Notes on an Execution
DANYA KUKAFKA
Synopsis:
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.
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.
Content:
Language: Use of some minor language and spread instances of "f" (possibly "s" too)
Violence: The story centers a serial killer, but none of the killing is actually shown on-page. There are instances of domestic and child abuse, as well as animal violence (including the killing and dissecting of them). The story also involves some of the thoughts and formative experiences for the serial killer, which can be disturbing at times. This is not a spoiler, as you know from the beginning how the story will end, but there is also a description of the death sentence being carried out.
There are also instances of teenage drinking and drug use, as well as possible sexual coercion and manipulation.
Sex: The book is not a romance, but there are some romantic (and abusive) relationships. There are several unnecessary and rather vague sex scenes (including for the purpose of manipulation and coercion). There are a few instances of casual or drunk sex, one instance of a woman touching herself, and other similar instances.
LGBTQ: There are some mentions of possible bisexual characters, mostly involving relationships between females.
My Review: This book sounded so interesting when I first heard about it. I was able to check out the book from the library, thankfully, because I ended up really disliking the book. I was not a fan of the writing style and I think there were a few details that were never quite explained. The whole story felt kind of disjointed, but that might have had to do with the multiple point of views.
I also felt like the whole book was kind of an excuse for the author to insert her political opinions. Overall, it just was not a book I enjoyed or would recommend, though the concept was interesting.