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The Randall Lee Mysteries #1
Changes
When a young woman is found murdered in a seedy massage parlor near his neighborhood, the police recruit Randall Lee - an American acupuncturist and Tai Chi master -- as a translator and expert in Chinese culture, to assist in the investigation. Lee discovers that the murderer is an expert in a forbidden Chinese martial art - the dark mirror to his own healing practices - and joins in the hunt for the killer to escape his own inner demons and save the woman he loves.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2012
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902 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 1, 2015
Sleek, fast paced and genuinely funny, CHANGES is a breath of fresh air.....like hanging your head out the car window while doing 120 mph. Engaging characters, smooth as silk prose and just the right blend of humor and hardcore mystery will keep you reading long into the night, and anxiously awaiting the next book featuring Randall Lee.
I know I am, as Mr. Colyott has moved to the top of my must-read pile with this highly recommended mystery/thriller.
I know I am, as Mr. Colyott has moved to the top of my must-read pile with this highly recommended mystery/thriller.
April 26, 2012
I love a good mystery. In fact if an author can keep me guessing or enjoying the merry chase of the protagonist without me figuring it out at least 50% of the way through. It's good! If he can keep me confused happy and smiling even though I still haven't figured it out at around 75%? It's great in fact almost unheard of for me! This book literally had me caught off guard, deliriously happy in the sweet love story and eclectic music displayed by an author who I am deeming the Harry Blackstone of Mysteries!
Top it off some more and the whipped cream of this story was the addition of the Tai Chi Chuan Doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine ...an acupuncturist who has a dark secret that haunts his soul and only in solving this murder will he be able to reclaim his life back.
The sprinkles? Oh Randall's snark! I'm giddy and thrilled I spent my Saturday afternoon and evening reading this phenomenal book. I really hope and expect to see this author going places!
My cherry? I'm a huge Hard Boiled and Noir fan and any one who can make "..because i was off playing Sam-freaking-Spade" work and work well not only with humor but also in giving you an idea of style and stage he is setting up for you.
Do I have more to say? Plenty. But right now I'm craving Heineken and digging around for my Bjork t-shirt, put in some Dead Can Dance and smile some more. Hats off Charles!!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I love series books and I hope the llamas let him finish the next one quick.
Top it off some more and the whipped cream of this story was the addition of the Tai Chi Chuan Doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine ...an acupuncturist who has a dark secret that haunts his soul and only in solving this murder will he be able to reclaim his life back.
The sprinkles? Oh Randall's snark! I'm giddy and thrilled I spent my Saturday afternoon and evening reading this phenomenal book. I really hope and expect to see this author going places!
My cherry? I'm a huge Hard Boiled and Noir fan and any one who can make "..because i was off playing Sam-freaking-Spade" work and work well not only with humor but also in giving you an idea of style and stage he is setting up for you.
Do I have more to say? Plenty. But right now I'm craving Heineken and digging around for my Bjork t-shirt, put in some Dead Can Dance and smile some more. Hats off Charles!!
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I love series books and I hope the llamas let him finish the next one quick.
May 6, 2015
This is a new author for me and what an impressive introduction. The main character is likable and funny, he has a hot girl friend, she has a bald cat, there is lots of drinking, the bad guys are bad, and the murders are violent and bloody.
If I had a complaint, it would be that the next couple of books are not available in print editions as I write this. They can only be obtained as e-books. I hope this condition is rectified soon as I look forward to the further adventures of this character and his acupuncture needles.
If I had a complaint, it would be that the next couple of books are not available in print editions as I write this. They can only be obtained as e-books. I hope this condition is rectified soon as I look forward to the further adventures of this character and his acupuncture needles.
April 25, 2012
I must confess I am not an avid reader, I am either to busy or simply just don't have the time to sit and read a entire book. That is until I had just a little down time and picked up "Changes". From the first chapter till the last it kept my attention and my imagination, all of a sudden I forgot about all those other little things I had to do and just dove deep into each scene of this great book.
Randall Lee is a character with many faces, he comes across as an everyday person, with everyday problems, but he just happens to have some special abilities. These special abilities takes the character from the mundane to extraordinary.
Charles Colyott did an amazing job describing the characters and gave the reader the ability to feel like they was right there with each step that Randall Lee took. Each scene is recreated in the minds of the reader from the smells to the feelings that the scene gives.
