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Five
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
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Ilona Bannister
3 books218 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 998 reviews
May 29, 2026
While the human condition is fragile and while everyone does have a story and while we do not know what goes on behind closed doors while we are judging books by their covers, et cetera, et cetera, you have known since the beginning, since you got to this station this morning, that there are five main characters and one of them will die.
I really enjoyed this one. The blurb describes a "slow-burn masterpiece of psychological fiction", which is accurate. It definitely leans more towards psychological profile of the characters than high-octane thriller, but this suits me well.
Bannister's breaking of the fourth wall to engage with the reader was super compelling for me. I already enjoy prolepsis and the way some authors will use past tense to dangle tidbits of information. She promises us that one of the five people waiting for a train at a London platform will die— but if you could choose, who would you pick?
Then we delve deep into the lives of each person, going back to their childhoods and seeing the forces that have shaped them. I will caution that they are all unlikable in certain ways, all fuck-ups and failures, some of them worse than others. But that's an individual judgement, of course, and the author nudges us to make it: who's the worst of this bad bunch? Who deserves another chance?
At some point, while the author is developing a psychological profile of the characters, I couldn't help feeling that the psychological study was less about the characters and more about the reader. Who are we willing to forgive? What sins can a person come back from? And are we even willing to admit what we really think?
All of the character portraits held my interest— and fairly equally, which is a rarity. Even the ones I genuinely despised had fascinating stories.
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.
May 11, 2026
07:01
Someone will die in the next 5 minutes when the 7:06 London to Victoria train arrives.
Four others have died at the station previously. At least two deaths were accidental, one was intentional, and one seemed intentional but wasn’t. But our all knowing narrator reminds us that we don’t have time to delve any deeper into those deaths as there is much to discuss about the next death.
Will it be the child, Gideon? His mother Emma? The Businessman, Liam? The 78 year old woman, Mrs. worth? Or Sonny, the gambler?
Will you choose the four you hope will live after you hear about their dysfunctional, early lives or the terrible things that they have done?
Some of the things they think are unthinkable.
Some of the things they say are unspeakable.
Some of the things they have done are quite shocking.
The story alternates between the live action at the station (sound effects included with the fabulous full cast narration if you listen) and each character’s back story.
I am a bit of an OUTLIER for this book. I LOVED how it started and knew from reviews that I SHOULD NOT expect a thriller, which was fine- I liked the style the book was written in. BUT-I don’t tend to enjoy dysfunctional back stories being the majority of ANY BOOK so these chapters seemed TOO LONG for me, while the chapters featuring the FIVE MINUTES at the station were all SO BRIEF.
I didn’t hate it-but I didn’t love it either. More balance between the two would have been my PERSONAL preference.
If you have read “The Passengers” by John Marrs, you might recognize a similar premise here. In that story, eight self driving cars are hi-jacked and a JURY must decide which ONE passenger should live. Refuse to choose one and all die. Which passenger you think the jury should choose in this story may also be enlightening…
Both books are thought-provoking. DO read THIS if intrigued -many have loved it!
TW: Two animal deaths
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the written and Audible copies.
AVAILABLE NOW
Someone will die in the next 5 minutes when the 7:06 London to Victoria train arrives.
Four others have died at the station previously. At least two deaths were accidental, one was intentional, and one seemed intentional but wasn’t. But our all knowing narrator reminds us that we don’t have time to delve any deeper into those deaths as there is much to discuss about the next death.
Will it be the child, Gideon? His mother Emma? The Businessman, Liam? The 78 year old woman, Mrs. worth? Or Sonny, the gambler?
Will you choose the four you hope will live after you hear about their dysfunctional, early lives or the terrible things that they have done?
Some of the things they think are unthinkable.
Some of the things they say are unspeakable.
Some of the things they have done are quite shocking.
The story alternates between the live action at the station (sound effects included with the fabulous full cast narration if you listen) and each character’s back story.
I am a bit of an OUTLIER for this book. I LOVED how it started and knew from reviews that I SHOULD NOT expect a thriller, which was fine- I liked the style the book was written in. BUT-I don’t tend to enjoy dysfunctional back stories being the majority of ANY BOOK so these chapters seemed TOO LONG for me, while the chapters featuring the FIVE MINUTES at the station were all SO BRIEF.
