What do you think?
Rate this book
Five Stop Story: Short Stories to Read in 5 Stops on Your Commute
Amazon bestseller in UK and US Kindle Stores
#1 in Kindle Anthologies
#2 in Kindle Short Story collections
A "Five Stop Story" is a short story that can be read in five stops on the London Underground. This book contains 31 stories, all of which can be read in a short journey on the tube or subway.
Five Stop Story's first collection presents short stories from some of the best new international writers. From Namibia to Japan, the UK to the US, from award winning writers to brand new talent, Five Stop Story's anthology showcases the best short stories from over 1,000 entries to our monthly writing competitions.
The book is split into five In “Tales of Betrayal” there are multiple affairs, a prison breakout and a murder. “The Journey of Life” contains the stories of some intriguing characters. “A Lighter Touch” provides light relief and satire that will make you laugh out loud. “Life-changing Events” focuses on those fateful moments when your life pivots and changes, by accident, or by design. Finally, “A Slice of Life” absorbs you in individual, yet revealing moments in the lives of ordinary people.
The stories are quick, enjoyable reads that are ideal for spare moments; whether you're waiting to meet a friend for coffee, on your way to work on the tube or even waiting for the bus.
#1 in Kindle Anthologies
#2 in Kindle Short Story collections
A "Five Stop Story" is a short story that can be read in five stops on the London Underground. This book contains 31 stories, all of which can be read in a short journey on the tube or subway.
Five Stop Story's first collection presents short stories from some of the best new international writers. From Namibia to Japan, the UK to the US, from award winning writers to brand new talent, Five Stop Story's anthology showcases the best short stories from over 1,000 entries to our monthly writing competitions.
The book is split into five In “Tales of Betrayal” there are multiple affairs, a prison breakout and a murder. “The Journey of Life” contains the stories of some intriguing characters. “A Lighter Touch” provides light relief and satire that will make you laugh out loud. “Life-changing Events” focuses on those fateful moments when your life pivots and changes, by accident, or by design. Finally, “A Slice of Life” absorbs you in individual, yet revealing moments in the lives of ordinary people.
The stories are quick, enjoyable reads that are ideal for spare moments; whether you're waiting to meet a friend for coffee, on your way to work on the tube or even waiting for the bus.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2011
4 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Heald
3 books64 followersRuth Heald is the author of two forthcoming psychological thrillers. The Mother’s Mistake will be released in June and her second thriller will be released in September. Both books will be published by Bookouture, part of Hachette UK.
The Mother’s Mistake is an eerie, twisty and atmospheric psychological thriller about a mother’s worst nightmare. When Claire Hughes and her young family move to the countryside in the hope of a fresh start, it seems the perfect life – and the perfect family – are just within reach. But it isn’t long before Claire’s past catches up with her … and her daughter’s life is in danger.
Ruth’s debut novel, “27: Six Friends, One Year,” published in 2012 by Dancing Parrot Press, is a relationship drama about the lives of six friends aged 27 who reunite in London. On the surface they lead enviable lives, but underneath the facades they are falling apart. “27” was selected as a Quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
Ruth grew up in a suburban Buckinghamshire town. She studied Economics at Oxford and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. Seeking a more creative environment, she joined the BBC and worked there for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She’s married with two children and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives.
The Mother’s Mistake is an eerie, twisty and atmospheric psychological thriller about a mother’s worst nightmare. When Claire Hughes and her young family move to the countryside in the hope of a fresh start, it seems the perfect life – and the perfect family – are just within reach. But it isn’t long before Claire’s past catches up with her … and her daughter’s life is in danger.
Ruth’s debut novel, “27: Six Friends, One Year,” published in 2012 by Dancing Parrot Press, is a relationship drama about the lives of six friends aged 27 who reunite in London. On the surface they lead enviable lives, but underneath the facades they are falling apart. “27” was selected as a Quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
Ruth grew up in a suburban Buckinghamshire town. She studied Economics at Oxford and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. Seeking a more creative environment, she joined the BBC and worked there for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She’s married with two children and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 15, 2017
I'm a regular entrant in the Five Stop Story competitions, and also a big fan. I can't wait to read the new stories every month! This kindle book contains thirty stories from the 2011 competitions, and offers readers a great selection of mystery, contemporary, and science fiction. The Editor, Ruth Heald, has done a fantastic job of organizing the collection into interesting categories, rather than simply publishing them by competition/theme.
To briefly comment on my favorite stories:
`Autumn' by Ann Leander is a simple, yet captivating story of a woman's holiday fling in Paris. I love its inclusion in `Tales of Betrayal'; I found myself judging Shamir's actions as a bigger betrayal than Angela cheating on her husband. I would love to read more work from Ann in the future.
Rowan Whiteside is a great story-teller and `Zumba' is an exciting account of one woman's revenge after an affair. I couldn't help cheering for the villain in this story!
`Mirrors' by Howard Mosley-Chalk is the only fantasy/noir story in the kindle book, and is an absorbing tale of how we wish we could make things right in the world. I hope to see more of Howard's work on the site this year.
Judith Sly's `Mischief in Paradise' won the `Betrayal' theme competition, and rightly so; it's an entertaining story of an anonymous blackmailer in a small town.
`Quasquicentennial' by Martha Mukaiwa is a delicate tale of lives entwined, and how ordinary actions affect those around us. Beautifully written.
I'm really pleased that Ruth Heald included a tale of her own, `The Final Days of Trevor Morrison'. I admire Ruth's structure and use of alternative points of view to tell the story. Yes Ruth, I took down some notes!
This is a great collection, and I hope that it inspires more people to read short stories. You may just find your new favorite author here.
To briefly comment on my favorite stories:
`Autumn' by Ann Leander is a simple, yet captivating story of a woman's holiday fling in Paris. I love its inclusion in `Tales of Betrayal'; I found myself judging Shamir's actions as a bigger betrayal than Angela cheating on her husband. I would love to read more work from Ann in the future.
Rowan Whiteside is a great story-teller and `Zumba' is an exciting account of one woman's revenge after an affair. I couldn't help cheering for the villain in this story!
`Mirrors' by Howard Mosley-Chalk is the only fantasy/noir story in the kindle book, and is an absorbing tale of how we wish we could make things right in the world. I hope to see more of Howard's work on the site this year.
Judith Sly's `Mischief in Paradise' won the `Betrayal' theme competition, and rightly so; it's an entertaining story of an anonymous blackmailer in a small town.
`Quasquicentennial' by Martha Mukaiwa is a delicate tale of lives entwined, and how ordinary actions affect those around us. Beautifully written.
I'm really pleased that Ruth Heald included a tale of her own, `The Final Days of Trevor Morrison'. I admire Ruth's structure and use of alternative points of view to tell the story. Yes Ruth, I took down some notes!
This is a great collection, and I hope that it inspires more people to read short stories. You may just find your new favorite author here.
April 22, 2012
This is a great collection of varies short stories, all of which are well written. They weren't all my cup of tea, but that's a short story collection for you, isn't it? Plenty to enjoy.
Recommenced, as is the app the stories come from.
Recommenced, as is the app the stories come from.
April 10, 2012
This is a collection of short stories. They are all pretty good, but not usually the kind of stories I generally read. But I did enjoy this book. Worth the time to read, anyway! If you like general fiction, pick this one up for your Kindle.
February 10, 2013
Collections of short stories will never please all of the readers all of the time. This book provides a wide variety of content divided into themes. As each is short enough to read in five stops, even the less enjoyable is worth completing.
August 10, 2012
Didn't really enjoy the stories in this collection.
June 2, 2012
Some of the stories were a big disappointment.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews