First published 2024
Spencer Henry and Madison Reyes dive into America's relationship with death and remembrance. Drawing from their popular podcast, they examine scandalous deathbed confessions throughout history and unusual keepsakes made from human remains. The authors scoured newspaper archives and interviewed death industry experts to uncover colorful traditions and contemporary practices. Chapters titled "Coffin Confessions," "Executions to Die For," "The Last Word," and "If These Dolls Could Speak" reveal surprising details about FUNerals, themed cremations, and notorious body snatchers. Henry and Reyes balance shocking and macabre content with humor while exploring what death reveals about human nature. The book demystifies taboo topics and examines how we choose to honor the deceased, offering readers both entertainment and insight into mortality's role in American culture.
Genres: history, death, non-fiction, true-crime
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, non-fiction
224 pages · Hardcover · Plume
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence