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Sam Reeves Martial Arts Thriller #2
Dukkha Reverb
Up until six weeks ago, Sam Reeves, a respected Portland, Oregon police detective, martial artist, and teacher, had a good life. That is until a series of unimaginable events turned it upside down some good, some very, very bad. Still reeling from this maelstrom of fate, Sam takes a leave of absence and heads to exotic Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam seeking refuge with his family, and to reflect on his deadly past. Sam is captivated by the contrast of beauty and struggle of a country still recovering from war, and by the warmth of his newfound family his father Samuel, wife Kim, half sisters, and the beautiful enchanting Mai. But the grief-crazed mob boss, Lai Van Tan, seeks revenge against Samuel who he holds responsible for the death of his son. Ever the protector, Sam Reeves joins the fight to thwart Lai Van Tan s deadly attacks on the family. Dealing with a crazed mob boss is difficult enough but when the family learns that Lai Van Tan s people have kidnapped 27 young girls to be sold into the sex trade, and that the corrupt police and government won t help, Sam, Samuel, and Mai, along with a bizarre group of seemingly old and disabled Vietnamese soldiers with unique fighting skills, join forces to rescue the young girls. Enraged, Lai Van Tan strikes back with a fury that tests the mettle of these warriors. Before it s over, the family is forced to defend themselves again and again, including in a warehouse full of life-sized Buddha statues. The results well, if you re going to fight the bad guys you might as well make them really mad at you.
- GenresMartial Arts
514 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Loren W. Christensen
99 books100 followersLoren W. Christensen is a Vietnam veteran, retired police officer, a martial artist since 1965, and a prolific author of books and magazine articles.
As a writer, Loren has penned over 70 books and dozens of magazine articles on a variety of subjects. While his target audience is most often what he calls “the warrior community” – martial artists, cops, soldiers – his writing has become popular among high school and college students, parents, professionals of every kind, and people interested in a side of life outside the norm.
Loren is most thankful to his many friends, associates and fellow writers in the warrior community for their continual support and expert advice.
Biography:
Bachelors of Science - PSU
Vietnam veteran – 716th Military Police
Career police officer (ret) – Portland, Oregon
Street patrol, gang enforcement, defensive tactics instructor, bodyguard
Script advisor for the motion picture Best of the Best 3
Martial artist since 1965
Earned a total of 13 black belts in three fighting arts
Starred in 7 instructional DVDs
Author of 70 books and dozens of magazine articles
Nominated for the Frankfurt award
Co-author (with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman) of “Evolution of Weaponry” in Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict, Academic Press
Wrote regularly for Black Belt, Karate Illustrated, Inside Kung fu and many others
Currently writes regularly for Black Belt and Police and Security News magazines
Book Solo Training was ranked in Amazon’s top 3 for three years in a row
Named in the 2007 - 2008 Heritage Registry of Who's Who in publishing
As a writer, Loren has penned over 70 books and dozens of magazine articles on a variety of subjects. While his target audience is most often what he calls “the warrior community” – martial artists, cops, soldiers – his writing has become popular among high school and college students, parents, professionals of every kind, and people interested in a side of life outside the norm.
Loren is most thankful to his many friends, associates and fellow writers in the warrior community for their continual support and expert advice.
Biography:
Bachelors of Science - PSU
Vietnam veteran – 716th Military Police
Career police officer (ret) – Portland, Oregon
Street patrol, gang enforcement, defensive tactics instructor, bodyguard
Script advisor for the motion picture Best of the Best 3
Martial artist since 1965
Earned a total of 13 black belts in three fighting arts
Starred in 7 instructional DVDs
Author of 70 books and dozens of magazine articles
Nominated for the Frankfurt award
Co-author (with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman) of “Evolution of Weaponry” in Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict, Academic Press
Wrote regularly for Black Belt, Karate Illustrated, Inside Kung fu and many others
Currently writes regularly for Black Belt and Police and Security News magazines
Book Solo Training was ranked in Amazon’s top 3 for three years in a row
Named in the 2007 - 2008 Heritage Registry of Who's Who in publishing
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 30, 2020
After the events of the first book, Sam and family go to Vietnam. He has quite a bit of culture shock. He can barely even handle the traffic. It turns out that his father owns a very profitable jewelry store. The father is also taking care of wounded veterans from the Vietnam War.