I have to rate this book a 5 for such an amazing story, and great characters. I am most thankful to Charles for showing me there is always time to stop and read a good book. I am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.
Randall Lee is a character with many faces, he comes across as an everyday person, with everyday problems, but he just happens to have some special abilities. These special abilities takes the character from the mundane to extraordinary.
Charles Colyott did an amazing job describing the characters and gave the reader the ability to feel like they was right there with each step that Randall Lee took. Each scene is recreated in the minds of the reader from the smells to the feelings that the scene gives.
I have to rate this book a 5 for such an amazing story, and great characters. I am most thankful to Charles for showing me there is always time to stop and read a good book. I am eagerly awaiting the next one in the series.
February 29, 2012
In the beginning Randall Lee reminds me of Wade Barker’s character the ninja master and that is a good thing... "The girl was really fucking blue." Enough said
September 5, 2012
Yu Bei: Preparation.
Qi Shi: Begin.
Even after everything that has happened, I still practice Tai Chi every morning.
I had heard the phone ring while doing my morning routine, but I let the answering machine pick it up. When I checked it, I found there were two calls from some cop, a Detective Knox. Said he had a few questions for me. After my shower, I grabbed another beer and headed down to the shop. I had told the detective to come on by in twenty minutes or so.
When a guy dressed like a character from Miami Vice walked in, I knew it was him. He was surprised that I was Caucasian. With a name like Randall Lee and me running an Asian store, he thought I would be Asian.
When I was kicked off the police force, I opened a shop dealing with Asian remedies for health problems and treatments, such as acupuncture. I had grown up in Hong Kong, and during my time there, I had become proficient in both.
He told me there had been a murder of a Chinese prostitute and he needed a translator. No one would talk to him. The body had been found at the Taste of Asia shop in the bad part of town. I could tell it had been staged as a mock funeral and they wanted her more than dead, they wanted her damned.
When I saw the body, she looked like a Smurf. The coroner said she probably died from a crushed larynx, but I knew he was wrong. Every blood vessel had burst. I told Knox I had seen something like this before. She was blue from head to toe because she was bruised, not cyanotic.
Martial arts have some very specialized strikes. Things legends are made of. I showed them a pushing move that would compress and shatter the ribs, pop the lungs like balloons and crush the heart. The blood has nowhere to go, so it shoots outward and soaks into the muscles and tissues. If they were to check back later, they would see the blood had settled underneath her body. He had also missed that she was pregnant.
To me it was an assassination. A murder for hire. Who could be responsible? The Triad? It was unusual for something Triad related to happen in St. Louis.
When I returned to the store, Tracy and her friend were waiting. She had taken my business card and called back later to make an appointment. She had hurt her knee and was willing to give me the benefit of the doubt in treating it. She closed her eyes and I inserted the needle. She was amazed when she opened her eyes and saw I had done it and she never even felt it. I was having some very lewd thoughts about her and trying hard not to let them show.
When Knox stopped by the next day, he said Madam Chong, at the spa had kept saying deem mock. I told him it was just superstition, you know, the Death Touch. A secret deadly art. You touch someone in certain areas and they die hours later. They had found her dead this morning. Heart attack. Yeah, right. With her dead, the investigation halted. When he left, he slipped me a copy of Mei Ling’s file. I guess, we both felt the same way, we weren’t done.
When I looked through my files, I saw where Madam Chong had come in for treatment. I had never treated her for any heart problem. Back to the coroner’s office. Again I had to do his job for him. I showed him the one point that someone would have used to cause a heart attack and it wasn’t due to any martial arts. There was a hole in her elbow where someone had injected her with something. There was also adhesive around her mouth and wrists. I figured she was injected with Potassium, air or something similar, that couldn’t be traced.
Now we had two murders, one flashy and one not so much. One was planned and one was sloppy. Two different killers. Knox asked me why I would want to help and I, more or less, said why not.
Tracy came back for a check up and I sure was checking her out. I was old enough to be her father but was not having fatherly thoughts. I knew I couldn’t ask her out, but was surprised when she made the first move. I surprised myself even more by saying yes.
Triads are the Chinese Mafia. They start recruiting at a very young age. When I lived in Hong Kong, I used to get beat up a lot. One day a kid took a baseball bat to me. Someone stepped in to stop it. They called Wu Cai, a famous doctor, who used acupuncture, massage, and some herbs that allowed me to hide it from my dad.
