What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 01:32:02
24 copies available
U.S. only
Five
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 01:32:02
24 copies available
U.S. only
Five lives. Five stories. Four will live—one will die. Who it will be? In this slow-burn masterpiece of psychological fiction, the choice is all yours.
Have you ever tried to pass the time by imagining the lives of the strangers standing next to you? Ilona Bannister’s Five introduces readers to five seemingly random people waiting for a train. But these are not just any five people. From the beginning we know that one of them is going to die soon. Very soon. In five minutes the next train to London will arrive, killing one of them. But before this happens you will learn their stories.
None of these people are saints. Readers might fall in love with the beautiful young man who is on the verge of gambling his life away. They may pity the cantankerous old woman who has fallen to the ground yet is refusing help. Perhaps readers will look away from the child throwing a tantrum. Or judge his mother, who must surely be to blame. And some will be curiously compelled by the successful and damaged businessman orbiting them all.
These are the candidates for this morning’s misfortune. But they don’t know it. Only you know. And you, our complicit reader, will not be able to resist deciding who deserves to walk away, and who deserves only five more minutes to live.
An incredibly original novel that breaks the fourth wall and asks the reader to be judge, jury, and executioner, Five looks at some of the most complicated issues of contemporary life: motherhood, disability, addiction. Every stranger has a story. And in Ilona Bannister’s skillful hands, five people’s stories come together to create an unforgettable novel.
Have you ever tried to pass the time by imagining the lives of the strangers standing next to you? Ilona Bannister’s Five introduces readers to five seemingly random people waiting for a train. But these are not just any five people. From the beginning we know that one of them is going to die soon. Very soon. In five minutes the next train to London will arrive, killing one of them. But before this happens you will learn their stories.
None of these people are saints. Readers might fall in love with the beautiful young man who is on the verge of gambling his life away. They may pity the cantankerous old woman who has fallen to the ground yet is refusing help. Perhaps readers will look away from the child throwing a tantrum. Or judge his mother, who must surely be to blame. And some will be curiously compelled by the successful and damaged businessman orbiting them all.
These are the candidates for this morning’s misfortune. But they don’t know it. Only you know. And you, our complicit reader, will not be able to resist deciding who deserves to walk away, and who deserves only five more minutes to live.
An incredibly original novel that breaks the fourth wall and asks the reader to be judge, jury, and executioner, Five looks at some of the most complicated issues of contemporary life: motherhood, disability, addiction. Every stranger has a story. And in Ilona Bannister’s skillful hands, five people’s stories come together to create an unforgettable novel.
240 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
18347 people want to read
About the author
Ilona Bannister
3 books150 followersIlona Bannister is the author of three books. Her debut novel, When I Ran Away, was long-listed for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize in 2021.
Ilona's third book, Five, will be published in May 2026.
Born and raised on Staten Island, Ilona will always be a New Yorker at heart, but she has lived and worked in the UK for almost 20 years with her husband and sons.
Ilona's third book, Five, will be published in May 2026.
Born and raised on Staten Island, Ilona will always be a New Yorker at heart, but she has lived and worked in the UK for almost 20 years with her husband and sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Five gets a four from me. A short read of a unique concept, that starts off with an unseen narrator discussing to the reader that one of five strangers is about to die from the oncoming train. We dive into the characters' lives to understand who they are and what interactions and choices have led them to that station. The story is structured with an intense countdown, as the reader tries to guess which character will meet their demise on the platform. Every page has you second-guessing who it is, and who deserves to die and who deserves to live, leaving you questioning your own morals.
The story is filled with sarcastic, dark-humored comments from the narrators that give Five a lot of life. With every unraveling background story of each character, it's troubling how unlikeable they all are, that pretty much I was rooting against them all. Just five psychopaths, and somehow their lives intertwine at a random train station.
Really liked this one, kept me engaged, and fueled my hater status.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The story is filled with sarcastic, dark-humored comments from the narrators that give Five a lot of life. With every unraveling background story of each character, it's troubling how unlikeable they all are, that pretty much I was rooting against them all. Just five psychopaths, and somehow their lives intertwine at a random train station.
Really liked this one, kept me engaged, and fueled my hater status.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 22, 2025
2.5 stars.
Five strangers. A delayed subway train. An impending death.
The reader is told about the impending death right from the start. An ominous narrator prepares the reader for what is to come and the reader is left to guess which character it will be.
The narrative shifts between this main event and each of the characters lives leading up to this time. The majority of this story takes place in the characters in-depth backstories.
The main story at the underground subway station counts down time to the upcoming death and aims to make the reader feel the suspense and nervousness of the scene. Unfortunately for me, the switches to the lengthy backstories took away any sort of connection or tension felt in the main scene and made the flow choppy. The storyline was lacking the suspense needed to propel the plot forward.
The characters weren’t likeable or interesting so I had no investment in any of their lives. There was an attempt at smug humour that didn’t hit the mark for me either. The switching back to the main scene became repetitive instead of tension-filled as time was counting down.
Overall, I liked the idea of this book but the execution fell flat and I had no connection.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Expected date of publication : May 5, 2026
Five strangers. A delayed subway train. An impending death.
The reader is told about the impending death right from the start. An ominous narrator prepares the reader for what is to come and the reader is left to guess which character it will be.
The narrative shifts between this main event and each of the characters lives leading up to this time. The majority of this story takes place in the characters in-depth backstories.
The main story at the underground subway station counts down time to the upcoming death and aims to make the reader feel the suspense and nervousness of the scene. Unfortunately for me, the switches to the lengthy backstories took away any sort of connection or tension felt in the main scene and made the flow choppy. The storyline was lacking the suspense needed to propel the plot forward.
The characters weren’t likeable or interesting so I had no investment in any of their lives. There was an attempt at smug humour that didn’t hit the mark for me either. The switching back to the main scene became repetitive instead of tension-filled as time was counting down.
