I See You Called In Dead

by John Kenney

I See You Called in Dead opens with a fantastic premise: Bud, a newspaper employee, gets drunk, accidentally publishes a wildly exaggerated version of his own obituary, and then is left waiting to see what consequences come next. This is no ordinary embellishment, either. According to his obituary, he's the inventor of toothpaste, ninth in line to the British throne, and a member of the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team, among many other accomplishments. The result is a funny, surprisingly heartfelt story about what it means to start living when you're forced to confront your own mortality. I found myself laughing at Bud's misadventures while also appreciating the novel's underlying message about second chances and taking stock of your life. The humor, warmth, and offbeat charm won me over, making this an entertaining and thoughtful read about screwing up, growing up, and figuring out how to live before it's too late.