I started this one but could not finish. I really tried to get into the story, but this type of writing just isn't for me.

Loved this book and the author's humor over a morbid topic, and has been a hit at our library so far. Could be a great book club book.

Wow this book is special! I almost skipped it because I’m not usually drawn to humor writing but I am so glad I picked this up. I could go on for ages describing this but a blurb from an email from the publisher does better than anything I could do: “a book that makes you laugh, cry, and cry laughing”. So good!

This was probably the biggest example of SRG reading leading to quick DNFs.
I don’t have much to say about it obviously (since only 6%), but the main reason I DNF’d this one was the humor wasn’t landing with me.
I loved his snarky humor in Talk to Me, but it felt too “try hard” in this one.
The publisher says this is The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy and calls it a “coming of middle age” story (I love this term and reading about people in this stage of life - probably because it’s where I am).

I started this one but could not finish. I really tried to get into the story, but this type of writing just isn't for me.

A divorced obituary writer, Bud Stanley, goes off the rails a bit after a bad date (his date brought her ex-boyfiend). He drunkenly writes and publishes his own obituary. Bud begins attending funerals of people he doesn't know to learn to appreciate life. A hilarious and insightful commentary on corporations, life, depression, family and friendship.

**A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

I would like to begin by thanking the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. But most of all, my heartfelt thanks go to the author.
Reading I See You’ve Called in Dead was such a heartwarming experience. It felt like a long walk or a cup of tea with a good friend. I felt a genuine connection with the characters—I truly liked all of them and wanted to embrace them, laugh with them, and cry with them.

Books like this are such uplifting companions in times when it's easy to lose faith in humankind. This story is a reminder of the power of kindness and the quiet resilience that comes from embracing the fact of living—with everything that comes with being alive. I’m so grateful I got to read it.

Thank you again to everyone involved in bringing this beautiful book to readers.

Stanley is afraid to live, but also not living his life. When one too many drinks puts him into dangerous territory while participating in his favorite pastime, writing his own obituary, he finds himself in print the next day. This darkly comedic and emotionally charged novel was a great read!

I have been thinking about since I finished reading it last month. I have been trying to get my words and thought just right just because this book book touched something deep in me and had me reflecting on so many things.

I See You Called In Dead is the perfect read when you feel that you are alone and when life just feels like it is asking too much of you. For those days when you feel like you are not seen or understood, John Kenney has written a book will remind you, that this is Modern Life. I loved that the writing was vivid, the characters and the struggle at the heat of the book were real and so present that I often felt like I was watching a movie that had all the hallmarks of a great dark comedy. Filled with all the psychological awareness and sharp biting wit that makes a great satirical work, this book truly fits this moment in time. If you like a story that walks the razor's edge between dark and light, but still crave a true and unexpected laugh out loud moment., then this is a book you will enjoy. This is what made this such a strong book for me, Kenny's darkly comic timing. Wonderfully absurd, insightfully comic, and delightfully incisive, this is a slow burn of a book that, like a great campfire needs time to establish itself before it can shines light into the night.

John Kenney wites in the tradition of William Saroyan's The Human Comedy and Herman Melville's "Bartleby, The Scrivner" and shows how there is an eternal struggle of Living and the of the trying to live that life.

I know that this book has a darkly comic tone on very serious topic, but always think of you own mental health and wellbeing. If you find you need to talk with someone 988 Lifeline is there 24/7 with real people to help. Whether you want to talk on the phone, text, or live chat someone is at 988 or https://988lifeline.org

Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Publishing for the arc that I read

Laugh until your face hurts, cry until you run out of tissues. “ I See You Called in Dead” has all the feels. Life gets hard for Bud, a depressed obituary writer, when he accidentally submits his own obituary for publication. Life is hard, and it helps to have friends and laughter on the journey. It also helps to have good books like this one to help you keep going.

Highly recommended for fans of Russo’s Straight Man.

This was a heartwarming and (darkly) humorous story about a man who works as an obituary writer and who published his own obituary. I did find the narrator, Bud Stanley, to be quirky and funny. However, this book didn't fully hit for me. I think I was in a negative headspace when I wrote it and so I found the humor, occasionally, to be a little forced and over the top. That said, I think this book will get a lot of praise and positive attention. It just wasn't for me at this time!

The end of this one really got me. I was sitting at my desk eating lunch and finishing it on my break - and I had to work not to cry. The last couple of chapters are wonderful. Some of this book felt a little precious to me - it's just too easy for everyone to say pithy things and be quirky and clever, while at the same time pretending to be sarcastic and sullen. The whole thing reads like an indie movie. Sometimes it's a little annoying - but people write indie movies and clever people in books because they have something they need to say. Kenney has a lot to say about living and grief, and this is a worthwhile read - especially if you've lost someone close to you recently.