Overall, I liked the idea of this book but the execution fell flat and I had no connection.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Expected date of publication : May 5, 2026
July 28, 2025
Ilona Bannister has written a riveting, ticking time bomb of a novel. Five is brilliant: a gripping tour de force about destiny and choice — and, yes, an oncoming train. I devoured it. You will, too.
October 8, 2025
ARC for review. To be published May 5, 2026.
3.5 stars
A child, his mother, an old lady, a businessman and a gambler. In just a few short minutes one of them is going to die in this train station and why?
We learn about the back stories of all five and, and this is the charm….really, it is….you’ll be kind of happy that one of them is going to die and you’ll wonder if it can be arranged for more to go down too. Sadly, though, only one bites it.
This book was a bit of hurry up and wait and a couple of the back stories were a bit too long (Mrs. Worth’s especially.). However, I’m a big fan of flawed people and there were so many here, this was enjoyable. If you read this, please DM me with your choice about who SHOULD HAVE been the one to die. I’m interested to see how yours matches up with mine. Solid writing. Recommended.
3.5 stars
A child, his mother, an old lady, a businessman and a gambler. In just a few short minutes one of them is going to die in this train station and why?
We learn about the back stories of all five and, and this is the charm….really, it is….you’ll be kind of happy that one of them is going to die and you’ll wonder if it can be arranged for more to go down too. Sadly, though, only one bites it.
This book was a bit of hurry up and wait and a couple of the back stories were a bit too long (Mrs. Worth’s especially.). However, I’m a big fan of flawed people and there were so many here, this was enjoyable. If you read this, please DM me with your choice about who SHOULD HAVE been the one to die. I’m interested to see how yours matches up with mine. Solid writing. Recommended.
November 16, 2025
Five
By Ilona Bannister
Release Date 05/05/2026
The moment the 7:06 train heading to London Victoria arrives, someone will die. Gideon, a young boy who has caused trouble for his mother Emma since birth, has drained her energy and savings. He is brilliant and a sociopath.
Emma, Gideon’s mother, is also a sociopath—diabolical and unbothered by others' opinions—and I find her character fascinating. She is wealthy and speaks her mind freely.
Mrs. Worth is 78 and excited to visit her grandsons for the first time in years.
Sonny, 27, struggles with an online gambling addiction but possesses a charming personality that lets him get away with things others cannot.
Liam, in his mid-fifties, is attractive, wealthy, and commuting by train solely to talk to Emma.
You will dive into the 5s backgrounds and learn why and what brings them all to the platform that day. I enjoyed diving into those chapters the most.
If you’re in a book slump and need something to read that isn’t like anything you’ve read before, I highly recommend this book.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉
#crownpublishing #penguinrandomhouse #ilonabannister #five#thrillerreads #5starbook #arcbook #addthistoyourTBR #2026thrillerreads #bookstragram #hashtags4ever
By Ilona Bannister
Release Date 05/05/2026
The moment the 7:06 train heading to London Victoria arrives, someone will die. Gideon, a young boy who has caused trouble for his mother Emma since birth, has drained her energy and savings. He is brilliant and a sociopath.
Emma, Gideon’s mother, is also a sociopath—diabolical and unbothered by others' opinions—and I find her character fascinating. She is wealthy and speaks her mind freely.
Mrs. Worth is 78 and excited to visit her grandsons for the first time in years.
Sonny, 27, struggles with an online gambling addiction but possesses a charming personality that lets him get away with things others cannot.
Liam, in his mid-fifties, is attractive, wealthy, and commuting by train solely to talk to Emma.
You will dive into the 5s backgrounds and learn why and what brings them all to the platform that day. I enjoyed diving into those chapters the most.
If you’re in a book slump and need something to read that isn’t like anything you’ve read before, I highly recommend this book.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉
#crownpublishing #penguinrandomhouse #ilonabannister #five#thrillerreads #5starbook #arcbook #addthistoyourTBR #2026thrillerreads #bookstragram #hashtags4ever
November 28, 2025
THIS BOOK! It's listed as a thriller sometimes and I have to say, it's not that. If you go in expecting that you perhaps will be disappointed. The writing is phenomenal, the narration is so unique and clever. It's the story of five lives, complicated, nuanced and all fairly extraordinary. You have to suspend belief that all of these people have ended up at this moment in time together, but who knows, maybe we are all standing on a platform with our own stories. The sense of time and place, the beauty and atmosphere in the very ordinary details are incredibly memorable.
March 18, 2026
This one was a quick, entertaining diversion. How much a reader enjoys it will depend on how invested they are in who gets killed in the finale. The bulk of the book is spent on each character’s backstory, and most of the characters are totally vile human beings. I didn’t necessarily enjoy my time with them, but I was interested in sticking around to see just how horrible they all could be.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early look.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early look.
October 6, 2025
What is it with books promising one thing and giving something completely different?
This book promised that of five characters, one would die within five minutes. That suggested a fast-paced thriller.
Ha! Think again.
This book was so sluggish, the characters could have walked to their destination faster than it took to get to the point.
The one rule that was supposedly set in stone (a person would die in five minutes) was nearly immediately changed. We readers are expected to "forgive this" because of a plethora of excuses that were given, one being that it's set in England.
You can't blame a whole country on poor planning for your book, honey.
Then, every time there was a sense of urgency that dared to pick up the pace, we jumped into a lengthy chapter that was the entirety of a character's backstory, including the backstory of several, if not all, of their relatives.
What? Why!
Whole chapters of backstory that had absolutely zero to do with the current plot only served to slam the brakes on the forward progress of the story. Do please refrain from doing this in future, yeah?
The characters themselves... There were some issues there too. Taking stereotypes like psychopathy, narcissism, promiscuity, and merely exaggerating them to the point of nauseum does not make intriguing character development. It definitely doesn't showcase the author's skills and creativity.
