Sensei (Connor Burke Martial Arts Book 1)

I’ve got a nerve writing a review here when I’ve only read 40 pages of it so far. However, on the strength of that 40 pages, I am going to order Mr Donohue’s other books. I am just so grateful to have discovered this. The martial arts attract a wide variety of people, including a large number of quality human beings, intelligent, educated, and honourable. Martial arts entertainment, on the other hand, has a most unfortunate tendency to dumb down, to appeal to the lowest common denominator. (I suspect that the artistic approach, e.g. in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is by far the exception rather than the rule. I am aware of the increase in quality in martial arts movies in recent years, encouragingly – some Donnie Yen stuff, for instance, is hundreds of times better than what was acceptable back in the seventies.) Mr Donohue is not only genuinely martial-arts knowledgeable, he is intelligent and articulate, and he can write. I’m looking forward to the rest of his Connor Burke thrillers already.

I have just finished the second book. I believe someone could read this first book and enjoy it without committing to the series. Its not too deep or intense, a good easy read. It gives a hint as to the style of the following book which I enjoyed, but regardless, I believe if you have had a basic interest in martial arts you might enjoy it. If you just want a crime story I would mark it as 3 stars.

As a long standing Martial Artist it is perhaps suprising that I haven't delved into the MA fiction before, but I was very happy to discover this author. I would recommend it not only to Martial Artists but also to fans of crime fiction/murder mysteries, as the books are a refreshing cross over between the two genres. It is told almost exclusively from the perspective of an Irish American academic Connor Burke, who is a long standing student of Yamashita - a old school Japanese Sensei - and is also brother to a Homicide detective.

Crikey! What a lot of Japanese, culture and martial arts information I acquired!It ticks along, but I think it may be too specialised a genre for me. I didn't appreciate the elegance and subtleties of the action scenes, nor of the training. Good book if you are starting from a less ignorant base, though.

A surprisingly well written book for a genre of this nature. He captures the atmosphere of New York very well from my tourist viewpoint, I can feel the sweat of a scorching summer heatwave in the city that never sleeps. The cultural and spiritual understanding of Japanese martial arts is first class, I guarantee you will learn a few things even if you know Japan! Overall excellent Martial Arts fiction, if your a martial artist especially of Japanese styles then try reading something completely different, you will not go wrong with this book!

A good martial arts thriller that for once is written by someone who knows what he is talking about even if he does have a very narrow view on the various Aikido styles. I will definitely try the next one.

I enjoyed this book a nice introduction to a series that i would like to read more off a little slow to get going but high on details and protocol well worth a read

Ok I liked this book, I liked the characters and the interactions especially those moments between Burke and his Sensei. The story flowed and was a good idea. But not enough action for me not enough martial arts! I realise the subtlety of it all but I needed a bit more slam bang action as in those 70's Kung fu thrillers.Still a very good read by an author who knows his stuff and its place today's world.