I didn’t hate it-but I didn’t love it either. More balance between the two would have been my PERSONAL preference.
If you have read “The Passengers” by John Marrs, you might recognize a similar premise here. In that story, eight self driving cars are hi-jacked and a JURY must decide which ONE passenger should live. Refuse to choose one and all die. Which passenger you think the jury should choose in this story may also be enlightening…
Both books are thought-provoking. DO read THIS if intrigued -many have loved it!
TW: Two animal deaths
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the written and Audible copies.
AVAILABLE NOW
April 27, 2026
This book is absolutely incredible. The story is insanely unique, heartbreakingly real, and gripping until the final moments. I spent easily the last thirty minutes of it near tears. These characters were fully fleshed out until even the most unlikeable among them end up breaking your heart.
But perhaps my most favorite part of this story, in addition to the really fun format of the book as a whole, was the inclusion of a narrator who functions as a chorus to break the fourth wall and personalize the reading experience that much more.
The audio is brilliant and such an easy listen. And while there is a larger cast of characters, a few notes at the beginning helped to keep them straight, as did the book’s deeper dive into each of the five individuals at the center of the story.
I do want to make sure it reaches its proper readers though. This is NOT a popcorn, fast-paced thriller. It is character-centric and discusses some of the heavier themes of life, including grief, addiction, abuse, and struggles of motherhood. Go in expecting literary suspense, and you will be so pleasantly surprised. I know i was.
✨ This will be in my 2026 favorites ✨
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the advanced copy and to my friend Ali Slavin for the buddy read. Make sure to check out her review as well.
But perhaps my most favorite part of this story, in addition to the really fun format of the book as a whole, was the inclusion of a narrator who functions as a chorus to break the fourth wall and personalize the reading experience that much more.
The audio is brilliant and such an easy listen. And while there is a larger cast of characters, a few notes at the beginning helped to keep them straight, as did the book’s deeper dive into each of the five individuals at the center of the story.
I do want to make sure it reaches its proper readers though. This is NOT a popcorn, fast-paced thriller. It is character-centric and discusses some of the heavier themes of life, including grief, addiction, abuse, and struggles of motherhood. Go in expecting literary suspense, and you will be so pleasantly surprised. I know i was.
✨ This will be in my 2026 favorites ✨
Thank you, PRH Audio, for the advanced copy and to my friend Ali Slavin for the buddy read. Make sure to check out her review as well.
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
May 13, 2026
this book was so creative and fun! you know (kind of?) how it will end—1 of the 5 characters will die. but who? then the author gives you the backstory of all 5 and as the reader, you get to judge who may or may not deserve to live…
this is for fans of John Marrs books like THE ONE or THE PASSANGERS. it doesn’t have any magical realism or sci-fi/futuristic element, but it felt like his work with the plot and various POVs as a thriller novel.
also highly recommend the audiobook—it was a full cast and full production and came to life SO well. i binged it in 2 sittings and 24 hours!
i believe this is a debut and applaud the author for it. can’t wait to see what the author puts out next!
this is for fans of John Marrs books like THE ONE or THE PASSANGERS. it doesn’t have any magical realism or sci-fi/futuristic element, but it felt like his work with the plot and various POVs as a thriller novel.
also highly recommend the audiobook—it was a full cast and full production and came to life SO well. i binged it in 2 sittings and 24 hours!
i believe this is a debut and applaud the author for it. can’t wait to see what the author puts out next!
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.
May 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Don’t expect thriller going into it but more of a character driven suspense. Very well done with the full cast audio narration!! Highly recommend the audiobook.
Don’t expect thriller going into it but more of a character driven suspense. Very well done with the full cast audio narration!! Highly recommend the audiobook.
May 17, 2026
"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."
Five passengers are waiting for a London train. In five minutes, one of them will be dead. Who will it be? The young college student with gambling debt? The old woman who is estranged from her family? The addict or the businessman? You won't find out who it is until the ending at 7:05 am. The chapters alternate between a character sketches about each of them and a moment at the train station as they prepare to board the train.
