Five

At 7:01 AM on an ordinary day, five people with significantly different backgrounds arrive at a London subway platform. One will die when the train arrives at 7:06 AM. Is it the gambler, a young man who can’t seem to shake the need to burn money for his habit? The child, a violent boy who takes pleasure in other people’s pain? The suffering mother who can’t seem to control her unruly kid? Or perhaps the old woman whose upbringing makes it difficult for her to convey emotions? The businessman whose quest for power overshadows his family obligations? As time ticks down to what is inevitable, Bannister explores the stories behind this unique group. Readers will choose favorites among them, rooting for some to succeed while wanting others to be lying on the tracks and hit when the time comes. The story the author has woven, and the way she delivers it on the page, is a stroke of genius that shouldn’t work, but it does. Bannister forces us to realize that everyone we see every day has a background that reflects how they became who they are. We all have a story. Five is worth the leap and will make a terrific audio experience as well.