Deshi: A Martial Arts Thriller

by John Donohue

Book Overview

In this gripping martial arts thriller from the author of Sensei, Connor Burke is drawn into a murder investigation involving a mysterious martial arts master who has created a powerful New Age synthesis of Tibetan mysticism and the lethal heritage of the samurai. Martin's Press.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451412087
• ISBN13: 9780451412089
• Release Date: February 2006
• Publisher: Onyx Books
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Deshi

I found this martial arts thriller to be an excellent blend of realistic martial arts,likeable recurrent characters and an exciting story line. As a black belt and Ph.D. myself, I appreciated Donohue's attention to martial details without being exaggerative in content (no flying throgh the air or destroying opponents with five fingers of death). I also read Tengu, his third novel, and throughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend the entire series.

Fine sequel to Sensei

I am drawn to many cultures, ways of life to learn. John Donohue follows the further adventures of martial arts student and master in a satisfying sequel to Sensei. For those who are trying to find Gone With the Wind, fuggettaboutit. For those who like to read of martial arts, tibetan enlightenment, and a continuation of a wondeful cast, this is for you. Looking forward to the next outing.

An Exciting Follow Up

Deshi is a great follow up to John Donohue's "Sensei". The story itself is once again a relatively simple mystery. What makes "Deshi" so satisfying though is John Donohue's maturing of the characters. Connor Burke seems to be moving more and more from his College Prof. role into a martial arts master. In "Sensei", Yamashita Sensei is definitely the master and Burke the student. However, in "Deshi" Donohue does an admirable job of maturing the relationship. Partly due the events depicted in "Sensei" Burke and Yamashita are beginning to see each other as peers and Burke's projections of Yamashita's invincibility are beginning to desolve and the view of his own skills are beginning to strengthen. "Deshi" definitely has a spiritual component and does a great job of comparing and contrasting true martial spirituality with the kind peddled by con artists and fakirs. I highly recommend "Deshi" to martial artists, spiritual seekers, or just fans of action/adventure in the Robert B. Parker vane.

An excellent tale of clashing cultures

John Donohue's Deshi is an excellent tale of clashing cultures, an exquisitely flavored and nuanced mystery featuring college professor/martial arts expert Connor Burke, a character whose background mirrors the author's own. As in Donohue's first book, Sensei, Burke is asked by the New York City police to help them investigate a difficult case. This time it's the murder of a Japanese-American whose death seems to have something to do with a missing inka, a traditional Japanese scroll indicating accomplishment or enlightenment. At the behest of his sensei (teacher), Burke also becomes involved with a lama who has fled oppression in his native Tibet but is still in danger. Is it possible that the two cases are related? Although the publisher of Deshi (Japanese for student) bills the novel as a "martial arts thriller," it is much more than that. True, it has its share of action and suspense, but Donohue's story is also one of insight and reflection, written by an author who understands the dichotomy between East and West and uses that knowledge to flavor his already compelling prose.

fascinating thriller

Edward Sakura sees the man in his shodo hut on his Brooklyn estate and knows the intruder is going to kill him. Before he dies, he creates a message in calligraphy that reads "spring wind". The police think it is a clue to his murderer and one of the lead detectives brings his brother, martial arts expert Connor Burke, is called into the investigation since he is an expert in things Asian. It is learned that Sakura has sent a calligraphic scroll to Professor Hoddington in Georgia for an evaluation. The evidence shows the professor ends up murdered by the same person who killed Sakura. The school journalist Kim who gave the scroll to Sakura is found tortured and dead. The man Connor suspects killed the three men is also interested in Connor's Sensei's friend Tibetan monk Changpa Ripache. The killer has ties to the People's Republic of China security forces but they don't know why China would be interested in one outspoken monk. All these events seem to tie back to Kita Tekenobo, an expert in martial arts who wants the scroll destroyed. At an isolated gathering, all the principal players come together but not all of them will leave alive. DESHI is a fascinating thriller that gives readers an in-depth look at those who practice the martial arts and how mysticism plays a role in the making of a warrior. The protagonist has been tutored by his sensei for many years yet still realizes he has a lot to learn especially how the interaction of eastern philosophy and mysticism creates warriors. The plight of Tibet and the Chinese attempts to destroy Buddhism and the monks who practice it add depth to this creative work of suspense. Harriet Klausner