Immensely enjoyable, humorous, and highly visual, this novel may be relatively short in length but has a huge impact. Japanese assassin for hire Kabuto finds life a strain as he tries to keep his wife and son happy and his attempts to retire are rebutted by his handler. While amusing and entertaining, themes of friendship and family sit alongside self-confidence and self-respect. Award-winning author Kotaro Isaka (of Bullet Train fame) spins a number of plates as he sets the scene and allows intimate access to Kabuto. The translation by Sam Malissa is spot on, while my eyes were opened, I also felt right at home. There is a beautiful balance within this novel that allows a number emotions to gather and spill over. There’s also a poignancy that lingers long after finishing and I think Kabuto is one of those characters that will stay with me, which is one of the reasons for declaring this novel a LoveReading Star Book. Stimulating and quirky, The Mantis is a provocative powerhouse of a read I can highly recommend.
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.
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.
