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The Mantis

Kotaro Isaka author Sam Malissa translator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:9th Nov '23

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The Mantis cover

Good dad or good assassin? Can he be both?

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.

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA STEEL DAGGER FOR BEST THRILLER*

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.

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.

'Unlike anything you're likely to have read before...white-hot with double-crosses' Financial Times, on Bullet Train

Don’t miss the next thrilling Kotaro Isaka book, HOTEL LUCKY SEVEN, available to pre-order now.

An offbeat but touching thriller, with a wonderful final twist * Mail on Sunday *
Unlike anything you're likely to have read before...white-hot with double-crosses * Financial Times, on Bullet Train *
Entertaining...high-speed...with lots of twists and turns...it has a Tarantino-meets-the-Coen-Brothers feel to it. * The Times, on Bullet Train *
Thoroughly enjoyable * Guardian, on Bullet Train *
Showcases Kotaro Isaka's Tarantinoesque blend of offbeat wit and stylised violence * The Times, on Three Assassins *

ISBN: 9781787303928

Dimensions: 240mm x 162mm x 26mm

Weight: 461g

256 pages