Customer Reviews

Sensei: A Thriller

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What happens when some of the top Japanese martial arts instructors are killed by a mystery man, known only as Ronin? Follow Connor Burke, a long time student of the martial arts, as he works to uncover the mystery and determine how his sensei fits into the picture.

John Donahue brings a wealth of understanding of both Japanese culture and the martial arts community to the novel. Unlike many martial arts books (and most martial arts movies) the book captures much of the spirit, discipline and realism of martial arts training. The book also captures the enigmatic sensei/student relationship inherent in martial arts graining.

The book weakens when some of the major players act off-character to advance the plot. The story is intricate and gripping, but it's a shame that some of the character realism had to be sacrificed. Many times you're left wondering, "Why doesn't anyone see what's really happening?" or "Why doesn't he just make a call on his cellphone?"

Despite the shortcomings, I'm looking forward to reading the upcoming sequel.

"Someone is killing the great martial artists of America....." That was on the book's cover and hooked me into reading it. Indeed, Sensei turned out to be a very good read although it was somewhat action-lite. The basic plot revolves around a manhunt for a revenge-seeking Ronin killer who is capable of vanquishing martial arts experts in his attempt to find one particular victim. Through this manhunt, author John Donohue deftly exposes the reader to the arcane martial arts culture and takes them deep into the soul of the martial arts warrior. Sensei doesn't contain a lot of fight-action sequences (if that is what you are looking for) but is well written and entertaining.

As a third degree Black belt I am somewhat jaded on the whole fantasy of martial arts and the media. From the flying choreography to the comedic stunts and sound effects, they all tend to degrade or detract from the greatness that the martial arts provide. Not so in this novel. This is a terrific thriller from someone who certainly knows the Martial Arts as a master!
The writing is superb and provides just enough terrific detail to have you looking over your shoulder and preparing to confront that odd noise you think you heard in another room.
This is a must-read for any martial arts student or any martial artist wannabe!
5 Stars...and keep them coming!

Well done martial arts mystery. Surprised? Me too. The author is skilled and the hook is set early, and we are not disappointed.

John Donahue's no stranger to the world of Martial Arts - he's an expert and it shows in this novel, a snappy thriller, Sensei.
The dialog is so readable, I was reading the new Nance book, and just glanced at the first page and was hooked - Nance can wait!
More more of these characters, Mr. Donahue!!!
This is a wonderful thriller and a welcome addition to the regular gang of thriller authors -

Connor Burke was a college teacher with a passion for the martial arts. His brother, Micky, was an NYPD detective on a murder case and asked for his help. Someone calling himself "Ronin" was murdering Masters of the martial arts in America. Connor and his sensei began following the killer's trail only to find it all went further than anyone had ever expected. <P...* Author John Donohue knows his stuff! This is a suspense filled story that tackles a field that is seldom seen in a thriller novel, the world of martial arts.

The author was able to teach me SO MUCH about the culture without me even realizing I was learning. Those, like myself, who know very little about this topic will NOT be hindered. The story flows evenly and all is spelled out so you can easily understand. For those of you, like my husband, who DO know the topic, do not worry. The author does not insult your intelligence. You are likely to find yourself nodding while you read. However, the author does not write unnecessary details so you will not feel the need to begin skimming pages. Recommended reading.

This is a great thriller, let me say that first up. If you're wanting a suspense novel, this is a good choice, but if you're expecting incredible action throughout it, you're going to be disappointed. The premise is fantastic: great martial artists are being killed by a superior warrior. You can easily see Jet Li playing the part of Ronin in this one. The problem is that this story is told from the first-person perspective ("I walked into the room and..."). While this wouldn't be a problem if you were telling it from the killer's POV, it's a big disappointment if you're telling it from someone else's. As a result, we see the aftermath of the three killings (the body, the crime scene, etc.), but what could have been a series of incredible fight scenes are never developed. In actuality, there are only two real fight scenes in the whole book (one more if you count one told in retrospect), and that's just not what you expect from a book about martial arts masters being killed. Ronin is only seen fighting in one scene in the end, and even that one is cut rather short for a guy who's supposed to be such an incredible fighter. I enjoyed the book, but it was definitely more about character development than action (imagine John Woo directing "High Noon" and you'll get the idea). If this had been told differently (from the third person perspective of most books...or even from the combination of the two like James Patterson does with the Alex Cross stories), it could have been a blockbuster. As it is, it's very informative (the author obviously knows what he's talking about) and full of suspense, but still missing something. I'll gladly grab his next one though and give it another try, as he shows great potential as a fiction writer.

This is the first John Donohue book I've read. However I noticed there are two others in this series, so it won't be the last. I've read thrillers before, but this was the first martial art one I've read and I loved it! I'd love to see this turned into a movie. Five stars all the way!

This book was great! John donohue did a great job of mixing the traditional martial arts with a fast paced crime thriller! After reading this book I picked up the next two in the series... Deshi & Tengu the mountain goblin. After studing the martial arts for years it is refreshing to see traditional styles and captivating stories. I hope he keeps them coming.

John Donohue is to be commended on his first novel, Sensei, a remarkably good first effort that I would whole-heartedly recommend to fans of thrillers. This was a very enjoyable read and in no way felt like a freshman effort. It is always such an unusual treat to stumble across a new writer and have their debut novel completely capture you and take you off guard. Debut efforts rarely have me scribble the author's name on my "must read from now" on list, but this one did, and I am waiting as patiently as possible for his next novel to come out.

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 atmoshpere compelling, but it's the pacing of the novel that appeals to me the most. Much like Dave Robicheaux in James Lee Burke's novels, Donohue's character, Connor Burke, narrates events in an introspective, almost brooding fashion, and thoughout the story is contemplative, thoughtful, and focused on matters conscience and trust. He is an extremly interesting and sympathetic character and it is a pleasure to read about his adventures. So while the action is completely lively and thrilling, the story itself is calm and centered. This novel is much like the martial artists it depicts; externally violent and active, yet calm and centerd within.

The novel is set in New York City, feautes an impressive amount of action, and unfolds in layers as Connor seeks down and confronts an extraordinarily talented martial artist who for obscure reasons has murdered several prominenet martial arts teachers (sensei). Fans of James Lee Burke, Lee Child, Barry Eisler will all enjoy this one. I heartily recommend it.