Vince Locker is a comedian struggling to make ends meet. The only light in his life is his daughter for whom he wants to be a present father. With his ex-wife constantly nagging him to be a better provider, he walks a tightrope. When he bombs a comedy show that could have been his big break, it is the last straw. He ends up on a bridge, ready to take the plunge. He is rescued in the most dramatic fashion by Truss, the mortician. A Comedian Walks into a Funeral Home by Dennis Kelly is an intriguing story of a host of characters bound together by chance. As Vince gets back on his feet with a new form to his comedy act, he appreciates life in the face of death.

Vince is a comedian who turns into a humorous eulogist by a strange twist of fate. As he struggles to come to terms with his new work and life, he takes the reader through an extraordinary story. When Truss – a veteran mortician – saves Vince from suicide, a chain of events is triggered. In A Comedian Walks into a Funeral Home, Dennis Kelly explores the vagaries of life in a simple yet profound manner. I loved reading Vince’s journey with the most colorful set of characters. Everyone in Vince’s life has many layers of insights to offer. I loved the premise of comic eulogies as a celebration of life. I salute Dennis’s brilliant storytelling in an unconventional and creative setting. I highly recommend everyone to grab a copy of this heart-warming book.

A Comedian Walks Into a Funeral Home by Dennis Kelly is the story of Vince Locker, a failed comedian who, after his dreams are crushed, finds himself teetering on the brink of oblivion, which in this case is also known as the Smith Avenue High Bridge. Before he plummets to his death, an old-fashioned hearse arrives. Within are the mortician Truss and the corpse of Riva O’Malley, a destitute, unclaimed murder victim. The encounter saves Vince’s life and allows him to undertake a new calling: Providing comedic eulogies for Truss’s clients. Helping others find the closure he never could after his father’s disappearance twenty years earlier aids Vince on his journey of self-discovery, but for reasons he doesn’t understand, he can’t rest until he solves the mystery of Riva’s untimely demise and gives voice to her story. In his search for truth, Vince inadvertently kicks a hornets’ nest, landing himself and his loved ones in grave danger.

I selected this book expecting relentless humor with some drama and mystery thrown in. Instead, I found a deeply engaging, emotionally charged read with unique characters, nail-biting suspense, and moments of profound, beautiful prose. I felt the humor, while present throughout the novel, was largely overshadowed by the gravity of the subject matter. However, I honestly think it made for a more poignant read, and the comedic elements did serve to lighten the mood enough in many cases to keep the drama aspects from becoming overbearing. I really connected with the way Vince used humor to deal with life. Though I expected some of what came to light, I found myself absorbed by the mystery aspects of the story, and the ultimate outcome left me floored. This is a great story. I loved the originality and humor. I recommend A Comedian Walks Into a Funeral Home by Dennis Kelly for anyone with a dark sense of humor who’s interested in an enjoyable, singular read with lots of quirky moments and plenty of twists and turns.