Bullet Train (novel)

Bullet Train is a 2010 Japanese suspense thriller novel written by Kōtarō Isaka. Originally published in Japan as Maria Beetle (マリアビートル), it was translated into English by Sam Malissa and published in 2021 under the title Bullet Train.

The novel follows several assassins with interconnected assignments aboard a high-speed bullet train traveling from Tokyo to Morioka. Each assassin possesses unique skills, motivations, and backstories, creating a complex web of conflict and intrigue. The seemingly unrelated missions gradually intertwine, leading to unexpected alliances and betrayals as the characters navigate the confined space and rapid pace of the moving train.

Key characters include Nanao, known as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin; Kimura, a former teacher seeking revenge; Prince, a manipulative and dangerous young boy; and Tangerine and Lemon, a pair of eccentric assassins obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine. The novel explores themes of fate, choice, morality, and the chaotic nature of violence. It is known for its fast-paced action, dark humor, and intricate plot twists.

Bullet Train was adapted into a 2022 American action comedy film directed by David Leitch and starring Brad Pitt. The film adaptation significantly altered some plot elements and characterizations from the novel.