Of course, there's some criminals who want to see the whole family dead. This ends in some nasty fighting.
Not bad. Reminded me a bit of 80's action movies.
Of course, there's some criminals who want to see the whole family dead. This ends in some nasty fighting.
Not bad. Reminded me a bit of 80's action movies.
November 20, 2013
Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to read Mr. Christensen's first martial arts thriller, Dukkha: The Suffering (A Sam Reeves Martial Arts Thriller), before reading this book, which takes place immediately following the first. Having read this book, I'd like to read the first one now.
In this book, Sam Reeves, a detective in the Portland PD, travels to Vietnam to visit his father, whom he thought was dead until only a few short weeks before (probably in the events of the first novel), as well as his...and this caught me off guard at first...beautiful stepsister, Mai, for whom he has developed a healthy respect and a romantic curiosity, a development which is shared. During the flight, Sam meets Bobby, a young Taekwondo black belt who is purportedly traveling to Vietnam to visit family. Due to their mutual interest in the martial arts, they strike up conversation and become friends. When they arrive in Vietnam, however, Sam witnesses some kind of trouble with Bobby, who struggles with the police, kicking two police officers to the ground, before escaping into the crowd outside the airport. This, of course, concerns Sam, but also makes him wonder if Bobby is somehow mixed up with the villain from the first novel, Lai Van Tan, a powerful gangster in Vietnam, who also happens to be the villain in this book, too. As fate would have it, Sam's father and sexy stepdaughter are likewise in the martial arts, although his father is so gifted he can move objects so quickly no one sees him.
And that's how the novel begins.
All the threads are shown in the first chapter: Sam has a somewhat uncertain relationship with his father, Samuel; has come halfway around the world to Vietnam with hopes of testing the waters for a relationship with his exotic stepsister; has made friends with a young runaway; and will face a Vietnamese kingpin with his father and stepsister to bring the novel to a close. Along the way, readers also meet a small assortment of other colorful characters, such as "Sifu," Samuel's master in the martial arts and Samuel's faithful friends, who are veterans of the Vietnam conflict, some from the north, some from the south, all damaged in one way or another, either missing limbs or hideously scarred, but all loyal to Samuel and Samuel's family. By the end of the novel, some even forfeit their lives helping Samuel, Sam and Mai battle Lai Van Tan.
Unlike other thrillers, where the detective is a man's man, strong against all odds, Sam Reeves is as human as they come. He is not always thinking of his job, although he is haunted by events from the past, which I believe occurred in the first novel. He desires the companionship of a beautiful woman, who in this case not only happens to be exotic but also his stepsister (again, a bit unexpected). Although he has had to take a life or two in the line of duty, he is haunted by doing so. He is so haunted by it, in fact, that he refuses to carry a gun when he joins Samuel and Mai as they literally fight Lai Van Tan's mercenaries and henchmen, vowing only to use his wits and martial arts. He laughs with Bobby, makes jokes, and genuinely cares for the well-being of others, sympathetic to their individual personalities. He does not blindly charge into action, leading all others into battle, expecting them to blindly follow. He makes bad decisions and learns from them. He helps a young runaway be reunited with his parents. Sam values human relationships between warriors, between father and son, father and daughter, husband and wife, master and student, parents and children.
Mr. Christensen meets the writing challenges before him throughout the book. He never takes the easy way out, addressing some complicated passages head-on, such as the topic of sex trafficking. At no point does it ever feel like Mr. Christensen is skirting or truncating scenes or passages because they are difficult scenes or passages to write. Instead, whatever problems he might have faced while writing the book, he has confidently and competently solved them. The novel moves along at a steady pace, rarely if ever wanting for momentum. His writing is not only active but also descriptive with a wide vocabulary. Every word choice feels like exactly the right word in the right place, with all the subtleties and subtexts blossoming between the lines. No word in the book feels like almost-the-right-word.
