The Aikido Sensei

A Parker Mystery, Book 4

De: Daniel Linden

Narrado por: Charles Hinckley

In this fourth novel, The Aikido Sensei in The Parker Mystery Series, Parker uncovers a web of intrigue, illicit sex and murder. We meet Parker's old Aikido Sensei, a man of charm, humor and gusto. But a man who has also quit teaching Aikido. In a bid to rediscover himself and spend the rest of his life living in grace and simplicity he has moved to a small town in Maine.

But hey, he's old, not dead, and he's found a special woman he is very interested in getting to know, well. Before Parker gets the chance to meet her, mystery and murder changes his life forever and it is up to Parker to solve the crime....

©2013 Daniel Linden (P)2013 Daniel Linden

I don't think he likes women very much!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

All the Parker Mysteries have a bit of Aikido philosophy in them, and it's kinda fun, but this one really goes into - a bit to the detriment of the pace of the story. If I want 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance', I'll listen to that. I was hoping for a great mystery, but the story lags a bit when he goes too deeply into the Aikido stuff. He also doesn't really like women. Once again - Parker seems to be a man of all encompassing wisdom (which is cool), but all the women he meets are a bit shallow - they all fall short, and are often a bit petty. It's disappointing.

Has The Aikido Sensei turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

What does Charles Hinckley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His Parker voice is spot on - he's gravelly and gritty, but introspective and has enough self-effacing humor. I like that. He doesn't do women too well though.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Possibly.

Any additional comments?

I think I've listened to all of the books in the series - they lapse more and more into long interludes about Aikido philosophy, and the women become more petty - so if another one comes out, I don't think I'll get it. But I've mostly enjoyed all those I heard so far.