The Second Rule of Ten (A Tenzing Norbu Mystery, #2) by Gay Hendricks

The Second Rule of Ten (A Tenzing Norbu Mystery, #2) Reviews

• 
  Susan (aka Just My Op)

  Whodathunk I'd find entertainment, fun, and enlightenment (if I choose to accept it) all in the same mystery novel. The Rule of Ten books provide all that.
  
  I loved the first of this relatively new series, not surprisingly called The First Rule of Ten and I loved this second book as well. Tenzing Norbu is a wonderful character: smart, respectful, spiritual, likeable, and not always the best at doing what he knows he should be doing. In training for much of his youth as a Buddhist monk by a cold and judgmental father, Ten has a lot to learn about life as a P.I. in Southern California. He is feeling his way around relationships, and sometimes fails. He is a good friend and has a good heart and is someone I want to read about.
  
  Even his cat is an interesting character. And just a little spoiled, as is only right.
  
  Of course, there are dead people and there is violence, but it is not overly gruesome. In this second book, there was a bit of the plot that I guessed too easily, but that doesn't mean there weren't also surprises.
  
  And I like that something so entertaining can also teach and cause reflection.
  
  For a reason I can't exactly put my finger on, I enjoyed this book just a little less than the first one. Perhaps it is because I'm used to the novelty of a Buddhist monk/private investigator. Perhaps it is because this one felt a bit less spiritual to me. At any rate, I still loved this book and look forward to seeing what happens to Ten and his fellow characters.
  
  Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of the finished book for review.
• 
  Benjamin Thomas

  I was a huge fan of
  The First Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery, relishing in my "discovery" of a great new mystery/detective series. The very idea of such a unique protagonist (a former monk born in Tibet, raised in India, turned LA cop and now striking out on his own as a Private Investigator) was enough to catch my eye and wallow in the great story that accompanied this man. But now there is a sequel. Second books are often let-downs, especially when the uniqueness of the situation, or in this case, the background of the protagonist, might be the crutch that props up the rest of what makes for a good read.
  
  So I was pleasantly surprised when I began reading this novel. The main character, Tenzing Norbu, is just as intriguing as I had found him before. Still trying to make a go of it as a PI, still getting into risky situations, and still being completely human in his approach to his own weaknesses, and how to overcome them. But as I read further, I realized that I was really on to something here. While I thought the mystery plot here was unfolding fairly predictably, the x-factor of the Zen Buddhism philosophy was really becoming interesting. And then a prominent new supporting character was introduced that really helps flesh out Tenzing as a character...and then what I thought was just going to be a more-or-less standard mystery plot got turned on its head and so the plot really took off...and on and on it went. Each chapter brought new aspects to the overall novel so that I found myself trying to sneak time to read just a little more.
  
  And that's how I know I've got a winner in my hands. Put aside all that mush about what makes for a quality novel and just go with your feelings on how much fun it is to read. I actually read about 150 books each year and am constantly looking for that kind of feeling when I read a novel. And I'm a guy who knows next to nothing about Buddhism so don't let that sway you in any way. When those parts enter the story it is done in a very natural way and completely supports the character of Tenzing. It's also pretty cool and educational at the same time. The combination of these two authors certainly brings the proper blend of backgrounds to these works of fiction.
  
  This second book really builds on the first; I am very much looking forward to book number 3. I hope there are many more to come (at least 10?).
  
  Highly recommended!
• 
  Linden

  Monk turned LAPD cop turned private eye Tenzing Norbu has a new case. A wealthy movie mogul has asked Ten to locate his wayward teen daughter. Then the old man is found dead. Heart attack, or something more sinister? Ten shares his home with a large cat named Tank. and he has friends helping with both computer searching and police information. The other case is a strange one--a Holocaust survivor wants help finding his sister lost during WWII. An unexpected return to the monastery brings another element of interest to thee story.
• 
  Marlene

  Originally published at
  Reading Reality
  
  Tenzing Norbu is a lot of things. He's an ex-LAPD detective. He's an ex-Buddhist monk. He's a currently unlicensed private investigator. He's also a relatively young man who still has a boatload of unresolved issues with his parents. But mostly he is an absolute gift to mystery fans, because Ten brings a fresh perspective to the business of solving crimes.
  
  Ten also shares living space with one of the most magnificent cats ever to provide solace to any investigator. Tank is a marvelous character in his own right. He never does anything except be a cat. This is not that kind of mystery. Tank is just Tank, and that's exactly what Ten needs him to be.
  