There are several features of the book that are worth further note. First, Mr. Christensen's description of Saigon is superb. Having spent more than two weeks in Manila in the Philippines, Mr. Christensen's descriptions brought back memories of how traffic flowed through that large metropolis. Mr. Christensen at one point describes a small child stepping into traffic. Sam, of course, fears for her life, but Mai, who has told Sam to watch the little girl, explains that the girl will cross traffic safely because everyone cooperates...the little girl, the drivers in traffic. Because no one hesitates, the girl safely crosses the busy street. They all understand where and when every person and automobile will be because no one deviates from that understanding. The traffic in Manila felt like this. Sam notes in the novel that he is surprised he has not seen any accidents. I felt exactly the same way about Manila. Despite all the traffic, I never saw a single accident.
Although it is true that Mr. Christensen has written multiple books about the martial arts, Mr. Christensen comes across as a true martial artist, often teaching in the book. For example, Sam demonstrates and explains a technique to Bobby in one scene. In this scene, Sam is explaining the importance of selecting a specific target, not just a general target. Sam explains and demonstrates to Bobby the purpose of punching someone in the bladder. Mr. Christensen's writing, however, is thorough, explaining how to strike the bladder, at what angle, and where the body should be struck, as well as the effects of striking the bladder in the described manner. If this technique is not real, Mr. Christensen has made it so plausible as to be real in the reader's mind. (Readers, however, with a little research, will find that this target and technique in fact are plausible.)
The only scene that I *could not* picture in my mind's eye is the scene where Samuel, Sam, Mai and Samuel's colorful Vietnam veterans attack one of Lai Van Tan's warehouses in the middle of the night to free young girls from sex trafficking. Although much takes place in this chapter, the placement of objects and doors in the scene are not clear in my mind, so it is challenging to imagine exactly what takes place throughout the chapter, who hides behind what and in what posture, who crawls out to help whom in what manner, etc. For me, this chapter was the weakest in the book because it is the least clear exactly how items are placed in the scene and contribute to the movement of the characters through the warehouse. Having said this, however, the general movement of characters in the scene is clearly presented.
As a reader who is married to a beautiful woman from the Philippines, I particularly enjoyed Mr. Christensen's descriptions of the Vietnamese characters, because they seem so close to the people that I have seen in the Philippines. I particularly enjoyed Mr. Christensen's description and handling of Mai throughout the book because they reminded me of my wife, although my wife is not a martial artist. Readers who appreciate Asian culture and people are likely to appreciate this aspect of Dukkha Reverb.
In this book, Sam Reeves, a detective in the Portland PD, travels to Vietnam to visit his father, whom he thought was dead until only a few short weeks before (probably in the events of the first novel), as well as his...and this caught me off guard at first...beautiful stepsister, Mai, for whom he has developed a healthy respect and a romantic curiosity, a development which is shared. During the flight, Sam meets Bobby, a young Taekwondo black belt who is purportedly traveling to Vietnam to visit family. Due to their mutual interest in the martial arts, they strike up conversation and become friends. When they arrive in Vietnam, however, Sam witnesses some kind of trouble with Bobby, who struggles with the police, kicking two police officers to the ground, before escaping into the crowd outside the airport. This, of course, concerns Sam, but also makes him wonder if Bobby is somehow mixed up with the villain from the first novel, Lai Van Tan, a powerful gangster in Vietnam, who also happens to be the villain in this book, too. As fate would have it, Sam's father and sexy stepdaughter are likewise in the martial arts, although his father is so gifted he can move objects so quickly no one sees him.
And that's how the novel begins.
All the threads are shown in the first chapter: Sam has a somewhat uncertain relationship with his father, Samuel; has come halfway around the world to Vietnam with hopes of testing the waters for a relationship with his exotic stepsister; has made friends with a young runaway; and will face a Vietnamese kingpin with his father and stepsister to bring the novel to a close. Along the way, readers also meet a small assortment of other colorful characters, such as "Sifu," Samuel's master in the martial arts and Samuel's faithful friends, who are veterans of the Vietnam conflict, some from the north, some from the south, all damaged in one way or another, either missing limbs or hideously scarred, but all loyal to Samuel and Samuel's family. By the end of the novel, some even forfeit their lives helping Samuel, Sam and Mai battle Lai Van Tan.
