Infinite Books

Nanao, the unlucky assassin in the newest novel by Kotaro Isaka, is so unfortunate that, according to him, whenever he decides to go to a temple for ritual cleansing, the priest is sure to slip into the puddle of water and cancel the entire ceremony. However, the latest job seems simple–delivering a framed painting to a hotel room. No such luck! When Nanao, nicknamed “Ladybug,” goes to a designated hotel, the place is brimming with assassins.  Quoting “Hotel California” lyrics by the Eagles, “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”

In ‘Hotel Lucky Seven,’ the body count is high, and the murders are violent. However, the novel’s unique charm lies in its balance of cheeky humor and philosophical remarks, reminiscent of the Cohen brothers movies. This balance ensures that the violence never becomes overwhelming. As we find ourselves rooting for the underdog, a friendly, plain girl with a phenomenal memory, who is chased by the gang of gorgeous and cruel assassins, ‘The Six,’ we are entertained by the funny banter that peppers the narrative.

There are references to the previous book, “Bullet Train,” which I haven’t read, but the story works fine as a stand-alone. I still bought “Bullet Train.”  I’m looking forward to meeting the familiar characters again. And seeing the film adaptation of “Bullet Train,” with Brad Pitt as Ladybug, seems like something I’d also like to do.

HOTEL LUCKY SEVEN, presented by RB Media, 2024