I See You've Called in Dead

A Novel

De: John Kenney

Narrado por: Sean Patrick Hopkins

The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy in this coming-of-middle-age tale about having a second chance to write your life’s story.

Bud Stanley is an obituary writer who is afraid to live. Yes, his wife recently left him for a “far more interesting” man. Yes, he goes on a particularly awful blind date with a woman who brings her ex. And yes, he has too many glasses of Scotch one night and proceeds to pen and publish his own obituary. The newspaper wants to fire him. But now the company’s system has him listed as dead. And the company can’t fire a dead person. The ensuing fallout forces him to realize that life may be actually worth living.

As Bud awaits his fate at work, his life hangs in the balance. Given another shot by his boss and encouraged by his best friend, Tim, a worldly and wise former art dealer, Bud starts to attend the wakes and funerals of strangers to learn how to live.

Thurber Prize-winner and NYTimes bestselling author John Kenney tells a funny, touching story about life and death, about the search for meaning, about finding and never letting go of the preciousness of life.

©2025 Zibby Publishing (P)2025 Zibby Publishing

wonderful book. Comic edge but full of heart

There are some laugh out loud bits,but inside of them are encounters with life and death. Characters are well drawn and likeable., dialogue is fast and clever. Great writing, great narration. I'm sorry the book wasn't twice as long.
Hightly recommend.

Sweet story about examining a life.

The story was interesting. The characters were well developed and real. I will think about this after I am done.

mostly enjoyable

3.5 stars for I See You've Called in Dead. This was a mostly enjoyable and quick read by John Kenney about "Bud" an obituary writer who is going through a rough patch and doesn't see the beauty in life anymore. One night after a bad blind date he gets drunk and writes his own obituary. As he has broken company policy he is immediately put on leave with the likelihood he will be fired. During this hiatus from work, Bud spends time with his best friend and landlord, Tim, who is a parapalegic with a much more optimistic outlook on life. At his ex wife's mother's funeral he meets a woman who goes to the wakes and funerals of people she doesn't know as a way to keep her invested in the life she has. So, Bud and Tim start joining her. The friendship between these two is genuinely touching and the author actually gets high praise for all of his characters who I found authentic and endearing. The witty banter and dialogue is also really well done. I think the story loses a little bit of steam with the continuous death theme that even when handled well is heavy. I liked it but was honestly ready for it to end and then I had issues with the ending itself that seemed a bit manipulative. Emotionally, that is. Would recommend if you are feeling introspective and considering the meaning of life or if you like witty narration with a continuous funeral heavy plot!

Good Book!

There were laugh out moments but more importantly, lots of heart. He touched on different aspects of life and society without hitting you over the head with it. Clever work. Enjoyable!

Hilarious

This book was really funny. I laughed throughout. I enjoyed it. It was a nice surprise!

Great performance

This is an unusual, humorous and entertaining bit of fiction. The reader performances is extraordinary. He delivers every line as the author must have imagined, not a small feat for many sarcastic droll lines.

Great start.

Unfortunately all the humor I enjoyed at the beginning of the book was soon gone. The meandering story, such as it is, lost me. Overall a strong start then a big fizzle.