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Sensei (Connor Burke and Yamashita Sensei #1)
by
John Donohue (Goodreads Author)
A modern-day ronin, or masterless samurai, is traveling across the country-systematically murdering martial arts masters in ritualized combat. Martial artist Connor Burke, and his NYPD homicide detective brother, Mick, must outwit the assassin. And Connor must face his biggest fear-the specter of death at the hands of a far-superior warrior.
ebook, 256 pages
Published
August 1st 2011
by YMAA Publication Center
(first published April 9th 2003)
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305)
His protagonist, Connor Burke, is a finely realized and interesting character with substantial depth, complex feelings and motivations, and is an unusual hybrid of both college professor and martial artist. Connor, a thinking man's hero, finds himself drawn into a police investigation because of his unusual background and expertise. All the characters are finely realized, the plot reasonably realistic, the atmosphere compelling, but it's the pacing of the novel that appeals to me the most. Much...more
Donohue's writing skill is superb, but there were a few things about SENSEI that bugged me and ultimately kept me from granting it four stars. The biggest problem with it is that Donohue wrote it in the format of a hard-boiled mystery, when it really should have been a straight-up thriller. Trust me, there's very little mystery to be found here. And the main character, martial arts student/expert Connor Burke, makes for a pretty lousy detective. I was two steps ahead of him the whole way, which...more
Ok, had high hopes for this book. Liked it very much, the main character Connor Burke is nicely understated kind of guy whose mastery of the martial arts is subtly explored in a graduated manner. We never know how accomplished he is until we need to and it is integral to the story.
The peripheral characters are handled well as is the interplay between Burke and his taciturn Sensei.
I tend to measure this genre of book to my all time favourite Martial arts stories by Marc Olden. The best one being...more
The peripheral characters are handled well as is the interplay between Burke and his taciturn Sensei.
I tend to measure this genre of book to my all time favourite Martial arts stories by Marc Olden. The best one being...more
I really enjoyed this mystery, so much so I went on to read the sequel. A very detailed, almost poetical, description of martial arts training...yet so firmly grounded in reality...and in the main character, who is so impressively living in his life with a foot in both realms. He has a wry sense of humor and keen observational eye that I quite enjoyed. Lots of great characters, I love the cop duo...his brother, specifically. A nice balance between esoteric and real life, the esoteric never overw...more
Sensei is a typical Am-Jap story. This falls in the category of books that blend the American environment with Japanese philosophy. This is a story set in Brooklyn and is about the Japanese martial arts training community. It has a mix of Japanese martial arts with some NYPD cop drama. This book will remind you of some of the Hollywood Am-Jap movies like Red Sun, Black Rain, etc. There is no Yakuza in the story. This story is more about relationships between teacher and students, a touch of Japa...more
Sep 29, 2011
David Fournier
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Adults
Shelves:
own-on-kindle
An exciting book with an even pace to the action that allows the auther John Donohue to do some good character building.
This is the beginning of a story about a NYC college professor (Connor Burke), trained in various forms of the martial arts and was accepted as a student of one of the premier sword master of Japan (formerly) approximately 3 yrs earlier. Some murders are committed by a former student of the sensei (Yamashita), when he was still in Japan. And the story takes off from there. Oh,...more
This is the beginning of a story about a NYC college professor (Connor Burke), trained in various forms of the martial arts and was accepted as a student of one of the premier sword master of Japan (formerly) approximately 3 yrs earlier. Some murders are committed by a former student of the sensei (Yamashita), when he was still in Japan. And the story takes off from there. Oh,...more
Someone who calls himself Ronin is going around and killing martial arts masters across the U.S. A New York detective asks his brother Connor Burke, a university professor and martial-arts student, for help. Connor recruits his own sensei Yamashita, and the two open their case of whoopass to solve this mystery and crack some heads.
This book reminds eclectic martial artists such as myself that traditional martial arts can still be fun.
This book reminds eclectic martial artists such as myself that traditional martial arts can still be fun.
Dec 15, 2012
Irene B.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Irene by:
discovered author on YMAA website
Here you have a hardboiled detective story about two brothers--one a martial artist and the other a cop.
Connor, the martial artist, has probably been conked on the head a few too many times--he walks into some very obvious traps; nevertheless the plot and martial arts details keep the novel moving. I plan on reading the sequel to find out how things proceed for Connor and his sensei, Yamashita.
Connor, the martial artist, has probably been conked on the head a few too many times--he walks into some very obvious traps; nevertheless the plot and martial arts details keep the novel moving. I plan on reading the sequel to find out how things proceed for Connor and his sensei, Yamashita.
