Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka

Five killers. One train journey. But who will survive? The original and propulsive thriller from a massive Japanese bestseller.

*SOON TO BE A MAJOR FILM*

Satoshi looks like an innocent schoolboy but he is really a viciously cunning psychopath. Kimura’s young son is in a coma thanks to him, and Kimura has tracked him onto the bullet train heading from Tokyo to Morioka to exact his revenge. But Kimura soon discovers that they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard.

Nanao, the self-proclaimed ‘unluckiest assassin in the world’, and the deadly partnership of Tangerine and Lemon are also travelling to Morioka. A suitcase full of money leads others to show their hands. Why are they all on the same train, and who will get off alive at the last station?

Bullet Train was completely out of my comfort zone but I absolutely loved this totally manic “Murder on the Kill Bill Express”! My husband has read it already and is desperately awaiting the film version to be released and although it’s not my normal film genre of choice, I’m pretty sure that I will join him!

Bullet Train is a locked room mystery on rails as 5 killers board a train in Tokyo only to realise quite quickly that it’s no coincidence that they are all onboard the same train at the same time. All the characters are intriguing especially the teenage psychopath Satoshi aka The Prince but my favourites were Tangerine and Lemon-I don’t think I’ve ever seen Thomas the Tank Engine used in such a clever way before!

This is a fast paced thriller that has translated well from its original Japanese. It is completely different to anything else I’ve read this year. Cleverly written, entertaining and totally bonkers-it’s a high speed race against time that will leave you wondering how on earth it’s all going to end! But that ending is spot on!

Bullet Train was published in paperback by Vintage on 17th March 2022.