I enjoyed this unique novel of literary suspense. Bannister writes characters who are complex and have a high amount of dysfunction in their lives. I heard her speak at an author event and she said that her experience raising neurodivergent children inspired her to approach it from the perspective of random people coming together in a public place. The unpredictable nature of it along with knowing someone is going to die creates tension. Do any of them really deserve to die?
The full cast audiobook performance is outstanding and gives the characters a unique voice. I couldn't stop listening until I knew how it ended. It is a slow-burn literary suspense.
Many thanks to PRH Audio and Ilona Bannister for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧
Five passengers are waiting for a London train. In five minutes, one of them will be dead. Who will it be? The young college student with gambling debt? The old woman who is estranged from her family? The addict or the businessman? You won't find out who it is until the ending at 7:05 am. The chapters alternate between a character sketches about each of them and a moment at the train station as they prepare to board the train.
I enjoyed this unique novel of literary suspense. Bannister writes characters who are complex and have a high amount of dysfunction in their lives. I heard her speak at an author event and she said that her experience raising neurodivergent children inspired her to approach it from the perspective of random people coming together in a public place. The unpredictable nature of it along with knowing someone is going to die creates tension. Do any of them really deserve to die?
The full cast audiobook performance is outstanding and gives the characters a unique voice. I couldn't stop listening until I knew how it ended. It is a slow-burn literary suspense.
Many thanks to PRH Audio and Ilona Bannister for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧
May 29, 2026
Did I just find my favorite read of 2026?!🙌 Absolutely unputdownable!
Between the description and the cover art I was expecting a pulse pounding thriller. Instead I was given a brilliantly crafted character study of five individuals whose fate brings them to a small train station where their lives will intermingle. One won’t leave the station alive. And the others will be forever changed.
I’m always on the search for a book with a unique quality. Whether it’s the storyline or the writing style. Something that stands out from the crowd. And I found exactly what I was looking for in this gem.
The books starts off with introductions to the five people on the train platform. Knowing in just minutes one will die.
Then we take a step back to learn about each of these characters. Their thoughts feelings and emotions. Where their lives started and what shaped them into the person now standing on the platform.
What incredible depth was given to each character. They all became real to me.
The writing style is a bit different. It took me a minute to catch on then I was all in! It’s as though the author was sitting across from me telling me the story of the characters she created.
When I finished…I just walked around my house whispering “WOW”!
I felt spent, a true book hangover (in the best possible way).
Have you read this book yet? Is it on your shelf?!
✍️ Ilona Bannister
📄 288 pages
🗓️ Available Now
📈 5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I’d give more stars if I could!
👉 suspense, contemporary, character driven
Between the description and the cover art I was expecting a pulse pounding thriller. Instead I was given a brilliantly crafted character study of five individuals whose fate brings them to a small train station where their lives will intermingle. One won’t leave the station alive. And the others will be forever changed.
I’m always on the search for a book with a unique quality. Whether it’s the storyline or the writing style. Something that stands out from the crowd. And I found exactly what I was looking for in this gem.
The books starts off with introductions to the five people on the train platform. Knowing in just minutes one will die.
Then we take a step back to learn about each of these characters. Their thoughts feelings and emotions. Where their lives started and what shaped them into the person now standing on the platform.
What incredible depth was given to each character. They all became real to me.
The writing style is a bit different. It took me a minute to catch on then I was all in! It’s as though the author was sitting across from me telling me the story of the characters she created.
When I finished…I just walked around my house whispering “WOW”!
I felt spent, a true book hangover (in the best possible way).
Have you read this book yet? Is it on your shelf?!
✍️ Ilona Bannister
📄 288 pages
🗓️ Available Now
📈 5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I’d give more stars if I could!
👉 suspense, contemporary, character driven
May 6, 2026
A different sort of thriller type book. Takes place in the underground tube of London and the reader is told one of these five main characters are going to die with the next train coming into the station in five minutes.
The five characters are a mother with her uncontrollable child, and a man approaching her, who appears to be shady. Later we find out they do know each other very well. The other two characters are an older lady who ends up having a heart attack and a young man who helps her. There are several other characters in the train station, several others that help out of the catastrophe not just of the woman on the ground, as several people end up on the tracks.
