I See You've Called in Dead: A Novel

INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER - One of NPR's Book We Love 2025 - A Gotham Book Prize Finalist - An Indie Next & LibraryReads Pick - AudioFiles Earphones Award Winner - Library Journal Audio "Editor's Picks of the Year" - 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.

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Published Apr 1, 2025

320 pages

Average rating: 7.61

212 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Gabriela-in-Amherst
May 09, 2026
9/10 stars
Funny and poignant in equal. Had me thinking about life in new ways.
Stef01
Mar 09, 2026
8/10 stars
Funny and touching story about life, death and search for meaning
Larry Burns
Feb 01, 2026
8/10 stars
I laughed out loud.
Mrs Mayo
Nov 13, 2025
8/10 stars
Witty. I enjoyed meeting the characters and witnessing his self-realization as he navigated the dilemma he created. It's kind of a testament to redeeming qualities.
Colliwog
Apr 20, 2026
10/10 stars
Phenomenal read and great for book club!

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