The Glorious Dead
- Author Justin Myers
- Narrator Liam Gerrard
- Publisher John Murray Press
- Publish Date 29 January 2026
- Run Time 10 hours and 28 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Fiction: general and literary, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Love and relationships.
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What to expect
Laurie Blount, the 'enfant terrible' of the West End, the voice of a generation, a shining star. Also: dead. Very, very dead.
Reeling at being left behind, his husband Jo, best friend Vivi, and goddaughter Rosy must step out from the shadows and begin a new life, at their own pace. But scattered chapters of Laurie's unpublished memoirs ensure that while he may be dead, he'll never leave them. Waspish, wicked, and witty, they reveal a side to Laurie nobody really knew - or would admit to knowing. But who's already had their eyes on them, and is it all really true? Who should his grieving loved ones believe to be the real Laurie - the lovable, arch comedian they knew, or the adulterous, somewhat tragic figure who comes alive on the page?
Jo is about to discover he has more in common with his dear departed husband than he ever imagined, and that comedy and tragedy are just the same mistakes, made under different lighting. Those we adore let us down, halos can dim, and pedestals are there to be toppled. If Jo is ever to find peace in the future, he must confront Laurie's past.
PRAISE FOR JUSTIN MYERS
'Funny, kind, insightful book, about those who get left behind' Russell T Davies
'The Fake-Up is everything I want from a rom com. It's warm, funny and whip smart. I feel like I know all the characters, they just leap off the page. I couldn't put it down' Laura Kay, author of THE SPLIT
'Justin Myers has done it again - a brilliantly funny reimagining of the romcom, full of helter-skelter twists' Adam Kay, author of THIS IS GOING TO HURT
'Myers uses his razor keen eye for observation, dialogue and character to the wittiest effect' Evening Standard
Reeling at being left behind, his husband Jo, best friend Vivi, and goddaughter Rosy must step out from the shadows and begin a new life, at their own pace. But scattered chapters of Laurie's unpublished memoirs ensure that while he may be dead, he'll never leave them. Waspish, wicked, and witty, they reveal a side to Laurie nobody really knew - or would admit to knowing. But who's already had their eyes on them, and is it all really true? Who should his grieving loved ones believe to be the real Laurie - the lovable, arch comedian they knew, or the adulterous, somewhat tragic figure who comes alive on the page?
Jo is about to discover he has more in common with his dear departed husband than he ever imagined, and that comedy and tragedy are just the same mistakes, made under different lighting. Those we adore let us down, halos can dim, and pedestals are there to be toppled. If Jo is ever to find peace in the future, he must confront Laurie's past.
PRAISE FOR JUSTIN MYERS
'Funny, kind, insightful book, about those who get left behind' Russell T Davies
'The Fake-Up is everything I want from a rom com. It's warm, funny and whip smart. I feel like I know all the characters, they just leap off the page. I couldn't put it down' Laura Kay, author of THE SPLIT
'Justin Myers has done it again - a brilliantly funny reimagining of the romcom, full of helter-skelter twists' Adam Kay, author of THIS IS GOING TO HURT
'Myers uses his razor keen eye for observation, dialogue and character to the wittiest effect' Evening Standard
Critics Review
The Juicy Comedy in Grazia's 'Six Sensational Reads for Autumn'
This amusing, intriguing novel explores how well we can ever know even our nearest and dearest
Fabulously funny
I loved how witty, twisty and touching this was
Darkly funny page-turner . . . The Glorious Dead is great fun and packed with twists, while also deeply moving on grief and the things left unsaid between even the closest friends
I'm a longtime fan of Justin's writing, full of wit, perception and acute emotional honesty. He remains the only person I know who can casually break your heart in the detail of an Instagram caption. The Glorious Dead is his best novel yet, demonstrating he's one of the most exciting writers around. Immensely clever and moving, dark and mature, a reflection on loss, on our compartmentalised selves, delivered in a gripping mystery
I wolfed down this brilliant book. If I wasn't laughing it was only because I was gasping at the twists. Intricately plotted with gloriously grotesque characters who have stuck with me ever since
A deliciously dark departure for Justin Myers, full of twists and turns and plenty of laughs, too. So much fun. I devoured it
The Glorious Dead is deliciously dark, witty and devastatingly astute. It is a novel filled with idle gossip, life-ruining rumours, the shady underbelly of our lives that we know we shouldn't be engaging in but is impossible to resist. Myers writes his characters masterfully, his controlled and precise storytelling leading us down a path that feels more dangerous and thrilling with each step. What might we discover about ourselves, or worse, about the people closest to us? I didn't want it to end
A rarity, a novel so achingly beautiful but which packs the mightiest of punches. Prepare to have your heart ripped out and trampled upon. Full to the brim with pain, longing, regret, love and fresh hope, this is a masterfully told story
Myers does it again - crafting a moving mediation on art, love, loss and what it means to be happy in a world that has passed you by. The dialogue is deliciously catty. The prose precise and beautiful. You'll wish Laurie Blount was your friend. Until you very much don't
The Glorious Dead somehow manages to be both funny and devastating at the same time. With sharp wit and poignance alike, Justin Myers has written a moving meditation on how to live after loss in what is his best work yet
The whole thing is a masterclass in writing - and if Justin taught that class, I would be first in the queue to attend. He draws characters better than probably anyone else, and I know I'm going to be thinking about Laurie, Jo and Vivi for a long time to come. I was already a massive fan of Justin's writing, and now I'm officially a creep.
