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annaledbetter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Torture, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Fatphobia and Transphobia
sarah984's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a super fun popcorn movie of a thriller about several assassins and other shady types all trying to complete their missions on one crazy train ride. The characters are all larger than life and feel bold and unique. The tension never lets up and every tiny detail that ever comes up is tied up perfectly by the end.
I would have given this 5 stars but there's a minor side character who, while I enjoyed her, was constantly assailed by transmisogynist jokes and that bugged me. I'm hoping that gets fixed in the upcoming film version.
I would have given this 5 stars but there's a minor side character who, while I enjoyed her, was constantly assailed by transmisogynist jokes and that bugged me. I'm hoping that gets fixed in the upcoming film version.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Drug use, Gore, Pedophilia, Torture, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent
pamshenanigans's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book. This does not, in any way, affect my thoughts and opinions about the book.
"Five killers find themselves on a bullet train from Tokyo competing for a suitcase full of money. Who will make it to the last station? "
Those two sentences were enough for me to request this book on Netgalley. I, who has a penchant for thrillers AND serial killers, was really excited to get into this book and jump into the crazy story.
One of the things I liked about it is how different and unique each character and POV is, you can easily distinguish who's who. Another is the way this made me angry and disgusted with one of the characters who I think is a psychopath.
Each killer on the train is on a hunt for something and someone. They were all brought together by (laughable and) coincidental situations: 2 for-hire killers tasked to deliver a suitcase and a kid to a yakuza leader, another for-hire killer tasked to steal the said suitcase from the 2 killers, the psychopath who likes to torture and manipulate people, a father and retired killer with a thirst for revenge.
It's so interesting and compelling (and even anxiety-inducing) to read especially when these characters' paths cross in any way. It's so messed up, bloody, gory, and hilarious at times.
I can't say that I didn't LIKE the ending because I SHOULD be satisfied with everything working out in the end, although not without numerous deaths and murders. It's just that it felt more like a contemporary novel than a mystery/thriller towards the end. There were other POVs that I wanted to read in the end but I guess the author left it to the readers to use their imagination.
Overall, it was a nice, yet a bit forgettable, mystery/thriller book! It delivered what I ultimately was expecting: a chair-gripping and mysterious thriller.
Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, manipulation, violence, murder, abuse
"Five killers find themselves on a bullet train from Tokyo competing for a suitcase full of money. Who will make it to the last station? "
Those two sentences were enough for me to request this book on Netgalley. I, who has a penchant for thrillers AND serial killers, was really excited to get into this book and jump into the crazy story.
One of the things I liked about it is how different and unique each character and POV is, you can easily distinguish who's who. Another is the way this made me angry and disgusted with one of the characters who I think is a psychopath.
Each killer on the train is on a hunt for something and someone. They were all brought together by (laughable and) coincidental situations: 2 for-hire killers tasked to deliver a suitcase and a kid to a yakuza leader, another for-hire killer tasked to steal the said suitcase from the 2 killers, the psychopath who likes to torture and manipulate people, a father and retired killer with a thirst for revenge.
It's so interesting and compelling (and even anxiety-inducing) to read especially when these characters' paths cross in any way. It's so messed up, bloody, gory, and hilarious at times.
I can't say that I didn't LIKE the ending because I SHOULD be satisfied with everything working out in the end, although not without numerous deaths and murders. It's just that it felt more like a contemporary novel than a mystery/thriller towards the end. There were other POVs that I wanted to read in the end but I guess the author left it to the readers to use their imagination.
Overall, it was a nice, yet a bit forgettable, mystery/thriller book! It delivered what I ultimately was expecting: a chair-gripping and mysterious thriller.
Trigger/Content Warnings: torture, manipulation, violence, murder, abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
shitbookreviews's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’ve only ever been on two bullet trains in my life and, let me tell you, they are amazing things. So when I noticed an entire thriller book based on my beloved Shinkansens, I was like ‘fuck yeah, give me those murdery train vibes’.
Ready to be sucked into this daft world of train chaos, I snuggled down with my Kindle only to be thrown into what felt like Groundhog Day. A slow and repetitive world that even Frodo might get a little bored with – unlike the Shinkansen, this book is slow and I have the attention span of a caterpillar so whilst the concept was dead interesting, I struggggggggled to get through this. Here’s what you’re in for:
✨ Five super murderous baddies (including some fruit and the unluckiest hitman in the country) on a train from Tokyo to Morioka.
✨ One suitcase full of cash-monies
✨ A weird race to see who can murder each other first
✨ One suitcase full of cash-monies
✨ A weird race to see who can murder each other first
Cool so if you’re still on board, let’s get you acquainted with the chaps on the death train. First up – you’ve got the little prick of a 14-year old (Satoshi) who’s a manipulative psychopath and treats the school as his castle. No one stands a chance including adults who will probably lose their jobs if they cross him. Thanks to his cunty antics, Kimura’s son is in a coma and dead-set on revenge.
And then there’s Nanao. The self-proclaimed ‘unluckiest assassin in the world‘ and someone that if you see in the line for the supermarket, you make sure to stand in the other one cause he’ll be waiting for yonks. I can only imagine the assassin world is small (?) ’cause he bumps into another pair of well-known hitmen, Lemon and Tangerine – yes, they’re fruit related. Why? Not a clue but I do know that Lemon is infatuated with Thomas the Tank Engine.
All of them are obsessed with getting their mitts on that suitcase and they’ll kill to make sure it’s in their possession.
Now don’t get me wrong – I did enjoy this book but it just felt a bit of a struggle bus for me. I’m all about a ridiculous story but it needs to keep my attention and this just wasn’t quite there for me.
The best way to describe it is a Yakuza meets John Wick but at a Lord of the Rings pace – does exactly all the ridiculous things you expect but you’re in for the long haul.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder