The Mantis

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

Good dad or good assassin? Can he be both?

From the internationally bestselling author of BULLET TRAIN: A seemingly ordinary family man tries to juggle his home life with his job as a hitman.

Picture a mantis raising up its blades. It looks fearsome, but it's still just a tiny insect. The mantis actually thinks it can win. Even though it's tiny, it's still ready to fight to the death.

Kabuto is an ordinary guy; stressed with work, hassled by his wife and disrespected by his son. No wonder he visits his doctor so often. Except 'the Doctor' is actually his handler, and Kabuto is a hired assassin. The 'prescriptions' the Doctor hands over are his unlucky targets. Because although Kabuto may seem like a small man at home, he's really good at killing people.

But Kabuto is worn out with the business of murder. He's trying to pay his way out of the Doctor's employment with a few last jobs. But the most lucrative contracts involve taking out other professional assassins and his final assignment puts both him and his family in danger.

©2023 Kotaro Isaka (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

  • Unlike anything you’re likely to have read before…white-hot with double-crosses

    Financial Times, on Bullet Train

  • Entertaining…high-speed…with lots of twists and turns…it has a Tarantino-meets-the-Coen-Brothers feel to it.

    The Times, on Bullet Train

  • Thoroughly enjoyable

    Guardian, on Bullet Train

  • Showcases Kotaro Isaka’s Tarantinoesque blend of offbeat wit and stylised violence

    The Times, on Three Assassins

  • Highly entertaining… grips with plenty of twists before delivering a stylish and fitting finale

    Sunday Express, on Three Assassins

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