Daniel Isn't Real

A Novel

By: Brian DeLeeuw

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

Now a major motion picture!

A breathtaking debut of literary suspense about a young boy’s struggle against his inner demons—a fight to the death against his secret shadow self.

On a chilly November afternoon, six-year-old Luke Nightingale’s life changes forever. On the playground across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he encounters Daniel. Soon the boys are hiding from dinosaurs and shooting sniper rifles. Within hours, Luke and his mother, Claire, are welcoming Daniel into their Upper East Side apartment—and their lives.

Daniel and Luke are soon inseparable. With his parents divorcing, Luke takes comfort in having a near-constant playmate. But there’s something strange about Daniel, who is more than happy to bind himself to the Nightingales. The divorce has cut Luke’s father out of the picture, and as his increasingly fragile mother struggles with the insidious family depression, Daniel—shrewd, adventurous, and insightful—provides Luke both recreation and refuge.

As Luke grows from a child to an adolescent to a young man, he realizes that as much as his mother needs him, Daniel needs him more. Jealous of Luke’s other attachments, Daniel moves from gestures of friendship into increasingly sinister manipulations. In the end, Luke finds himself in a daily battle for control of his own life—wondering whether he or Daniel will emerge victorious.

Brian DeLeeuw’s debut is a haunting and provocative story of a family’s love and madness that you will not be able to put down.

*This title was previously published as In This Way I Was Saved.

Way, way too long, implausible absurd ending

I couldn't wait for this book to end, and when it finally did, the ending was disappointing and absurd. Filled a lot of drive time, but better editing could have mad this book more enjoyable and believable.

Without This Narrator, The Book Would Be Awful

NO SPOILERS! The book started off with great potential, but I found the characters to be totally unlikable. We view everything through Daniel's eyes and I think it would have been better to also hear from Luke and even Clair. The way its written left me not very vested in their survival or outcome.

The book is definitely a mystery but don't expect to have all the answers at the end. I understand this is also a movie now, so hopefully, that will provide more context.

Kirby Heyborne is one of my favorite narrators and I think he gave a stellar performance as always.