  Ten works in Los Angeles, and he still has somewhat of an outsider's perspective. He grew up in a Buddhist monastery in India, where his father is still one of the lamas. Ten's unresolved issues with his father, and the trouble those cause him, are a fascinating side-plot to Second Rule.
  
  But Ten's unusual upbringing mean that he is still adapting, even after a dozen years in the U.S. Western popular culture is something that he did not experience until he arrived here, and the back story of Hollywood is not part of his cultural life from birth.
  
  But his former clients are from the world of Hollywood stars and Hollywood producers. White-collar crooks, in other words. When one of them dies unexpectedly, his former LAPD partner asks for his help on the high-profile case. A case in which nothing is as it seems.
  
  The second rule of ten is: “Beware your old, limited models of thinking: no matter how safe they make you feel, eventually you will become their prisoner.”
  
  Ten is forced to examine all of his pre-conceived notions about his relationship with his ex-partner and friend, the case, the crime, and in the middle of everything, himself and his relationship with his father.
  
  It's only when he dismantles all of his underlying assumptions that he finds his way towards a resolution of anything at all.
  
  Escape Rating A-: It's Ten's insider/outsider perspective that make him so interesting to watch. He's a good detective, or the whole thing wouldn't work as mystery, but it does.
  
  A part of Ten's second rule does boil down to "assume makes an ass out of u and me" but that principle does have universal application. When not minded, it inevitably bites one in the, well, ass.
  
  A lot of Ten's charm is that he is more self-aware than average, but the thoughts that he is self-aware of seem normal. He may be an ex-monk, but he isn't holier or more righteous than anyone else. He screws up and then tells himself he's an idiot for screwing up, just like the rest of us. He's just slightly better at telling himself to stop the negative self-talk than most of us. He's also more aware that that negative self-talk is frequently in his father's voice.
  
  The resolution of the relationship between Ten and his father is going to be fascinating to watch. The reader feels for Ten's side of the equation, he was just not meant to be a monk. There will be more to come on this front in future books, now that readers have come to care about the character's development.
  
  In the end, this is a mystery story. There is a crime to be solved. How it gets solved has a lot to do with the way Ten sees the world. Most of how he solves the crime is as a cop. But there's always an element that makes him unique, because he treats people differently. He gets different answers because he asks different questions.
  
  When I finished
  The First Rule of Ten: A Tenzing Norbu Mystery last January I immediated started stalking NetGalley for Second Rule. And it looks like I'll be stalking NetGalley again for the next book in the series.
• 
  Tahlia Newland

  The Second Rule of Ten is my kind of book. It's a great story about a delightful character and has a metaphysical element that gives it extra depth and makes it stand out from the crowd. As a murder mystery, it has all the elements required to make it a good example of the genre. The protagonist is an ex-cop, now a private investigator, and what makes it unusual and adds a slight complication to the story is that he is also an ex-Tibetan monk.
  
  As a practicing Buddhist, he evaluates his actions in the light of his Buddhist faith, the essentials of which are to, as much as possible, do no harm, treat others with compassion and check your mind for the source of your troubles. While he searches for the killer of a movie director, we also follow his inner development in relation to his father and his relationship with women.
  The second rule of ten, is the rule he wants to remember which is basically not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions but to look with a open mind and see all possibilities, something that is a great deal easier when you're someone who meditates, and something that is very useful for a detective. Hence Ten, is good at what he does.
  
  Ten's character is endearing and very well drawn, I loved him as soon as I saw the way he treated his cat. All the characters, including the cat, are carefully rendered and their motivations are clear. I really liked the way Tenzin grows as a person due to his rigorous self-examination and the psychological insight of the Buddhist teachings.
  
  The plot is well paced with breathing spaces so you aren't faced with sleepless nights, and the tension builds to a very satisfying conclusion in a book that, despite the murders, was a joy to read.
  
  The author is skilled at his craft in all areas. I could not find fault with this book at all and I recommend it to all who love a murder mystery, especially if they have an interest in Buddhism or the Tibetan situation. Perhaps my favourite paragraph is where he stands onTibetan soil for the first time and feels how the culture, the land and the Buddhist faith merge there in a very deep and powerful way. The sentiment was beautifully written.
  
