The Mantis

Isaka’s third book in this semi-series—the first, Bullet Train, was made into a popular film featuring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock—takes a bit of a departure. Yes, we’re focused on a genius hit man, in this case Kabuto. He’s beholden to the Doctor, an actual doctor who hilariously uses medical terminology as code to describe the hits. They’re oftentimes bizarre, wildly creative, or just plain funny. But Kabuto is over it. He wants out, except the Doctor isn’t ready to lose such talent and forces Kabuko to pay his way out, taking down some other professional assassins as his swan song. But for all the time we spend in Tokyo’s criminal underground, this book is more grounded in Kabuko’s life as a family man with a teen son and a wife, who are convinced his work is in office supplies! Kabuto’s relationship with his wife is uniquely fraught; he keeps a journal of phrases useful to appease her, while his son is remarkably loving towards his browbeaten dad. Featuring a professional killer who cringes because he ate the last of his wife’s favorite pudding, this book is poignant, sweet, and full of surprises. No need to read the earlier novels to appreciate this title.