John Donohue - Sensei (2003)
Every once in a while, a book will come out of nowhere and surprise you with the level of skill it represents, and the sheer pleasure you get from reading it. John Donohue’s Sensei is just such a book. Appearing on the scene with little hype or publicity, it has leapt out of the stacks as one of the most exciting reads of the season.
Someone is killing the great martial artists of America, using advanced combat techniques that are beyond extraordinary, and it is up to the book’s hero, Connor Burke, to find out why. (His brother, coincidentally, is an officer with the New York police department, which is how Connor gets involved.)
A part-time professor of literature, Burke isn’t the most obvious choice for a detective. As a devotee of both karate and kendo (the Japanese arts of hand-to-hand and sword fighting), however, he has the physical skills to get the job done.
Connor’s role in the investigation is to assist in navigating the close-lipped, insular world of martial artists. He represents a big help to the police, but even he has trouble getting past the defenses of his sensei (teacher), Yamashita, a master swordsman who appears to know much more than he lets on.
The characters in Sensei feel fresh and new, far from the cardboard cut-outs that pop up in too many mysteries. Burke and his teacher, in particular, are fascinating to read about, representing as they do attitudes and outlooks that set them apart from the crowd.
One of the common characteristics of a good book is that it introduces you to a new world or teaches you about an unfamiliar subject. Sensei does both. Not only does it provide a guided tour of the shadowy martial arts world, it also provides an initiation into the mysterious lives of the arts’ practitioners.
Donohue certainly has the credentials to back up his story. Although this is his first work of fiction, he has previously written many articles and books on the martial arts. He has also trained extensively in the martial disciplines of aikido and judo, as well as earning black belts in both karate and kendo.
The author’s experience shows not only in the unique perspective he brings to Connor Burke’s world, but in the accuracy of the technical details as well. (And for those who aren’t interested in the more esoteric descriptions of fighting techniques or strategies, those parts can easily be skipped without spoiling the overall enjoyment of the story.)
Donohue’s skills as a writer are also on display here, and they equally well developed. He does a fine job of weaving a clever web of suspense, all contained within a slim 288 pages. You know you’re reading a good story when it leaves you hungry for more, and that is precisely what the author has accomplished with Sensei.
Posted by David J. Montgomery in Book Reviews | Permalink
