Ilona Bannister on Five: A Bold New Thriller About Fate, Death and the Last Five Minutes

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by Ilona Bannister to talk about her striking new novel Five — a tense, original and deeply thought-provoking thriller set over just a few minutes on a train platform.

What would you do if you had only five minutes left and didn’t know it?

That chilling question sits at the heart of Five, a novel about five strangers, interconnected lives, hidden stories, and the ripple effects of tragedy. Ilona talks about the real-life inspiration behind the book, the creation of its unforgettable narrative voice, and why this story led her naturally into the thriller space.

Philippa also reviews:

• The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
• Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
• Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

In this episode

• Ilona Bannister on the inspiration behind Five
• Why the novel begins on a train platform
• How the book explores fate, connection, mortality and missed moments
• The challenge of writing a fast-paced novel set across such a short time frame
• The creation of the book’s sharp, unusual narrative voice
• Why one character had to be cut and another took her place
• Writing through lockdown, parenting, and difficult life circumstances
• Why thrillers can be powerful spaces for emotional and literary storytelling
• Philippa’s latest reading updates and reviews

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