Books by Martin Thompson
Stories of humor, faith, and humanity drawn from a lifetime in funeral service—and occasionally told through the voice of a dog who knows far too much.
The Mulligan Chronicles
Imaginative, humorous, and occasionally unbelievable stories told through the voice of Mulligan, a dog with an outrageous past and a surprising amount of wisdom.
Fiction
The Mulligan Chronicles: Talking Dog $20 - Doghouse Edition
When a funeral director stops for a hand-painted sign that reads Talking Dog — $20, he expects a gimmick.
What he gets is Mulligan—a talking dog with a sharp wit, a questionable past, and absolutely no intention of keeping quiet.
Fast-moving and unapologetically imaginative, Talking Dog $20 is a tall tale that leans into absurdity while quietly exploring loyalty, friendship, and second chances.
The Mulligan Chronicles: Talking Dog $20 – A Texas Tail
Collector’s Edition
This special Collector’s Edition of The Mulligan Chronicles: Talking Dog $20 – A Texas Tail is printed exclusively through Amazon using premium paper and enhanced full-color printing, creating a richer and more vibrant reading experience.
Designed for readers who want the finest presentation of the story, this edition showcases the artwork, illustrations, and design in a format that brings Mulligan’s world to life in vivid detail.
Because of the higher production quality, the Collector’s Edition is priced above the Doghouse Edition, which was created as an affordable everyday reading version.
If you enjoy beautifully produced books—or want a version worthy of display on your bookshelf—this is the edition for you.
Available exclusively on Amazon.
The Mulligan Chronicles: Second Chances
A Story of Loss, Faith and Redemption
A gentler, more reflective chapter in the Mulligan Chronicles, Second Chances explores faith, loss, and the quiet moments that reshape our lives. Told with warmth and humility, this story reminds us that sometimes redemption arrives in unexpected ways—and often when we’re not looking for it.
Memoir & Nonfiction
Real stories drawn from nearly five decades in funeral service and a life shaped by listening.
Digger: Unearthing Life’s Stories
Raised in a multigenerational funeral-service family, Martin Thompson grew up surrounded by stories most people never hear.
In Digger, he reflects on nearly five decades of work, family, faith, loss, and unexpected laughter—offering a deeply human look at the moments that matter most.
Funeral Begins with Fun
Funeral Begins with Fun shares unforgettable moments from a lifetime in funeral service—where humor and humanity often walk side by side.
Through a collection of heartfelt and occasionally surprising stories, Martin Thompson reflects on the lessons learned while comforting families, honoring lives, and discovering that even in the most serious profession, moments of laughter can still appear.
Heart and Humanity
A Funeral Director’s Chronicle of the World’s Oldest Calling
For more than seven thousand years, every civilization has faced the same question when death comes: What do we do now?
In Heart and Humanity, funeral director Martin Thompson explores the remarkable history of how cultures across the world have cared for their dead and comforted the living. From the ancient Chinchorro of Chile and the embalmers of Egypt to Greek philosophers, Roman undertakers, Eastern rituals, and the evolution of modern funeral service, this book traces the traditions that shaped humanity’s oldest calling.
Blending historical insight with the perspective of a funeral director who has served families for over fifty years, Heart and Humanity is both a journey through history and a tribute to the compassion that has always guided those who stand with families in their most difficult moments.
This is not simply a book about death.
It is a book about how humanity has always chosen to care.