I hung out at his place and bugged him so much, he took me under his wing. It all started with learning how to stand. I had to learn how to be still. I had to learn in stages, by standing I learned to relax, then I moved to a posture, then another posture. As I progressed he added Taoist texts and herbalism.
Tai chi is a health exercise, but Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art. It means Supreme Ultimate Boxing. It is an internal form of martial arts. There are meridians and acupuncture points, which are ways energy moves through the body, that can be used for or against you.
I never meant to get Tracy involved in the investigation, but she had served Mei Ling when she had come into the Outer Limit, the club Tracy worked at. She wasn’t likely to forget, because she paid with a hundred-dollar bill and told her to keep the change. Tracy and I became an item and she spent many a night at my place.
I told her how Mei Ling was killed. There are really two types of martial arts. External, like King Fu and Karate, rely on outer strength. The bigger guy usually wins. Internal, of which Tai Chi Chuan is the most well-known, uses kinetic energy, so it bounces around on the inside tearing someone up and breaking bones.
When they found Mei Ling’s apartment, they found a suitcase full of twenty-dollar bills four inches deep. What was going on with her? Blackmail? Selling inside information to the Eight Tigers? I found out she had another apartment in San Francisco. So I hopped on a plane to check it out. It looked like she had just walked out and was coming right back.
That was when Daniel found me. He took me to meet Tony Lau, her fiance. He was the son of Jimmy Yi Lau the boss of the Eight Tigers Society. They ran most of the rackets in San Francisco. The Taste of Asia parlors where Mei Ling worked belonged to him. But Tony was an artist and just didn’t seem the type to go around killing people. Could it be a revenge hit? But revenge for what?
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
The cover was very creative. Charles seems to have a knack for choosing cool covers. The title was appropriate, when you figure all the changes Randall went through as the book progressed.
It was well written and the plot was varied and detailed. Mixing humor with the martial arts, kept something very technical light and fun to read. The mystery and suspense lasted throughout the book, keeping me guessing as to who the real killer was.
When he talks about a carpet picnic (a picnic on the living room floor) it brought to mind Friday nights at my house when I was a kid. It was grocery night and after my parents got home from the store, my mother would spread a blanket on the floor and we were allowed to pick whatever snacks we wanted while we watched TV. We had a big family, so this was always a treat.
I loved his description of her cat - looked like a wrinkly miniature gargoyle. It was a Sphinx, hairless and felt like a warm, dry peach. LOL
The characters were well-developed. The details Charles provided allowed me to picture each character as if I were actually seeing them. I like that Randall and Tracy hooked up even though there was such a large age difference. Made it seem very realistic. Who we love is out of our hands sometimes. It’s something we can’t control.
I don’t think there was a page, except in the very beginning, when Randall wasn’t beaten, battered, bruised, banged up, or broken. He appeared inept at times, as he stumbled his way through, not giving up until the mystery was solved.
I have read Black, by Charles, and this is quite different. I definitely will be looking for more books in the Randall Lee mystery series.
Changes -- A Randall Lee Mystery Charles Colyott
Qi Shi: Begin.
Even after everything that has happened, I still practice Tai Chi every morning.
I had heard the phone ring while doing my morning routine, but I let the answering machine pick it up. When I checked it, I found there were two calls from some cop, a Detective Knox. Said he had a few questions for me. After my shower, I grabbed another beer and headed down to the shop. I had told the detective to come on by in twenty minutes or so.
When a guy dressed like a character from Miami Vice walked in, I knew it was him. He was surprised that I was Caucasian. With a name like Randall Lee and me running an Asian store, he thought I would be Asian.
When I was kicked off the police force, I opened a shop dealing with Asian remedies for health problems and treatments, such as acupuncture. I had grown up in Hong Kong, and during my time there, I had become proficient in both.
He told me there had been a murder of a Chinese prostitute and he needed a translator. No one would talk to him. The body had been found at the Taste of Asia shop in the bad part of town. I could tell it had been staged as a mock funeral and they wanted her more than dead, they wanted her damned.
When I saw the body, she looked like a Smurf. The coroner said she probably died from a crushed larynx, but I knew he was wrong. Every blood vessel had burst. I told Knox I had seen something like this before. She was blue from head to toe because she was bruised, not cyanotic.
