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Afterlife, Inc.: A light-hearted look at the business of death.
What if the afterlife was a corporate affair where even Death has a desk job?
Death runs a tight ship at Afterlife, Inc., where every soul is sorted, stamped, and dispatched to their eternal fate with ruthless efficiency. But when Rosie Randall, a spirited young woman, arrives under unusual circumstances and starts asking questions, the cracks in the system begin to show.
Rosie isn’t like the other souls. She’s clever, curious, and remarkably resistant to Afterlife’s unyielding bureaucracy. Even more unsettling, she forces Death to question the arbitrary nature of his job—and the entire cosmic order. Why do some souls face justice while others slip through the cracks? And what if everything Death believes about his role is a lie?
As Rosie defies the rules of life and death, Death embarks on a journey that could undermine the very foundations of the afterlife. Will he dig in and maintain the balance of the universe, or risk everything to upset the astral apple cart?
Blending dark humour, absurd bureaucracy, and supernatural satire, Afterlife, Inc. is perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Christopher Moore—readers who enjoy sharp wit, cosmic absurdity, and just a touch of existential mischief. If you love books that make you laugh, think, and question the universe, step inside Afterlife, Inc.—where even Death isn’t above the paperwork.
Death runs a tight ship at Afterlife, Inc., where every soul is sorted, stamped, and dispatched to their eternal fate with ruthless efficiency. But when Rosie Randall, a spirited young woman, arrives under unusual circumstances and starts asking questions, the cracks in the system begin to show.
Rosie isn’t like the other souls. She’s clever, curious, and remarkably resistant to Afterlife’s unyielding bureaucracy. Even more unsettling, she forces Death to question the arbitrary nature of his job—and the entire cosmic order. Why do some souls face justice while others slip through the cracks? And what if everything Death believes about his role is a lie?
As Rosie defies the rules of life and death, Death embarks on a journey that could undermine the very foundations of the afterlife. Will he dig in and maintain the balance of the universe, or risk everything to upset the astral apple cart?
Blending dark humour, absurd bureaucracy, and supernatural satire, Afterlife, Inc. is perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Christopher Moore—readers who enjoy sharp wit, cosmic absurdity, and just a touch of existential mischief. If you love books that make you laugh, think, and question the universe, step inside Afterlife, Inc.—where even Death isn’t above the paperwork.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2025
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 5, 2025
At times light & funny, at times heavy & thoughtful, Afterlife Inc. stunned me in all the best ways.
I, like many people, have my own views of the afterlife and what lies beyond that thin but oh-so-unseeable veil of death, and a book like this is always a good refresher to consider those things and, more importantly, to consider what comes before and leads up to the stepping beyond that veil. A.M. Riley is a kind, funny, and at times provocative guide: the writing is phenomenal, the characters are likable, and this is a really great story. 5 Stars!!!
I, like many people, have my own views of the afterlife and what lies beyond that thin but oh-so-unseeable veil of death, and a book like this is always a good refresher to consider those things and, more importantly, to consider what comes before and leads up to the stepping beyond that veil. A.M. Riley is a kind, funny, and at times provocative guide: the writing is phenomenal, the characters are likable, and this is a really great story. 5 Stars!!!
April 27, 2025
A Humorous Examination
A.M. Riley explores the dark topic of death and skewers it with sarcasm, wit, and the drudgery of bureaucracy. The heavy topics are discussed in a way that feels natural and lightened by humor and heart. It's worth the read!
A.M. Riley explores the dark topic of death and skewers it with sarcasm, wit, and the drudgery of bureaucracy. The heavy topics are discussed in a way that feels natural and lightened by humor and heart. It's worth the read!
May 7, 2025
A witty and heartfelt story about life, death, and the in-between
The age-old questions of ‘Why do we die?’ and ‘What happens to us when we die?’ have been universally pondered for millennia. Mr. Riley takes us on a humorous, yet touching journey as he explores these questions.
Death, aka Joe Black and a handful of other sobriquets, has a job to do—punch a ticket for the recently deceaseds’ one-way trip through the Mortal Portal. He doesn’t question his job, he just performs it.
