The Boat Runner

A Novel

By: Devin Murphy

Narrated by: Matthew Waterson

In the tradition of All The Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale, comes an incandescent debut novel about a young Dutch man who comes of age during the perilousness of World War II.

Beginning in the summer of 1939, fourteen-year-old Jacob Koopman and his older brother, Edwin, enjoy lives of prosperity and quiet contentment. Many of the residents in their small Dutch town have some connection to the Koopman lightbulb factory, and the locals hold the family in high esteem.

On days when they aren’t playing with friends, Jacob and Edwin help their Uncle Martin on his fishing boat in the North Sea, where German ships have become a common sight. But conflict still seems unthinkable, even as the boys’ father naively sends his sons to a Hitler Youth Camp in an effort to secure German business for the factory.

When war breaks out, Jacob’s world is thrown into chaos. The Boat Runner follows Jacob over the course of four years, through the forests of France, the stormy beaches of England, and deep within the secret missions of the German Navy, where he is confronted with the moral dilemma that will change his life—and his life’s mission—forever.

Epic in scope and featuring a thrilling narrative with precise, elegant language, The Boat Runner tells the little-known story of the young Dutch boys who were thrown into the Nazi campaign, as well as the brave boatmen who risked everything to give Jewish refugees safe passage to land abroad. Through one boy’s harrowing tale of personal redemption, here is a novel about the power of people’s stories and voices to shine light through our darkest days, until only love prevails.

Fantastic narration!

Great book and I enjoyed a different perspective. The narrator was especially good. I’ll look for others he has done.

WWII in occupied Europe

There's a good story here, but too much descriptive prose is a distraction from the momentum of the narrative. Good narration.

Could not put down

I intended to go through the first chapter only to see if I liked it enough to recommend to be book club, but had to read the whole thing. My husband also found it to be a very compelling story. It’s beautifully written as well.

Tense and imaginative

Tense but so interesting, full of odd people and so much sorrow. Seems appropriate for life now, January 2026.

Nice Story! Good narration!

I really enjoyed this story. A little different angle on WW 2 occupation of Holland and what happened to one family .