"A fabulously amusing and engaging novel that excels in exploring the family life of an assassin as he attempts to retire."
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.
| Primary Genre | Thriller and Suspense |
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