But a young girl named Rosie Randall opens Death’s eyes to other possibilities.
Possibilities that would appear to be as mysterious as young Rosie herself…
I could see where some people could possibly feel the story is a bit blasphemous, but I didn’t take it that way, and I don’t believe that was the author’s intention at all.
Highly recommended. I’ve read both of his books now, and I’m looking forward to reading any future stories by this author!
The age-old questions of ‘Why do we die?’ and ‘What happens to us when we die?’ have been universally pondered for millennia. Mr. Riley takes us on a humorous, yet touching journey as he explores these questions.
Death, aka Joe Black and a handful of other sobriquets, has a job to do—punch a ticket for the recently deceaseds’ one-way trip through the Mortal Portal. He doesn’t question his job, he just performs it.
But a young girl named Rosie Randall opens Death’s eyes to other possibilities.
Possibilities that would appear to be as mysterious as young Rosie herself…
I could see where some people could possibly feel the story is a bit blasphemous, but I didn’t take it that way, and I don’t believe that was the author’s intention at all.
Highly recommended. I’ve read both of his books now, and I’m looking forward to reading any future stories by this author!
May 23, 2025
By the time I reached page two of AFTERLIFE INC by A M Riley, I was laughing out loud. This is a funny, funny book.
Riley sets up this intriguing story as a comical look at post-death existence magnified through a Kafkaesque lens. The business of death here is administered by an office, aligning the banal inner functions of the workplace as a metaphor for the endless monotony of the infinite afterlife.
The tale follows the Grim Reaper himself as he regularly descends to the mortal realm to collect those who have passed away, pausing time as he does and briefly contemplating their tragic demise before cracking on with the job at hand. On one occasion, when he gathers up a tenacious fourteen-year old girl who dies too soon in tragic circumstances, it kicks off a sequence of events which, when looked back on from the end of the book feel inevitable.
There is real comedy in the way they navigate the bureaucracy of the afterlife, sorting people into Heaven and Hell, and dealing with God and Hades and others too funny to mention at the risk of spoiling the surprise.
In the final moments, as the story comes full-circle, it’s clear that there’s a seriousness here that’s poignant and powerful. Riley literally freeze-frames the moment of death for various individuals who are on the cusp of learning what the afterlife is, and as the familiarity of this process sinks in for us, you realise as a reader that you are witnessing over and over again a snapshot of grief, writ large like a three-dimensional hologram; a tableau to be examined and experienced from all angles. Powerful stuff.
By the time I reached the final page of this book I was genuinely moved by what I’d read. Life is fleeting and it’s to be cherished. A M Riley has poured his heart into this work and the result is something truly special.
Riley sets up this intriguing story as a comical look at post-death existence magnified through a Kafkaesque lens. The business of death here is administered by an office, aligning the banal inner functions of the workplace as a metaphor for the endless monotony of the infinite afterlife.
The tale follows the Grim Reaper himself as he regularly descends to the mortal realm to collect those who have passed away, pausing time as he does and briefly contemplating their tragic demise before cracking on with the job at hand. On one occasion, when he gathers up a tenacious fourteen-year old girl who dies too soon in tragic circumstances, it kicks off a sequence of events which, when looked back on from the end of the book feel inevitable.
There is real comedy in the way they navigate the bureaucracy of the afterlife, sorting people into Heaven and Hell, and dealing with God and Hades and others too funny to mention at the risk of spoiling the surprise.
In the final moments, as the story comes full-circle, it’s clear that there’s a seriousness here that’s poignant and powerful. Riley literally freeze-frames the moment of death for various individuals who are on the cusp of learning what the afterlife is, and as the familiarity of this process sinks in for us, you realise as a reader that you are witnessing over and over again a snapshot of grief, writ large like a three-dimensional hologram; a tableau to be examined and experienced from all angles. Powerful stuff.
By the time I reached the final page of this book I was genuinely moved by what I’d read. Life is fleeting and it’s to be cherished. A M Riley has poured his heart into this work and the result is something truly special.
May 7, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Afterlife, Inc. by A.M. Riley completely surprised me in the best way. I went into it blind, having been asked to Alpha/Beta read, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, especially with how we’re introduced to Rosie and her experience into the afterlife. But within a few pages, I was totally hooked.
This book is sharp, hilarious, and full of heart. It’s under 200 pages, but it packs in so much character, depth, and thought-provoking commentary that I flew through it. “Unputdownable” is exactly the right word. I burned through this story, and even weeks later, I still find myself thinking about it.
Riley does a fantastic job balancing dark humor with real emotional weight. The satire is clever, and the world-building is unique and memorable. The whole concept of the afterlife as a bureaucratic nightmare is funny on the surface, but the way Rosie challenges the system brings up bigger themes like morality, complacency, injustice, and how broken systems can persist simply because no one questions them.
Rosie is the perfect character to shake things up. She's smart, stubborn, and unwilling to just go along with things because “that’s how it’s always been.” And Death? Somehow Riley made him both tragic and hilarious. God was probably my favorite since I laughed every time he was mentioned or spoke. Every character felt distinct, relatable, and entertaining in their own way.
This story was sad, fun, weirdly hopeful, and just so well done. I truly loved every page. If you enjoy satire, dark humor, and stories that leave you laughing one minute and thinking deeply the next, Afterlife, Inc. is one you shouldn’t miss. Highly recommend.
Afterlife, Inc. by A.M. Riley completely surprised me in the best way. I went into it blind, having been asked to Alpha/Beta read, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, especially with how we’re introduced to Rosie and her experience into the afterlife. But within a few pages, I was totally hooked.
This book is sharp, hilarious, and full of heart. It’s under 200 pages, but it packs in so much character, depth, and thought-provoking commentary that I flew through it. “Unputdownable” is exactly the right word. I burned through this story, and even weeks later, I still find myself thinking about it.
Riley does a fantastic job balancing dark humor with real emotional weight. The satire is clever, and the world-building is unique and memorable. The whole concept of the afterlife as a bureaucratic nightmare is funny on the surface, but the way Rosie challenges the system brings up bigger themes like morality, complacency, injustice, and how broken systems can persist simply because no one questions them.
Rosie is the perfect character to shake things up. She's smart, stubborn, and unwilling to just go along with things because “that’s how it’s always been.” And Death? Somehow Riley made him both tragic and hilarious. God was probably my favorite since I laughed every time he was mentioned or spoke. Every character felt distinct, relatable, and entertaining in their own way.
This story was sad, fun, weirdly hopeful, and just so well done. I truly loved every page. If you enjoy satire, dark humor, and stories that leave you laughing one minute and thinking deeply the next, Afterlife, Inc. is one you shouldn’t miss. Highly recommend.
September 1, 2025
I love a story with something to say, and this one delivers. A dark literary fantasy and biting satire, it follows a teenage girl who dies in a school shooting and must navigate an afterlife bludgeoned by bureaucracy—one that’s lost touch with the tragedies humans inevitably face—with Death as her guide.
The writing is razer-sharp, and the humor is horribly, wonderfully dark.
The writing is razer-sharp, and the humor is horribly, wonderfully dark.
September 7, 2025
A.M. Riley delivers an emotional yet brilliantly satirical exploration of what happens after we die. The story is woven with every shade of emotion—making readers cry, frown, and laugh, often all at once. It’s witty, moving, and thought-provoking in equal measure.
This book surpassed all my expectations. Kudos to the author for crafting such a clever, unforgettable read!
This book surpassed all my expectations. Kudos to the author for crafting such a clever, unforgettable read!
January 4, 2026
Death may come for us all, but it doesn’t have to be all dreary, as Riley explores in Afterlife, Inc.
At times a bit coarse, this book has surprising depths—ultimately settling in somewhere between curious and hopeful. If you are inquisitive about what comes after death and you know life is too short to take everything so seriously, I’d recommend this quick, exciting read.
At times a bit coarse, this book has surprising depths—ultimately settling in somewhere between curious and hopeful. If you are inquisitive about what comes after death and you know life is too short to take everything so seriously, I’d recommend this quick, exciting read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews