Keppan: The Blood Oath (a Connor Burke Martial Arts Thriller)
When does the student become the master? At what cost?
Grieving the loss of his sensei, the master swordsman Yamashita, Connor Burke struggles with the challenges of recovery from the wounds received struggling to defend Yamashita as well as the heavy burden of assuming leadership of Yamashita's dojo. Embroiled in controversy with a wealthy donor over control of the dojo, Burke welcomes the distraction of an investigation into a noted yoga guru's unexplained death.
Winston Tambor is a charismatic yoga teacher who died under mysterious circumstances.
Some believe that Win's death was caused by the unleashing of mysterious yogic power from the discipline of Kundalini, but some investigators think differently. They need someone with an insider's knowledge of the esoteric aspects of Asian disciplines, with the research skills needed to separate mystic hype from reality, who also has had some experience with criminal investigations. Mickey Burke, watching his brother Connor struggle with rehabilitation in the aftermath of Yamashita's death, thinks Connor will be perfect for the project.
Connor Burke welcomes the distraction of Montoya's investigation of Tambor's death. He soon discovers that solving this mystery is as dangerous as it is difficult. Burke is plunged once again into the world of esoteric Asian disciplines. Where the relations between master and disciple, and the conflict of perpetuating ancient codes of honor can generate very lethal consequences. Especially when driven by money and celebrity.
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A nationally know expert on the culture and practice of the martial arts, John Donohue has been banging around dojo for more than 30 years.
Fascinated with the themes of human action and potential he uncovered in his research, John began thinking about the fictional possibilities inherent in the world of the martial arts.
John has always been fascinated with other cultures and was attracted to the Asian martial disciplines because of their blend of philosophy and action. He began studying Shotokan Karatedo in college. He joined practical training with more formal education, completing a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Fusing the way of the pen and the way of the sword, while writing John has trained in the martial disciplines of aikido, iaido, judo, karatedo, kendo, and taiji. He has dan (black belt) ranks in both karatedo and kendo.
"In John Donohue's thrilling mystery novel Keppan, a martial artist balances taking over his master's dojo with investigating the suspicious death of a celebrity yoga instructor.
Connor is still reeling from the sacrifice that his master, the respected swordsman Yamashita, made by giving his life to protect his dojo and students. The trauma continues to weigh on his mind, but Connor must contend with the physical injuries as well. Yamashita appointed Connor as his successor-a role Connor isn't sure he's capable of.
A welcome distraction from the loss of his master and the dojo issues comes in the form of his PI brother: a case involving the death of a yoga instructor. The death was claimed to be due to an ancient yogic practice that involves the release of intense power. Connor becomes embroiled in the esoteric Asian arts as he attempts to sift the mystical from the mundane.
The depictions of Connor's practice are intense but also meditative as he moves through the forms and maneuvers learned over years of practice. The physical prowess he displays is mirrored only by his mind-honed by years of research and education before he transitioned into the martial arts. His unique mindset makes him perfect for the case, as he has a foot in both worlds: martial arts and investigative research. The danger mounts as it becomes apparent people kill to honor ancient codes but also to ensure the flow of money goes into the desired hands. With sharp dialogue wherein what's not said is just as important as the superficial conversation, Connor and his allies ascertain why the yoga master died and who might gain from it."
Keppan is a tense but steady thriller centered on a mystery shrouded in mysticism and hiding a common motive: money.
--FOREWORD REVIEWS 2023
"John Donohue once again satisfyingly evokes the world of Japanese martial arts, discipline, culture, and chaos. In this novel, though, there is an ample salting of other worlds, including the rich but tainted American yoga culture, the rough trade of sex tapes, and the mobster dimensions of Japanese corporations and Russian oligarchs. These worlds spin by, in and out of his hero's orbit like errant moons enriching the story and setting an ever-larger stage. The characters are palpable. The reader can almost smell their sweat and see their tics, see his or her face in the shiny side of swords, hear the springs of pistols issuing subsonic rounds. Fans will find that author's protagonist, Burke, to be familiar but also more nuanced; damaged but all the more engaging because of it, missing his master and seeking equilibrium and trying to banish his pain. A new level of work for the author and a treasure for his faithful and for thriller enthusiasts alike."
--Monk Yun Rou/Arthur Rosenfeld, Ordained Taoist Monk (China) author, Daoist teacher, Tai Chi master, speaker
"Keppan packs the wallop of Bruce Lee's powerful one-inch punch. It examines the aftermath of tragic violence and death, dealing with grief and facing one's own mortality, which lifts the novel above standard genre fare. Donohue demonstrates his maturation as a fiction writer who delivers emotionally charged insights into complicated relationships, all wrapped in a tightly paced mystery. The Connor Burke series just keeps getting better and better."
--Brian R. Sheridan, Assistant Professor of Dept of Communication - Mercyhurst University, journalist, and martial artist, co-author of America in the 30s
"Donohue's Burke series is among the best in the genre. Not only does he have some the best drawn action sequences set to the page, but his use of different cultures coexisti