Unlike other thrillers, where the detective is a man's man, strong against all odds, Sam Reeves is as human as they come. He is not always thinking of his job, although he is haunted by events from the past, which I believe occurred in the first novel. He desires the companionship of a beautiful woman, who in this case not only happens to be exotic but also his stepsister (again, a bit unexpected). Although he has had to take a life or two in the line of duty, he is haunted by doing so. He is so haunted by it, in fact, that he refuses to carry a gun when he joins Samuel and Mai as they literally fight Lai Van Tan's mercenaries and henchmen, vowing only to use his wits and martial arts. He laughs with Bobby, makes jokes, and genuinely cares for the well-being of others, sympathetic to their individual personalities. He does not blindly charge into action, leading all others into battle, expecting them to blindly follow. He makes bad decisions and learns from them. He helps a young runaway be reunited with his parents. Sam values human relationships between warriors, between father and son, father and daughter, husband and wife, master and student, parents and children.
Mr. Christensen meets the writing challenges before him throughout the book. He never takes the easy way out, addressing some complicated passages head-on, such as the topic of sex trafficking. At no point does it ever feel like Mr. Christensen is skirting or truncating scenes or passages because they are difficult scenes or passages to write. Instead, whatever problems he might have faced while writing the book, he has confidently and competently solved them. The novel moves along at a steady pace, rarely if ever wanting for momentum. His writing is not only active but also descriptive with a wide vocabulary. Every word choice feels like exactly the right word in the right place, with all the subtleties and subtexts blossoming between the lines. No word in the book feels like almost-the-right-word.
There are several features of the book that are worth further note. First, Mr. Christensen's description of Saigon is superb. Having spent more than two weeks in Manila in the Philippines, Mr. Christensen's descriptions brought back memories of how traffic flowed through that large metropolis. Mr. Christensen at one point describes a small child stepping into traffic. Sam, of course, fears for her life, but Mai, who has told Sam to watch the little girl, explains that the girl will cross traffic safely because everyone cooperates...the little girl, the drivers in traffic. Because no one hesitates, the girl safely crosses the busy street. They all understand where and when every person and automobile will be because no one deviates from that understanding. The traffic in Manila felt like this. Sam notes in the novel that he is surprised he has not seen any accidents. I felt exactly the same way about Manila. Despite all the traffic, I never saw a single accident.
Although it is true that Mr. Christensen has written multiple books about the martial arts, Mr. Christensen comes across as a true martial artist, often teaching in the book. For example, Sam demonstrates and explains a technique to Bobby in one scene. In this scene, Sam is explaining the importance of selecting a specific target, not just a general target. Sam explains and demonstrates to Bobby the purpose of punching someone in the bladder. Mr. Christensen's writing, however, is thorough, explaining how to strike the bladder, at what angle, and where the body should be struck, as well as the effects of striking the bladder in the described manner. If this technique is not real, Mr. Christensen has made it so plausible as to be real in the reader's mind. (Readers, however, with a little research, will find that this target and technique in fact are plausible.)
The only scene that I *could not* picture in my mind's eye is the scene where Samuel, Sam, Mai and Samuel's colorful Vietnam veterans attack one of Lai Van Tan's warehouses in the middle of the night to free young girls from sex trafficking. Although much takes place in this chapter, the placement of objects and doors in the scene are not clear in my mind, so it is challenging to imagine exactly what takes place throughout the chapter, who hides behind what and in what posture, who crawls out to help whom in what manner, etc. For me, this chapter was the weakest in the book because it is the least clear exactly how items are placed in the scene and contribute to the movement of the characters through the warehouse. Having said this, however, the general movement of characters in the scene is clearly presented.
As a reader who is married to a beautiful woman from the Philippines, I particularly enjoyed Mr. Christensen's descriptions of the Vietnamese characters, because they seem so close to the people that I have seen in the Philippines. I particularly enjoyed Mr. Christensen's description and handling of Mai throughout the book because they reminded me of my wife, although my wife is not a martial artist. Readers who appreciate Asian culture and people are likely to appreciate this aspect of Dukkha Reverb.
September 13, 2013
From my book review blog at:
http://kickinbooks.wordpress.com/2013...
