Publishers Weekly
06/27/2022
Former math teacher Suzuki, the protagonist of this engrossing thriller from Isaka (Bullet Train), has an opportunity for revenge two years after a drunk driver killed his wife. He’s concealed his past to join Fräulein, a company that ostensibly sells beauty products for women. In fact, the firm is a criminal organization, and its CEO, Terahara, is the father of the man who killed Suzuki’s wife. Suzuki hopes his position will enable him to confront the killer, but then his supervisor informs him that he’s under suspicion and can only prove his loyalty to Fräulein by murdering two people. Things get only more complicated when someone pushes Terahara’s son into traffic, where he’s fatally run over. Suzuki’s assigned to track down the culprit. Meanwhile, two other killers are at work: the Whale, who has coerced more than 30 people to kill themselves, and the Cicada, who slaughters a family after its youngest member burns a homeless person to death. Isaka makes what could be an over-the-top narrative work through his depiction of an everyman protagonist in way over his head. Fans of Bullet Train won’t be disappointed. Agent: Yuma Terada, CTB. (Aug.)
BookRiot
The world created here is highly imaginative and chaotic, with very engaging characters. This prequel to Bullet Train is a super fun and wild ride.”
Complete Review
Very well done . . . The plot is well-designed, the connections neatly made – and the intricacy is pleasing . . . the storyline in Three Assassins makes for a very enjoyable and quite satisfying read.”
Criminal Element
Isaka cuts from scene to scene, injecting plentiful amounts of humor, pathos, and surprisingly deep musings on pop culture into his plot as it pinballs along . . .a wildly entertaining criminal romp with a surprisingly poignant ending. Recommended.”
Editors Choice Pick The New York Times Book Review
A delicate balancing act between this heady nihilism and his direct, propulsive plotting... Three Assassins feels like a fever dream that makes sense when you’re in it, but whose strange contours linger long after you wake up.”
Portland Book Review
Tense and action-packed, Kotaro Isaka’s Three Assassins offers an exploration of just how dangerous and uncertain the quest for vengeance can be.”
From the Publisher
[An] engrossing thriller . . . Isaka makes what could be an over-the-top narrative work through his depiction of an everyman protagonist in way over his head. Fans of Bullet Train won’t be disappointed.”—Publishers Weekly
“A delicate balancing act between this heady nihilism and his direct, propulsive plotting... Three Assassins feels like a fever dream that makes sense when you’re in it, but whose strange contours linger long after you wake up.”—The New York Times Book Review, Editors Choice Pick
“The world created here is highly imaginative and chaotic, with very engaging characters. This prequel to Bullet Train is a super fun and wild ride.”—BookRiot
“Isaka cuts from scene to scene, injecting plentiful amounts of humor, pathos, and surprisingly deep musings on pop culture into his plot as it pinballs along . . .a wildly entertaining criminal romp with a surprisingly poignant ending. Recommended.”—Criminal Element
“Tense and action-packed, Kotaro Isaka’s Three Assassins offers an exploration of just how dangerous and uncertain the quest for vengeance can be.”—Portland Book Review
“Very well done . . . The plot is well-designed, the connections neatly made – and the intricacy is pleasing . . . the storyline in Three Assassins makes for a very enjoyable and quite satisfying read.”—Complete Review
