The Coffin Confessor

By: Bill Edgar

Narrated by: Bill Edgar

Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Imagine you are dying with a secret. Something you've never had the courage to tell your friends and family. Or a last wish - a task you need carried out before you can rest in peace. Now imagine there's a man who can take care of all that, who has no respect for the living, who will do anything for the dead.

Bill Edgar is the coffin confessor - a one-of-a-kind professional, a man on a mission to make good on these last requests on behalf of his soon-to-be-deceased clients. And this is the extraordinary story of how he became that man. Bill has been many things in this life: homeless street-kid, son of one of Australia's most notorious gangsters, maximum-security prisoner, hard man, family man, car thief, professional punching bag, philosopher, inventor, private investigator, victim of horrific childhood sexual abuse and an activist fighting to bring down the institutions that let it happen. A survivor.

As a little boy, he learned the hard way that society is full of people who fall through the cracks - who die without their stories being told. Now his life's work is to make sure his clients' voices are heard, and their last wishes delivered: The small-town grandfather who needs his tastefully decorated sex dungeon destroyed before the kids find it. The woman who endured an abusive marriage for decades before finding freedom. The outlaw biker who is afraid of nothing...except telling the world he is in love with another man. The dad who needs to track down his estranged daughter so he can find a way to say he's sorry, with one final gift.

The Coffin Confessor brings these stories of the dead to life, all while sharing his own extraordinary journey. Confronting and confounding, heartwarming and heartbreaking, this is a story of survival and redemption, of a life lived on the fringes of society, on both sides of the law - and what that teaches you about living your best life...and death.

©2021 Bill Edgar (P)2021 Penguin Random House Australia

Worth it.

It’s not about coffin confessions, well not mostly at least. I really loved this book. It’s more of a memoir of the author’s life with some coffin confessions along the way. It was far more interesting than I had originally expected.

Child Abuse and its Effects

He's so lucky his wife stuck around through all that. He's reflective and won't carry on the abuse he grew up with.

Very approachable.

Very good story written to be absorbed easily. I’m glad I stumbled upon this book. Opened my eyes to a new way of thinking as well as an interesting perspective on a job I didn’t know existed.

.84.00 84.00 p0000p

Listened to this during our road trip to Chicago and it was fabulous. what a story this man tells !!

Makes you think twice

What a remarkable journey for this person. I feel like I got to know a really down-to-earth, call it like you see it, practical guy. This book will take me a little while to process but it has changed my view of so many different events in my life. I hope other readers will feel the same.

Stand Tall

Great story. Easy listen. Love that Billy reads it himself.
Kinda confronting but rounds out well… proud of you and your message… stand tall and be proud. Never forget but move forward.

Could not stop!

So wish more of the books you get would be this engaging. More than the surprising stories of the funeral interruptions, it was a shocking, emotional story of the author's life, frightening child abuse, a journey through the depth of despair and the triumphant recovery as well as along the way helping other people to heal. It is read by the author with such emotion, you feel the pain, heartache and all the various emotions as he relives these events. Brilliant!!

great unexpected listen

really like this book. I expected loads of stories about coffin concessions. got MUCH MUCH more! what a life this author has had. thank you for sharing your lessons

Was Expecting Stories on What People Ask Him to do After Death... Got So Much More!

A true story of forgiveness and redemption. Surviving childhood abuse, trauma, debt and homelessness, Scott aka Bill has written a solid, well-rounded non-fiction book that should appeal to anyone whose ever going to die. An excellent read, and one of the few remaining career paths that cannot be replicated by a computer or robot: too much need for compassion, empathy and respect amid rejection, traits which Bill indubitably possesses. Spend your credit - this one's worth it.

Finished in 3 days

This is two stories in one. One of a lesson on when your on your deathbed. Stories are funny, sad but mostly a reminder for our own life. The other story is of how many times a person can get knocked down and get back up. I admired the authors honesty, willpower and no BS personality. I don’t know him but I’m so proud of how he accomplished a loving life after all he went through