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Innocent Assassin (Sakura Bianchi #1)

Paul McDonald

Start date: May 1, 2025

Finish date: May 31, 2025

Discussion: Guest Author Reads

Why we're reading this: This is our Guest Author Read for May 2025.
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May 2025: Innocent Assassin (Sakura Bianchi #1) by Paul McDonald
By Gillian · 23 posts · 19 views

last updated May 19, 2025 06:05PM

August 2024: We Come Bearing Curses by Zachariah Chamberlin
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last updated Mar 15, 2025 07:31PM

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Mar 27, 2024 Pisces51 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2024

INNOCENT ASSASSIN [2022] By Paul McDonald
My Review 5.0 Stars Out Of 5

This first novel by Paul McDonald is Book 1 of 2 which features the young Sakura Bianchi, diminutive in physical size but a powerhouse of intellect, strategy, and patience. The catalyst for the story line was a horrific home invasion by four animals a decade earlier. Ten-year-old Sakura’s mother was brutally raped and slaughtered, and the little girl suffered violent sexual attacks and physical abuses that left her barely cling INNOCENT ASSASSIN [2022] By Paul McDonald
My Review 5.0 Stars Out Of 5

This first novel by Paul McDonald is Book 1 of 2 which features the young Sakura Bianchi, diminutive in physical size but a powerhouse of intellect, strategy, and patience. The catalyst for the story line was a horrific home invasion by four animals a decade earlier. Ten-year-old Sakura’s mother was brutally raped and slaughtered, and the little girl suffered violent sexual attacks and physical abuses that left her barely clinging to life and presumed dead when the four felons fled from the bloody scene of carnage they had left in their wake.

Perhaps only in a fictional novel could there exist both the financial resources and the frighteningly far-reaching connections of a heartbroken father, the grievously injured child’s grandfather. He was Yakuza and prominent in a Japanese syndicate analogous to what we think of as the Mafia. The child Sakura must recover from the damage sustained by her body and then she is sent to an elite temple to learn the skills and the mindset to avenge her mother’s murder and her own assault.

This first outing of McDonald’s is very well-written, and he uses bold, confident strokes in its narrative to show his authoritative knowledge of Japanese martial arts and customs while simultaneously his infinite ease with forensics and the science of interpretation. The story comprises a case of foul play and is part police procedural in Australia. Details are meticulous and the chase by the authorities is realistic.

“Innocent Assassin” was incredibly readable, and its content touched me emotionally as the narrative plot line was perfectly paced with flashing back to the tragedy and then forward to the remarkable feats of revenge levied by the victim, in her own name and that of her mother’s. The novel was so entertaining and emotionally moving that the sensational revenge that the skilled and imaginative Sakura meted out was all the more fulfilling. The revenge techniques tip-toed into “Extreme Horror” which only made this reader love it more.

The genre designation is most aptly “Assassination Thriller” from the choices given. “Crime Thriller”? Maybe one with incredible depth and imagination on steroids. The actions of this young woman who meticulously avenged her own mother and herself is simply put, carefully planned justice. The young Sakura Bianchi reminded me a little of Dexter and his screening process, since she validated that the right men were targeted to pay for their savage home invasion so many years ago.

This was a really, really good book. My favorite novel last year was “I Kill Killers” by S.T. Ashton. Its sequel is not until September of this year, but I see Part 2 of Sakura’s dangerous escapades are already available. It is a sure bet I will be reading it. Kudos to author Paul McDonald for such an exciting, riveting, and satisfying tale of delayed justice delivered with positively brilliant precision.

“The Bride” (Beatrix Kiddo) dubbed “The Black Mamba” in the Kill Bill franchise does not have a thing on this compact brick of dynamite named Sakura.

EAGERLY RECOMMENDED TO OTHER READERS WHO LIKE STRONG FEMALE PROTAGONISTS AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO MAKE THE GUILTY PAY ...more

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Apr 02, 2024 The_5ft_reader rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow, what a debut of a book! Honestly, I recommend it. It's a great read, but check the triggers because this one has loads! ...more

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Mar 14, 2024 Tatiyana Hall rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I blew through this first book. It was sad and action packed and gruesome. I love Sakura’s story. This was very well written. Can’t wait to read the next one!

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May 09, 2025 Alan rated it really liked it

There's some really inventive scenes of killing and torture in this book. I also really appreciated the avenging samurai, the training and the discipline of the character of Sakura. It's able to do something new with the traditional SA/murder revenge trope. It straddles the lines of genres between more commercial thriller and some scenes of revenge that definitely place it closer to the splatter/extreme side of the road. I will definitely be checking out the other books in the series in the near ...more

1 like · Like · see review