This is a book about life and death told through the lens of a depressed obituary writer. While the plot is more of the writer's meandering thoughts rather than a traditional plotline, this book is at times laugh out loud funny and then ugly crying through poignant passages. You'll walk away with the sense that life is really short and we should tell those that we love how important they are to us. Fans of Fredrick Bachman will want to add this to their TBR list.

John Kenney's I See You've Called in Dead is a darkly comic exploration of the complexities of family, grief, and the unexpected twists life throws at us. The novel centers around Bud Stanley, an obituary writer who is afraid to live. His wife has recently left him for a "far more interesting man" and one drunken night Bud writes his own obituary and accidentally publishes it. Now the newspaper wants to fire him, but they can't fire someone deceased The ensuing fallout makes his realize he is missing out on life and begins his journey to search for the meaning of life. Kenney weaves a story full of emotional depth, biting humor, and sharp observations about the human condition.

Kenney’s writing style is witty and poignant, finding humor even in the most somber of moments. His characters are incredibly well-drawn, each dealing with their own baggage, which gives the narrative a grounded, relatable feel. The book expertly balances its darker themes with lighthearted moments, making for a reading experience that is at once touching and laugh-out-loud funny.

At its core, I See You've Called in Dead is a meditation on how we cope with loss, and how, sometimes, life’s absurdity can offer the very relief we need. The plot’s pacing and structure reflect the emotional tumult the characters are undergoing, creating a narrative that feels both personal and universal.

In conclusion, John Kenney delivers a compelling narrative with I See You've Called in Dead, offering a story that is both emotionally resonant and sharply funny. It’s a book about the messiness of life and the strange ways we heal, making it a worthwhile read for anyone looking for a fresh perspective on the trials of loss.

Oh my gosh I love this book! At times heartbreaking, it’s also life affirming and hilariously funny. Bud is lucky that so many wonderful people come into his life.

Although it starts a bit slowly, stick with it. It’s a wonderful story about found family and what it means to live a fulfilling life and you will definitely laugh out loud quite a few times. Truly an outstanding book that I will recommend to everyone.

The premise of the book - an obituary writer who accidentally posts his own obituary - may not seem like a funny or heartwarming story, yet that's exactly what this is. It's full of moving and emotional and life affirming ideas that had me smiling, smirking and even teary eyed. It came along when I needed it and I'll be recommending it highly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Zibby Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

I started reading the book and then got an audiobook arc. I enjoyed it more as an audiobook.

Bud Stanley writes obituaries. He's stuck in a bad place after his divorce and one night drunkenly writes and submits his own obituary. Can't say I particularly connected with Bud but he has a wonderful group of friends and co-workers that I enjoyed.

The book started off a bit slow for me, but that changed as I became more invested in the characters. It's a unique and heartfelt story that explores themes of life, death, love, and friendship. With a perfect blend of poignancy and humor, it’s a truly enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

Wow this book

To be honest, it started off a little slow for me, but I switched to audio {tysm @libro.fm for the early listening copy} and it really grabbed my heart! And it being slow may really be a me problem, not the book problem. There have been so many life changes for me lately and my brain is constantly elsewhere. This book was the perfect read at the perfect time.

You get to meet Bud, an obituary writer who got a little tipsy and just accidentally published his own obituary. He is so kind and funny and you get to meet am amazing cast of characters that really warm your heart.

“That at the end and I've had the privilege to be in the room with a few people now, my parents, two friends I think, and it's just a guess, but I think we let go of everything and the true nature of experience falls over us.
This . . . miracle that is existence. Which we layer with so much. With anxiety and fear and greed and smallness and what's next and hurry up and I've got a meeting and all the ... stuff... that gets in the way. I'm not saying we should all go live at high altitudes like a monk. I'm saying that if you haven't lived the life you want, if you haven't loved life, then at the end, I think a deep and very sad regret comes over you. But if you have, if you've lived well . . . friends and family and... it you've lived ... then just as true is the peace you feel.”


If you are looking for a quick and thoughtful read, this one is for you!

John Kenney's I SEE YOU'VE CALLED IN DEAD is no ordinary read. The story of a man who writes obituaries for a living, this enjoyable novel had me taking a huge step back to think about my life and attitudes toward life and death as Bud Stanley explores different options for his life when he lives in the twilight zone of a bureaucratic issue. I enjoyed reading Bud's adventures and cheering on this perfectly imperfect person doing his best to make sense of a crazy-making world. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.