Book ~ "Old Boys" (2023) Nick Spalding

From Goodreads ~ Will Fairweather is getting old. His back aches, his bowels misbehave if he eats spicy food and he’s completely lost his sense of rhythm. Life has taught him not to take risks but even that hasn’t stopped his marriage hitting the rocks too. The last thing he needs is a surprise call from Red Fairweather, devil-may-care rock god - and the father Will hasn’t seen for thirty years.

If Will’s old before his time, Red’s the boy who won’t grow up.

When Will needs somewhere to live, with nowhere else to turn, he finds himself back with the hellraiser who deserted his family. As Will tries to come to terms with the downward spiral of his life, he starts to realise there’s more to Red than he thought - there’s a real human being under all that leather and attitude, a dad determined to make up for lost time and help his son get back on track.

Can Will make his peace with a father seeking forgiveness?

Will is in his mid-forties and has been going downhill physically and mentally since his mother passed away suddenly four years ago. Audrey, his wife, is ten years younger and wants the fun Will back. She's had enough of him being a downer so tells him they need some time apart.

Will's parents broke up when he was three and he hasn't seen his father, who the drummer of an aging famous rock band, since he was sixteen when Red disappeared from Will's life. Will is bitter about this but he has nowhere to go so moves in with Red, who has suddenly popped back into Will's life. Their lifestyles are very different ... Will is very cautious and never takes risks whereas Red lives for challenges despite being in his early seventies.

I've read many books by this author and thought this one was okay. It was a bit of a downer because of Will's state of mind and reactions but Red's philosophy for life is a good one. It is written in first person perspective in Will's voice. I thought writing could have been tighter as some times it tended to be a bit draggy. The author is English as are the characters so there were some references to I didn't know.  As a head's up, there is a swearing (lots of F-bombs).