Five - in five minutes, one of five people on a train platform will not make it out alive.

It seems like a typical day at a train station. Commuters stand on the platform, awaiting the 7:06 train to London Victoria. However, we are made aware that in five minutes, someone will die, and it will be one of five people: Emma, a single mother; her six-year-old son Gideon; Liam, a successful businessman; Mrs. Worth, a retired woman in her seventies; or Sonny, a man with a gambling addiction. The all-knowing narrator, who frequently breaks the fourth wall, shares the stories of these people. Each is grappling with personal struggles, and none are particularly likeable. Yet, the narrator injects moments of humor amid the tragedies and disappointments. Emma is having a particularly tough time raising her son, who is neurodivergent and prone to violence, while dealing with judgment from others. As the story shifts from backstories to the countdown to the expected train accident, we, the readers, are challenged to guess who the victim will be and to dig deep and consider who we want the victim to be. 

Ilona Bannister's Five is a highly creative and original book. The characters find themselves in situations where their morals are challenged. As we learn more about them, some become more sympathetic, while others become less. The story shifts back and forth and looks ahead. The moment of truth on the train platform awaits and you'll be eagerly waiting for the reveal. Book clubs are going to enjoy discussing this one. 

Many thanks to Crown Publishing for this engaging book.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction | Mystery Thriller.

Publication Date: May 5, 2026.

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