Through NetGalley, YMAA Publishing Center was nice enough to provide me with a copy of this eGalley for the purposes of reading and reviewing it. Although it was provided to me at no cost, I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
Sam Reeves is a police officer who also happens to be a martial arts instructor. In the first book, he found his long lost father Samuel, who he thought had died during the Vietnam War. He also was introduced to Mai, who he was strongly attracted to, eventually and thankfully finding out she is indeed not his sister. Both are well-versed in martial arts like Sam, which comes in handy throughout the book.
Much mayhem and violence ensues, much of it instigated by Lai Van Tan, a Vietnamese crime lord who heavy-hands all those around him, including Samuel’s jewelry shops in Saigon. Lai Van Tan’s son dies during a conflict with Samuel, and this sets the obviously unstable criminal off even more. The book ends following some horrific events at Portland State University, with Samuel and Mai returning to Vietnam.
This book takes off with Sam heading to Vietnam to meet his family several months after the events of the first book. On the flight he encounters Bobby, a sixteen year-old Vietnamese-American travelling alone, presumably under the auspices of meeting his family in Vietnam. Bobby happens to be a black belt in taekwon-do and looks up to Sam for his martial arts experience, once he realizes who Sam is.
Once in Vietnam, things really pick up for Sam. He meets Mai’s mother Kim, who is ill with tuberculosis, Mai’s sisters, and a whole bevy of Vietnam vets who fought for either North or South Vietnam. Samuel has taken them under his wing and even provided a home for them, for reasons that are revealed throughout the book.
The most engaging and comical vet is Tex Nyugen, a legless student of Samuel’s, as well as part of his security staff. Tex is a fan of American western movies, thus his nickname. He also provides much of the comic relief, often in a deadpan manner. Once while talking to Bobby, he comments that he saw Bobby practicing his kicks, and he was much better at it than Tex. :)
We are also introduced to Samuel’s sifu, an elderly man with almost mystical abilities, including the ability to feel disruptions in someone’s chi and tweak it to help them rest or feel better. Of course, his speed is incredible, as you would expect, putting even Samuel and Sam to shame.
Our heroes eventually learn Lai Van Tan is involved in a sex-trafficking business with young girls, and our heroes set out to put an end to it. Along the way, they are hampered by Vietnamese police and politics as well as Lai Van Tan’s power and influence among those in power. It’s also revealed that Bobby is in fact a runaway from his parents in California, contrary to what he told Sam on the airplane.
Will Sam, Samuel, Mai and friends be able to stop or even slow down Lai Van Tan? Can they help out some of the girls being held in preparation for their introduction into the sex trade? Will Bobby sort out the conflicts with his parents? Will Sam and Mai ever get a chance to further their budding romance?
Much like the first book in the series, this one keeps up a pace that makes the Energizer Bunny want to take a siesta. There’s always something going on, and it keeps the book moving along, making it a fast read for the size of the book.
Christensen kept true to his characters in the book, showing Sam continuing to fight his demons while also growing as a character. It’s also nice to see Samuel and Mai as fallible characters, even with all their upsides.
My favorite part of the book had to be the fight in a collapsing tunnel near the climax of the book. Christensen noted on his Facebook page that he had to keep stepping outside for fresh air while writing it, and I can see why. I could feel my heart rate quickening while reading it, and I was just the reader. It was very well done by the author, bringing forth the tension of the moment and the emotions of the characters outstandingly.
I am hoping Christensen continues with this series for some time. I can see lots of potential with it, as much of it so far has been about the past, and there are lots of possibilities in the future, with Samuel and his relationship with Sam, Sam’s relationship with Mai, and even possibly Bobby as a future student of Sam’s.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves fact-paced action thrillers, even moreso if you have an interest in LEOs, veterans or martial arts. The author is all of the above, which leads to a level of depth and authenticity that can’t be brought by someone just doing research.
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
http://kickinbooks.wordpress.com/2013...
Through NetGalley, YMAA Publishing Center was nice enough to provide me with a copy of this eGalley for the purposes of reading and reviewing it. Although it was provided to me at no cost, I am under no obligation to give a positive review.