Martial arts have some very specialized strikes. Things legends are made of. I showed them a pushing move that would compress and shatter the ribs, pop the lungs like balloons and crush the heart. The blood has nowhere to go, so it shoots outward and soaks into the muscles and tissues. If they were to check back later, they would see the blood had settled underneath her body. He had also missed that she was pregnant.
To me it was an assassination. A murder for hire. Who could be responsible? The Triad? It was unusual for something Triad related to happen in St. Louis.
When I returned to the store, Tracy and her friend were waiting. She had taken my business card and called back later to make an appointment. She had hurt her knee and was willing to give me the benefit of the doubt in treating it. She closed her eyes and I inserted the needle. She was amazed when she opened her eyes and saw I had done it and she never even felt it. I was having some very lewd thoughts about her and trying hard not to let them show.
When Knox stopped by the next day, he said Madam Chong, at the spa had kept saying deem mock. I told him it was just superstition, you know, the Death Touch. A secret deadly art. You touch someone in certain areas and they die hours later. They had found her dead this morning. Heart attack. Yeah, right. With her dead, the investigation halted. When he left, he slipped me a copy of Mei Ling’s file. I guess, we both felt the same way, we weren’t done.
When I looked through my files, I saw where Madam Chong had come in for treatment. I had never treated her for any heart problem. Back to the coroner’s office. Again I had to do his job for him. I showed him the one point that someone would have used to cause a heart attack and it wasn’t due to any martial arts. There was a hole in her elbow where someone had injected her with something. There was also adhesive around her mouth and wrists. I figured she was injected with Potassium, air or something similar, that couldn’t be traced.
Now we had two murders, one flashy and one not so much. One was planned and one was sloppy. Two different killers. Knox asked me why I would want to help and I, more or less, said why not.
Tracy came back for a check up and I sure was checking her out. I was old enough to be her father but was not having fatherly thoughts. I knew I couldn’t ask her out, but was surprised when she made the first move. I surprised myself even more by saying yes.
Triads are the Chinese Mafia. They start recruiting at a very young age. When I lived in Hong Kong, I used to get beat up a lot. One day a kid took a baseball bat to me. Someone stepped in to stop it. They called Wu Cai, a famous doctor, who used acupuncture, massage, and some herbs that allowed me to hide it from my dad.
I hung out at his place and bugged him so much, he took me under his wing. It all started with learning how to stand. I had to learn how to be still. I had to learn in stages, by standing I learned to relax, then I moved to a posture, then another posture. As I progressed he added Taoist texts and herbalism.
Tai chi is a health exercise, but Tai Chi Chuan is a martial art. It means Supreme Ultimate Boxing. It is an internal form of martial arts. There are meridians and acupuncture points, which are ways energy moves through the body, that can be used for or against you.
I never meant to get Tracy involved in the investigation, but she had served Mei Ling when she had come into the Outer Limit, the club Tracy worked at. She wasn’t likely to forget, because she paid with a hundred-dollar bill and told her to keep the change. Tracy and I became an item and she spent many a night at my place.
I told her how Mei Ling was killed. There are really two types of martial arts. External, like King Fu and Karate, rely on outer strength. The bigger guy usually wins. Internal, of which Tai Chi Chuan is the most well-known, uses kinetic energy, so it bounces around on the inside tearing someone up and breaking bones.
When they found Mei Ling’s apartment, they found a suitcase full of twenty-dollar bills four inches deep. What was going on with her? Blackmail? Selling inside information to the Eight Tigers? I found out she had another apartment in San Francisco. So I hopped on a plane to check it out. It looked like she had just walked out and was coming right back.
That was when Daniel found me. He took me to meet Tony Lau, her fiance. He was the son of Jimmy Yi Lau the boss of the Eight Tigers Society. They ran most of the rackets in San Francisco. The Taste of Asia parlors where Mei Ling worked belonged to him. But Tony was an artist and just didn’t seem the type to go around killing people. Could it be a revenge hit? But revenge for what?
4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others
The cover was very creative. Charles seems to have a knack for choosing cool covers. The title was appropriate, when you figure all the changes Randall went through as the book progressed.
It was well written and the plot was varied and detailed. Mixing humor with the martial arts, kept something very technical light and fun to read. The mystery and suspense lasted throughout the book, keeping me guessing as to who the real killer was.
When he talks about a carpet picnic (a picnic on the living room floor) it brought to mind Friday nights at my house when I was a kid. It was grocery night and after my parents got home from the store, my mother would spread a blanket on the floor and we were allowed to pick whatever snacks we wanted while we watched TV. We had a big family, so this was always a treat.
