The Final Six

Hardback Published on: 04/06/2026
Price: £20.00
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Bookseller Reviews

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The Final Six
Addictive and full of secrets!
I love translated fiction at the moment and I love crime/thrillers so this was always going to be a book I knew I would enjoy, and I was correct. The Final... READ MORE
Emma at Waterstones Blackburn
The Final Six
Brilliantly told and addictive!
A tense, uncomfortable novel that is part thriller, part expose of the gruelling job hunting culture that plagues Japan’s youth and the extremes that peopl... READ MORE
Emma at Waterstones Fareham Whiteley

Synopsis

When the stakes are at their highest, how low would you go?
_____________

Shogo Hatano has beaten thousands of applicants to become one of six final candidates in the running for a graduate position at Japan's most exclusive tech company. Only one will be chosen - a decision made by the applicants themselves.

In a glossy high-rise office in Tokyo, the interview begins. All six of them are equally measured and polished, until they discover the envelopes. One for every candidate. Each containing a secret so terrible that they could ruin more than just careers. They could destroy lives.

The evidence was clearly planted by someone in the room. As suspicion coils tighter and alliances fracture, it's clear the question is no longer who deserves the job, but how far are they willing to go to get it.

Because behind the polite mask and slick words is a monster capable of anything in the pursuit of their goal. But are any of them truly who they say they are?
_____________

Real reader reviews for THE FINAL SIX

'An utterly compelling psychological masterclass that demands to be read in a single sitting'

'Much like Asako Yuzuki's Butter, this novel possesses that rare, addictive quality of being both sharp social critique and an unputdownable human drama'

'A highly engaging read that explores the darker side of human ambition and the masks people wear to succeed'

'A fast-paced and gripping story that keeps the tension high from beginning to end'

'Lovers of translated fiction, whodunits and psychological thrillers will enjoy this read'

'A cracking debut that carves out a unique space in the corporate thriller genre by blending multiple themes seamlessly with a dark, locked-room structure'

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
  • ISBN: 9781408725078
  • Number of pages: 288
  • Dimensions: 236 x 162 x 32 mm
  • Weight: 480g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The Final Six
A Quiet Story of Fear and Survival Under Fire
The Final Six is a haunting and emotionally charged narrative that captures the quiet terror of life under constant threat. Through the eyes of Niki and he... READ MORE
Nemra
The Final Six
Not a star candidate for me
As someone who has to complete job interviews once a year as a part of my industry, I was excited to pick up a thriller set during one. A high stakes gr... READ MORE
KindigBlog
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
When the job is all that matters
From start to finish this book had me riveted. Six finalists have made it to the final round to join the prestigious tech company Spiralinx. They are told ... READ MORE
Paula Sterling-stead
The Final Six
The Final Six by Akinari Asakura
Thank you NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group UK for this e-ARC. I have been wanting to read more translated fiction so I was excited to pick this up. I... READ MORE
PhoebeReads8
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Friendship versus disloyalty
Friendship versus disloyalty. A group of soon to be university graduates are job hunting. These six individuals have been chosen as the final six candi... READ MORE
Bao Bao
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
A riveting read
This proved to be a gripping read..Firstly understanding the Japanese process of job hunting during the last year at university. Secondly the selection pro... READ MORE
barbara johnston
The Final Six
Excellent
When six aspirational students are given the frightening question, "Who among you deserves to be hired?" a straightforward group debate devolves into a vic... READ MORE
Jim
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Good read
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. 6 candidates are in the final stages of the recruitment process for Japanese a Japanese tech company, they are all ... READ MORE
K MacLean
The Final Six
Easy, enjoyable and tense read about an interesting part of Far East culture
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. I quite enjoyed this. I have read a few Japanese and Korean books lately and fro... READ MORE
am/am/am
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
A story to warn you to be careful who you work with
This was only my second Japanese translated novel, and coming from a cosy crime as my first, The Final Six felt like a sharp and fascinating contrast. It o... READ MORE
Antony Gray
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Great premise
I was intrigued by the premise of this book with 6 graduates competing for a highly prized job. The first half, with the tension of competing and the skuld... READ MORE
jean
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Job hunters need to read this!
An interview process like no other sees the final six shortlisted candidates work together to ensure they all get a job with a rapidly expanding company. T... READ MORE
Kateoshea
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
An incredible book and a story which will remain with me for a long time
The Final Six by Akinari Asakura is a cracking debut that carves out a unique space in the corporate thriller genre by blending multiple themes seamlessly ... READ MORE
Ink Readsalot
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
interesting concept!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an eARC of The Final Six by Akinari Asakura. This is my honest review. This felt, deliberately, ... READ MORE
Donna Davie
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Four stars!
The Final Six by Akinari Asakura follows Shogo Hatano as he competes for a single position at an elite tech company, only to find himself caught in a high ... READ MORE
The Secret Book Review
The Final Six
Interesting story
From over 5,000 applicants, there are now 6 remaining for the chance to work at a prestigious Japanese firm. The final interview will be done as a group; t... READ MORE
Yvonne Bastian
The Final Six
You’ll never approach job interviews in the same way again!
One of the great joys of reading fiction from other countries is the insight that it provides into the way that culture operates. This is a fascinating ins... READ MORE
Ann
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Good start but tailed off.
The Final Six – Akinari AsakuraOut of 5,000 applicants, only six candidates remain in the running for a dream job at one of Japan's top tech companies. Wor... READ MORE
Lovetoread2023
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Strangely addictive
Shogo Hatano and five other applicants are the final six candidates for a graduate position at one of Japan’s most exclusive tech companies. Encouraged to ... READ MORE
Ella - The Story Collector
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
The Final Six
Original
The Final Six is an original, suspenseful and exciting story that keeps shifting in a way that holds the interest. I didn’t find it to be a book of two h... READ MORE
Olga May
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.