Most of the book is the backstory of each of the five main characters, while in-between is the current moment at the tube station where there is quite a lot of action going on. The book poses morality question for the reader, which of these characters do you want to die? All have flaws that may have the reader rooting for one character to not make it.
With the way it was presented and the author breaking the fourth wall too often, I wasn't much of a fan of the style. It was a quick read.
Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
The five characters are a mother with her uncontrollable child, and a man approaching her, who appears to be shady. Later we find out they do know each other very well. The other two characters are an older lady who ends up having a heart attack and a young man who helps her. There are several other characters in the train station, several others that help out of the catastrophe not just of the woman on the ground, as several people end up on the tracks.
Most of the book is the backstory of each of the five main characters, while in-between is the current moment at the tube station where there is quite a lot of action going on. The book poses morality question for the reader, which of these characters do you want to die? All have flaws that may have the reader rooting for one character to not make it.
With the way it was presented and the author breaking the fourth wall too often, I wasn't much of a fan of the style. It was a quick read.
Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
May 12, 2026
Whiplash from this one! ⬆️ 🚞 🇬🇧
You find out from the beginning that there are five people at the London Tube and one will die by the time the train arrives.
You then learn about each of the five awaiting passengers. None of them are likeable characters and you create judgements about them based on their backgrounds, personalities and stories. Then you play God and decide which one is most deserving to die. Don’t we all judge? Who will be the victim?
An unusual book. The chapters about the chaos on the tracks were quick and had you wondering where this would all end up.
Then the chapters about each of the characters were long. While you were revved up from the subway scenes, these chapters feel overwritten and a bit long winded. I felt the pacing was a bit off.
It would be a stellar bookclub pick because it would be so interesting to hear fellow reader’s thoughts. I have been on the Tube and could feel the roar of the trains and the vibration of the rails. This part was real in my mind’s eye. Ultimately I would give this 3.75. 🌟
Mind the gap when alighting from the train! 😅
You find out from the beginning that there are five people at the London Tube and one will die by the time the train arrives.
You then learn about each of the five awaiting passengers. None of them are likeable characters and you create judgements about them based on their backgrounds, personalities and stories. Then you play God and decide which one is most deserving to die. Don’t we all judge? Who will be the victim?
An unusual book. The chapters about the chaos on the tracks were quick and had you wondering where this would all end up.
Then the chapters about each of the characters were long. While you were revved up from the subway scenes, these chapters feel overwritten and a bit long winded. I felt the pacing was a bit off.
It would be a stellar bookclub pick because it would be so interesting to hear fellow reader’s thoughts. I have been on the Tube and could feel the roar of the trains and the vibration of the rails. This part was real in my mind’s eye. Ultimately I would give this 3.75. 🌟
Mind the gap when alighting from the train! 😅
April 30, 2026
Okay now THAT’S a thriller
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
May 1, 2026
Five was an easy five stars for me (and five stars don’t come easily from me). A surprising, genre bending, underrated banger that I wish everyone knew about. We follow 5 people waiting at the subway station, and from the first chapter we are made aware that in 5 minutes one of them is going to die.
What follows is a suspenseful, tense but heartbreaking story of these strangers and their lives. Each subsequent chapter is either a minute leading up to when the train arrives or a dive into the past lives of these five strangers. And I must say that the depth of personal stories covered by Bannister is really a testament to her writing. The book is filled with themes that linger but that one that stayed with me the most was about the kindness of strangers in an uncertain world.
When we are introduced to the 5 initially; we make judgements as readers. Some are exhausted and we’re sympathetic; some are rude and we dislike them; some are self righteous and we don’t care for them; but oh, how their individual chapters make us rethink our first impressions. This isn’t just a suspense novel, it’s also woven in with some literary fiction.
What made this a 5 star for me were the complex, morally grey characters that I can’t stop thinking about long after finishing the book.
What follows is a suspenseful, tense but heartbreaking story of these strangers and their lives. Each subsequent chapter is either a minute leading up to when the train arrives or a dive into the past lives of these five strangers. And I must say that the depth of personal stories covered by Bannister is really a testament to her writing. The book is filled with themes that linger but that one that stayed with me the most was about the kindness of strangers in an uncertain world.