I loved his description of her cat - looked like a wrinkly miniature gargoyle. It was a Sphinx, hairless and felt like a warm, dry peach. LOL
The characters were well-developed. The details Charles provided allowed me to picture each character as if I were actually seeing them. I like that Randall and Tracy hooked up even though there was such a large age difference. Made it seem very realistic. Who we love is out of our hands sometimes. It’s something we can’t control.
I don’t think there was a page, except in the very beginning, when Randall wasn’t beaten, battered, bruised, banged up, or broken. He appeared inept at times, as he stumbled his way through, not giving up until the mystery was solved.
I have read Black, by Charles, and this is quite different. I definitely will be looking for more books in the Randall Lee mystery series.
Changes -- A Randall Lee Mystery Charles Colyott
December 14, 2017
Martial arts thriller featuring Randall Lee, acupuncturist and practitioner of tai chi.
Lee is practicing his trade in St. Louis, which is an unusual setting as these things go. When a Chinese girl is murdered in a massage parlor, the police call in Lee to help. He finds she has been killed by dim mak, the death touch.
Fairly good, but the ending was lame and unbelievable.
Lee is practicing his trade in St. Louis, which is an unusual setting as these things go. When a Chinese girl is murdered in a massage parlor, the police call in Lee to help. He finds she has been killed by dim mak, the death touch.
Fairly good, but the ending was lame and unbelievable.
March 18, 2012
I’m pretty good at guessing what’s coming in a book or a movie and very often feel like it’s hard for anyone to surprise me, but Charles Colyott’s exciting new Randall Lee mystery, Changes, really kept me guessing every step of the way. I had no idea where he was going with this story and what’s more, I didn’t feel compelled to try and figure it out. I was having too much fun watching Randall Lee try and figure it out.
The Tai Chi angle is really cool and Colyott does a superb job of keeping readers up to speed on the philosophies and mechanics involved without ramming it down your throat. Rather, it’s interspersed in the most natural of ways, an admirable feat, seeing how this is an integral part of the story and a defining feature of the central character. It would have been so easy to give more info on the subject than is needed, yet that whole aspect of the story unfolds like a slowly developing friendship. Best of all, Colyott uses the Thai Chi to good in a variety of ways, not the least of which is setting. The neighborhood, the acupuncture/herbal shop Lee runs, and the whole complex nature of the culture really blend together in a wonderfully believable way. Tai Chi is more than an art in Changes. It’s a mood. It’s a discipline. It’s a weapon. It’s its own exotic little corner of the world.
And Colyott’s ability to apply a light touch does not end with Tai Chi. Despite the fact that Randall Lee is in possession of such a rare and lethal skill, the man is not without his vulnerabilities. He has his weaknesses like anyone else, and a self-deprecating sense of humor keeps him from coming off as too tough or too full of himself. He gets beat up. A lot. He isn’t always the smoothest guy around. Haunted by a tragic past, his motivations for helping the police and getting into trouble stem from a need for healing. You can’t help but pull for him. Some writers would be tempted to turn Lee into a caricature but fortunately for us, that never happens here.
Being from St. Louis, I particularly enjoyed the map of delicious locations that show up in the book. The city makes for a fascinating setting. Again, there’s no sense of over-arching (if you’ll excuse the pun) when it comes to slipping in some fun facts about the different neighborhoods that wind their way through this story. The various hot spots that pop up, pop up with good reason and add great local color.
In case you can’t tell, I enjoyed the heck out of this book and really look forward to reading more Randall Lee mysteries. This, in its self, is saying a lot because I don’t generally like series about crime fighters. This one, however, was fun, exciting, mysterious, and touching. In it’s surprisingly nuanced and kick-butt way, it turned me into a dedicated Randall Lee fan.
The Tai Chi angle is really cool and Colyott does a superb job of keeping readers up to speed on the philosophies and mechanics involved without ramming it down your throat. Rather, it’s interspersed in the most natural of ways, an admirable feat, seeing how this is an integral part of the story and a defining feature of the central character. It would have been so easy to give more info on the subject than is needed, yet that whole aspect of the story unfolds like a slowly developing friendship. Best of all, Colyott uses the Thai Chi to good in a variety of ways, not the least of which is setting. The neighborhood, the acupuncture/herbal shop Lee runs, and the whole complex nature of the culture really blend together in a wonderfully believable way. Tai Chi is more than an art in Changes. It’s a mood. It’s a discipline. It’s a weapon. It’s its own exotic little corner of the world.
