Unique and engaging thriller

5 stars

Five is a solid hit, for me, as readers follow the lives of five people awaiting for a train. We know one will die, but which? There is a child, his mother, an old woman, a business and a gambler. Each unique, from different walks of life, with flaws and strengths aplenty. Interspersed with the character backstories is our cheeky omnipotent narrator who I found thoroughly delightful with dark humour, absolutely egging up the drama whilst challenging the reader to place their bets on who dies. The five main characters are strong but the supporting characters on the platform give an additional heft to the story. Bristling with sarcasm and hilarious insights, the bit with Mrs. Worth watching her two young grandsons had me in stitches! I loved it. A great balancing act between funny moments and tender ones. Well written, indeed.

Five was an engaging read that did, if fact, keep me guessing. Through their backstories and current circumstances I found varying levels of empathy but still felt invested in their wellbeing. An original story, with characters worth the time, I will certainly keep my eyes out for more novels from this talented author.