When we are introduced to the 5 initially; we make judgements as readers. Some are exhausted and we’re sympathetic; some are rude and we dislike them; some are self righteous and we don’t care for them; but oh, how their individual chapters make us rethink our first impressions. This isn’t just a suspense novel, it’s also woven in with some literary fiction.
What made this a 5 star for me were the complex, morally grey characters that I can’t stop thinking about long after finishing the book.
May 6, 2026
I’m having mixed feelings about this book. As I sit here, I’m not really sure what I’m going to say. First and foremost, I know I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to give too much away. Secondly, I don’t really want my opinions of the story to discourage anyone either. While I received this free ARC in exchange for my honest opinions, I also believe that my opinions don’t mean that much; I am just one reader who wasn’t much of a fan of this story.
I’m a character driven reader and I like stories with MC’s that are likeable, ones I can root for. I can’t say that about the MC’s in this story, the five. I didn’t like any of them and by the time I got to the second half, I didn’t care which one lived and which one died.
I will say that the character development for the MC’s was well done. Bannister accomplished in making all of them morally questionable and unlikeable characters. I’m sure that was Bannister’s intent. Only one of them seemed to have been able to redeem themself, at least as far as I was concerned. Fortunately, the pacing was pretty steady for most of the story. Initially, the storyline seemed interesting and the writing was ok, not terrible. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.4 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrownPublishing #Five
I’m a character driven reader and I like stories with MC’s that are likeable, ones I can root for. I can’t say that about the MC’s in this story, the five. I didn’t like any of them and by the time I got to the second half, I didn’t care which one lived and which one died.
I will say that the character development for the MC’s was well done. Bannister accomplished in making all of them morally questionable and unlikeable characters. I’m sure that was Bannister’s intent. Only one of them seemed to have been able to redeem themself, at least as far as I was concerned. Fortunately, the pacing was pretty steady for most of the story. Initially, the storyline seemed interesting and the writing was ok, not terrible. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.4 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrownPublishing #Five
May 4, 2026
🎧Audiobook Review🎧
I will preface this by saying how amazing the narration was for this all star multi cast. It just seems to hit harder when the characters are telling with their UK accents. I didn’t speed it up though since their are a bunch of characters and a lot of moving parts. All of it great!
Five random people are waiting for the train. We know from the beginning that one of them will die. Who do imagine that will be? Anyone more deserving?
This is definitely a literary fiction novel that focuses on a character study. We go back through each character’s story and all of their flaws. This is a dark read with plenty of trigger warnings, but everything is handled with care.
Five is very unique and I enjoyed it very much. Don’t go into this expecting a thriller, it’s so much more. I loved it and recommend both editions!
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to PRH, Crown and the author for the gifted copies.
Out 5/5/26
I will preface this by saying how amazing the narration was for this all star multi cast. It just seems to hit harder when the characters are telling with their UK accents. I didn’t speed it up though since their are a bunch of characters and a lot of moving parts. All of it great!
Five random people are waiting for the train. We know from the beginning that one of them will die. Who do imagine that will be? Anyone more deserving?
This is definitely a literary fiction novel that focuses on a character study. We go back through each character’s story and all of their flaws. This is a dark read with plenty of trigger warnings, but everything is handled with care.
Five is very unique and I enjoyed it very much. Don’t go into this expecting a thriller, it’s so much more. I loved it and recommend both editions!
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to PRH, Crown and the author for the gifted copies.
Out 5/5/26
May 13, 2026
Five is such a good story. It’s unique with excellent dark humor. I enjoyed how the reader gets a great background story on each of the “five” and also what has brought them to the train station on this fateful day. The audiobook production has a full cast that is outstanding. I chose a hardcover of Five for my @aardvarkbookclub pick. Highly recommend.
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.
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
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.
May 17, 2026
Before I begin, please forgive me as I ramble my way through this review. Sometimes the books I enjoy best are the most difficult reviews to write. If there is one thing you should know about me, is that I’m an observer, a curious person, who loves to people watch. I’m constantly watching and listening, not in a nosy way, but because I want to know your stories. We each have one and they make us who we are.
