Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated - by James Goodhand (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated blew me away. It is full of joy and human warmth and it has very wise things to say about the value of kindness. It immediately became one of my all-time favourite reads."
--Gareth Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of Doors

Perfect for fans of The Dead Poets Society, It's A Wonderful Life, and A Man Called Ove.

A lifetime ago, Ray "Spike" Thorns was a well-regarded caretaker on a boarding school's grounds. These days, he lives the life of a recluse in a house rammed with hoarded junk, alone and disconnected from family or anyone he might have at one time considered a friend.

When his next-door neighbor drops dead on Spike's doorstep, a case of mistaken identity ensues: according to the police, the hospital, the doctors--everyone--Spike is dead. Spike wants to correct the mistake, really he does, but when confronted with those who knew him best, he hesitates, forced to face whatever impression he's left on the world. It's a discovery that brings him up close to ghosts from his past, and to the only woman he ever loved.

Could it be that in coming face-to-face with his own demise, Spike is able to really live again? And will he be able to put things straight before the inevitable happens--his own funeral? The result is a beautiful look at life and what we would all do if given a second chance.

Review Quotes

"Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated blew me away. It is an outstanding depiction of loneliness and regret, but it's not a sad book. It is full of joy and human warmth and it has very wise things to say about the value of kindness. It immediately became one of my all-time favourite reads."
--Gareth Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of Doors

"James Goodhand is one of the best writers to emerge in the last few years, and Reports of his Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated is his finest work yet. Moving and life-affirming, I've been thinking about it constantly since I finished it. Plus, it made me cry, and only Spurs are usually capable of that. A truly great book."
--Adam Simcox, author of the Dying Squad trilogy