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Crimson Little Dragon (Holiday Quick Kills Book 8)
5.0 (1 rating)

Crimson Little Dragon (Holiday Quick Kills Book 8)

Morally Grey CharacterVillain ProtagonistFemale Assassin

Most people visit Kyoto during Obon for lanterns, incense, and ancestral spirits. I came to assassinate a man known as the Crimson Dragon.

Kenji Takahashi. Oyabun of the Takahashi-kai Syndicate. A Yakuza boss with a taste for ritual, revenge, and very creative origami.

The job: eliminate him cleanly, no collateral, and get it done before the last paper lantern hits the river.

It was supposed to be simple—sneak in, kill the guy, cash out.

Instead, I’m neck-deep in family drama, ancient grudges, and more blood-soaked honour than a samurai soap opera.

My on-ground contact is a man named Ren. Quiet. Efficient. Not exactly friendly—but there’s something under the surface that doesn’t sit right. He’s not just a pretty face with a tragic past. He’s a wildcard with a katana and unfinished business.

I came here to kill one man. Turns out, Kyoto has other plans.

If you like thrillers steeped in tradition, deadly elegance, and assassins with trust issues and very sharp blades, Crimson Little Dragon delivers a killer Obon you’ll never forget.

Content Warnings: Violence • Murder • Death

Published: July 17, 2025

Pages: 58

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Reader Reviews

5.0

1 rating

Matt D.

Feb 8, 2026
We join our favorite assassin, Marin, for Orbon in Japan. As usual, her employer Jane has given minimal details and Marin quickly locates her target. However, it quickly appears that this job is anything but straight forward. Marin finds herself in the middle of a deadly game of cat and mouse. Obviously this is just his she likes it!

Yet another action packed adventure with Marin and in couldn’t put it down! The writing is sharp and brutal and Marin is the best assassin. If you haven’t tried the Holiday Quick Kills, now is the time to join Marin! Jane will send the details of your mission.

About the Author

Joan De La Haye
Joan De La Haye writes dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. Her stories push boundaries and revel in the kind of justice that doesn’t play by the rules. Her characters don’t wait for permission—they take control, exact revenge, and refuse to be victims.
If you enjoy thrillers with bite, grit, and unapologetically fierce heroines, you’ve just found your new favourite author.