"One of them will die despite your attachment to them." What attachment? They're all complete jerks in one way or the other. There was little to like about them to begin with, and everything went downhill from there with the chapters of exposition about their entire lives from birth, if not generations before. Nope. No attachment to the characters for me.
Also, if you're going to name a few characters Medical Student and To Do List and Bad Back, maybe don't make them as prominent as the actual named characters. These three had just as much to do with the story as Sonny and "Mrs." Worth and Gideon. There was absolutely no reason not to go ahead and give them real first names.
"Let us review their positions, just this one last time." Why? You've already told us their positions. We certainly don't need to hear it again. If you feel you have to retell us this information, maybe cut out the backstory dumps so you don't think we've forgotten why we're reading the book in the first place.
This is basically two books in a row that promised a high-octane action story that fell completely flat because of heavy-handed backstory dumps and buckets and buckets of telling (the other being Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen). Honestly, both of these stories felt like they were very rough first drafts.
Please, authors, study up on the craft of writing. Practice, practice, practice! And find a critique group, beta readers, a decent developmental editor--somebody!--who will help you identify when you're in backstory dump territory.
Also, please, please, please stop with the telling (instead of showing) presentation. Just because you stick the story in second-person POV does not mean telling to the max (with very little showing) is appropriate or helpful.
"Perhaps you could take a poll at book club..." What an arrogant assumption to make, that readers would be taking this book to book club. Hard pass on that one.
Turned out, the only things I liked about this book were the cover and the premise.
Content: profanity, expletives, gratuitous premarital sex, Catholicism, alcohol, prescription drug abuse/addiction, gambling, psychopathic child
This book promised that of five characters, one would die within five minutes. That suggested a fast-paced thriller.
Ha! Think again.
This book was so sluggish, the characters could have walked to their destination faster than it took to get to the point.
The one rule that was supposedly set in stone (a person would die in five minutes) was nearly immediately changed. We readers are expected to "forgive this" because of a plethora of excuses that were given, one being that it's set in England.
You can't blame a whole country on poor planning for your book, honey.
Then, every time there was a sense of urgency that dared to pick up the pace, we jumped into a lengthy chapter that was the entirety of a character's backstory, including the backstory of several, if not all, of their relatives.
What? Why!
Whole chapters of backstory that had absolutely zero to do with the current plot only served to slam the brakes on the forward progress of the story. Do please refrain from doing this in future, yeah?
The characters themselves... There were some issues there too. Taking stereotypes like psychopathy, narcissism, promiscuity, and merely exaggerating them to the point of nauseum does not make intriguing character development. It definitely doesn't showcase the author's skills and creativity.
"One of them will die despite your attachment to them." What attachment? They're all complete jerks in one way or the other. There was little to like about them to begin with, and everything went downhill from there with the chapters of exposition about their entire lives from birth, if not generations before. Nope. No attachment to the characters for me.
Also, if you're going to name a few characters Medical Student and To Do List and Bad Back, maybe don't make them as prominent as the actual named characters. These three had just as much to do with the story as Sonny and "Mrs." Worth and Gideon. There was absolutely no reason not to go ahead and give them real first names.
"Let us review their positions, just this one last time." Why? You've already told us their positions. We certainly don't need to hear it again. If you feel you have to retell us this information, maybe cut out the backstory dumps so you don't think we've forgotten why we're reading the book in the first place.
This is basically two books in a row that promised a high-octane action story that fell completely flat because of heavy-handed backstory dumps and buckets and buckets of telling (the other being Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen). Honestly, both of these stories felt like they were very rough first drafts.
Please, authors, study up on the craft of writing. Practice, practice, practice! And find a critique group, beta readers, a decent developmental editor--somebody!--who will help you identify when you're in backstory dump territory.
Also, please, please, please stop with the telling (instead of showing) presentation. Just because you stick the story in second-person POV does not mean telling to the max (with very little showing) is appropriate or helpful.
"Perhaps you could take a poll at book club..." What an arrogant assumption to make, that readers would be taking this book to book club. Hard pass on that one.
Turned out, the only things I liked about this book were the cover and the premise.
Content: profanity, expletives, gratuitous premarital sex, Catholicism, alcohol, prescription drug abuse/addiction, gambling, psychopathic child
August 13, 2025
This was such a well narrated witty, sharp, and fascinating story. A death will occur to one of 5 characters within minutes but as the reader, we don’t know who it is yet. Until that death arrives, we see chaos unfold on a train platform and we learn the background of the 5 characters. This book made me think and as I learned about each person, I would begin to think that surely it would be them who dies. But then I’d change my mind when I read about the next one. This was a most entertaining and enjoyable read where the book is narrated directly to us the reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 6, 2025
This novel begins with 5 people on a train station platform. In five minutes one of them will be dead. Which one will it be? The old woman, the young gambler, the businessman, the mother, or her disruptive child. I thought this would be a thriller, but it isn't; it's much more and much deeper than that.
Ilona Bannister’s writing is incredibly and precisely sharp and witty, with just enough dry sarcasm. The narrator takes us into the backstory of each character and in doing so shows us each flawed person's messy struggles, their shadows and hidden history. There is also woven through their stories a powerful thread on motherhood, of a mother’s love, absence, and sacrifice.
Five is an exceptional book of resilience and unexpected hope. I liked it, recommend it and am looking forward to reading more from Ilona Bannister.
Thank you to Juniper, HU, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2025
At a suburban London station, five strangers—a child, his mother, a businessman, an old woman, and a gambler—are on a collision course. In five minutes, someone dies when the 7:06 arrives.
But who?
