Five
-
-
5.0 • 1 Rating
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
Five passengers. Five minutes until the next train … five minutes until someone dies.
‘Will have you glued to the page … guaranteed to shock and entertain’ The Times
‘Ridiculously good … darkly thrilling and unforgettable’ Chris Whitaker
‘An excellent novel … Bannister has a clear gift for a razor sharp, brutal, and oftentimes hilarious writing style' FIVE star reader review
‘Dark, tense and compulsively readable, Five is a thriller that keeps you constantly questioning what you think you know' FIVE star reader review
'What a fantastic style of writing. Unique in it's telling that had me gripped from the start … I couldn't put it down' FIVE star reader review
* * * *
Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station. It will happen in the next five minutes when the 7:06 to London Victoria arrives.
Take note of their positions. The child, the mother, the businessman, the old woman and the gambler.
One of them will die despite your attachment to them. There is probably one you want to get rid of. You don’t have to admit who. But perhaps you should ask yourself why.
The train has stopped.
Someone is dead.
Was it who you chose?
It wasn’t your fault …
So why, dear reader, do you feel so guilty?
Five stories. Five minutes until a life ends. Unfolding in real time, FIVE doesn't just tell a story; it provokes, unsettles, and lingers. By weaving together the stories of those complex, flawed lives, Bannister creates a tapestry of human struggle, resilience, and hope. FIVE offers no easy answers, but rather a nuanced exploration of the human condition in all its messy complexity.
* * * *
Praise for FIVE:
‘Brilliantly propulsive … A seriously impressive novel’ Hannah Beckerman
‘Original. Urgent. Disturbing. Brilliant’ Shari Lapena
‘Insightful, emotionally punchy, wryly observed … I read it in one sitting’ Sarah Pinborough
'This is a sharply drawn, darkly funny, and quietly devastating character study wrapped inside a ticking‑clock thriller' FIVE star reader review
'Five stars for Five! … This is a sharp, unsettling and original novel that explores morality, judgement, addiction, motherhood and privilege with confidence and control. It stayed with me long after I finished' FIVE star reader review
Reviews
Praise for Ilona Bannister:
'Propulsive, sharp, and ferociously addictive, Five is one of the most original novels I’ve read in years. I devoured it quickly, but I can’t stop thinking about this story. Ilona Bannister is such a talent' Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Note and The Better Sister
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station," begins this sharply observed suspense novel from Bannister (Little Prisons). The players are a cross-section of contemporary British commuters assembled at a train platform just outside of London. Emma, an emotionally walled-off single mother, struggles with the erratic behavior of her brilliant, neurodivergent six-year-old son, Gideon. Liam—a wealthy, controlling businessman—is also present. Mrs. Worth, a 78-year-old retired forensic pathologist, sits in silent judgment of Emma as she's burdened by her own private traumas. Sonny, a mixed-race 27-year-old battling grief and a gambling addiction, is motivated by an initially unexplained desperation that comes into focus as the action progresses. When Gideon's reckless dash toward the tracks sparks panic in the crowd, Emma and Liam rush to rescue him before they clash and Gideon lashes out at Liam. Then Mrs. Worth collapses, and tragedy ensues. The main action takes place across a condensed matter of minutes, but Bannister fleshes it out with insightful dives into her characters' pasts (some more convincing than others) and darkly funny asides from an omniscient narrator who addresses the reader directly. Bannister's compassion and gift for nerve-shredding tension make this a ride worth taking.
