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Bullet Train cover art

Bullet Train

By: Kotaro Isaka, Sam Malissa
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Five killers. One train journey. But who will survive? An original and propulsive thriller from a massive Japanese bestseller.

A major motion picture starring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock.

Satoshi looks like an innocent schoolboy but he is really a viciously cunning psychopath. Kimura's young son is in a coma thanks to him, and Kimura has tracked him onto the bullet train heading from Tokyo to Morioka to exact his revenge. But Kimura soon discovers that they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard.

Nanao, the self-proclaimed 'unluckiest assassin in the world', and the deadly partnership of Tangerine and Lemon are also travelling to Morioka. A suitcase full of money leads others to show their hands. Why are they all on the same train, and who will get off alive at the last station?

Bullet Train was originally published in Japan with the title Maria Beetle.

©2021 Kotaro Isaka (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A locked-room crime drama played out at 200mph" (The Times)

What listeners say about Bullet Train

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bit silly, but good fun

I’m in two minds about Bullet Train. I’ve not seen the Brad Pitt film, as I didn’t want to do so without reading the book first, and I’m glad that I did so.

The story is interesting, if improbable. If the Japanese wrote “capers”, this is probably close to what it would look like. So don’t expect realism. It’s not going to happen. Nonetheless, it’s an entertaining enough premise and plot.

The performance is OK. I’m not that keen on the casting, because the vocal range of the actor in delivering different voices for the characters is not amazing. But as the book progressed and my ear became accustomed to the voice, it was at least possible to tell within a given scene who was talking, so it didn’t impact my comprehension.

Overall, I think I was hoping for something that was just that bit more polished all round. This is OK. Perfectly competent. But it won’t be going on this year’s top ten for me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Mystery Train

Tarantino-esque hitman dark comedy. Twists and turns throughout with a thoughtful setting and villain.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great fun!

This was great fun, albeit rather gory in parts. There was a good twist in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great characterisation and plot

A well paced plot with great characters and a good pace throughout.
Can see why they made it into a movie and may watch it when it hits the streaming platforms.
Easy listening and entertaining

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen!

Gripping a small thrilling story that has you on a knife edge and with an amazing end. Expertly narrated by Adam Sims who understands and breathe life into the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and characters

really enjoyed this book, the narrator did a great job, looking forward to seeing the movie now.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story and entertaining to the end

Having seen the film before reading the book it proved to be an excellent adaptation and the book was a great read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

really gripping, read beautifully

wasn't sure if my thing but genuinely funny, gripping, really cared about the characters. the voice actor dis a great job

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Genuinely enjoyed this

Took a chance, as I like the narrator. Genuinely enjoyed this, something different, but really despised one character and loved others by the end.
Wouldn't say it was in any way a comedy, but good book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Hoping the film is better

I bought this book with the idea that it should be a good story with Brad Pitt in the film, also a Japanese story, by a Japanese author. Unfortunately the story is fanciful and failed to establish a credibility throughout. It is read confidently by a western voice that clearly can handle the Japanese elements of the book, however with such a weak story the narrator could not bring as much atmosphere to the story as a book of this type requires and as such failed to impress me on so many levels.
A book that promised much but failed to deliver leaving me less than satisfied by the story or the narration.

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