The Fifth Rule of Ten

Tenzing Norbu Mystery #5

by Gay Hendricks, Tinker Lindsay

Be mindful, both making and keeping commitments, that they be springboards to liberation, instead of suffering.

That’s the Fifth Rule of Ten

Private investigator and ex-Buddhist monk Tenzing Norbu is wrestling with commitments on all fronts. He and his fiancée, Julie, can’t seem to commit to an actual wedding date. Ten’s dropped the ball on a pledge to find his assistant Kim’s missing brother, Bobby. Even his dreams hint at broken vows. And now his best friends, Lama Yeshe and Lama Lobsang, are about to land in Los Angeles with a Tibetan entourage for an unexpected 10-day fund-raising tour, sponsored by the local Buddhist Temple Ten abandoned 12 years earlier. Obligations are piling on, and for the first time in his life Tenzing Norbu is finding it hard to breathe.

Then an anonymous cell phone voice taunts Ten as he waits for his best friends at LAX, a mysterious missive lands in Tenzing’s mailbox, and the bloody evidence of foul play on a Griffith Park trail points directly to him. Tenzing knows that something dark is afoot, and the ensuing series of ominous events and disconcerting clues pull Ten into a dark mirror-world of Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He joins forces with Yeshe, Lobsang, his ex-partner, Bill, and his hack-tivist buddy, Mike, to track down the Patient Zero of this epidemic of criminal chaos. In The Fifth Rule of Ten, our hero is forced into a life-and-death battle with a powerful shadow presence whose roots reach way back in time. Tenzing must commit to fully embracing his own past, or lose everything he now holds dear.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Philosophy, Detective

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2016

About the author

Dr. Gay Hendricks has served for more than 30 years as one of the major contributors to the fields of relationship transformation and body-mind therapies. Along with his wife, Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks, Gay is the author of many bestsellers, including Conscious Loving, At the Speed of Life, and Five Wishes.

Gay received his PhD in counseling psychology from Stanford University in 1974. After a 21-year career as a professor at the University of Colorado, he founded The Hendricks Institute, which offers seminars in North America, Asia, and Europe. He is also the founder of a new virtual learning center for transformation, Gaia Illumination University.

Throughout his career, Gay has done executive coaching with more than 800 executives, including the top management at such firms as Dell Computer, Hewlett Packard, Motorola, and KLM. His book, The Corporate Mystic, is used widely to train management in combining business skills and personal development tools.

In recent years he has also been active in creating new forms of conscious entertainment. In 2003, along with movie producer Stephen Simon, Gay founded the Spiritual Cinema Circle, which distributes inspirational movies to subscribers in more than 70 countries around the world. He was the executive producer of the feature film Conversations with God, and he has appeared on more than 500 radio and television shows, including Oprah, CNN, CNBC, 48 Hours, and others

Reviews

[Ornicarcajou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like good wine, it becomes better with time. I can't even begin to describe how much I enjoy reading Tenzing's mysteries. I have read all of them three times already and I'm pretty sure that sooner or later there will be a fourth one! Thank you for such a wonderful series.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, the character of Tenzing “Ten” Norbu has provided me with an excellent mystery story combined with insights into the world of Tibetan Buddhism. I’ve read a wide variety of mystery and thriller novels but I always point readers to this series to experience an absolutely unique main character and sleuth. He is truly one of the most complex protagonists I’ve encountered but at the same time, one of the most endearing as well.

Tenzing’s fifth rule is “Be mindful, both making and keeping commitments, that they be springboards to liberation, instead of suffering.” That certainly sounds like good advice for anybody and Ten must deal with quite a few situations in this novel that require he be mindful of commitments, not the least of which is facing wedding planning along with his fiancée. The mystery plot is actually three mysteries that seem to be separate and distinct but turn out to be related to one another. Ten’s detective skills, augmented by his Buddhist upbringing allow him to pursue the missing persons’ cases and what appears to be a religious cult situation, while juggling a visit by his childhood friends all the way from Tibet. The plot moved along well and the rich characterization and present day Los Angeles setting made for a nice read.

I do recommend that readers start with the The First Rule of Ten and read the series in order because Tenzing and the other regular characters do grow and change as the books progress. At the very least read the previous volume, The Fourth Rule of Ten before reading this one because some key plot points from that book play a prominent role in this one as well. While the authors do provide some explanation, I think the reading experience is much greater if the books are read in order.