We know one of the characters is going to die, but we don’t know which one. Bannister invites the reader into the lives of each "candidate", in that process forcing the reader to examine his or her own prejudices about who they might want to live or pick to die. The author is a thoughtful and shrewd observer of human nature, both that of her characters AND that of the reader. The reader is made complicit in judging who “deserves” to live and the minute-by-minute structure is inherently propulsive and cinematic; Bannister's character-first storytelling of ordinary lives under pressure gets a heighted analysis with the presence of a ticking clock. As I got to know each character my emotions whipsawed as to who I would "pick" to die.
In the end, I picked the wrong person, so there’s that!! Bannister is a gifted writer with some very profound insights into the human condition. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of her work.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
But who?
We know one of the characters is going to die, but we don’t know which one. Bannister invites the reader into the lives of each "candidate", in that process forcing the reader to examine his or her own prejudices about who they might want to live or pick to die. The author is a thoughtful and shrewd observer of human nature, both that of her characters AND that of the reader. The reader is made complicit in judging who “deserves” to live and the minute-by-minute structure is inherently propulsive and cinematic; Bannister's character-first storytelling of ordinary lives under pressure gets a heighted analysis with the presence of a ticking clock. As I got to know each character my emotions whipsawed as to who I would "pick" to die.
In the end, I picked the wrong person, so there’s that!! Bannister is a gifted writer with some very profound insights into the human condition. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of her work.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
November 16, 2025
Five
By Ilona Bannister
Release Date 05/05/2026
The moment the 7:06 train heading to London Victoria arrives, someone will die. Gideon, a young boy who has caused trouble for his mother Emma since birth, has drained her energy and savings. He is brilliant and a sociopath.
Emma, Gideon’s mother, is also a sociopath—diabolical and unbothered by others' opinions—and I find her character fascinating. She is wealthy and speaks her mind freely.
Mrs. Worth is 78 and excited to visit her grandsons for the first time in years.
Sonny, 27, struggles with an online gambling addiction but possesses a charming personality that lets him get away with things others cannot.
Liam, in his mid-fifties, is attractive, wealthy, and commuting by train solely to talk to Emma.
You will dive into the 5s backgrounds and learn why and what brings them all to the platform that day. I enjoyed diving into those chapters the most.
If you’re in a book slump and need something to read that isn’t like anything you’ve read before, I highly recommend this book.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉
#crownpublishing #penguinrandomhouse #ilonabannister #five#thrillerreads #5starbook #arcbook #addthistoyourTBR #2026thrillerreads #bookstragram #hashtags4ever
By Ilona Bannister
Release Date 05/05/2026
The moment the 7:06 train heading to London Victoria arrives, someone will die. Gideon, a young boy who has caused trouble for his mother Emma since birth, has drained her energy and savings. He is brilliant and a sociopath.
Emma, Gideon’s mother, is also a sociopath—diabolical and unbothered by others' opinions—and I find her character fascinating. She is wealthy and speaks her mind freely.
Mrs. Worth is 78 and excited to visit her grandsons for the first time in years.
Sonny, 27, struggles with an online gambling addiction but possesses a charming personality that lets him get away with things others cannot.
Liam, in his mid-fifties, is attractive, wealthy, and commuting by train solely to talk to Emma.
You will dive into the 5s backgrounds and learn why and what brings them all to the platform that day. I enjoyed diving into those chapters the most.
If you’re in a book slump and need something to read that isn’t like anything you’ve read before, I highly recommend this book.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉
#crownpublishing #penguinrandomhouse #ilonabannister #five#thrillerreads #5starbook #arcbook #addthistoyourTBR #2026thrillerreads #bookstragram #hashtags4ever
December 28, 2025
With many thanks to Netgalley for providing this free advance copy and I am writing this unbiased review voluntarily.
Ilona Bannister crafts a compelling narrative in this highly original story. The plot unfolds over a five-minute timeframe in which the fate of one of the five individuals waiting for a train is predetermined. The real-time narrative is interwoven with the characters’ backstories as suspense builds and the pace quickens. The characterisation from the author is sublime as is the switch in narration. A gripping story from start to finish and a very solid satisfying end. Five stars for Five!
November 9, 2025
Five
By Ilona Bannister
Release Date 05/05/2026
The moment the 7:06 train heading to London Victoria arrives, someone will die. Gideon, a young boy who has caused trouble for his mother Emma since birth, has drained her energy and savings. He is brilliant and a sociopath.
Emma, Gideon’s mother, is also a sociopath—diabolical and unbothered by others' opinions—and I find her character fascinating. She is wealthy and speaks her mind freely.
Mrs. Worth is 78 and excited to visit her grandsons for the first time in years.
Sonny, 27, struggles with an online gambling addiction but possesses a charming personality that lets him get away with things others cannot.
Liam, in his mid-fifties, is attractive, wealthy, and commuting by train solely to talk to Emma.
You will dive into the 5s backgrounds and learn why and what brings them all to the platform that day. I enjoyed diving into those chapters the most.
If you’re in a book slump and need something to read that isn’t like anything you’ve read before, I highly recommend this book.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉
#crownpublishing #penguinrandomhouse #ilonabannister #five#thrillerreads #5starbook #arcbook #addthistoyourTBR #2026thrillerreads #bookstragram #hashtags4ever
By Ilona Bannister
Release Date 05/05/2026
The moment the 7:06 train heading to London Victoria arrives, someone will die. Gideon, a young boy who has caused trouble for his mother Emma since birth, has drained her energy and savings. He is brilliant and a sociopath.
Emma, Gideon’s mother, is also a sociopath—diabolical and unbothered by others' opinions—and I find her character fascinating. She is wealthy and speaks her mind freely.
Mrs. Worth is 78 and excited to visit her grandsons for the first time in years.
Sonny, 27, struggles with an online gambling addiction but possesses a charming personality that lets him get away with things others cannot.
Liam, in his mid-fifties, is attractive, wealthy, and commuting by train solely to talk to Emma.
