I See You've Called in Dead Audiobook By John Kenney cover art

I See You've Called in Dead

A Novel

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INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
An NPR 2025 “Books We Love”
USA Today April Pick
An Indie Next & LibraryReads Pick
2026 Gotham Book Prize Finalist
Winner of the AudioFiles Earphones Award
2026 Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List 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)

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 Dark Humor Friendship Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Witty Heartfelt Feel-Good Funny Inspiring Tearjerking Thought-Provoking Suspenseful

Critic reviews

“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
Witty Humor • Emotional Depth • Perfect Narration • Thought-provoking Story • Beautiful Writing

Highly rated for:

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I enjoyed the humor and friendships of the story. A beautiful reminder of why we are here. The seconds & inches that can change everything.

Outstanding book

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This was a good read, even with death being the main theme throughout the book. It wasn’t nearly as heavy as you might expect — in fact, it came across more lighthearted than a story about dead people would normally feel.

I thought it had a great underlying message and was an easy, quick read. It didn’t move me in the way I thought it might based on other reviews or the very high ratings, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth reading.

I’d recommend it to someone looking for a feel-good, self-help style book with a motivational edge. For me, it wasn’t a life-changing read, but it was still enjoyable and well worth four stars.

This was a good read, even with death being the main theme throughout the book

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I loved the characters—especially Bud—and how touching, clever, and often funny this story was. A wonderful wonderful read!

A meaningful read

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I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney is a smart and funny look at the everyday chaos of work and midlife. Kenney’s dry humor shines throughout, and he has a talent for capturing those small, ordinary moments that end up feeling surprisingly meaningful. The characters come across as real people who are flawed, self-aware, and easy to root for.

While a few sections feel a bit rushed, the overall tone is consistently engaging, blending humor with just the right amount of heart. It’s the kind of book that makes you laugh, nod in recognition, and occasionally pause to think.

Wry, Relatable, and Warmly Entertaining

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It had humor and depth… greatly enjoyed and would highly recommend if you need a lift for your life .

What a pleasant surprise!!!

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