The Pallbearers Club: A Novel

In Paul Tremblay's “The Pallbearer's Club,” readers are introduced to an unlikely friendship between high school senior Art Barbara and his charismatic punk-loving friend, Mercy. Art's unusual extra-curricular activity, volunteering at a funeral home, becomes the backdrop for a series of peculiar occurrences.

Tremblay's novel can mislead those expecting a pure horror story. While there are horror elements and subtle nods to the supernatural, they take a back seat to the relationship between the two main characters and the narrative's exploration of trust and perception. The use of Art's annotated memoir as a storytelling device adds layers of ambiguity and complexity, leaving readers to decide whom to believe.

Tremblay blends elements of the supernatural into a narrative of friendship and trust that gives “The Pallbearer's Club” its unique charm. It is a genre-defying tale that keeps readers engaged until the very end, continually questioning the true nature of the events unfolding.