You will dive into the 5s backgrounds and learn why and what brings them all to the platform that day. I enjoyed diving into those chapters the most.
If you’re in a book slump and need something to read that isn’t like anything you’ve read before, I highly recommend this book.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S҉҉T҉҉A҉҉R҉҉S҉҉
#crownpublishing #penguinrandomhouse #ilonabannister #five#thrillerreads #5starbook #arcbook #addthistoyourTBR #2026thrillerreads #bookstragram #hashtags4ever
September 15, 2025
(I read this as an ARC; there didn't seem to be a book-version available on here...)
This was a very unusual way to tell a story, but I really enjoyed it! It's like 5 mini-stories plus an overarching narrative. I found the mix of perspectives and breaking the fourth wall to make for a very engaging read. Bannister is a great storyteller, pulling you in with the charged opening - someone is going to die, but who? - and then gradually ramping up the tension, releasing it with backstory, and ramping it up again as the backstories overlap and the moment of truth nears.
It was a fun and quick read and I wasn't entirely sure where it would go, which was delightful. I particularly enjoyed the snarky asides as the omnipotent narrator of the contemporary segments talked through who deserved to die - it made me squirmy and uncomfortable in the best possible way. This was a cool story and I'm already looking for more from Ilona Bannister!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
This was a very unusual way to tell a story, but I really enjoyed it! It's like 5 mini-stories plus an overarching narrative. I found the mix of perspectives and breaking the fourth wall to make for a very engaging read. Bannister is a great storyteller, pulling you in with the charged opening - someone is going to die, but who? - and then gradually ramping up the tension, releasing it with backstory, and ramping it up again as the backstories overlap and the moment of truth nears.
It was a fun and quick read and I wasn't entirely sure where it would go, which was delightful. I particularly enjoyed the snarky asides as the omnipotent narrator of the contemporary segments talked through who deserved to die - it made me squirmy and uncomfortable in the best possible way. This was a cool story and I'm already looking for more from Ilona Bannister!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
October 1, 2025
Five is the story of a child, a mother, a businessman, an old woman, and a gambler, (unrelated) waiting on a platform for a commuter train. One of them, however, is fated to die in 5 minutes when the train arrives. This novel is incredibly well crafted! Each one of their life stories has so much depth, breadth, and interest that they became real people. Outside of their lives, Ilona Banister is a master storyteller in that I felt like a physical observer waiting on the train with them. The pace of the story is perfect, it neither drug on unnecessarily nor rushed through to get to the next thought. I enjoyed the back and forth of getting to know them and moving with them to the train station. I really enjoyed how full and fleshed out they were in their pasts, presents, and futures. This is a book I’ll without a doubt read again (and again!) and recommend.
Thank you to Crown Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley!
Thank you to Crown Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from Author
amazing book, great story telling and innovative narrative, can't wait for everyone to read this!
November 26, 2025
Review of ‘Five’ by Ilona Bannister, due to be published on 5 May 2026 by HQ, Juniper.
A highly original, exciting concept for a novel - five passengers stand on a train platform - in 5 minutes the train will arrive and one of them (the mother, the child, the businessman, the gambler and the old lady) will lose their life, will it be an accident or intentional - only time, short as it is, will tell.
Told in a narrative style, real time events are interwoven with character backstories. We find out who they are, how their life before the events of the day feed into who they have become. On the face of it, they are one thing, but their stories show that they are not all as they appear to be to the outside world.
The cleverly written plotting and style lead you to have your assumptions about who you think should die and who actually will die. You find yourself desperate for some character flaws to be redeemed in the storytelling before the clock runs out.
The suspense is whipped up to fever pitch, with a slow drip feed of who has survived, with a glimpse at their future selves and how the events of that fateful day have shaped their life going forwards. The reveal of who dies comes late on in the book and was a fitting ending to a dramatic storyline that is entirely believable. I loved every second of it, and highly recommend.
A highly original, exciting concept for a novel - five passengers stand on a train platform - in 5 minutes the train will arrive and one of them (the mother, the child, the businessman, the gambler and the old lady) will lose their life, will it be an accident or intentional - only time, short as it is, will tell.
Told in a narrative style, real time events are interwoven with character backstories. We find out who they are, how their life before the events of the day feed into who they have become. On the face of it, they are one thing, but their stories show that they are not all as they appear to be to the outside world.
The cleverly written plotting and style lead you to have your assumptions about who you think should die and who actually will die. You find yourself desperate for some character flaws to be redeemed in the storytelling before the clock runs out.
The suspense is whipped up to fever pitch, with a slow drip feed of who has survived, with a glimpse at their future selves and how the events of that fateful day have shaped their life going forwards. The reveal of who dies comes late on in the book and was a fitting ending to a dramatic storyline that is entirely believable. I loved every second of it, and highly recommend.
August 24, 2025
Five people on a train platform, 1 will die five minutes from the start of the book. This concept just drew me in, but I found the pace to be slower than I expected.
The opening of this book is so interesting and hooks you in, but then we jump out of the action and learn more about one of the characters who may die.
This character study was clever as it made the reader feel a particular way about the character, but it also, unfortunately, jumped me out of the story that drew me in the first place.
The book then alternates between talking directly to the reader in timed sections and giving you background on each of the characters.
This is a super short book at 200 pages (for the proof copy), but some of the chapters were so long, so don't go in expecting a quick read and I think this is where I went wrong.
I would definitely read a book by this author again, I would just know to expect a slower read.
The opening of this book is so interesting and hooks you in, but then we jump out of the action and learn more about one of the characters who may die.
This character study was clever as it made the reader feel a particular way about the character, but it also, unfortunately, jumped me out of the story that drew me in the first place.
The book then alternates between talking directly to the reader in timed sections and giving you background on each of the characters.
This is a super short book at 200 pages (for the proof copy), but some of the chapters were so long, so don't go in expecting a quick read and I think this is where I went wrong.
