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. I See You’ve Called in Dead is a witty and heartwarming reminder of the bottomless despair, limitless absurdity, and undeniable joy of the human experience.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“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
“I loved this beautiful book so much I couldn't put it down. Funny, charming, and so incredibly moving. I even cried. Ugh. John Kenney, what have you done to me?”
—Gary Janetti, author of Do You Mind If I Cancel?: (Things That Still Annoy Me)
“John Kenney's I See You've Called in Dead will be relatable to anyone who took the Talking Heads to heart and woke up thinking 'How did I get here?' His novel manages both heartbreaking loss and hilarious observational humor, while giving us a glimpse at the human condition, its unpredictable fleeting ecstasies, warts and all.”
—Annabelle Gurwitch, author of You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility
“Wise, wry, and heartfelt, I See You Called in Dead is the most life-affirming novel about death you’ll ever read—and possibly the funniest. Kenney takes his hero, a middle-aged obituary writer in a rut, on a bumpy odyssey toward understanding that grief and joy are inextricably linked, and to try to separate them is to miss out on truly living. I adored this book!”
—Jane Roper, author of The Society of Shame
“John Kenney has the remarkable ability to write characters that are at once hilariously absurd, charming, deeply flawed, cringe-worthy, loveable and just so . . . human. I See You’ve Called in Dead is all of those things . . . All this is to say, I woke my whole family up laughing—dogs included.”
—Liz Astrof, author of Stay-at-Work Mom: Marriage, Kids, and Other Disasters and producer of Kings & Queens
“I absolutely adored this book! Kenney’s quick-witted, deadpan dialogue, paired with the inherent humor in the novel’s conceit and the protagonist’s unusual hobby of sitting in on strangers’ funerals, had me laughing out loud. Yet, just as often, I found myself in tears. This story delivers a fresh and poignant take on the midlife crisis narrative, one that brings to mind big-hearted questions not only about life, but about what it truly means to live.”
—Angela Brown, author of Olivia Strauss Is Running Out of Time
“Kenney’s touching, provocative novel . . . alludes to the idea that life’s richness comes from spending time with people you love, and that those relationships are built on mutual respect, truth, and love. A touching ode to the people who make life worth living.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Readers get the beauty of Thurber Award winner Kenney’s writing, with descriptions of the everyday that feel like poetry. Book clubs will find much to discuss.”
—Library Journal
“Like Matthew Klam, Jonathan Tropper, and Nick Hornby, Kenney has perfected the comedy of the lonely middle-aged guy.”
—The Washington Post
Praise for Truth in Advertising
“With wry humor, always on point, Kenney guides us through the maze of work, family, love (elusive) and friendship (a lifesaver). This is an outstanding debut.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A masterful blend of wit and seriousness, stunning in its honesty. A novel sure to appeal to fans of Nick Hornby.” -Booklist (starred review)
“With wry wit, excellent pacing, and pitch-perfect, often hilarious, dialogue, Kenney has created something remarkable: a surprisingly funny novel about an adult American male finally becoming a man. Highly recommended.” -Library Journal (starred review)
“Framed around a surprisingly sweet romance, as well as Fin’s eventual confrontation with his painful family history, this debut offers a pleasing lightness-to-heart ratio.” -New York Times
“You'd expect that a man who writes humor pieces for the New Yorker would be funny – and he is. John Kenney, who also worked as an advertising copywriter, knows that world and skewers it mercilessly and hilariously in his debut novel. . . . It would also be safe to say that amazing things will most likely be happening in John Kenney's literary career right now. Truthfully.” -Cleveland Plain Dealer
“[Kenney’s] insights are dead-on. . . . [His] plot is perfectly balanced between the insanity of both work and family, and the ending is satisfying without being saccharine. . . . Engaging and entertaining . . . The joy is in the journey of spending time with a character that is, at times, annoying and thoughtful, arrogant and scared, childish and mature — in other words, someone like the rest of us.” -Dallas Morning News
“This debut novel reads at times like a laugh-out-loud standup routine. What sustains it, though, is much more substantial: an engaging, believable plot, a fascinating if jaundiced view inside the contemporary world of New York advertising, and most of all, a lead character you're glad you get to know. . . . It's a measure of Kenney's writing talent that the regular gusts of delicious, smart-alecky ad agency banter among Dolan and his witty comrades and the painful-to-read scenes depicting the toxic relations among siblings feel equally real in this novel. . . . [A] smart, cinematic story.” -Associated Press
“We're sold on Kenney's trenchant, quick-witted debut.” -Entertainment Weekly
“In this Nick Hornby-esque fiction debut, midlife crisis and family tragedy force a 39-year-old ad man to reevaluate his priorities.” -O Magazine (“Ten Titles to Pick Up Now”)
“Here's a smart one. . . . Lovers of the city will find much to love in this relatable, redemptive, and sometimes very funny story.” -Denver Post
“The comedy sparkles [with] mordant one-liners, snappy banter, and hilarious workplace scenarios.” -Boston Globe
“An honest and insightful novel about a business and a life that have both been anything but . . . . Wonderfully entertaining and elegantly written.” -Shelf Awareness (Best Books of 2013)
“It's the stuff of Jonathan Tropper novels and Judd Apatow films and every Zooey Deschanel fantasy.” -USAToday.com
“The rare novel that's truly cinematic. It is sexy, the plot twists in just the right places; simply put, it's untamable. You will laugh almost as much as you will relate to the plight of the protagonist. . . . This book might just rouse the creative genius in you, too.” -Interview.com
“What really amazed me was the unexpected depth and subtleness of the rest of the book, which showcases writing that, in terms of talent, puts Kenney in a league with the best of American writers of his generation.” -Lurzer's International Archive (UK)
“It will make you laugh out loud at times and it will also touch you deeply. . . . This is the sort of book where you really care about the characters. . . . ” -Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“A snortingly funny debut ... Although Nick Hornby is the obvious reference — humor and heartbreak of ordinary life — this wonderful book is more J. Alfred Prufrock.” -The Phoenix (Boston)
