ARIA: Biographical urban fiction by Robert Thubron

What happens when a child is so severely damaged by a father that their imaginary friend never leaves?

Nine-year-old Dean Graham’s dad has always been a good man, but that changes when he almost kills his wife in a seemingly unmotivated attack. While witnessing the incident, Dean meets Aria, an angel-like being only he can see.

The violence worsens as the years pass, leading to Dean’s struggles with mental issues. Eventually, he escapes from home, but disturbing suggestions about the past and Aria’s true nature force a return.

Upon entering middle age, a life-changing diagnosis causes Dean to question everything he knows. Can Aria save him from his darkest moment?