So, this book was right up my ally. FIVE—5 minutes, 5 strangers, one will die. This one was so original, especially the format in how it was written. We get to know each character and their story through alternating chapters. One chapter would be about the actual events taking place on the train platform and then would switch to one of the characters back stories. I don’t enjoy long chapters, but it’s needed here to give each of their backgrounds. That makes you really get to know them well. You will have favorites and cast judgements, but I’d say, that’s part of the fun. Plus, you’ll start to question yourself. I flew through this one and hope you will give it a chance. Reviews are mixed, but I’m so glad I went ahead with it. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I was going to give this book 4 stars, but the ending was perfection. I can’t help but round it up to 5 stars. It dove into the aftermath of the events and how each character moved forward and how the event affected them. You hear their thoughts, actions, and even how the bystanders moved on in the aftermath. Not sure I can explain that where it makes sense. Ilona’s writing is just so unique.
I really enjoyed Little Prisons and her other book is currently on its way to me. Now I want to go hop on a train, a subway, park bench and do some people 👀.
So, this book was right up my ally. FIVE—5 minutes, 5 strangers, one will die. This one was so original, especially the format in how it was written. We get to know each character and their story through alternating chapters. One chapter would be about the actual events taking place on the train platform and then would switch to one of the characters back stories. I don’t enjoy long chapters, but it’s needed here to give each of their backgrounds. That makes you really get to know them well. You will have favorites and cast judgements, but I’d say, that’s part of the fun. Plus, you’ll start to question yourself. I flew through this one and hope you will give it a chance. Reviews are mixed, but I’m so glad I went ahead with it. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I was going to give this book 4 stars, but the ending was perfection. I can’t help but round it up to 5 stars. It dove into the aftermath of the events and how each character moved forward and how the event affected them. You hear their thoughts, actions, and even how the bystanders moved on in the aftermath. Not sure I can explain that where it makes sense. Ilona’s writing is just so unique.
I really enjoyed Little Prisons and her other book is currently on its way to me. Now I want to go hop on a train, a subway, park bench and do some people 👀.
May 26, 2026
Five people waiting for a commuter London train are profiled, but the reader is teased at the outset by the news that one of them will die that day, and it takes a whole book to reveal who. So well written, in alternating chapters between the present and the past of each possible victim, I found I could not put this book down.
May 11, 2026
This book may be better to listen to via audiobook.
There’s a narrator telling the story and the narrator “talks” to the reader at times.
People are waiting for a train to arrive.
The story takes a deep dive into five primary characters. The reader is supposed to figure out which person is killed by the train 🚆.
Sadly I lost a young relative to suicide by train.
I thought this book was about a person that dies on a train, not on the train tracks. Once I started reading & realized my error, I considered leaving the book unread. However, the story was cleverly written.
I hope you enjoy this book!
There’s a narrator telling the story and the narrator “talks” to the reader at times.
People are waiting for a train to arrive.
The story takes a deep dive into five primary characters. The reader is supposed to figure out which person is killed by the train 🚆.
Sadly I lost a young relative to suicide by train.
I thought this book was about a person that dies on a train, not on the train tracks. Once I started reading & realized my error, I considered leaving the book unread. However, the story was cleverly written.
I hope you enjoy this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Five strangers at a train station: the child, the mother, the businessman, the old woman, and the gambler. One will die when the 7:06 to London arrives.
Told in real time as the clock ticks down, 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 often breaks the fourth wall enabling you to actively engage with the story. This unseen narrator even goes so far as to ask not only who you 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 will be the one to perish, but who you think it 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be.
"𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧. 𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦."
It’s a psychological thriller that leans far more heavily into the psychological aspect vs suspense. The present time at the train station is interspliced with backstories on each of the five main characters which makes this novel read more like a deep character study. Each has a story to tell. Most aren’t overly likable. Some may dispel your first impression of them while others may prove it. And by the time you get to know them all in depth, your initial instincts and feelings on who will be (or should be) the train’s victim will likely shift and surprise you. But regardless of your feelings and judgements, there's still the question: who will it actually be?
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 is a shorter read and not what I was expecting going into it, but it’s uniquely written and cleverly constructed. I really enjoyed it!
