Mortuary Confidential

Undertakers Spill the Dirt

By: Todd Harra, Kenneth McKenzie

Narrated by: Susan Larkin, Allan Robertson

When the casket reached the front of the sanctuary, there was a loud cracking sound as the bottom fell out. And with a thump, down came Father Iggy.

From shoot-outs at funerals to dead men screaming and runaway corpses, undertakers have plenty of unusual stories to tell - and a special way of telling them.

In this macabre and moving compilation, funeral directors across the country share their most embarrassing, jaw-dropping, irreverent, and deeply poignant stories about life at death's door. Discover what scares them and what moves them to tears. Learn about rookie mistakes and why death sometimes calls for duct tape.

Enjoy tales of the dearly departed spending eternity naked from the waist down and getting bottled and corked - in a wine bottle. And then meet their families - the weepers, the punchers, the stolidly dignified, and the ones who deliver their dead mother in a pickup truck.

If there's one thing undertakers know, it's that death drives people crazy. These are the best "bodies of work" from America's darkest profession.

©2010 Kenneth McKenzie and Todd Harra (P)2021 Tantor

Be ready to laugh out loud, tear up a bit & enjoy the ride these stories take you on!

I listened to this as an audiobook. Normally it doesn’t take me long to finish an audiobook at all. Especially because I tend to listen at 1.5 speed or so. This one took me longer than normal but for good reason.

I kept having to pause after stories in the book because throughout my listen I laughed, I cried, I laughed so hard I cried & I also had to rewind a bit at times to make sure I heard that right.

This was such a great listen. The stories remind you that death is just a part of life & it’s really the experience of the living. It adds levity to it. It gives you a point of few we don’t always get to see. I can’t honestly say enough about this one. Absolutely worth the read or listen!

I loved the Stories!!

Good read if you like amusing dark tales. Some were humorous and others brought tears to my eyes.

It was cool

I liked it, I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was cool. A collection of stories, each unique in their own ways. I think I will pick up the other book from the authors.

I laughed, I cried, and I even got a little spooked at the end.

This is an outstanding collection of stories and each of the narrators does a great job telling them. Six Feet Under is my favorite show of all time and I’ve been *dying* for more content like that. This is a great listen for anyone interested, and definitely goes out with a bang with that last story! I’m already feeling sad that I’ve finished it.

entertainment of the best kind!

A good collection of stories. Had many laughs. Thoughtful stories. Good readers. Didn't want it to end.

Funny, heart gripping, and a joy to listen too

The gentleman and lady reading have such wonderful voices! Soothing yet engaging and they do well to bring the stories some personality. Love the stories, absolutely fun to listen too. Some were hilarious, others more somber and better still were the ones that made me pause to really think and reflect. Will be listening again and encouraging family and friends to do the same.

Nothing to writehone about

It was amusing at times, but not very memorable, I wouldn't bother referring it to a friend

Good book!!!!

I loved the heartfelt stories, made me smile cry and remember some of my memories with past families I had served being in the same field of work.

A wonderful read!

I’m a chaplain and have always been curious about the funeral industry. This books gives the reader an inside look into faith, sorrow, loss, and a nice helping of humor and profound insight. Yes!! I recommend this book! Enjoy!!

Enjoyable

I don’t know if you can call a book about death enjoyable. It was entertaining and funny. I actually laughed out loud.