I hope there will be many more Rules of Ten still to come.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! For anyone who is familiar with Tibetan Buddhism and culture; juxtaposed against the backdrop of Los Angeles, this will be an enjoyable read. “Ten” is Tenzig Norbu, a former Tibetan monk, turned LA Detective, turned private eye. His personal story is compelling, unusual and drives his character. Each book can stand on its own, but if you read them sequentially you get an amazing feel for who this character is, and why he does the things he does. Truly a joy!

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had really enjoyed the first 4 books of this series: you don't often meet a detective who is a former Buddhist monk, and uses some of his wisdom to solve cases.
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[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting story. I'd say the only place it was lacking was in explaining what some of the non-English phrases meant; maybe it did explain every one, but I didn't remember all of them when they were used again later, if it did. I liked learning a little bit about Ten's culture throughout the book, though.
It was well written, and engaging. You could say it was sort of slow going at first, because none of the "main" action happened - but everything in the beginning mattered in the end, which is always nice. Nothing filler. And nothing inappropriate. Not even any violence in the final scene!
Once we started getting a little more information about the conflict, it was pretty obvious who the "bad guy" was... But still, well done with that. Even knowing, I wasn't expecting that to go down quite like it did.
Would definitely recommend - and am considering getting the first few books to read myself.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Patricia]

Congratulations to the authors on revealing Tenzing Norbu's vulnerabilities. The dangers in the climax of the Fifth Rule were not solved by guns or physical prowess. In this the fifth book, the ending was thrilling in a very different way. Another aspect of this installment making it fascinating was the excellent research that supported aspects of the story line, lending great authenticity. Though I'm not a native of the Los Angels area, I've spent enough time there to be able to visualize many of the highway treks to different parts of the vast area. I enjoy that traffic plays a role in these books, flowing and stalled. In the Fifth Rule, Ten heads over the Grapevine on Highway 5 at one point, and the resulting action could not be more authentic.

These are my most recent go-to books for pure pleasure reading. I was sad to have reached the end of the books published so far. But then I noticed that there is a prequel. Think I'll make that my New Year's read.

[Lisa Cobb Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of The Fifth Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery by Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay.

The Fifth Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery by Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay presents a complex mystery that can only be solved by a former Buddhist monk, ex cop, private investigator. Readers immediately feel a connection with Tenzing Norbu and, while liking all the other characters, can not help wondering if each is a traitor to Norbu. As the plot weaves together the many clues, readers quickly turn pages to reach the exciting ending.
Immerse yourself in the world of Tenzing Norbu, a unique protagonist whose journey you will want to share again and again.

[Reikista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten’s childhood friends and mentor are coming to visit and perform a ceremony, but something unusual seems to be happening. At the same time, he's dealing with his aversion and desire for commitment, and how that translates to marriage with Julie. In this book, Ten struggles with the dark side of the Buddhist teachings and with the shadows in himself, as well, in a compelling and edifying way, as always.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first four rules of Ten books. This one just didn’t hold together for me. The ‘plot’ was very confusing due to overuse of unexplained Buddhist words and practices. Ten’s relationship issues were never really fleshed out, either in their nature or their resolution. The characters were 2 dimensional. Also, there seemed to be too many coincidences in the overlapping of plot and characters. I’d skip this one if I had it to do again.

[Charlotte mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped reading 2 chapters from the end. The impending, assumed massacre feels too Indiana-Jones-ish, a cheap shot. [disclaimer, I am a caucasian Tibetan Buddhist lama, trained in a traditional 3 year retreat.] i would like to add that the authors seem to have an ability to pick the worst elements of each religion they add to their stories and run with those as the basis of the plot lines. I have read One through Five and intend not to read any more, if more are forthcoming

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series based on the improbable combination of Buddhism and detective work. This one was more heavy handed on the Buddhist ritual aspect, the mystery was only so so, and the resolutions were excessively Hollywood (reflecting the authorship). Still, the good characters and story telling made it a fun read.

[ted wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series. It is a good idea to read them in order; they are definitely sequential; including the prequel. A good portion of the book is about a conscious person; a meditator, struggling with thought processes and attitudes. I could relate. The rest of the book is a rip roaring tale about dangerous cults. Interesting relatable characters; at least relatable to me.

[Steve Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but not as good as the other Ten novels

I enjoyed this book, partly for the mystery, partly for the character of Ten and partly for insights into religion The story did not capture me as effectively as the other Ten stories.