And Colyott’s ability to apply a light touch does not end with Tai Chi. Despite the fact that Randall Lee is in possession of such a rare and lethal skill, the man is not without his vulnerabilities. He has his weaknesses like anyone else, and a self-deprecating sense of humor keeps him from coming off as too tough or too full of himself. He gets beat up. A lot. He isn’t always the smoothest guy around. Haunted by a tragic past, his motivations for helping the police and getting into trouble stem from a need for healing. You can’t help but pull for him. Some writers would be tempted to turn Lee into a caricature but fortunately for us, that never happens here.
Being from St. Louis, I particularly enjoyed the map of delicious locations that show up in the book. The city makes for a fascinating setting. Again, there’s no sense of over-arching (if you’ll excuse the pun) when it comes to slipping in some fun facts about the different neighborhoods that wind their way through this story. The various hot spots that pop up, pop up with good reason and add great local color.
In case you can’t tell, I enjoyed the heck out of this book and really look forward to reading more Randall Lee mysteries. This, in its self, is saying a lot because I don’t generally like series about crime fighters. This one, however, was fun, exciting, mysterious, and touching. In it’s surprisingly nuanced and kick-butt way, it turned me into a dedicated Randall Lee fan.
March 30, 2012
I loved everything about this book! Colyott's writing sparks every sense. I not only saw the story playing out, I felt the emotions and heard the sounds. The characters are well-developed, the dialogue made me laugh, and some of the scenes made me gasp. The plot moves at a perfect pace and had me guessing until the very end.
Changes is the perfect blend of mystery, suspense and humor. I can't wait for the next one in this series!
Changes is the perfect blend of mystery, suspense and humor. I can't wait for the next one in this series!
April 29, 2012
If it's any attestation to how enjoyable this book is, it should be noted that I started it less than 24 hours ago and have already finished it. Interesting character development that gave you just the right amount of insight, intrigue, romance, sex and violence without overdoing any one element.
March 9, 2015
The story starts with the FBI asking Randall to be a translator in the case of a murdered woman. Soon Randall realizes that the killer is well practiced in the dark arts of Tai Chi, which is exactly the opposite of what he does and practices. This makes him enraged and determined to find this killer before he kills anyone else.
The story is fast paced, suspenseful and often an edge of your seat type of reading. I really didn’t find a boring moment in the book. The characters are well depicted, and I especially loved learning more about Randall Lee.
He is a flawed person – an anti hero really, who has his demons from the past that constantly come back to haunt him. He is often angry and even more often clueless of what is going on around him.
Lee is also often beaten, bruised and badly hurt. That doesn’t stop him from pushing forward. He gets in trouble very often, simply because he wants to help people. And solve murders. But all that makes him nothing more than human, and I love him for it.
The first book in the series has also a romance aspect to it. Randall Lee is in love with Tracy, a young woman almost half half his age. This makes for a very interesting dynamic in their relationship, one which surprisingly works extremely well.
I love Tracy’s hairless cat btw and had more than a giggle throughout when I read about Lee and the cat being together. Just too funny really.
Overall I loved Changes and I can highly recommend the whole series.
Full book review at http://mysterysequels.com/changes-by-...
The story is fast paced, suspenseful and often an edge of your seat type of reading. I really didn’t find a boring moment in the book. The characters are well depicted, and I especially loved learning more about Randall Lee.
He is a flawed person – an anti hero really, who has his demons from the past that constantly come back to haunt him. He is often angry and even more often clueless of what is going on around him.
Lee is also often beaten, bruised and badly hurt. That doesn’t stop him from pushing forward. He gets in trouble very often, simply because he wants to help people. And solve murders. But all that makes him nothing more than human, and I love him for it.
The first book in the series has also a romance aspect to it. Randall Lee is in love with Tracy, a young woman almost half half his age. This makes for a very interesting dynamic in their relationship, one which surprisingly works extremely well.
I love Tracy’s hairless cat btw and had more than a giggle throughout when I read about Lee and the cat being together. Just too funny really.
Overall I loved Changes and I can highly recommend the whole series.
Full book review at http://mysterysequels.com/changes-by-...
