Five: The intense and gripping psychological suspense thriller from a brand-new literary fiction voice. New for 2026!

Five is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that traps five strangers on a suburban London train platform with a chilling countdown: in exactly five minutes, one of them will be dead. Ilona Bannister weaves an intricate, razor-sharp narrative that delves deep into the lives of a desperate gambler, a failed and furious old woman, a demonic child, his judging mother, and a successful but damaged businessman. As the clock ticks relentlessly toward the 7:06 arrival, each character’s hidden past comes rushing to the surface, revealing raw truths about family, guilt, and the choices that define us. This is literary suspense at its most compulsive, blending dark humor with heart-wrenching drama in a tale you won’t be able to put down.

A stunning debut from a brand-new voice in fiction, Five brings the real-time tension of high-stakes thrillers together with the emotional depth of the finest domestic dramas. Perfect for readers of psychological suspense, literary fiction, and city-life stories, this novel examines fate and sacrifice through five interconnected stories that build to an unforgettable, shocking conclusion. With its sharp-tongued narration and vivid characterization, Five marks the arrival of a major talent in the thriller genre.