[Marie Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just this minute finished ...bit disappointed and underwhelmed to be honest ....loved the previous 4 books in this series but found it hard to get into this story...like it had run out of steam ...but I did persevere to the very flat end .....

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a mystery more a history of he main characters spiritual development, very strange ending, had too read it twice. Then I realized this is the last book in the series and it all makes sense.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading the whole series.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anxiously awaiting the next book. Ten has so much to teach as well as keeping us entertained.

[Riobhcah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done. This is a good ending to the Tenzin Norbu series. Very interesting.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope it doesn't end here.

[Susan Margret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first I've read of this series. I will look for more - hopefully with a little less gruesome detail.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the series. Well done!

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mystery filled with philosophy and life.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters and the story and the atmosphere and all of it! I’m going to go through with drawl as there doesn’t seem to be a book six. I hope there will be. Sooo good!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have rarely enjoyed a Series as much as I've enjoyed this one.

My only regret is that there are no more follow ups - at least, not yet.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, enjoyable read with a familiar cast of characters.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

LA's favorite non-traditional private investigator is back - but he's not doing so well. Still recovering from the events of the last book, Ten is having nightmares, questioning his relationship with his fiance, and expecting guests - friends from the monastery he grew up in. When he opens his mailbox to see a copy of a driver's license for a kid from England, starts having panic attacks, and hears about a strange body outline in the canyon, well...events are set in motion that Ten could never have imagined.

I have been a follower of the Tenzing Norbu series since the first book. They have long intrigued me, with their mix of mystery and mantras (alliteration, anyone?). I like that Ten is constantly evolving - it's never a case of the main character making the same mistakes over and over again in every book. And I *love* his relationships. They both ground Ten and lift him up, much like what happens in the real world.

Having said all of that - there wasn't as much actual "mystery" in this book. Fewer twists and turns, and more situations that seemed inevitable. Maybe because so much of it revolved around Ten and his past - even more than in past books. Some of it seemed, well...a bit convenient. How some things just seemed to fall into place in a way that seemed too easy. However, it didn't detract terribly from the story itself. I read it all and I enjoyed it, and I would happily read a sixth book in the series. I can just hope that the next one doesn't strain credulity to the degree that this one did.

[Mandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should say that mysteries aren't my thing, in general. This was just so oversimplified that I felt like it was an easy reader book for elementary kids.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solving more than one mystery

Throughout this series, Tenzing Norbu has been on a journey to solve many mysteries, some of which are those brought to him by his clients. But the critical ones are those connected to his own life, an existence punctuated by periods of joy intersected by periods of wondering and puzzlement, anxiety and disappointment. Ten has learned so much that has built him into a more thoughtful and caring person, but answers to so many questions still remain just out of reach. In this fifth book Ten is a seeker of persons as well as a seeker of the resolution to his own inner turmoil. Guided by caring friends, the unfailing support of his fiance, and the wisdom of past and present mentors, Ten finds that his own journey collides with the demands of his profession, yet even there he gleans deeper truth that instructs and strengthens him as he learns and grows. This is a masterfully written story that will prove impossible to lay down. The characters will take on a life of their own, and the wisdom they share will remain long after the final word is read. I can't imagine anyone regretting the time and effort to read this book. And if this is your first, go back and read them all. Pure reading joy!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always amazed at how calm I feel like reading this series. The strong influence and practice of Buddhism in the story is enough to make me breathe deeper and feel calmer while reading. It means I can feel almost like I'm reading and meditating at the same time.

Ten is such a grounded and enlightened person. He's not afraid to examine himself and improve himself at every turn. It's very uplifting and inspirational to witness.

Although faith, religion and Buddhism play a huge part in the series and book, it's still a mystery at heart. The mystery is quite intricate and plays out realistically. I was intrigued with every new development.

Overall, I really love this series, and this book in particular was a great read. Any book that leaves me satisfied story-wise, and calm and relaxed mentally is a great find.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read every book in this series, and unfortunately, this is my least favorite. The pacing is off, for one thing; there are too many Buddhist philosophical inclusions that are interesting, but feel disjointed. Ten is so excited about the arrival of his friends, but when they arrive, he spends next to no time with them. There is only one brief scene of Ten alone with Lobsang and Yeshe. The major plot thread feels unrealistic and then all of the "disciples" just disperse after Ten saves the day. The novel felt unnecessarily long and drawn out, as if all the Buddhist details were padding.

NetGalley/Hay House

Mystery/Crime. Aug. 9, 2016. print length: 384 pages.