July 10, 2012
I loved this e-book! As a tai-chi practitioner, I really enjoyed the lead character's persona. Randall Lee is a Tai-Chi Master, acupuncturist and herbalist in St. Louis. However, he is not Asian, which leads to a certain amount of suspicion on the part of his neighbors in Chinatown. The writing draws one along smoothly, and has been well-edited, or at least thoroughly proof-read, which seems to be all-too rare among free e-books.
There are lots of quirky secondary characters, and some oddly appealing villains...it's not always easy to tell exactly who IS a villain, which is refreshing in a world where much writing uses two-dimensional, black-and-white characters.
Given my background, I found the martial-arts sequences plausible, though non-practitioners may find them less so. Tai-chi uses "internal energy", and some of its applications border on the mystical. A mere touch can, in fact, send your opponent flying.
Aside from being a great read, "Changes" made me want to get more deeply into my tai-chi again, after several years' hiatus.
There are lots of quirky secondary characters, and some oddly appealing villains...it's not always easy to tell exactly who IS a villain, which is refreshing in a world where much writing uses two-dimensional, black-and-white characters.
Given my background, I found the martial-arts sequences plausible, though non-practitioners may find them less so. Tai-chi uses "internal energy", and some of its applications border on the mystical. A mere touch can, in fact, send your opponent flying.
Aside from being a great read, "Changes" made me want to get more deeply into my tai-chi again, after several years' hiatus.
July 15, 2012
From Sherlock Holmes to John Connolly's Charlie Parker, I love a good mystery. Randall Lee is flawed, haunted and angry to the point of losing control. He is also smart, savvy and dangerous which all goes to make him very interesting. Colyott takes a terminally dark character and gives him a sense of humor that makes you really care about Randall Lee. It was a good story. The martial arts descriptions were written well enough that even I could picture what was happening. The only thing that made me wince was his relationship with the much much younger girlfriend. She read like my 12 year old granddaughter rather than my twenty-something daughters. I felt uncomfortable every time she "be bopped" into a room. Randall has lots of baggage including the rape and death of his daughter and the earlier deaths of his parents. I had a hard time believing that this girl would be his choice of partner. Except for sex and her astonishing legs she didn't offer much. I kept wondering if she and the Viper were examples of a mid-life crises.
February 16, 2012
When I first saw this book the title and the image on the cover peeked my interest. As I began to read I was afraid I wouldn't be able to understand some of the terminology such as "Tai Chi" however, the author did an amazing job giving great details of everything in the book. I felt like I could feel, taste and see everything that Randall Lee felt. Not only was this a great thriller/suspense/mystery/romantic novel it also opened my eyes to another culture. I definitely will be following Mr. Colyott and anxiously awaiting his next release. This would be a great book for group or club discussions.
February 29, 2012
Particularly interesting main character, liked the interaction between Randall and the detective and the FBI agent and loved the Tai Chi teacher. Really hoping to see more of these characters soon.
Only two things kept this from being one of my rare 5-star ratings ... the romance/involvement with the young woman seemed less comfortable than the interactions with the other characters. And especially at the beginning of the book, some of the descriptions of the Tai Chi movements were a bit in the 'too much information' mode for me. I really didn't need quite that much detail, would have worked just as well for me with less.
Only two things kept this from being one of my rare 5-star ratings ... the romance/involvement with the young woman seemed less comfortable than the interactions with the other characters. And especially at the beginning of the book, some of the descriptions of the Tai Chi movements were a bit in the 'too much information' mode for me. I really didn't need quite that much detail, would have worked just as well for me with less.
August 14, 2012
Lovin' my free/discounted Kindle list which is where I've been finding so many good books, lately:) Liked this book very much. Randall Lee, a martial arts trainee, works hard to solve murders, build a relationship with a beautiful woman, defend himself against numerous assailants and deal with the tragedies of his own past in this book. The mystery was good, but you have to pay attention....easy to get lost in the details. Plenty of sarcasm and wit. Good read that I would recommend to anyone who likes a mystery or even just a good story.
January 16, 2013
This book was recommended to me by a friend and I must say I am soooo glad. I have a found a new author to follow. This story had a really great mystery at its heart, but the best thing about it was Randall's witty internal musings. The developement of his relationships with Tracy and Knox and Cheng were so much fun to explore. I was facsinated by the details of acupuncture and Tai Chi Chuan and overall found it to be a fast-paced story; a definate page-turner for me.
