Description
The electrifying new thriller from the author of the acclaimed The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August.
Kepler is like you, but not like you.
With a simple touch, Kepler can move into any body, live any life - for a moment, a day or for years.
And your life could be next.
SOME PEOPLE TOUCH LIVES. OTHERS TAKE THEM. I DO BOTH.
'Just extraordinary' Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go
'North's talent shines out' Sunday Times
'Dazzlingly imaginative' Sunday Mirror
'Breathless and brilliantly original' Love Reading
'Destined to be one of the biggest thrillers of 2015' Rick O'Shea, radio presenter
Discover the mesmerising new novel from one of the most original new voices in modern fiction.
* Major campaign * Bound proofs available * International online presence
About the Author
Claire North is a pseudonym for Catherine Webb, a Carnegie Medal-nominated author whose debut novel was written when she was just fourteen years old. She has fast established herself as one of the most powerful and imaginative voices in modern fiction. Her first book published under the Claire North pen name was The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, which became a word-of-mouth bestseller and was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award. The follow-up Touch was described by the Independent as 'little short of a masterpiece'. Her next novel The Sudden Appearance of Hope won the 2017 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and The End of the Day was shortlisted for the 2017 Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Award. Her latest novel 84K received widespread critical acclaim and was described by bestselling author Emily St. John Mandel as 'an eerily plausible dystopian masterpiece'. She lives in London.
Reviews
One of the cleverest, most compelling books I've read in a long time. The intoxicating voice, ingenious premise and intricate plot will have readers clamouring for a copy. Touch has bestseller written all over it and Claire North is one hell of a writer * C. L. Taylor, author of THE ACCIDENT *
A work of sparkling originality that works both as mesmerising thriller and exploration of what it means, at the most profound level, to be human * Alex Marwood, author of THE WICKED GIRLS *
I was totally and utterly gripped, it's just extraordinary. Absolutely mesmerising * Claire Mackintosh, author, feature writer and columnist *
Touch is fast, smart, cinematic and with a cracking central idea. This is absolutely destined to be one of the biggest thrillers of 2015 . . . A very, very impressive second outing * Rick O'Shea, radio presenter *
As intriguing and breathless as it is brilliantly original, constantly defying expectations and a step (or two) ahead of the reader. Featuring a troubled hero who can move from body to body just by grazing someone's fingertip and who becomes the subject of a sinister assassination attempt . . . Agile, unpredictable, this one will keep you awake at night in the search for answers
* LOVE READING *A dark thriller that asks readers to imagine whom they would be if they could be anyone. Literally . . . This fast-paced tale starts with a bang and continues with a bunch more of them . . . The high stakes and breakneck pace of the plot will draw readers in, and the meditations on what it means to be human and to be loved will linger long after the last shot is fired * KIRKUS *
An intensely gripping cat and mouse game . . . Seriously I cannot get over how amazingly good Claire North is. I could have read this book forever. The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August was so smart,Touch is beyond genius. This will be one of THE books of 2015. Mark my words * BITE THE BOOK *
The writing is stunning; the action . . . exhilarating; the depth and emotion - always - thought-provoking and touching * THE LITERARY TREE *
Triumphant . . . This novel is utterly engaging, addictive, and thought-provoking . . . simply superb * CIVILIAN READER *
Book Information
ISBN 9780356504582
Author Claire North
Format Paperback
Page Count 432
Imprint Orbit
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 586g
Dimensions(mm) 232mm * 153mm * 33mm
Reviews
-
Exceptionally well written, but a little at odds with itself.
Technically and intellectually, this is a high-quality piece of writing, but as an enjoyable read I hate to say it misses the mark quite badly for me. The research, or perhaps simple knowledge of cities and countries is quite phenomenal. The detail and observational intricacies in the descriptions are fantastic. As too are the insights into human behaviour and character. The author also delves into some remarkable quandaries about the dangers to the ghost during possession. It would be easy to say ‘it’s a ghost, it can possess anyone’, like most other books and even movies do, but North goes much deeper than that and really gives you a lot to think about. I bought this book after reading the first few short chapters. I was incredibly intrigued and had to know more. As I read the first hundred pages or so, I became impressed with the author’s approach. It would have been so easy to make this story into a fast paced, action packed chase. But North had taken a very different approach. This was deep, thoughtful and intelligent. Unfortunately, by the halfway point I was wishing she’d made this story a fast paced, action packed chase. If this was a short story or novella I think it would have worked so much better, but in its current form it becomes very repetitive and annoyingly tedious. Every new city and character we meet and inhabit is given a formulaic critique, and there are a lot of them. Although interesting at first this just gets incredibly boring. Even the would-be fast-paced and action scenes are crippled by this approach. Worst affected is the finale. What should be a fraught and tension-filled nailbiter just ends up drawing a big tired sigh and roll of the eyes. I’ve tried several samples of Claire North's books; this is the first full novel of hers I’ve attempted, and I haven’t enjoyed anything under this name. Which is strange because under the name Catherine Webb I was in utter awe, and as Kate Griffin I fell in love with her imagination and beautiful prose. I guess we all grow and change.
