"I See You've Called in Dead"
Written by John Kenney
LIBBY READS GLOBAL
July 9 - 23, 2026
About this event
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.
Starting July 9, libraries worldwide will have this title available free to read with no holds or waitlists as an ebook and audiobook.
What is Libby Reads?
Libby Reads is a global ebook club, and it's completely free! Readers around the world can enjoy the same featured book at the same time, with no wait lists and no holds. All you need is a library card.
Just download the Libby app, borrow the selected ebook from your participating local library, and start reading on your phone, tablet or computer at LibbyApp.com.
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Program Extras
Libby Reads LIVE: Q&A with John Kenney and Sean Patrick Hopkins
Author John Kenney and audiobook narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins discuss Kenney's novel "I See You've Called In Dead" with Professional Book Nerds podcast host, Joe Skelley. How did the book develop from a buddy road trip story to a NYC-based narrative about an obituary writer who begins attending strangers' funerals? How did Kenney begin his writing journey? What is Sean’s process for bringing characters to life through voice work? This discussion explored themes of grief, resilience, and the universal nature of human experience.
Follow John on social or email him your questions about the book:
johnkenney@mac.com
https://www.instagram.com/johnkenneywriter/
https://x.com/jkenneywriter
Follow Sean on social:
https://www.instagram.com/seanpatrickhopkins/
https://www.facebook.com/seanpatrickhopkins/
https://x.com/SeanPatrickHop
Stay up to date on future Libby Reads digital book club programs: https://www.libbylife.com/libby-reads
Hosted by Joe Skelley
About the Author
John Kenney is the New York Times bestselling author of Love Poems for Married People and the novels Talk to Me and Truth in Advertising, which won the Thurber Prize for American Humor. He is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker and lives in Larchmont, New York.
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John Kenney
For fans of "I See You've Called in Dead"
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Join the Discussion
Discussion Board
Dive deeper into I See You've Called in Dead with readers from around the world. The Discussion Board is where book club–style conversations happen from first impressions to thoughtful reflections on characters, themes, and meaning.
Add your voice
Discussion Guide
I See You’ve Called in Dead invites readers into a darkly funny and unexpectedly tender meditation on grief, reinvention, and what it means to truly show up for one’s own life. These discussion questions explore the possibility of starting over, the strange gifts that come from confronting mortality, and how connection can pull us back from emotional isolation.