I've already grabbed the second book because I can't wait to read more from Colyott.
I've already grabbed the second book because I can't wait to read more from Colyott.
October 17, 2012
Chinese Martial Arts have always intregued me. I enjoyed the hell out of this book. If you like a different twist on the P.I. Novel pick this one up. Will definitely check out the next book in the series. Highly Recommended.
April 4, 2013
Good story involving murder, the Asian world and martial arts. I liked that it wasn't all "kung fu beat 'em up" but done creatively and nicely. Looking forward to rwading the next book in the series.
February 16, 2015
Finally, someone who understands that Tai Chi Chuan is martial art.
Mr Colyott mystery does a great service for Tai Chi Chuan and oriental medicine. His story is exciting and fun without resorting to the usual fantasy martial art nonsense. It was a great read!
Mr Colyott mystery does a great service for Tai Chi Chuan and oriental medicine. His story is exciting and fun without resorting to the usual fantasy martial art nonsense. It was a great read!
January 13, 2013
Absolutely wonderful murder mystery novel. The story arch was extremely unique, and the protagonist was that and then some. Highly recommend this novel.
December 27, 2012
A LOT of fun! Well written, witty, good plotting ans just plain smart and sassy. Looking forward to reading the next book soon!
September 29, 2013
Wonderful book!! Great characters, story, imagery and humor all wrapped up in a great book! Can't wait to start the second book "Pressure Point"
September 30, 2013
first book of his I have read..Loved it!! Witty and action packed. Will definately read more of his books. A must read for action mystery lovers.
November 6, 2013
what a great book, the character randall lee made me laugh, but not to detract away what was a very good and well written thriller, enjoyed every minute of it.
August 17, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was more strong language than I usually find acceptable, but the story was good enough to overcome that.
American, Randall Lee, a trained acupuncturist, is also a Tai Chi Master. Because of his understanding of the Chinese culture and able to speak the language, he is initially recruited by the police to help with interviews, by acting as a translator in a murder enquiry. A young girl has been murdered. But Lee soon gets more involved with the crime as he realises that a Tai Chi expert has used the martial art to kill. Only a master would recognise the work of another master.
Lee meets Tracy, when she makes an appointment at his shop and she becomes drawn into the action. There are more murders, and their lives are in danger. Lee uses his skills to avoid being killed.
It is fast-moving action story that keeps you engrossed from beginning to end. I look forward to reading another Randall Lee novel.
American, Randall Lee, a trained acupuncturist, is also a Tai Chi Master. Because of his understanding of the Chinese culture and able to speak the language, he is initially recruited by the police to help with interviews, by acting as a translator in a murder enquiry. A young girl has been murdered. But Lee soon gets more involved with the crime as he realises that a Tai Chi expert has used the martial art to kill. Only a master would recognise the work of another master.
Lee meets Tracy, when she makes an appointment at his shop and she becomes drawn into the action. There are more murders, and their lives are in danger. Lee uses his skills to avoid being killed.
It is fast-moving action story that keeps you engrossed from beginning to end. I look forward to reading another Randall Lee novel.
September 9, 2012
Another excellent free book from Amazon. Randall Lee is recruited to help as a translator of Chinese in a recent murder and his knowledge of Chinese culture and martial arts are invaluable as he works to track a killer. I love how witty Randall is and some of his sarcastic remarks are quite funny. Of course he goes over the top every now and then, but it's still a fun time. I look forward to more action and searching with Randall in the future.
April 28, 2015
Execellent story and characters
Characters are human and have human flaws and history that drives their actions. A wonderful story and fascinating for those interested in martial arts. For those that are not (which I generally consider myself), it is a well written story of love, loss, pain, and triumph which can be enjoyed by all.
Characters are human and have human flaws and history that drives their actions. A wonderful story and fascinating for those interested in martial arts. For those that are not (which I generally consider myself), it is a well written story of love, loss, pain, and triumph which can be enjoyed by all.
May 25, 2013
I read this one - a free Kindle book from Amazon - fairly quickly. Lots of interesting features and quirky bits. I have just started taking Tai Chi so the frequent references to this art were very enjoyable to me. Just enough nasty killers to make it a good murder mystery.
December 27, 2012
This was a really good book. Randall Lee, the protagonist, reminded me of Harry Dresden- which is a great thing.
I look forward to reading more in this series.
I look forward to reading more in this series.
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