During this time Phillip is assigned to therapy sessions and begins a relationship with Leah, the daughter of a business partner in the garage Alan works at, which Brian does not approve of.

In the third attempt, which involves setting fire to his uncle's car garage, Phillip accidentally causes the death of Leah's father.

Phillip's conscience eventually leads him to attempt to confess the arson to Leah, who is depressed and slightly delusional at this point.

Critical reception for The Dead Fathers Club has been positive, with The Guardian praising the book as "sad fun".

[3] Entertainment Weekly gave The Dead Fathers Club a B rating, calling the book "clever" while stating that "the pastiche falls apart toward the end, when our once-likable hero gets mired in the nitty-gritty of revenge.