• 
  Anita

  I'm so enjoying this series with the main character a former Buddhist monk who is now a detective. He has things in his personal life to deal with. This journey has been the best part of the books for me. There is another good mystery here and the journey in Ten's life moves along as well. I love this character!
• 
  Jen

  I was quite excited to be offered The Second Rule of Ten by Wiley Saichek of The Book Report, as I received The First Rule of Ten from Net Galley a while back and really enjoyed it! (reviewed here)
  
  Hendricks and Lindsay collaborate well in these novels about Tenzing Norbu, a former Tibetan monk who grew up partly in Paris with his mother and partly in Dharamshala with his father, one of the head abbots in a small monastery.
  
  An unusual mixture of cultures, the young Ten Norbu dreamed of becoming a detective as he read the forbidden stories of Sherlock Holmes at night and practiced the principles of Buddhism under the rigid supervision of his father by day.
  
  At eighteen, circumstances sent Ten to Los Angeles, and in time, into the police department--quite a physical and spiritual journey from the monastery. In the first novel, Ten is making a new transition, leaving the police department and achieving his goal of becoming a private detective.
  
  The Second Rule of Ten begins with Ten's failure to communicate with his two best friends at the monastery during meditation; his letters, too, have been returned to sender. The two friends, who remained in the monastery, help keep Ten grounded, and he is disturbed to find communication cut off.
  
  He is also interested in a case of his former partner's, the death of a well-known, although not well-loved, Hollywood mogul. His interest is partly due to his having found Marv Rudolph's runaway daughter some months earlier.
  
  Ten's second rule: "...to challenge my old, limited models of thinking. To be willing to release them."
  
  He finds that the second rule figures largely in the Marv Rudolph case and in his poor relationship with his father, the abbot.
  
  I really enjoyed both of these novels. They offer an unusual approach to the mystery genre, a little zen, a little mystery.
  
  An Advanced Reader's Copy from Hay House Publications.
  
  Mystery. 345 pages. 2013.
• 
  Cheryl

  Ten has been hired by big time movie producer, Marv Rudolph. Marv is having problems with his daughter. He wants Ten to find her and bring her back…again. Ten finds her about to shack up with one of the actors in Marv’s latest movie. Marv and the actor have a confrontation. The next morning, Ten gets a call form his friend, Bill. Marv has been found murdered.
  
  Since I did not care for the first book, I had my reservations about wanting to even attempt reading the second book. Well I can say that the second book is much better then the first. Ten has really toughened up and has a little bit of a sarcastic attitude about him that I liked. Also, I got into this storyline more as well. It moved faster as if the two authors had started to find their stride with each other and this series.
  
  Ten did not have the first time jitters anymore. He was a man on a mission. His relationship with his friend, Bill is a work in progress but a good one. They work well off each other. A star in his own right in this book is Ten’s cat, Tank. I like that Ten talks for him as if Tank really does have a voice. I have for years known that animals can speak even if it is just telepathically.
  
  In this book, I also felt that I got a better understanding as to who Ten is and where he comes from. I hope that he and his father can repair their relationship. If the books get better like this one then the third one is sure to be good.
  
• 
  Kathleen

  Dialog was much, much better in this book but there were some side trips that did not make any sense.
• 
  Jan

  I really enjoyed The First Rule of Ten, and I liked this one even better! Probably will move on to the rest. Good Trump relief.
• 
  Quinn

  This book is the second in a series. Tenzing Norbu quits his life as a Tibetan Buddhist monk and moves to Los Angeles. In the first book, Ten joins the LA Police force and leaves it. In this book, he becomes a private investigator.
  I like these books, but there is a plot-salad of ideas--a dead movie producer with a number tattoo. But the producer is easily 10 years too young to have ever been interred in a camp. Who killed him, why, and what do those numbers stand for? Meanwhile, an aged member of the movie community seems to be failing fast and would like to find his sister, who WAS a Holocaust survivor. Not enough tossed into the mix? Ten falls in love with a police pathologist, which means they could work together. Except Bill, Ten's best friend on the force is bothered that Ten is interfering with one of Bill's investigations, getting more results than Bill, and courting danger for both men.
  
  But wait, there's more! Ten's father, a Buddhist monk, oversees a monastery in Tibet. He is estranged from his son and dying. He sent away Ten's two best friends as revenge for Ten's leaving the monastery. Ten has to find them again; they are important elements of his life, they are a close as brothers.
  
  The book requires some suspension of disbelief, which I was happy to provide. Another book that gives turn-by-turn directions in Los Angeles.
  