I would definitely read a book by this author again, I would just know to expect a slower read.
October 28, 2025
This book was different than I thought it would be. But it was incredible. I thought it was going to be like a guess who dies at the end and I guess it was kinda that but also not really. To me this book was about love and loss and grief and life. What it is to be a mother. How people can express love in so many different ways. How even the smallest moments can drastically shape someone's life and future. And it was beautiful and heartbreaking but also healing. As someone who has suffered immense loss and has children with special needs/disabilities/neurodiverse qualities this book really hit home and I found myself sobbing more than a few times. This book was so clearly a labor of love and I would highly recommend it.
October 9, 2025
Five by Ilona Bannister. Thanks to @crownbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five strangers face each other on a London subway platform. In five minutes one of them will die.
This is a very special book! It is such a unique and individual story, yet the characters and events so ordinary. We get to know each character very well, liking even the less likable ones because we see why they are how they are. I could not put this one down and highly recommend it!
“He will marvel at how extraordinary ordinary people are. So loyal to life that they demand living from everyone. Even him.”
Five comes out 5/5.
Five strangers face each other on a London subway platform. In five minutes one of them will die.
This is a very special book! It is such a unique and individual story, yet the characters and events so ordinary. We get to know each character very well, liking even the less likable ones because we see why they are how they are. I could not put this one down and highly recommend it!
“He will marvel at how extraordinary ordinary people are. So loyal to life that they demand living from everyone. Even him.”
Five comes out 5/5.
October 7, 2025
Thank you Juniper for the Galley!
Storytelling at its finest, Five follows the connective threads of all the people at a train platform during a tragedy. All of these people are complicated, most of them unlikable, and you’ll be fascinated by the question “which of these people will die?” As the narrator astutely observes, I did, in fact, have characters I wanted to live and others I was fine to throw on the tracks. A compelling read I couldn’t put down!
Storytelling at its finest, Five follows the connective threads of all the people at a train platform during a tragedy. All of these people are complicated, most of them unlikable, and you’ll be fascinated by the question “which of these people will die?” As the narrator astutely observes, I did, in fact, have characters I wanted to live and others I was fine to throw on the tracks. A compelling read I couldn’t put down!
November 15, 2025
My favorite line in the whole book!! “Fear has a sound. It is hard to recognize because we only hear it once or twice in our lives.” I enjoyed the book from the very beginning. It’s an easy read but keeps you on your toes at the same time.
March 18, 2026
Ok so this book impressed me. It was not what I was expecting from the blurb, but it ended up being a wonderful surprise!
First off, I was expecting this to be some generically written thriller that’s not fairly simplistic in writing style but Is a gripping read, which is 90% of thrillers out there, and tbh is what I want. I don’t seek flowery or impressive writing, something intense, fun, and mind numbing. So when I saw how the writing style was, how descriptive and character driven it was, I was like oh no, I’m not gonna like this. I thought it was going to be something less intense, flowery writing, more into drama than thriller. If you have that same thought when starting this, HOLD ON, give it a chance.
Because yes, while it is more of a character study, this is NOT a contemporary, and yes it has drama elements, is less of a thriller, but it is not boring or hard to read at all. Reading about these 5 people’s lives is just as intense, engaging, and fun as reading a thriller because when I tell you these stories and the most insane, dark, fucked up things you can think of, and it’s creative as hell.
This book almost operates as an anthology because it’s broken into 4 parts, the backstory of each of these 5 people involved in the train incident. The book is less about the present day incident and more about these people’s lives leading up to it. And yes I know that doesn’t sound as interesting or fun as a thriller, trust me on this. This is a SUPER readable book. These people’s stories are tragic, dark, insanely creative, and all of them are thoroughly entertaining. While this is mainly a book of flashbacks rather than a present day gripping thriller concept, these people’s lives are so entertaining that it doesn’t make this feel any less readable.
The story is broken into flashbacks on these 5 characters:
First is Emma and her son Gideon. Emma is of the most horrendous and unlikable characters I’ve ever read and ending up with a psychopathic child is really serendipitous, seeing as she only had a child to begin with to spite her sisters. And bringing a child into the world out of spite ends up with her having a child that is an actual psychopath. Like, not just a normal BAD child. I’m talking, stabbing his mom in the eye with a stiletto heel for fun, type of bloodlust. But if you think Emma’s story is nuts, just wait until you get to the next one.
My favorite story of the 4! Mrs. Worth is now an elderly lady, a super type A former forensic pathologist, who raised her son in an odd and sterile way. But once you get her backstory that stems from her childhood, you find out why. I’m not going to say any more because I don’t want to spoil it but as odd and cold as she is, you really do find out why she is that way. And her beef with Livvie, totally valid. I think her story was my favorite. It was just shock factor after shock factor. And that goes for basically all the stories. Just when you think these people’s lives can’t suck any more, more comes.
Next is Sonny. This story is a lesson in how impactful it is on the life of the child and the people around them, if you have a shitty parent. The kind of parent who thinks their kid can do no wrong matter what, instead of getting them the help they need because that would mean admitting their kid is wrong sometimes. The kind of parent who let their kids push them to the ground twelve times a day (literally) and call it normal, the ones who blame anyone other than their kid when teachers tell them their child is an issue, the ones who never disciplines because their kid is never in the wrong. The type of parent who means well but has no business raising a kid because she never reprimands her child EVER or apologize when his behavior affects others. Her kid could commit murder and she’d still find a way to blame the spectators because how dare they look at her son like that and judge them. It’s never Sonny’s fault! The school just “doesn’t get him”. He just “didn’t mean it”. If he’s behind on reading because he can’t stay engaged and just doesn’t want to, it’s completely the teacher’s fault! Oh this one infuriated me lol. But at the same time you can’t blame his mom completely either, because her life is marred with tragedy. It really is character study because this just goes to show, you don’t know what people are going through, why they are the way they are, and how they cope. You pity Sonny too, because he didn’t get the help he needed as a kid, and you see how that affects him in adulthood, because of a mom that would not admit her child was imperfect and needed help.
