Five

Five passengers. Five minutes until the next train … five minutes until someone dies. ‘Ridiculously good … darkly thrilling and unforgettable’ Chris Whitaker

‘Brilliantly propulsive … A seriously impressive novel’ Hannah Beckerman

‘Original. Urgent. Disturbing. Brilliant’ Shari Lapena

‘Insightful, emotionally punchy, wryly observed … I read it in one sitting’ Sarah Pinborough

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Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station. It will happen in the next five minutes when the 7:06 to London Victoria arrives.

Take note of their positions. The child, the mother, the businessman, the old woman and the gambler.

One of them will die despite your attachment to them. There is probably one you want to get rid of. You don’t have to admit who. But perhaps you should ask yourself why.

The train has stopped.

Someone is dead.

Was it who you chose?

It wasn’t your fault …

So why, dear reader, do you feel so guilty?

Five stories. Five minutes until a life ends. Unfolding in real time, FIVE doesn't just tell a story; it provokes, unsettles, and lingers. By weaving together the stories of those complex, flawed lives, Bannister creates a tapestry of human struggle, resilience, and hope. FIVE offers no easy answers, but rather a nuanced exploration of the human condition in all its messy complexity.

* * * *

Readers are hooked on FIVE:

'This is a sharply drawn, darkly funny, and quietly devastating character study wrapped inside a ticking‑clock thriller' Reader review *****

'What a fantastic style of writing. Unique in it's telling that had me gripped from the start … I couldn't put it down' Reader review *****

'Five stars for Five! … This is a sharp, unsettling and original novel that explores morality, judgement, addiction, motherhood and privilege with confidence and control. It stayed with me long after I finished' Reader review *****

© 2026 Juniper (Audiobook): 9780008770594

Release date

Audiobook: 5 May 2026