Stephen Bartholomew's Far Enough to Touch starts with a simple, relatable moment: a man finding a curious trinket. For Eli, that find turns his world inside out. The antique device he picks up unlocks a latent ability, letting him sense the emotional histories tied to objects—a power called psychometry. What begins as a bewildering and isolating discovery quickly becomes dangerous. Eli learns he's not the first, and a powerful group known as The Collectors has been systematically tracking down and eliminating people with his talent for generations. The story becomes a tense game of cat and mouse as Eli, guided by fragmented clues from the past, must learn to control his ability, understand why The Collectors are so desperate, and simply survive.

Why You Should Read It

This book hooked me because it feels so personal. Bartholomew doesn't just give us a superhero with a cool power; he gives us a regular guy struggling with sensory overload, fear, and loneliness. The 'magic' here has real weight and consequence. I loved how the plot is driven by this dual tension: the immediate thrill of the chase, and the deeper, slower burn of Eli piecing together a forgotten history. It asks really engaging questions about memory, legacy, and what we leave behind—not in a heavy-handed way, but woven right into the action. The supporting characters, especially those Eli meets who share pieces of this hidden history, add great depth and heart to his frantic journey.

Final Verdict

Far Enough to Touch is perfect for readers who love a smart, contemporary thriller with a speculative twist. If you enjoyed the 'everyman on the run' vibe of stories like The Bourne Identity but wished it had a dash of mysterious, object-based magic, this is your next read. It's also great for anyone who's ever held an heirloom and wondered about the stories it could tell. Bartholomew delivers a complete and satisfying adventure that's both exciting and surprisingly thoughtful.