Witty, acerbic and waspish. There's a lot of Justin Myers in Laurie Blount. And that's a very good thing indeed
The juiciest story, exquisitely written, totally engrossing, mysterious and crammed with emotional intelligence. And all laced with Myers's trademark wit. A solid gold, five star smash
This novel defied my expectations in all the best ways. So brilliant on grief, friendships and relationships, and, of course, with Myers's warm wit. A hugely satisfying read.
A compulsive but deeply poignant chronicle of grief, relationships and ambition - all set against the bright lights and artifice of the West End. Sharply observed and brilliantly constructed, with characters and voices I won't forget.
Absolutely hilarious and beautifully emotional. It's such a clever, warm exploration of grief and what we leave behind that made me laugh the whole way through. I loved all of these wonderfully terrible people.
Pacy and riveting, Myers had me at the edge of my seat as I raced through this very unique book. The emotions are visceral, devastating and deeply personal. They will crawl under your skin, and yet remain highly relatable, making this a book that should be required reading for generations to come. In plain words, a masterpiece.
When all the world's a stage, it can feel like everyone is playing a part. Justin Myer's The Glorious Dead delivers a propulsive and Oscar worthy performance, richly inhabited by a loveable and superbly flawed cast. Told from the cliff-edge of grief, this is a novel that leans over and looks down at the abyss, whilst never losing its footing.
Justin Myers has always been a master of characterisation, but The Glorious Dead is a step beyond. Funny, poignant, at times nail-bitingly tense, it's the story of who gets to write history, and how you never truly know anyone, even the person you dearly love. Mostly it is a portrait of a marriage: messy, loving, heartbreaking, and yes, glorious.
The Glorious Dead is wise, warm, moving and darkly witty. Justin Myers creates his flawed and deeply human characters with such insight and compassion that I felt like I knew them.
Nobody combines wit, depth, tenderness and insight quite like Justin Myers does. His writing is a kind of alchemy, bringing characters to life in the most engaging, sharply vivid way. The Glorious Dead is no exception: it is heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny. I'm so excited for readers to meet it.
This book was so engrossing. Cleverly plotted, darkly funny and full of surprises.
It's such a ride! Twisty, witty, insightful, b**chy in places (but with a big big heart) and soo gripping fun. The best plotting you'll ever see.
Funny, twisty and grippier than a bulldog clip to the face, but also a wise and poignant thesis about how you never really know even those closest to you
I loved the Glorious Dead for its celebration of the art of bi***craft, though it's more than just that; the characters, as scathing and acidic as they can be, are also hopelessly human and motivated by love. Though on the surface this is a book about loss and grief, to me it was more about growing old - and love growing old. We need more books with characters like this.
Deftly flipping between dark humour and brutal honesty, Myers explores loss and human nature, while also weaving a gripping tale packed with plot twists
| Author | Justin Myers |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Liam Gerrard |
| Duration | 10 hours and 28 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781408750964 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | John Murray Press |
| Genre | Fiction: general and literary, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Love and relationships |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE |
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