  Oh, and if you were hoping to find the "Second Rule of Ten," here is it: "To challenge my old, limited models of thinking. To be willing to release them. Their job may be to protect, but more often than
  not they mislead and in some cases, even endanger." Yep. It's all true.
  An easy read that holds your attention.
• 
  Christine

  The Tenzing Norbu mysteries are a great original mystery series with an ex-pat Tibetan as the series PI. If you enjoy the Harry Bosch or Wallander novels, you may enjoy this series. While not as dark as either of those series, Ten, and this installment, The Second Rule of Ten, has an introspective aspect, that fans of those series will recognize. Yet, whether Ten is chiding himself for failing to see what is actually happening, or using his insights to glean details from witnesses, there is a search for connection and joy that is lacking in those other series.
  
  Ten is called by his ex-partner from the LAPD with news that a former client of Ten's has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. Through following up some leads, he is in touch with a local billionaire who offers him a missing-persons case. The two cases have plenty of twists and red herrings, that will keep you guessing.
  
  My star off is for some scenes which require an exceptional level of suspension of disbelief. An active homicide detective decides he wants to run his case by someone who doesn't work for the city anymore? Ten has a psychic connection with his best friends, and when it is blocked he has to catch a plane to India the same day? Hmmm... Some of this felt more in line with an AXL Pendergast novel, which embraces the fantastic. Regardless, I like Ten as a character and if Hendricks and Lindsay keep punching out these convoluted mysteries, I'll keep reading them.
• 
  Emmy

  •audiobook•
  
  Money talks and makes enemies - especially when temptation knocks!
  Ten delves deeper in his roots and tries to balance his relationships, jobs, and moral vs spiritual obligations.
  My clips to include in this review disappeared, but there were a couple things that were confusing or contradictory.
  Overall, I still really like this morally-driven detective. His friends are wonderfully staying within their personalities and not fluid, to further the plot.
  Oh! That was one. At a rave party, the technologically challenged is able to access the net via - what internet? Unless it was mistakenly edited out, there was no mention of wifi in the dilapidated area, did not have a wifi card or connected to a perdomal hot spot.
  But anyway. Tank continues to be a warm feline friend who helps center Ten. Ten has a new love interest. And Bill’s wife has a stronger supportive role.
  The series grows in strength and addiction as Ten grows up and finds his way and identity.
  Jeremy is a very talented voice actor, solidly giving each character their own presence and accent, as required.
  I may pick up the next book sooner rather than later!
  
  ~similar review posted on Audible~
• 
  Shawn

  I'm not a mystery reader, but I've enjoyed the first two books in this series about a Tibetan-American ex-Buddhist monk/cop-turned-private eye. A nice mix of noir-ish elements and a modern L.A. setting with a protagonist who has really absorbed his Buddhist training and uses it to assist in his investigations, and in wrestling with his emotional issues as well. Good character development, but the mysteries are nearly secondary to the transportation, culinary, and exercise choices of the main character. This gives the books an interesting day-in-the-life quality that can be really fascinating, but a little can go a long way. RIYL: Buddhism, film noir, Los Angeles, self-help books, expensive guns and immaculate vintage cars, cashew-encrusted tofu, daddy issues, living in Topanga Canyon, a cop named Sully, jogging on the beach, and a genius hacker who can even find vital info while TYPING WITH ONE HAND!
  
  
• 
  Kathy H

  It was as good as the first one and I like that the character is growing and maturing. He went home to Tibet to confront his Father and visit his brother monks and that was well done. I will continue to read the Ten series.
• 
  Marie Trafford

  Entertaining and fun to read. I love the strange way of exploring Buddhist thought, but it is in a way more people may benefit from. I intend to read the entire series! I am making use of my local library to order the books. Love it
• 
  Patricia

  These mysteries are so much fun. I put a much denser book on hold and turned to this book for a change. The ridiculously hot summer we are experiencing didn't go with the other book but this book just whizzed along, waking me up with chuckles as well as suspense.
• 
  Karen Hoagland

  A good book. I really enjoyed it.
• 
  Angelica Taggart

  Good story, great characters, and lots of laughter and tension Looking forward to #3.
• 
  Chip

  Another good Tenzing story
  
  Like the Tenzing and rest of the characters in this series, as well as the story line. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
• 
  Mary Anne

  Fun read with lots of Buddhist lore while Tenzing Norbu tries to right various wrongs.
• 
  Mary Beth

  Another great book in the series. On the book #3!
• 
  Jim Stiles

  First book 2020
  
  Loved this second installment in this mystery series.
  
  Tenzsing is developing into a really great central character with some surprising and very thoughtful secondary characters.
• 
  Jan Morrison

  Love this series!