Sam Reeves is a police officer who also happens to be a martial arts instructor. In the first book, he found his long lost father Samuel, who he thought had died during the Vietnam War. He also was introduced to Mai, who he was strongly attracted to, eventually and thankfully finding out she is indeed not his sister. Both are well-versed in martial arts like Sam, which comes in handy throughout the book.
Much mayhem and violence ensues, much of it instigated by Lai Van Tan, a Vietnamese crime lord who heavy-hands all those around him, including Samuel’s jewelry shops in Saigon. Lai Van Tan’s son dies during a conflict with Samuel, and this sets the obviously unstable criminal off even more. The book ends following some horrific events at Portland State University, with Samuel and Mai returning to Vietnam.
This book takes off with Sam heading to Vietnam to meet his family several months after the events of the first book. On the flight he encounters Bobby, a sixteen year-old Vietnamese-American travelling alone, presumably under the auspices of meeting his family in Vietnam. Bobby happens to be a black belt in taekwon-do and looks up to Sam for his martial arts experience, once he realizes who Sam is.
Once in Vietnam, things really pick up for Sam. He meets Mai’s mother Kim, who is ill with tuberculosis, Mai’s sisters, and a whole bevy of Vietnam vets who fought for either North or South Vietnam. Samuel has taken them under his wing and even provided a home for them, for reasons that are revealed throughout the book.
The most engaging and comical vet is Tex Nyugen, a legless student of Samuel’s, as well as part of his security staff. Tex is a fan of American western movies, thus his nickname. He also provides much of the comic relief, often in a deadpan manner. Once while talking to Bobby, he comments that he saw Bobby practicing his kicks, and he was much better at it than Tex. :)
We are also introduced to Samuel’s sifu, an elderly man with almost mystical abilities, including the ability to feel disruptions in someone’s chi and tweak it to help them rest or feel better. Of course, his speed is incredible, as you would expect, putting even Samuel and Sam to shame.
Our heroes eventually learn Lai Van Tan is involved in a sex-trafficking business with young girls, and our heroes set out to put an end to it. Along the way, they are hampered by Vietnamese police and politics as well as Lai Van Tan’s power and influence among those in power. It’s also revealed that Bobby is in fact a runaway from his parents in California, contrary to what he told Sam on the airplane.
Will Sam, Samuel, Mai and friends be able to stop or even slow down Lai Van Tan? Can they help out some of the girls being held in preparation for their introduction into the sex trade? Will Bobby sort out the conflicts with his parents? Will Sam and Mai ever get a chance to further their budding romance?
Much like the first book in the series, this one keeps up a pace that makes the Energizer Bunny want to take a siesta. There’s always something going on, and it keeps the book moving along, making it a fast read for the size of the book.
Christensen kept true to his characters in the book, showing Sam continuing to fight his demons while also growing as a character. It’s also nice to see Samuel and Mai as fallible characters, even with all their upsides.
My favorite part of the book had to be the fight in a collapsing tunnel near the climax of the book. Christensen noted on his Facebook page that he had to keep stepping outside for fresh air while writing it, and I can see why. I could feel my heart rate quickening while reading it, and I was just the reader. It was very well done by the author, bringing forth the tension of the moment and the emotions of the characters outstandingly.
I am hoping Christensen continues with this series for some time. I can see lots of potential with it, as much of it so far has been about the past, and there are lots of possibilities in the future, with Samuel and his relationship with Sam, Sam’s relationship with Mai, and even possibly Bobby as a future student of Sam’s.
This book is perfect for anyone who loves fact-paced action thrillers, even moreso if you have an interest in LEOs, veterans or martial arts. The author is all of the above, which leads to a level of depth and authenticity that can’t be brought by someone just doing research.
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
September 17, 2013
Review copied from my blog.
Before reading this I'd never found myself reading a martial arts thriller before, I didn't even know a lot about the genre itself and I'm slightly ashamed to admit this but pretty much all of my (extremely limited) martial arts knowledge comes from watching films, so I apologise now in case my ignorance insults somebody.
