On the surface, John Fielding is a husband to Kate, father of three and a successful businessman. He has everything going for him. Then, out of nowhere, he is fired. Suddenly, he has no status. He tries to find work, but having attacked his former boss on being dismissed, there are few takers. He takes a position in the London office of an unknown African bank, ruled by a despotic manager half his age, who delights in his humiliation. He then tries to start his own business, whilst finding out what it means to be a surrogate playground mother. His friends are too busy to help and Kate starts to see her world implode with the budget strings tightening and a self-absorbed man in her way at every turn. Meanwhile, he is left to deal with a children's birthday party assailed by local drug dealers, and the lack of money for Christmas presents. His mental state deteriorates and he is criminalised. As Kate picks up the mantle of breadwinner, John unsuccessfully tries to use his management skills to shepherd the local mums in organising the local bring & buy sale and then help his son, who is accused of bullying. All this he does in the company of the family dog, on whose walks John finds the time to reflect and ruminate. Things improve when he finds an outlet for his talents, and manages to accidentally crash Kate's secret lingerie party. Will John & Kate eventually find a way to adapt to their new circumstances and live a more interested and connected life; will John finally be able to tell Kate how much he loves her, or is this family headed for destruction? Will the dog still be there when he needs him most. That Dog Won't Fly. John Fielding's plight will strike a chord with a great many men who have been through this life-changing episode and many women who have tried to cope with it when it did. The sight of formerly powerful men standing alone at the school gates is a sign of our times. Although the book addresses many difficult themes, it does so with compassion and is often painfully funny. Readers of Nick Hornby or Carl Hiaasen may find some similarities of style here.