Bullet Train
A Novel
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3.9 • 200 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
WINNER OF THE STRAND CRITICS AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT
A dark, satirical thriller by the bestselling Japanese author, following the perilous train ride of five highly motivated assassins—soon to be a major film from Sony starring Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, and Benito A Martínez Ocasio, and more
Satoshi—The Prince—looks like an innocent schoolboy but is really a stylish and devious assassin. Risk fuels him, as does a good philosophical debate, such as questioning: Is killing really wrong? Kimura’s young son is in a coma thanks to The Prince, and Kimura has tracked him onto a bullet train heading from Tokyo to Morioka to exact his revenge. But Kimura soon discovers that they are not the only dangerous passengers on board.
Nanao, also nicknamed Ladybug, the self-proclaimed “unluckiest assassin in the world,” is put on the bullet train by his boss, a mysterious young woman called Maria, to steal a suitcase full of money and get off at the first stop. The lethal duo of Tangerine and Lemon are also traveling to Morioka, and the suitcase leads others to show their hands. Why are they all on the same train, and who will make it off alive?
A bestseller in Japan, Bullet Train is an original and propulsive thriller that fizzes with incredible energy as its complex net of double-crosses and twists unwinds up to the last station.
Also Available: Bullet Train movie tie-in edition (ISBN: 9781419763847)
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A Japanese train full of ruthless killers makes for some Agatha Christie–meets–Quentin Tarantino vibes. In Kotaro Isaka’s smart, funny thriller, a bullet train is racing north from Tokyo to Morioka with numerous hit men on board—and even more surprises, double-crosses, and wickedly dark jokes. (Oh, and did we mention there’s a snake on the train?!) All the assassins have different reasons for being there. Kimura is out to kill the teenage psycho who put his son in a coma. Ill-matched partners Tangerine and Lemon are returning a crime boss’ kidnapped son to his dad. And Nanao may be the unluckiest hit man ever, but he keeps on trying. Isaka cleverly threads together their separate stories; his quirky characters provide plenty of laughs amid all the homicidal action. Fun, suspenseful, and witty, this wicked satire is a blast.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set on a bullet train traveling from Tokyo to Morioka (and soon to be a movie starring Brad Pitt), this impressive thriller from Japanese author Isaka (Remote Control) races along, like the eponymous train, at a frenetic pace. In the first of multiple story lines, Yuichi Kimura boards the train, armed with a revolver, in search of the person who pushed his six-year-old son, Wataru, off a roof, leaving the child comatose. When Kimura finds his quarry, the sadistic teen Satoshi Oji, Oji manages to incapacitate the grieving parent with a taser. Oji, who makes it clear he planted clues to lead Kimura to his location, ties his victim up and threatens to have Wataru killed if Kimura doesn't follow his instructions. Kimura's desperate attempts to save himself and his son alternate with other violent plots, one involving the kidnapping of a crime lord's son, another a missing suitcase stuffed with cash, and a third a snake. Isaka keeps the suspense high throughout. Fans of intricate action fiction will be enthralled.
Customer Reviews
Bullet Train
Interesting and amusing twisted train tale. It was fun but a bit tedious at times. Amazing change of pace and it brought back memories of Japan.
Creative and clever … A very fun read!
it started out a bit like a young adult book, easy reading and not much depth, characters who kinda stretch the bounds of believability, lots of high schoolers involved, etc, but by the end I really loved it, and felt it was a fun read all along.
Love it!
So awesome!! I really felt I was there as he experienced every part!