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Disconnected: A Mortal Reality
What if the life you’re living isn’t yours at all — just the version you’ve been taught to perform?
Daniel has everything he’s supposed to a thriving business, a beautiful home, and a partner who believes in him.
But behind the curated surface lies a truth he can’t outrun — crippling debt, quiet panic, and the constant pressure to appear fine.
Then Gabriel — the childhood friend he hasn’t seen in decades — suddenly reappears with a message Daniel doesn’t want to
“Your life isn’t real.
It’s a programmed illusion.
A trap designed to keep you asleep.”
As Daniel is forced to confront the gap between who he is and who he pretends to be, his entire reality begins to unravel.
In a world drowning in noise, algorithms, comparison, and emotional numbness, he must
Cling to the comfortable lie?
Or risk everything for the truth?
Blending psychological tension with sharp social commentary, A Mortal Reality is a gripping, modern, near-future novel about identity, anxiety, digital dependency, and the quiet crisis no one talks about.
Perfect for readers who
Literary fiction with psychological depth
Contemporary dystopian realism
Thought-provoking stories about modern life
Characters who feel painfully, beautifully real
Books that stay with you long after the final page
A tense, emotional, and uncomfortably recognisable story about the cost of living a life designed for display instead of meaning.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or quietly “not yourself”… this book will hit home.
Daniel has everything he’s supposed to a thriving business, a beautiful home, and a partner who believes in him.
But behind the curated surface lies a truth he can’t outrun — crippling debt, quiet panic, and the constant pressure to appear fine.
Then Gabriel — the childhood friend he hasn’t seen in decades — suddenly reappears with a message Daniel doesn’t want to
“Your life isn’t real.
It’s a programmed illusion.
A trap designed to keep you asleep.”
As Daniel is forced to confront the gap between who he is and who he pretends to be, his entire reality begins to unravel.
In a world drowning in noise, algorithms, comparison, and emotional numbness, he must
Cling to the comfortable lie?
Or risk everything for the truth?
Blending psychological tension with sharp social commentary, A Mortal Reality is a gripping, modern, near-future novel about identity, anxiety, digital dependency, and the quiet crisis no one talks about.
Perfect for readers who
Literary fiction with psychological depth
Contemporary dystopian realism
Thought-provoking stories about modern life
Characters who feel painfully, beautifully real
Books that stay with you long after the final page
A tense, emotional, and uncomfortably recognisable story about the cost of living a life designed for display instead of meaning.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or quietly “not yourself”… this book will hit home.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2025
2 people want to read
About the author
Richard Malcolm
3 books1 followerRichard Malcolm is a literary fiction author whose work explores the quiet pressures and hidden choices that shape everyday lives.
His debut novel, Disconnected, draws on his background as a sports therapist and his studies in Sports Psychology at Warwick University to deliver emotionally grounded, character-driven storytelling.
His writing has appeared in International Therapist magazine, and he previously hosted The Functional Trainer podcast.
His debut novel, Disconnected, draws on his background as a sports therapist and his studies in Sports Psychology at Warwick University to deliver emotionally grounded, character-driven storytelling.
His writing has appeared in International Therapist magazine, and he previously hosted The Functional Trainer podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 13, 2025
Questions that you never want to ask
December 22, 2025
Must read
Very well written, engaging, making you question where your own head is at. So many themes running through the book. Definitely one for book clubs to read and discuss
Very well written, engaging, making you question where your own head is at. So many themes running through the book. Definitely one for book clubs to read and discuss
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews