The First Rule of Ten introduces private detective Tenzing Norbu, a most unusual character. Tenzing, known as Ten, lived for a while with his mother in Paris and when she died went to live with his father, a Buddhist monk, in a Tibetan monastery.
Ten is not cut out for monastic life. He says, "People assume life in a monastery is filled with blissful, solitary contemplation. People assume wrong." In reality, his days were filled with mandatory prayers, practices, rituals, and endless dry debates.
His real dream is to be a modern incarnation of his hero, Sherlock Holmes. He leaves the monastery and moves to Los Angeles where he joins the LAPD and in a few years reaches the rank of detective. On a domestic violence run, a ricocheting bullet grazes his temple and catches his attention - as a bullet is wont to do. He takes that as a sign that his days on the police force are over.
First Rule of Ten: Don't ignore intuitive tickles lest they become sledgehammers.
He lives in a cool house in Topanga Canyon - his place of refuge. He drives a yellow vintage Mustang. His first solo case as a private detective involves a former rock star, a pig farm, almonds, a cult, and a tycoon. Quite a mix and lots to keep him busy.
In the meantime, spiritual warrior that he is, when stressed he reminds himself to breathe. He meditates. He sends up prayers for the newly departed to ease their transition from this stage of life to the next. He cares for his feline friend, Tank, a Persian Blue. He finds - and then loses - romance. He is a gentle soul even though he does sometimes have to carry a weapon.
A most unlikely private detective. I like him very much.
So far, there are five Rules of Ten published in this series written by Gay Hendricks and Tinker Lindsay. I am all in for all of them and hoping for more.
They certainly don't sound like run-of-the-mill mysteries! I hadn't heard of them but will definitely look for them now.
ReplyDeleteHi, Joan. Yes, this one is definitely different. And I like the Los Angeles setting. Tenzing has a former partner still on the police force who helps out sometimes and a young fellow who guides him through tech stuff. And because Ten spent much of his youth in a monastery, he misses some popular culture references. An interesting character to get to know.
DeleteThis sounds really good, Belle. I'm guessing it's the same Gay Hendricks who's written some non-fiction books that I've loved (A Year of Living Consciously, The Big Leap). I'm definitely going to look for this series.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kathy. I didn't realize that these were co-written by a psychologist until I had finished the book. You are correct - same guy. Now some of the ideas included make sense. I will have to look for the two books you mention. Let me know what you think of Tenzing and his exploits.
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