The Boat Runner: A Novel

Devin Murphy’s debut novel, The Boat Runner is a gripping World War II tale full of heart and suspense. Dutch teenager Jacob Koopman lived a comfortable life in Delfzijl before the German occupation. To remain in the German’s good graces, Jacob’s father, owner of the town’s successful light bulb factory, fulfills contracts for the Germans, one of which includes sending both Jacob and his older brother, Edwin, to a Hitler Youth summer camp. The following year, the war comes to Holland, and the Koopman family is forced apart; only Jacob and his Uncle Martin, who is ridiculed for working with the Germans, are left in Delfzijl. Broken and desperate, Jacob realizes he must act, but first he must decide which side of the war he is on.

The abundant loss throughout The Boat Runner is heartbreakingly personal, and Jacob’s battle between family loyalty and patriotism propels the narrative with impulsive force. Although Murphy writes from a singular perspective, his richly drawn settings and characters tell of the more massive impact the war had on the entire world. The Boat Runner surges with hair-raising tension; devoted historical fiction readers will want to be swept away.