This book had considerably less violence than I expected, that's not saying there was no violence as this book has its air share of fights, murders and distressing content at times, but the author concentrates on more than the violence, and he would be forgiven for doing so in a thriller book, instead he focused more on the chi, state of mind and energy required in a fight. This did lead to the book feeling a bit like a fantasy at times due to the frequent talks around chi, moving faster than the eye can follow, 'mind reading' and other skills displayed by Samuel and 'Sifu'. Other elements were a lot more realistic, Sam's post traumatic stress following the events of the previous book (which I have not had the opportunity to read) showed that the main character was in fact a human being, the post traumatic stress as well as adding some realism to the novel also allowed the reader to learn enough of the key elements if the previous book to understand this one without having read the first book in the series.
I loved the authors description of the traffic in Saigon, it was so easy to imagine the close shaves that I found myself gripping my e-reader a bit too tight whilst reading these passages almost as if I was gripping some car part for dear life. I didn't have such an intense reaction to the fight scenes despite them being equally as well written but it is much easier for me to imagine crazy traffic which I have experienced than mortal combat, which I hope to steer well clear of.
Anyway, back to the point. I would recommend this to somebody who is interested in martial arts and interested in thrillers as they would perhaps appreciate the more spiritually components more than myself. I'd also recommend this to somebody who fancies a bit of escapism, there are plenty of points where you could easily put the novel down for a few hours making this a suitable read for a commute.
Before reading this I'd never found myself reading a martial arts thriller before, I didn't even know a lot about the genre itself and I'm slightly ashamed to admit this but pretty much all of my (extremely limited) martial arts knowledge comes from watching films, so I apologise now in case my ignorance insults somebody.
This book had considerably less violence than I expected, that's not saying there was no violence as this book has its air share of fights, murders and distressing content at times, but the author concentrates on more than the violence, and he would be forgiven for doing so in a thriller book, instead he focused more on the chi, state of mind and energy required in a fight. This did lead to the book feeling a bit like a fantasy at times due to the frequent talks around chi, moving faster than the eye can follow, 'mind reading' and other skills displayed by Samuel and 'Sifu'. Other elements were a lot more realistic, Sam's post traumatic stress following the events of the previous book (which I have not had the opportunity to read) showed that the main character was in fact a human being, the post traumatic stress as well as adding some realism to the novel also allowed the reader to learn enough of the key elements if the previous book to understand this one without having read the first book in the series.
I loved the authors description of the traffic in Saigon, it was so easy to imagine the close shaves that I found myself gripping my e-reader a bit too tight whilst reading these passages almost as if I was gripping some car part for dear life. I didn't have such an intense reaction to the fight scenes despite them being equally as well written but it is much easier for me to imagine crazy traffic which I have experienced than mortal combat, which I hope to steer well clear of.
Anyway, back to the point. I would recommend this to somebody who is interested in martial arts and interested in thrillers as they would perhaps appreciate the more spiritually components more than myself. I'd also recommend this to somebody who fancies a bit of escapism, there are plenty of points where you could easily put the novel down for a few hours making this a suitable read for a commute.
February 11, 2014
“Dukkha: Reverb” the second Sam Reeves Martial Arts Thriller by Loren W. Christensen, picks up shortly after the events in “Dukkha – The Suffering” and takes the reader on a wild ride through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The trip to get acquainted with his father, who he hadn't known until the first book of this series, and the beautiful Mai, who is also introduced in the first novel, is anything but quiet and restful. Lai Van Tan, the mob boss, is still out for Reeves and his family, but it is also discovered that the criminal is also a sex trafficker and a group of young girls are about to be sent from the country. All of this makes for an exciting and engaging story that keeps you turning the pages from cover to cover and left wanting more.
Christensen's back ground in law enforcement and martial arts comes through brilliantly as he weaves a story of unique and interesting characters through the setting of modern day Vietnam, but with hints of the past. I especially enjoyed how he wrote about the older Vietnamese War veterans, who though disfigured and bearing crippling injuries, were still warriors.
While I like the tension Christensen creates within the hero Reeves and his current aversion to firearms and killing, because it makes him more real and human, I do hope that he comes to grips with this in the next book and realizes that what he did was necessary and might be again. It is refreshing to have a hero that isn't just “kill them all and let god sort them out” throughout the book, but I want to see him get over this to a certain degree.
