I See You've Called in Dead

A Novel

De: John Kenney

Narrado por: Sean Patrick Hopkins

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A 2025 NPR “Books We Love” Pick
USA Today April Pick

“Razor-sharp, darkly comedic, and emotionally piercing. With the satirical bite of Richard Russo’s Straight Man, the introspection of Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, and the reinvention of Andrew Sean Greer's Less, Kenney’s vivid prose transforms the mundane into unexpected hilarity.”
—Booklist (starred review)

An Indie Next & LibraryReads Pick for April
Winner of the AudioFiles Earphones Award

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.

Obituary writer Bud Stanley isn’t really living his best life. He’s fallen into a funk after a divorce. (She left him for another man, who, in fairness, was far more interesting.) He’s not doing his job well. He’s given up on dating. And he’s about to be fired for accidentally publishing his own obituary one mildly drunken night (though technically the company can’t legally fire a dead person).

As Bud awaits his fate at work, he does the only logical thing: He goes to the wakes and funerals of total strangers to learn how to live again.

©2025 John Kenney (P)2025 Zibby Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

“There are writers I turn to when I need a guaranteed laugh, and John Kenney is certainly among them. But John is also on a shorter, more rarified list of writers who can evoke a laugh and make you feel alive. That's no small feat given the title of his breathtaking new novel is I See You've Called in Dead. But that's John. And you will love him.” —Steven Rowley, author of The Celebrants

“I See You’ve Called in Dead is a riotously funny, poignantly introspective novel that dives headfirst into the absurdity of existence. Bud Stanley is an obituary writer who gets everything wrong—including accidentally publishing his own death notice. From botched blind dates to philosophical musings about life and death, Bud grapples with love, legacy, and the existential (and satirical) weight of being alive. But seriously . . . read this, it is laugh out loud funny. Perfect for fans of dark, heartfelt comedy.” —Weike Wang, author of Rental House

“I loved this beautiful book so much I couldn't put it down. Funny, charming, and so incredibly moving. I even cried. Ugh. John Kenney, what have you done to me?” —Gary Janetti, author of Do You Mind If I Cancel?: (Things That Still Annoy Me)

Thought provoking

This one will stay with me for a long time. It was more than just about life and death, it was about actually LIVING and being curious about the stories of others. Everyone should read or listen (the narration is wonderful) to this book and then just sit with it a minute. What will you do with your dash? That time between birth and death. How will people remember you?

I loved this book so much.

I loved every word of this book. The story was wonderful and I loved it's dark humor.

Funny and thought-provoking

I enjoyed listening to this book. It was funny and thought-provoking. The narrator was excellent. I feel I got more out of this book by listening to it with this narrator than I would have gotten out of reading the print edition.

The message, to actually "live" life!

I loved the writing! The humor and wit about a subject rarely written about - especially with such insight, fun and interesting storyline!

While it is a dark subject the sarcasm was on point.

I learned and cried many times during this book. A compelling look at someone who is sinking at life and how they stop themselves from sinking.