Five

“Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station,” begins this sharply observed suspense novel from Bannister (Little Prisons). The players are a cross-section of contemporary British commuters assembled at a train platform just outside of London. Emma, an emotionally walled-off single mother, struggles with the erratic behavior of her brilliant, neurodivergent six-year-old son, Gideon. Liam—a wealthy, controlling businessman—is also present. Mrs. Worth, a 78-year-old retired forensic pathologist, sits in silent judgment of Emma as she’s burdened by her own private traumas. Sonny, a mixed-race 27-year-old battling grief and a gambling addiction, is motivated by an initially unexplained desperation that comes into focus as the action progresses. When Gideon’s reckless dash toward the tracks sparks panic in the crowd, Emma and Liam rush to rescue him before they clash and Gideon lashes out at Liam. Then Mrs. Worth collapses, and tragedy ensues. The main action takes place across a condensed matter of minutes, but Bannister fleshes it out with insightful dives into her characters’ pasts (some more convincing than others) and darkly funny asides from an omniscient narrator who addresses the reader directly. Bannister’s compassion and gift for nerve-shredding tension make this a ride worth taking. Agent: Rebecca Gradinger, UTA. (May)