The descriptions of Vietnam, characters and especially the martial arts scenes are outstanding. Christensen's years of training and study shine through and make the book that much more enjoyable. There are actually some very good lessons contained within the pages of this story. The relationships unfold in a more natural manner, and the book definitely leaves one wanting to read the next in the series to see what will happen to these characters next.
If you like martial arts, action thrillers, and appreciate Asian culture, “Dukkha: Reverb” does a fantastic job of combining all three into a fast paced, riveting story that will keep you frantically turning pages to the very end. I can't wait for book three!
Christensen's back ground in law enforcement and martial arts comes through brilliantly as he weaves a story of unique and interesting characters through the setting of modern day Vietnam, but with hints of the past. I especially enjoyed how he wrote about the older Vietnamese War veterans, who though disfigured and bearing crippling injuries, were still warriors.
While I like the tension Christensen creates within the hero Reeves and his current aversion to firearms and killing, because it makes him more real and human, I do hope that he comes to grips with this in the next book and realizes that what he did was necessary and might be again. It is refreshing to have a hero that isn't just “kill them all and let god sort them out” throughout the book, but I want to see him get over this to a certain degree.
The descriptions of Vietnam, characters and especially the martial arts scenes are outstanding. Christensen's years of training and study shine through and make the book that much more enjoyable. There are actually some very good lessons contained within the pages of this story. The relationships unfold in a more natural manner, and the book definitely leaves one wanting to read the next in the series to see what will happen to these characters next.
If you like martial arts, action thrillers, and appreciate Asian culture, “Dukkha: Reverb” does a fantastic job of combining all three into a fast paced, riveting story that will keep you frantically turning pages to the very end. I can't wait for book three!
May 7, 2015
I was disappointed with this sequel. So disappointed that Loren W. Christensen has lost a reader, I can not trust him to entertain me in the future.
The characters made simple mistakes which no one with law enforcement experience would make. Mr Christensen's author-blurb proudly announces he is a veteran of both military and law enforcement, but he continually painted his protagonists into the kind of corners which normal people, with basic common sense, would not have allowed. The author believes (and his plot turns on the premise) that 'mistakes are made even by those who plan for every contingency' but then he shows us his characters are incapable of basic survival instincts. The mistakes they continually make are not unavoidable, in fact, they are so avoidable that it makes every one of the protagonists look like bumbling fools.
The characters made simple mistakes which no one with law enforcement experience would make. Mr Christensen's author-blurb proudly announces he is a veteran of both military and law enforcement, but he continually painted his protagonists into the kind of corners which normal people, with basic common sense, would not have allowed. The author believes (and his plot turns on the premise) that 'mistakes are made even by those who plan for every contingency' but then he shows us his characters are incapable of basic survival instincts. The mistakes they continually make are not unavoidable, in fact, they are so avoidable that it makes every one of the protagonists look like bumbling fools.
October 18, 2014
Riveting!!!
In this second installment of three of the Dukkha series Detective Sam Reeves travels to Vietnam to spend time with his new found family and love interest, Mai. This was to be a restful trip but the troubles in Portland resurfaced and once again he is in a fight for his life and for his family. With the help of his father he continues to grow in his martial arts, wisdom and survival. This book was very difficult for me to put down because of all the action. I was sad to see it come to an end.
Brenda L. Gerber – Instructor and student in both Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
In this second installment of three of the Dukkha series Detective Sam Reeves travels to Vietnam to spend time with his new found family and love interest, Mai. This was to be a restful trip but the troubles in Portland resurfaced and once again he is in a fight for his life and for his family. With the help of his father he continues to grow in his martial arts, wisdom and survival. This book was very difficult for me to put down because of all the action. I was sad to see it come to an end.
Brenda L. Gerber – Instructor and student in both Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong
April 15, 2015
Dukkha Reverb, the second book in the Sam Reeves series is even better than the original -- not a small feat considering that the first was very hard to put down. With Vietnam as a backdrop and more of the two Sams, it makes for an interesting read. Highly recommended. A+++
May 27, 2016
This was better than the last. Let's hope they stay that way.
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