✨ Thank you to Crown Publishing & Net Galley for the DRC! [𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 5•5•2026]
Told in real time as the clock ticks down, 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 often breaks the fourth wall enabling you to actively engage with the story. This unseen narrator even goes so far as to ask not only who you 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 will be the one to perish, but who you think it 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be.
"𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘥 𝘰𝘧. 𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦."
It’s a psychological thriller that leans far more heavily into the psychological aspect vs suspense. The present time at the train station is interspliced with backstories on each of the five main characters which makes this novel read more like a deep character study. Each has a story to tell. Most aren’t overly likable. Some may dispel your first impression of them while others may prove it. And by the time you get to know them all in depth, your initial instincts and feelings on who will be (or should be) the train’s victim will likely shift and surprise you. But regardless of your feelings and judgements, there's still the question: who will it actually be?
𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 is a shorter read and not what I was expecting going into it, but it’s uniquely written and cleverly constructed. I really enjoyed it!
✨ Thank you to Crown Publishing & Net Galley for the DRC! [𝘗𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 5•5•2026]
May 14, 2026
4.5 Round up - A gripping psychological suspense thriller built around a really compelling concept: five strangers are standing on a London train platform, and in five minutes one of them will die when the train arrives. You know this from the start - but not who it will be….
Five was extremely original, an easy one-day listen, with intense emotions and very dark themes. The backstory you get on each character is so well developed that I marveled at how the author captured such intensity in a 228-page book (mind blown).
100% recommend the audiobook, as it’s a full-cast production, and the voice actors did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life.
If you love the following, then this is a must-read:
-Character-driven suspense
-The narration-style breaks the fourth wall, and you, as the reader, are directly involved in the story, no joke - she is talking to you. LOVED IT!!!!!!
-Every character is DEEPLY flawed and UNHINGED
-Themes include: motherhood, addiction, disability, and grief
I walked away feeling moved and emotional. I am still thinking about how introspective it was… Excellent READ!!
Five was extremely original, an easy one-day listen, with intense emotions and very dark themes. The backstory you get on each character is so well developed that I marveled at how the author captured such intensity in a 228-page book (mind blown).
100% recommend the audiobook, as it’s a full-cast production, and the voice actors did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life.
If you love the following, then this is a must-read:
-Character-driven suspense
-The narration-style breaks the fourth wall, and you, as the reader, are directly involved in the story, no joke - she is talking to you. LOVED IT!!!!!!
-Every character is DEEPLY flawed and UNHINGED
-Themes include: motherhood, addiction, disability, and grief
I walked away feeling moved and emotional. I am still thinking about how introspective it was… Excellent READ!!
April 9, 2026
Five people are waiting for the 7:06 am train; it is now 7:01 am, and we know one of them is going to die. Will it be Emma: a very unlikable woman who is the mother of six-year-old Gideon? She lets us know right at the onset that she wouldn’t mind if he fell onto the tracks; her life would be so much easier. She only got pregnant to upset her sister who is unable to conceive. Now she is stuck with a child she cannot control. His birth has cost her a job and a life beyond the four walls of her house. Or maybe it will be Liam, the rich and married man she chose to get her pregnant. He has shown up at the station, and wants to confront Emma, who has been blackmailing him. It is these three that get the wheels in motion for the inevitable tragedy.
However, that only adds up to three. Here is Sonny, who is there to actually commit suicide; his death would be sad, but not really since that was why he was there. Our last possible future dead person is Mrs. Worth: a horrible, elderly woman who is suffering a heart attack at the edge of the tracks. Her death would also be sad, but, really; she’s lived a full life.
This 240 page book is so wonderful. I have never read a book that illustrates grief and trauma as this one does. As the unsuspecting train travels the tracks toward disaster, we are introduced to all of these—and a couple more—commuters who have their own stories to tell. Mrs. Worth was raised by her distant father who brought her dead animals (roadkill? Daddy Kill?) to dissect. This leads her to the inevitable career as a pathologist, and totally bereft of emotional awareness. Sonny grows up dealing with his mother’s grief over the death of his father (her husband). In her eyes, the unruly Sonny was never responsible for his actions. He grows up to be a non-functioning adult with depression and catastrophic debt.