Last is Liam, Emma’s baby daddy and the father of Gideon. A real rags to riches story. Too bad Liam ends up being a complete selfish asshole and misogynist. Worst character in this tied with Emma!
After all the backstories, you’re about 85% through and at this point you just wanna know who died, but they dragggggg it omg to the point where it’s annoying and it almost made me give 4 stars because they keep acting like they’re gonna drop who, and then a new chapter just starts, and then repeat that for like several chapters. And when they do reveal who was killed, it’s really no surprise. But the point of this book isn’t really the guess factor of who the victim is, because it isn’t that kind of thriller. It may not be like traditional thrillers are, but if anything, it makes you feel a LOT better about your own life. Because no matter what you’re going through, at least you’re not Emma!
Unexpected, but fantastic. Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
First off, I was expecting this to be some generically written thriller that’s not fairly simplistic in writing style but Is a gripping read, which is 90% of thrillers out there, and tbh is what I want. I don’t seek flowery or impressive writing, something intense, fun, and mind numbing. So when I saw how the writing style was, how descriptive and character driven it was, I was like oh no, I’m not gonna like this. I thought it was going to be something less intense, flowery writing, more into drama than thriller. If you have that same thought when starting this, HOLD ON, give it a chance.
Because yes, while it is more of a character study, this is NOT a contemporary, and yes it has drama elements, is less of a thriller, but it is not boring or hard to read at all. Reading about these 5 people’s lives is just as intense, engaging, and fun as reading a thriller because when I tell you these stories and the most insane, dark, fucked up things you can think of, and it’s creative as hell.
This book almost operates as an anthology because it’s broken into 4 parts, the backstory of each of these 5 people involved in the train incident. The book is less about the present day incident and more about these people’s lives leading up to it. And yes I know that doesn’t sound as interesting or fun as a thriller, trust me on this. This is a SUPER readable book. These people’s stories are tragic, dark, insanely creative, and all of them are thoroughly entertaining. While this is mainly a book of flashbacks rather than a present day gripping thriller concept, these people’s lives are so entertaining that it doesn’t make this feel any less readable.
The story is broken into flashbacks on these 5 characters:
First is Emma and her son Gideon. Emma is of the most horrendous and unlikable characters I’ve ever read and ending up with a psychopathic child is really serendipitous, seeing as she only had a child to begin with to spite her sisters. And bringing a child into the world out of spite ends up with her having a child that is an actual psychopath. Like, not just a normal BAD child. I’m talking, stabbing his mom in the eye with a stiletto heel for fun, type of bloodlust. But if you think Emma’s story is nuts, just wait until you get to the next one.
My favorite story of the 4! Mrs. Worth is now an elderly lady, a super type A former forensic pathologist, who raised her son in an odd and sterile way. But once you get her backstory that stems from her childhood, you find out why. I’m not going to say any more because I don’t want to spoil it but as odd and cold as she is, you really do find out why she is that way. And her beef with Livvie, totally valid. I think her story was my favorite. It was just shock factor after shock factor. And that goes for basically all the stories. Just when you think these people’s lives can’t suck any more, more comes.
Next is Sonny. This story is a lesson in how impactful it is on the life of the child and the people around them, if you have a shitty parent. The kind of parent who thinks their kid can do no wrong matter what, instead of getting them the help they need because that would mean admitting their kid is wrong sometimes. The kind of parent who let their kids push them to the ground twelve times a day (literally) and call it normal, the ones who blame anyone other than their kid when teachers tell them their child is an issue, the ones who never disciplines because their kid is never in the wrong. The type of parent who means well but has no business raising a kid because she never reprimands her child EVER or apologize when his behavior affects others. Her kid could commit murder and she’d still find a way to blame the spectators because how dare they look at her son like that and judge them. It’s never Sonny’s fault! The school just “doesn’t get him”. He just “didn’t mean it”. If he’s behind on reading because he can’t stay engaged and just doesn’t want to, it’s completely the teacher’s fault! Oh this one infuriated me lol. But at the same time you can’t blame his mom completely either, because her life is marred with tragedy. It really is character study because this just goes to show, you don’t know what people are going through, why they are the way they are, and how they cope. You pity Sonny too, because he didn’t get the help he needed as a kid, and you see how that affects him in adulthood, because of a mom that would not admit her child was imperfect and needed help.
Last is Liam, Emma’s baby daddy and the father of Gideon. A real rags to riches story. Too bad Liam ends up being a complete selfish asshole and misogynist. Worst character in this tied with Emma!
After all the backstories, you’re about 85% through and at this point you just wanna know who died, but they dragggggg it omg to the point where it’s annoying and it almost made me give 4 stars because they keep acting like they’re gonna drop who, and then a new chapter just starts, and then repeat that for like several chapters. And when they do reveal who was killed, it’s really no surprise. But the point of this book isn’t really the guess factor of who the victim is, because it isn’t that kind of thriller. It may not be like traditional thrillers are, but if anything, it makes you feel a LOT better about your own life. Because no matter what you’re going through, at least you’re not Emma!
Unexpected, but fantastic. Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was so unique, and I really liked it. The present day action takes place in a span of less than 10 minutes, and you know from the start that one character will die, but you don't find out who until the end.
The author dives really deeply into the backstories of the five main characters, and this was done incredibly well as I felt like I really knew them all by the end of the book. I had my favourites and least favourites by this point, so waiting to find out which one dies was really quite tense!
Overall I would absolutely recommend this book, I haven't read anything quite like it before and it really captured my attention.
