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    Notes on an Execution: A Novel
    Notes on an Execution: A Novel
    Notes on an Execution: A Novel
    Audiobook9 hours

    Notes on an Execution: A Novel

    Written by Danya Kukafka

    Narrated by Mozhan Marno and Jim Meskimen

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    NATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL • NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

    “Defiantly populated with living women . . . beautifully drawn, dense with detail and specificity . . . Notes on an Execution is nuanced, ambitious and compelling.” —Katie Kitamura, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW (Editors' Choice)

    ""A searing portrait of the complicated women caught in the orbit of a serial killer. . . . Compassionate and thought-provoking."" –BRIT BENNETT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Half

    Recommended by New York Times Book Review • Los Angeles Times • Washington Post • Entertainment Weekly • Esquire • Good Housekeeping • USA Today • Buzzfeed • Goodreads • Real Simple • Marie Claire • Rolling Stone • Business Insider • Bustle • PopSugar • The Millions • The Guardian • and many more!

    In the tradition of Long Bright River and The Mars Room, a gripping and atmospheric work of literary suspense that deconstructs the story of a serial killer on death row, told primarily through the eyes of the women in his life—from the bestselling author of Girl in Snow.

    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. 

    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 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. 

    Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes on an Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it simultaneously unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our system of justice and our cultural obsession with crime stories, asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the psyches of violent men.

    ""Poetic and mesmerizing . . . Powerful, important, intensely human, and filled with a unique examination of tragedy, one where the reader is left with a curious emotion: hope."" —USA TODAY

    “A profound and staggering experience of empathy that challenges us to confront what it means to be human in our darkest moments. . . . I relished every page of this brilliant and gripping masterpiece.""—ASHLEY AUDRAIN, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 25, 2022
    ISBN9780063052765
    Author

    Danya Kukafka

    Danya Kukafka is the internationally bestselling author of Girl in Snow. She is a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She works as a literary agent.

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    Reviews for Notes on an Execution

    4.5/5

    1,313 ratings67 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a captivating and well-written book that explores the perspectives of women impacted by a serial killer. The multiple narratives and dual timelines keep readers engaged until the end. The book offers a fresh approach to the genre, focusing on the human condition rather than gory details. While some readers found the ending disappointing or had technical issues with the audio version, overall, the book is highly recommended for its complex characters, immersive storyline, and thought-provoking themes.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      It went from thriller to poignant reflection on society. So good

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book is such a fresh read! This author is so talented! I highly recommend this read, the perspectives we read from in this story are so interesting. I look forward to more from her!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book takes you on a journey of emotions. I could relate to the characters, felt very real.

      I thoroughly enjoyed it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Notes On An Execution is exquisitely written. This is a must read.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      So well written! The multiple perspectives are fascinating and keep you engaged until the very end. Highly recommended!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Interesting read; the second person narrative (“you” as the character) took some getting used to, but it did have an immersive effect. The characters were well-rounded and diverse.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book deserves all of the stars! The prose is breathtaking...sometimes I had to rewind just to hear the phrase again, to commit it to memory. I finished the book with tears in my eyes. There is so much cruelty in the world.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      It as extremely thought provoking, as well as heartbreaking. Highly recommended.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Heart-breaking, infuriating, at times scary but always written gorgeously. Really great book!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      An interesting take on an execution and the perspective of the people that suffered along with the main character. I wanted more, wanted to get more in tune with the characters and feel more, but it was more of a recount of the narrative than an emotional roller coaster i was wanting.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Thank you thank you thank you


      Profound writing style , love the shift between perspectives and that the entire focus is per on the murders ( although I would have liked a bit more detail ) nor on the împending execution .
    • 5/5
      Exceptional, painful, and deeply human. A story of the women in a serial killer's life, interspersed with his thoughts as he counts the hours to his execution on death row. So many books and podcasts purport to focus on the victims rather than the killer, but they do so only in the context of their death. The women here are the main characters, each feeling the echoes of the women before her in her interactions with the killer. Beautifully written and haunting, especially starting with his mother.
    • 4/5
      Listened to this on audio. This was a very interesting take on the crime thriller. We already know who did it, he's on death row for killing several young girls back in the day. Today is is last day and we watch the him has he goes thru his day on his way to the execution chamber. Intercut with this we go back in time to meet the women in his life, those who raised him, those he killed and those who caught him. What's absent, to good effect, is all the violence of the actual crimes. We know he did it, we don't have to "see" it, we just get to meet and understand the people around him. A good quick read.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed the characters and their development, but some parts of the story seemed to be left hanging or go against previous events.
    • 1/5
      Gratuitous sex, animal cruelty
    • 2/5
      Didn't grab me... The names : lavender, sunshine, saffron, Hazel... They got on my nerves after a point.
    • 5/5
      I haven't encountered a truly captivating book in quite some time, but this one enthralled me entirely. The narrative centers on Ansel during his final moments before execution for murder, presenting a profound exploration of his character. The ensemble cast is richly developed, each figure brimming with distinct personality. Although Shawna’s character seemed somewhat ambiguous to me, the others played their roles impeccably. Saffy and Blue stood out as my favorites; the author’s integration of their arcs into the storyline is nothing short of masterful. The plot is compelling, and the author’s stylistic choice to intersperse the narrative with flashbacks, providing historical context, is executed brilliantly. I would highly recommend this novel; it was so gripping that it kept me awake all night.
    • 5/5
      The writing is terrific. The story characters come to life in such interesting ways. The narrators are very good. I loved this book and just downloaded another by the same author. Does not disappoint!
    • 3/5
      I loved the narrators and the weaving of the story lines was interesting but for me it felt a little unresolved
    • 5/5
      I very rarely give 5 star reviews, but this book deserves it for its complexity, depth, humanity and viciousness. It’s unquestionably worth the read or listen. Male narration seemed a bit off/overly gentle initially but was fit after the characters story unfolded more. Very interesting perspectives told by the killer and the families/those whose lives were impacted… and the breadth of time covered from infancy to death in some instances made it that much more impressive.
      Highly recommend.
    • 5/5
      Wow. So many different perspectives and a lot of jumps in time and places. Even different dimensions are touched upon. Listened the whole book ( great readers) in only a few days. That says it all. Amazing book.
    • 5/5
      An intriguing story of a man in the final countdown of his life and what or why he may have done to deserve the death penalty. Includes POVS from various key players of his life.
    • 4/5
      The chapters in the voice (excellent narration by Jim Meskimen) of the Death Row prisoner portrayed a perspective I've not previously encountered, and I found it compelling and insightful. Also, the chapters of the character Lavender, also so well narrated (Mozhan Marno) kept me interested. Some of the chapters in the other characters points of view seemed at bit long with what seemed like to me a lot of trivia.
    • 3/5
      Mixed feelings.The positives: the sections devoted to the protaganist's background and death row experience; the riveting account of Lavender's isolated and escape from her abusive husband.The negatives: the author's accounts of the majority of female characters were too wordy and often dull.
    • 5/5
      Gd read
      Goes into the mad mind of a killer
    • 5/5
      I loved how completely caught off guard I was when I finally pieced it all together
    • 5/5
      Amazing book. I love it. It was life as a prisoner before he was put to death, and he wanted to live. He was sorry for what he had done and he wanted forgiveness.
    • 4/5
      The story was great , I liked the dual time lines . The story was engaging I couldn’t wait to see how it ended but I feel let down when I reached the end.
    • 5/5
      Really well-drawn characters and sharp writing! Engrossing storyline as well.
    • 4/5
      The story is so well done! It felt like I was reading true crime!