The Dead Fathers Club, by Matt Haig was a book I read not long after my Mum passed away, which may seem an odd choice given the subject matter, but then, maybe not! Based loosely on Hamlet, eleven year old Philip is the central character whose pub landlord father has died in a car accident. And before you know it, his mother takes up with his father's brother, Uncle Alan. As if that wasn't traumatic enough, the ghost of his father keeps appearing to Philip, accusing Uncle Alan of causing his death and that if he is not revenged, he will never find rest and will be fated to suffer "The Terrors" forever, just like the other ghosts in the Dead Fathers Club. Philip is determined to help his father, but this isn't easy for an eleven-year-old, especially when the truth seems as unreachable as an ethereal spirit. This is a strange tale and, at times, a little disturbing. It is dark, which shouldn't come as a surprise given the subject matter, but it is also funny. Philip is a very likeable character, despite some of his actions and, indeed, intentions, but you can't help but root for him. There are incredibly touching moments too with the interplay between Philip and his ghostly father, as well as his relationship with his very much alive mother - who is grieving in her own individual way. Matt Haig has an easy style of writing that pulls you along and makes you care for his characters. An unusual story, but well worth the effort.
My STAR rating: FOUR stars.
Length: 320 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.98.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
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