The author dives really deeply into the backstories of the five main characters, and this was done incredibly well as I felt like I really knew them all by the end of the book. I had my favourites and least favourites by this point, so waiting to find out which one dies was really quite tense!
Overall I would absolutely recommend this book, I haven't read anything quite like it before and it really captured my attention.
December 12, 2025
This book took a lot of risks and in my opinion they paid off. The biggest two were the use of second person point of view, and, therefore, breaking the third wall. Some people may not be able to get past that, but it works and it enhances the story…which was obviously the whole point but I digress.
Five main characters is a lot to juggle and the author did so masterfully. I didn’t find that I needed or wanted to know any more or less than what was written which is truly a feat. Actually, I’d argue one of the side characters could have been made a main character but the story would have been longer and more complicated and it works well without that addition so it’s fine.
Altogether I loved the plot, the twists, the backgrounds, the themes, and so on and so forth.
OH I almost forgot!! The representation for ADHD here was superb!!!! I found myself thinking that Ilona Bannister did a lot of thorough research to get such an accurate portrayal. I was very impressed from both someone who has ADHD and as a therapist for mental health.
Thank you Crown Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! My opinions are my own and I highly recommend this book for those who love psychological mysteries (I wouldn’t classify it as a typical thriller though it does maintain suspense throughout the entire story and there are twists).
Five main characters is a lot to juggle and the author did so masterfully. I didn’t find that I needed or wanted to know any more or less than what was written which is truly a feat. Actually, I’d argue one of the side characters could have been made a main character but the story would have been longer and more complicated and it works well without that addition so it’s fine.
Altogether I loved the plot, the twists, the backgrounds, the themes, and so on and so forth.
OH I almost forgot!! The representation for ADHD here was superb!!!! I found myself thinking that Ilona Bannister did a lot of thorough research to get such an accurate portrayal. I was very impressed from both someone who has ADHD and as a therapist for mental health.
Thank you Crown Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC! My opinions are my own and I highly recommend this book for those who love psychological mysteries (I wouldn’t classify it as a typical thriller though it does maintain suspense throughout the entire story and there are twists).
August 10, 2025
'Five' by Ilona Bannister is a 5 star thrilling read.
Five passengers are waiting for a train, but you are told early in the book that one dies shortly. It could be Mrs Worth, an old lady who feels she failed at being a mother, Sonny, who has an addiction that is invading his whole life, Emma, the mother of the child Gideon, who displays challenging behaviour or lastly Liam, a successful businessman.
To reach the explosive conclusion you hear the stories of each character and soon find that each has a backstory that is unexpected.
I absolutely loved the characterisation in this book; when reading about each character you are taken through a range of emotions.
This book really does grip you and I wish I could read from the beginning all over again. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one!
Amazing and highly recommended.
Thanks to the author, the publishers, Juniper and Theakstons Crime Writing Festival for allowing me to receive a proof of this amazing book.
Five passengers are waiting for a train, but you are told early in the book that one dies shortly. It could be Mrs Worth, an old lady who feels she failed at being a mother, Sonny, who has an addiction that is invading his whole life, Emma, the mother of the child Gideon, who displays challenging behaviour or lastly Liam, a successful businessman.
To reach the explosive conclusion you hear the stories of each character and soon find that each has a backstory that is unexpected.
I absolutely loved the characterisation in this book; when reading about each character you are taken through a range of emotions.
This book really does grip you and I wish I could read from the beginning all over again. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one!
Amazing and highly recommended.
Thanks to the author, the publishers, Juniper and Theakstons Crime Writing Festival for allowing me to receive a proof of this amazing book.
August 24, 2025
Five stars for Five! This was a really good book, and I rarely give a book 5 stars, also my first 5 star NetGalley read! The premise was cool, the writing was great, and I really felt like I not only knew the characters, but the narrator was really a character in the book too, without actually being a character.
The book starts out on a train platform and informs you that one of the people there are going to die. You don't know which one or how, but you start to watch the events play out on the tracks while also learning about each of the players involved!
Going between second and third person in the story, Ilona Bannister really pulled me into the story, where I felt she was talking to me and personally introducing me to everyone. It was meatier than a beach read, but still a page turner, and I had to find out what happened next and who it was going to be! Loved it!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
The book starts out on a train platform and informs you that one of the people there are going to die. You don't know which one or how, but you start to watch the events play out on the tracks while also learning about each of the players involved!
Going between second and third person in the story, Ilona Bannister really pulled me into the story, where I felt she was talking to me and personally introducing me to everyone. It was meatier than a beach read, but still a page turner, and I had to find out what happened next and who it was going to be! Loved it!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publishing for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What if the next five minutes were your last?
Thank you @netgalley, @ilona.bannister, and @readingjuniper for the ARC.
From the get go, we are told by the author that one of the people waiting for their train will die in the next five minutes. Suspense and mystery right from the start.
We learn more about each character throughout the book and that maybe things aren't always as we perceive. A mother and her difficult child, an elderly lady, a medical student, a gambling addict, a rich guy... The thing that unites them all? Nobody is as innocent as they seem.
Bannister comes at you with top notch twists, revelations, and has you turning page after page. She also manages to keep the reader so engaged while the events happen over a five minute period.
Will you figure out who will die? Available from your usual bookish haunts 5th May 2026.
Thank you @netgalley, @ilona.bannister, and @readingjuniper for the ARC.
From the get go, we are told by the author that one of the people waiting for their train will die in the next five minutes. Suspense and mystery right from the start.
We learn more about each character throughout the book and that maybe things aren't always as we perceive. A mother and her difficult child, an elderly lady, a medical student, a gambling addict, a rich guy... The thing that unites them all? Nobody is as innocent as they seem.
Bannister comes at you with top notch twists, revelations, and has you turning page after page. She also manages to keep the reader so engaged while the events happen over a five minute period.
Will you figure out who will die? Available from your usual bookish haunts 5th May 2026.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews