"Notes on an Execution" Review

As someone who studies in the criminal justice field and consumes a lot of true crime content, I was super excited to read the book that I am reviewing today for a book club! What I didn't expect going into this one was how unique and interesting the purpose of the story would be. If you are looking for a read that may change or challenge your personal outlook on things, this is the one!

"Notes on an Execution" is a fiction novel written by Danya Kukafka. It was released on January 25th, of 2022.

If you would like to purchase "Notes on an Execution" you can find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can follow the author, Danya Kukafka, on Instagram and Goodreads! You can also check out her website!

Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he’s done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. But Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood. He hoped it wouldn’t end like this, not for him.

Through a kaleidoscope of women—a mother, a sister, a homicide detective—we learn the story of Ansel’s life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation; Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife, inseparable since birth, forced to watch helplessly as her sister’s relationship threatens to devour them all; and finally, Saffy, the homicide detective hot on his trail, who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy, exploring the rippling fissures that such destruction inevitably leaves in its wake.

I gave this one 4 stars on Goodreads. The writing in this book is phenomenal. While I enjoyed a lot about it---the writing style was certainly the highlight. I would read another book by this author in a heartbeat. I will say that this book is atmospheric and can be heavy. If you are looking for a light read, this is not that book. It is a worthwhile read, for sure, but it does cover some heavier topics. This book forces you to think and reflect on your own personal outlooks on many different things, which is part of the reason why I really enjoyed it!

I also really enjoyed the author's commentary on the obsession with serial killers. In the front of the book she includes a statement, “Average men become interesting when they start hurting women. Notes on an Execution was born from a desire to dissect this exhausting narrative.”. I think it is an interesting take on the true crime phenomenon that we are currently living in. One of the coolest parts about this book is that the narrative belongs to the women. The chapters are primarily told from the perspectives of his mother, his wife’s sister, and the (female) detective who caught him. His victims are also included, however the violence is not discussed at length. I enjoyed this because I am a firm believer that victims should not be defined by their victimization. They have lives, hobbies, talents, ambitions, and people who love them. By giving them the narrative in this book, they are able to define themselves beyond the times when Ansel robbed them of their control.

There is also a lot of interesting commentary on the shortcomings of the Criminal Justice System, the nature vs. nurture debate, rehabilitation, and mental illness. All of which, I felt, were handled really well by the author.

Overall, this was a thought provoking read. I would recommend to readers age 16+. I do want to disclose that there are mentions of domestic violence and animal abuse. It is not wildly graphic because most of it happens off of the page, however it still may be very upsetting for some readers. If you feel that that may upset you, I would suggest that you pass on this one. Reader's discretion is always advised.

Have you read "Notes on an Execution"? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

As always, thank you for reading!

XO,

Madison