Kotaro Isaka is the award-winning and internationally acclaimed author of Bullet Train (2022; Japanese title Maria Beetle, 2010). One of the most consistently bestselling authors of contemporary Japanese fiction, Isaka is known for works that straddle the literary and entertainment genres.

His novels include Audubon's Prayer (2000, Shincho Mystery Club Award), Lush Life (2002), Three Assassins (2023; Japanese title Grasshopper, 2004), The Precision of the Agent of Death (2005, Mystery Writers of Japan Award), Shumatsu no Fool (2006), Golden Slumber (2007, Yamamoto Shugoro Award and Japan Booksellers' Award), The Mantis (2024; Japanese title AX, 2017), Seesaw Monster (2025; Japanese publication 2019), Gyaku Socrates (2020, Shibata Renzaburo Award), and Hotel Lucky Seven (2025, Japanese title 777, 2023). His latest novel is Farwell to Jabberwock (2025).

Isaka’s books have been translated into over 20 languages worldwide. Bullet Train was the basis of the eponymous movie from Sony Pictures (2022), directed by David Leitch and starring Brad Pitt.