This book took a while to grab me, but when it did it was total. Turned out to be a fabulous story. It is a first book, so the start is a bit rough. Not in terms of writing, but characterization and story. But he settled down, and really did a wonderful job.

It is set in the modern day, in South Florida. The main character a neurosurgeon and student of Chinese martial arts, Dr. Xenon Pearl (Zee), is a native of Florida. Jewish and of Russian descent. His mother died at 4 and he was raised by a Chinese nanny, who also became his martial arts teacher when he was older.

He is in his 30s and his Chinese teacher is long dead. He is trying to save a young 10 year old child, who has had all his bones broken, as well as his skull. The boy dies. He is the son of the local Russian Mafia kingpin, and he was beaten to death, not injured as a result of a fall from his bike as his parents contend.

So starts a series of events that puts Zee in conflict with the Redmen as they are known, it also causes problems with his superior at the hospital who has been bribed or frightened into silence. Zee begins to see and hear his dead teacher as she exhorts him against being a passive actor in his life. He starts to follow her direction and act oddly. He also meets new people as he realizes she is right, his life is empty: dedicated to work and nothing more.

Zee ends up digging up family secrets as he and the Redman trade violence and injury back and forth. He also is being tracked by a police officer who is his new sister. His father has just remarried and she is the grown daughter of his new stepmother.

The supporting and minor characters are well done. Interesting, quirky, believable, and they catch your heart. Zee is a bit more of a problem. He starts out too cool, perfect, and a master of too many trades. Then he starts to do what the ghost tells him, which includes violent, criminal actions. He doesn't reflect about her directives much, or his actions. I found that hard to believe. Also that someone so educated and experienced would just do what he was told, as though he has no spine or opinions in the matter. It seemed that where before he was too cool, now he was too spineless, probably an overcorrection on the author's part.

As the book moved on Zee started to seem more balanced, and more real. He has strengths and weaknesses, doubts and mistakes. This is a martial arts book after all so there is a big violent ending, with Zee the star, but it was not only believable but appropriate.

Along the way there is a lot of discussion about the different martial arts, the physical and spiritual uses and consequences of the training and the use of them in a fight. We also get Chinese history, and a good bit on Chinese medicine and the spiritual and philosophical concepts and outlook of their use. All the information was woven into the story and never was too heavy or distracting.

The writing was good and the story settled down, and I couldn't put the book down. It ended well, on a hopeful note, but not all neatly tied up. ( )