There is really no one to cheer for in this book because they are all very, very flawed; not even young Gideon (the little shit) Each one of us will bring our own grief and trauma to this book that will color our feelings for the characters. Thankfully, the excellent writing and occasional humor keeps the book from being overly maudlin. This book will be staying uninvited in my mind for a long time. We never know what the person next to us is going through, and heightened emotional events can bring out the best, or worst, version of ourselves.
I would highly recommend you read this book.
I would like to thank Crown Publishing and GoodReads for the opportunity to read a review this excellent novel.
However, that only adds up to three. Here is Sonny, who is there to actually commit suicide; his death would be sad, but not really since that was why he was there. Our last possible future dead person is Mrs. Worth: a horrible, elderly woman who is suffering a heart attack at the edge of the tracks. Her death would also be sad, but, really; she’s lived a full life.
This 240 page book is so wonderful. I have never read a book that illustrates grief and trauma as this one does. As the unsuspecting train travels the tracks toward disaster, we are introduced to all of these—and a couple more—commuters who have their own stories to tell. Mrs. Worth was raised by her distant father who brought her dead animals (roadkill? Daddy Kill?) to dissect. This leads her to the inevitable career as a pathologist, and totally bereft of emotional awareness. Sonny grows up dealing with his mother’s grief over the death of his father (her husband). In her eyes, the unruly Sonny was never responsible for his actions. He grows up to be a non-functioning adult with depression and catastrophic debt.
There is really no one to cheer for in this book because they are all very, very flawed; not even young Gideon (the little shit) Each one of us will bring our own grief and trauma to this book that will color our feelings for the characters. Thankfully, the excellent writing and occasional humor keeps the book from being overly maudlin. This book will be staying uninvited in my mind for a long time. We never know what the person next to us is going through, and heightened emotional events can bring out the best, or worst, version of ourselves.
I would highly recommend you read this book.
I would like to thank Crown Publishing and GoodReads for the opportunity to read a review this excellent novel.
May 14, 2026
Fantastic job by the publisher for leaning into the number 5 by publishing on 5-5. First heard about this novel from Tina on the podcast Book Talk, etc. Immediately pre-ordered it and I am glad I did. Dark, unsettling and thought provoking. This is a one-sit read. It is short with a unique format. Chapters are medium in length but there are breaks that divide the chapter. this is not a true thriller .I would classify as character driven suspense. It moves quickly but doesn't really have the gotcha moments of a thriller. We first see the 5 characters moments before one of them will die by train. Then the story unfolds backwards to give details about each character. All this is happening while the story moves a minute closer to the tragic death of one of them. Once we know all the characters and the connections between a few of them, the identity of the deceased is revealed.
The people in this story are deeply flawed, but most of us are. On the surface they seem unlikable. Did a little deeper and you might change your mind. Understanding a character helps create empathy. The format was very clever. The layers of each individual are peeled back in a way that made me see the good and the bad. There are heavy themes addressed in this novel. Just a few: nature vs nurture, family dynamics, grief, addiction, challenges of motherhood. So many things here that could be discussed in a book club. At the end of the novel, I felt differently about each person than I did initially. While there are heavy themes, there also is one big one that was positive. The kindness of strangers in times of hardship. There are other individuals on the tracks besides the five characters. How they act during this situation is also explored. I loved how the story unfolds via an unnamed narrator. There is a bit of snark to some of the things the narrator tells us. The format was clever and unique.
Highly recommend!
The people in this story are deeply flawed, but most of us are. On the surface they seem unlikable. Did a little deeper and you might change your mind. Understanding a character helps create empathy. The format was very clever. The layers of each individual are peeled back in a way that made me see the good and the bad. There are heavy themes addressed in this novel. Just a few: nature vs nurture, family dynamics, grief, addiction, challenges of motherhood. So many things here that could be discussed in a book club. At the end of the novel, I felt differently about each person than I did initially. While there are heavy themes, there also is one big one that was positive. The kindness of strangers in times of hardship. There are other individuals on the tracks besides the five characters. How they act during this situation is also explored. I loved how the story unfolds via an unnamed narrator. There is a bit of snark to some of the things the narrator tells us. The format was clever and unique.
Highly recommend!
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