Published by Amazon Original Stories on August 1, 2026
“John Grebble Is Gone” is a crime story, not a ghost story, yet it begins with the sentence: “John Grebble first learned he was dead when he got a letter from his bank.” The letter, addressed to Grebble’s estate, expresses condolences for his death. Grebble calls the bank to notify it of its error, but the bank (or its AI) tells him that, since he’s dead, he no longer has access to his account. Grebble doesn’t feel dead, so he sets out to investigate.
Grebble can’t take the bus to work because his Apple Pay and debit card have been deactivated. He decides to drive to work but, when he walks back home, discovers his car is being towed. Fortunately, he keeps a stash of cash in his home, so he takes a taxi to work, only to find that his pass card no longer allows him to enter the building. He calls HR, but “for security reasons” HR won’t speak to him. It sucks to be dead.
Grebble’s next stop is his bank, where he hopes to unfreeze his accounts. Because the bank received his death certificate, proving that he’s alive and hasn’t stolen a dead man’s identity turns out to be a chore. The only bank manager he knew is now retired, and his driver’s license photo is so old that it might or might not be him. He then tries the police, but the detectives can’t decide whether he is a crime victim or a criminal.
Grebble has little success convincing anyone that he’s alive. He has always been antisocial. He has no friends. “His two pets were the only living creatures he felt any empathy with.” Most of his coworkers took no notice of him. He might have to depend on his brother to vouch for his identity, but he hasn’t spoken to his brother in years. Perhaps the moral of the story is that relationships and friendships keep us alive.
Why is Grebble thought to be dead? That is the mystery the reader must solve. Suffice it to say that mischief is afoot.
Grebble’s ordeal gives him the opportunity for personal growth. He turns to one of his co-workers for help and, although he’s never had any interest in her, she takes a great interest in him. Grebble realizes by the novel’s end that having a friend really isn’t such a bad thing. He also has a chance to disprove the proverb, “Before you seek revenge, first dig two graves.” As Grebble sees it, “Do you need two graves if one of you is already dead?”
“John Grebble is Gone” is one of the better entries I’ve read in the Amazon Short Stories series. It’s funny, interesting, carefully crafted, and a good introduction to a crime novelist I haven’t followed.
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