This was a pretty good book. The author does a good job exploring some traditional Japanese customs and rituals surrounding the martial arts. Having lived in Japan, I was interested in the book primarily for this reason and the author did not disappoint. The book is a very good murder mystery thriller and a commendable first book for the author. I will purchase more books my John Donohue.
I really enjoyed this thriller. Before reading it, I knew absolutely nothing about Japanese martial arts culture and plot revolving around martial arts fascinated me. I thought the author did a great job in his portrayal of the main character and his relationships with his teacher and his brother, the cop. Maybe a little predictable at the end, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Mar 15, 2010
Bert Edens
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
martial-arts-fiction
As a career martial artist, I was very excited to read this book. The martial arts elements are outstanding and very technically accurate. Unfortunately, the rest of the book, including the portrayal of many of the martial arts masters, is a series of one cliché after another.
I will definitely check out the other books, as I have seen reviews saying they get better, as you would expect (or at least hope :)) with any author.
I will definitely check out the other books, as I have seen reviews saying they get better, as you would expect (or at least hope :)) with any author.
Okay, this was certainly not a challenging book. It was merely a summer read and something to relax my mind from my usual non-fiction fare.
The dialogue is rather clichéd and unfortunately predictable, but if you can turn your brain off for a few mindless hours, it's a nice little read.
TD
The dialogue is rather clichéd and unfortunately predictable, but if you can turn your brain off for a few mindless hours, it's a nice little read.
TD
Eh. I mean, I finished it in an afternoon so it's not like it was a waste of time, but overall it just wasn't that good. Maybe I don't really like mystery novels. But according to the book jacket, all his other works are martial arts how-to's, which might explain why I didn't flip for his fiction.
I got kind of excited when he started talking about the Japanese attitude toward gaijin but he said nothing original, nothing of note.
Fun fact: fighting the gym leaders in Pokemans is based on the anci...more
I got kind of excited when he started talking about the Japanese attitude toward gaijin but he said nothing original, nothing of note.
Fun fact: fighting the gym leaders in Pokemans is based on the anci...more
This novel is the first of three. It focuses on the world of martial arts and its strict rules of obedience to the Sensei. Within this world steps a killer and the lives of powerful sensei are threatened and destroyed.
Pretty good first novel from an experienced writer. The mystery was okay. Enjoyed the peek into the world of elite martial artists, particularly those practicing kendo and the sword.
Anyone into Kendo should like this series. And Mister Donohue adds snippets of Bushido to his stories.
Blazed through this laughing and cringing. Donohue is really hitting his stride in this series...
Good mystery novel with a martial arts background. This is the second time I have read it.
another inspiring martial arts mystery - read them all once I touched this book.
Donohue puts together a fast-paced book with interesting, well thought-out characters and plot. Whether you're familiar with the martial arts of the Far East or not, the traditions and descriptions are well placed throughout. Great action and character development with an ending that doesn't leave you hanging earns four stars.
This is about a serial killer of martial arts masters. It is told from the point of view of one the master's protege's in LA. It was ok, but I had trouble staying with it.
May 04, 2011
Bryan457
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
martial-arts,
crime-mystery-detective
Connor Burke is a college teacher who studies martial arts. He is currently working with a very good swordmaster. His brother, a NYPD detective, calls him in as a consultant on a case involving a murdered martial arts teacher/sensei.
Conner Burke is very unsure of himself. His sensei uses the events in the murder case to try to move Conner from being a kendo student to being a warrior/fighter.
Conner Burke is very unsure of himself. His sensei uses the events in the murder case to try to move Conner from being a kendo student to being a warrior/fighter.
This book had a poor ending. It started off with some promise about an American martial arts student who is a loner and lives a different lifestyle. I don't want to put a spoiler in here, but they build up all through the book about a confrontation and the end is just flat. It could have been a much better ending.
I'm a sucker for martial arts thrillers and this book did not disappoint. There was a great balance of intrigue and story, the fight scenes were described well and the attention to detail was very enjoyable.
A great book and a must read for any fan of Martial Arts.
A great book and a must read for any fan of Martial Arts.
Of course, I wrote this, so I like it a bit....
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John Donohue is a novelist and martial artist whose novels in the Burke Yamashita series, Sensei, Deshi, Tengu and the forthcoming (July 2011) Kage all explore the world of elite martial arts training and the implications of a life of action
More about John Donohue...
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