• Touched

  • Marnie Baranuik Files, Book 1
  • By: A. J. Aalto
  • Narrated by: Amy McFadden
  • Length: 18 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (468 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Touched  By  cover art

Touched

By: A. J. Aalto
Narrated by: Amy McFadden
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.34

Buy for $19.34

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The media has a nickname for Marnie Baranuik, though she'd rather they didn't; they call her the Great White Shark, a rare dual-talented forensic psychic. Twice-Touched by the Blue Sense - which gives her the ability to feel the emotions of others, and read impressions left behind on objects - Marnie also has a doctorate in preternatural biology and a working knowledge of the dark arts. She is considered without peer in the psychic community.

Then her first big FBI case ended with a bullet in one shoulder and a chip on the other, a queasy heart and a serial killer in the wind, leaving her a public flop and a private wreck. When the FBI's preternatural crimes unit tracks her down at a remote mountain lodge for her insight on a local case, her quiet retirement is promptly besieged by a stab-happy starlet, a rampaging ghoul, and a vampire-hunting jackass in tight Wranglers. Marnie figures the only real mystery is which one will kill her first.

Too mean to die young, backed up by friends in cold places, and running with a mouth as demure as a cannon's blast, Marnie Baranuik is about to discover that there's no such thing as quitting time when you're Touched.

©2011 A. J. Aalto (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about Touched

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    286
  • 4 Stars
    87
  • 3 Stars
    41
  • 2 Stars
    33
  • 1 Stars
    21
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    304
  • 4 Stars
    74
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    14
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    248
  • 4 Stars
    81
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    32
  • 1 Stars
    21

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hilarious, Sexy, Snarky, and Absolutely Unique!

What did you love best about Touched?
I absolutely LOVE the snark, humor, and action. But mostly it's so nice to actually have a book with a real story line, plot, character development, it's non stop entertainment.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?
never ending action or witty banter.

What does Amy McFadden bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I read this book and was delighted when they added it to audible, although I was nervous ( I am the ultimate narrator snob) Amy was a perfect choice, she is amazing at holding character, accents, and different voices without sounding like an idiot. I would listen to her again in a heartbeat

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
So amazeballs we had to make it into a Movie!!! well, okay, so I"ll never make a career in marketing. But I would watch this movie, for realsies.

Any additional comments?
if you like books like the Kate Daniels series, Charlie Davidson, Iron druid, or Mercy Thompson this book is absolutely for you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing.

In all honesty the dialogues are icredebly 'witty' as one commenter says, but the story overall is badly overshadowed by the inadequate heroine. I could have loved this book if someone had plucked out Marty and exchanged her with someone else. I kept trying to find something to like about her and it just wasn't happening. She is moody, unreasonable, and woefully egotistical in my opinion. the author kept trying to portrait her as some 'darling can do no wrong' type, but the result is an annoying Mary sue know it all trying inafectually to stomp her desire for Mark the FBI agent but is still bitter that her vampire (oh excuse me) revenant 'partner' won't take her for a romp in the sheet. At this point I don't think even she know what she want. Made it almost halfway trough chapter 33 before giving up.

Also the mystery is a little interesting but not so much as to be compared to Sherlock and Moriarty's incredible rivalry, I assume that is where the author was going with the sherlock and Marty names. Again the dialogues are quite injoable, as the story is quite lengthy (which I like in a book) you get a lot of that. I expecially like Harry and his infinite and creative pet names. but not enough for me to endure the protagonist.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

why

All of the characters in this book are constantly and unbelievably horny, like they can't go five minutes without thinking or talking about how much they want to bone the main character and how she wants to bone everyone else. There's also a minor subplot about vampires and magic or something.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

nothing much to say but meh.

Aside from the narrator who did a fantastic job as always, the book just didn't hit any good spot. The main character was immature in her ways of thinking and doing things, and the love triangle throughout the book go especially annoying once things seem to work out/heat up with was of the love interests. Almost felt like cheating to a extent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

False advertising

I am not vampire fan - the only good vampire is a dead vampire. The romanticizing of vampires is exasperating. The description did not mention vampires, If it had I would not have purchased it.
The wining and gnashing of teeth further detracted from any enjoyment.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story, if a Gross One

I really enjoyed this book. The main character is a hoot, if foul mouthed. She's painfully human, meaning she's not perfect. However, there are times when she says and does things that are ingenious. There are parts that made me laugh out loud and others that made me cringe. There is a LOT of grossness in here, given what the story is about, so it's not unexpected. I highly recommend this book. As for the narration, Amy McFadden is a delightful discovery! She brings Marnie and her world to vivid life. I am eager to read and listen to the next book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned 2.5**

First the PC term is revenant instead of vampire. Not to throw color water on the great reviews, I can only give it a 2.5 and that is because a new twist to the “Renfield”, the vampire’s side kick. Throughout the centuries, Renfiled has been portrayed as an insane slave, cultured man servant, a hopeful future vampire. There are, white and black witches; ghouls and zombies mindlessly roam; demons exist take control of people.

In Touched, the vampire has a daysitter. The daysitter is someone, usually a male/female pair. It is a blood donor, protector, companion and lover to the vampire. The vampire and the daysitter are bonded, which means they agreed to a partnership. That bond has different levels of emotional and psychology connection. The daysitter acquires and shares the talents of the vampire. Some of the daysitters and vampire relationships are part of the family lineage.

From the summary you know that Marnie Baranuik is the media darling. In the novel she is depicted as a horny, selfish, combative woman who run into trouble without any thought. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. She berates her human lover, Mark, an FBI agent and vampire hunter, for their one-night stand, desires another roll in the hay and hates herself for her feelings. She is frustrated because, Harry, her vampire, will not take their bonding to a sexual level. Therefore, she does a lot of drooling over their asses and abs.

Using the bonded relationships to help in investigations in preternatural crimes has a lot of potential. It could have worked better Marnie was a better investigator instead of a horny bitch. She is knowledge in the vampire psychology, which is regenerated in a childish, Na na nana matter. Yet, in the instances where she must use her witch skills, she gets is woefully wrong. For the most part the dialogue is witty and charming. Harry is very British cultured and has groomed Marnie to accommodate his taste. Much of the action is because Marnie does something stupid. I would like to see it driven by the investigation. I will try the next book because like Harry. If Marnie is driven still sexual desires and has to swear to communicate I will be finish.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Something pleasantly different

This is not just another cut and paste paranormal book and is fast paced enough to keep you wanting more. The story line is well defined and easy to follow with some surprising twists and unexpected moments. Just as you think you know what’s going to happen next,your pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the main love interests and the whole story was well written.#magicalsystems,#vampires,#urbanfantasy,#provocative,#magical,#tagsgiving,#sweepstakes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Main plot device is whining

The main plot device is the incessant whining of the main character. My wife and I couldn’t take it for more than 2 chapters. I can’t tell how much the narrator contributed to the effect, but for the most part the narration was OK. I think it was just the writing. I think the author confuses whining and annoying for cute and endearing. Ugh. No thanks.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The narrator is the only part of the book I enjoy

The heroine is an idiot. Not enough backstory is given. plot has multiple holes. No character progression.

I love the narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful