short Stories from the Worlds of KP Novels (Kindle Press Anthologies Book 2){A Sensitive Time}
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews