Martial arts expert and Asian studies professor, Connor Burke is hired by the US military to advise on the training of a special ops team. Whilst he is thus engaged, an anthropology student, the daughter of a wealthy Japanese family is kidnapped in a remote area of the Philippines. A ransom is demanded and paid, but the person engaged to deliver the ransom money is also taken by the kidnappers. This man is Burke’s sensei, Yamashita and Burke is drawn into the hunt to find him.
But why was Yamashita kidnapped also and what are the links to a nasty execution video that Burke analysed whilst adviser to the US military? Burke, his brother Micky, (a police officer) and partner Art, wade into the seamy quarters of the Philippines to find out.
This is very well done. It is rare to find a martial arts story which is realistic and does not go “over the top” in terms of the action. John D knows his subject, with black belts in karate and kendo. He has written two other Connor Burke novels apart from this one – Sensei and Deshi.
