Several years ago I read Kukafka's debut novel Girl in Snow. While I loved the mystery something about the characters didn't sit well with me. But it was different and Kukafka's writing was so good with all the twists and turns. I definitely wanted to give her sophomore book a try.

Notes on an Execution was definitely a page turner. I loved the structure of the story. Ansel Packer is scheduled to be executed in 12 hours and the chapters that are present-day and from his POV count down the hours. In alternating chapters, the reader is transported back to the start of his life and the story is told from the POV of women who had a significant impact on his life - his mother, his first crush, and the sister of his wife. The back and forth between the past and the present really ramped up the tension.

I liked that there was as much, if not more, focus on these women. Have you noticed that society will remember a serial killer's name but can't remember the name of a single victim? So while we do get to know Ansel through these women, I didn't feel like that was the sole purpose of their chapters. We get to know the woman - they are fully fleshed out characters with regrets, hopes, and dreams.

I'm glad I listened to most of this audiobook at home as I found myself so sucked into the story that whatever else I was doing would fall by the wayside.

My only complaint about the story is how it ended. I would have preferred if it had ended with the final minutes of Ansel's life. Instead, there is an epilogue of sorts. I felt like it changed the tone of the book or something. I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't like it. But I loved everything about the book up to that point.

If you want a completely entertaining, all-consuming book to read, then this is it. The audiobook was easy to follow. Even with the back and forth in the timeline and the changing character focus, I had no problem following the story.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/01/5-audiobooks-to-help-you-read-more-books.html

Thanks to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook.

This story is told in a different way from any I've ever experienced. It counts down the hours to the execution of serial killer Ansel Packer. Each timeframe is told from one of several different perspectives - Ansel himself, the mother who abandoned him, the detective who worked to send him to his death, and his wife's twin sister. These multiple perspectives paint a well-rounded picture of who Ansel is and give some insight into the terrible decisions he made. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka.
Danya Kukafka's masterfully written novel takes an inside look at the life of a serial killer. Notes on an Execution follows the killer, Ansel, during his last day, making the reader think about the effects of choices. Describing Ansel's life through the recollections of three women adds insight and perspective into his story. Kukafka's use of 2nd person point of view when describing the killer's thoughts was brilliantly executed and made the character more approachable and less glamorized. The combination of Mozhan Marno and Jim Meskimen's narration creates separation between the past and the present.

Beautifully written, truly striking prose. I generally avoid books that glorify the prison industrial complex, that center evil men, or that sensationalize violence against women. So at the face of it, this is not a book I would read. And yet . . .

I listened to this via an ALC on Libro.fm and was really impressed by it. Prior reviews I'd read indicated it was subversive and didn't glorify those things I list above. It was not obvious to me immediately that this book was not falling into the traps of those genres, but with the voices of women overpowering the single male voice, the ways in which this narrative studied and respected the interiority of a variety of women became clearer. As the story progressed, it also became clearer how unreliable the male character is while the women's lives gradually bring into relief some of the contours of his.

If this book is trying to show the senselessness of violence against women and critique the ways that society is fascinated by serial killers, it succeeds. The unfortunate part, to me, is that to do that it also does have this one terrible man sort of at the center of the orbit of all of these interesting women--all of whom are so much better than he is, but are ultimately shaped by his choices. That's not so much a fault of the book as a pitfall with this type of premise.

Kukafka did a great job of the gradual reveal. She maintained suspense and interest by sharing the right amount of information as we went, sharing enough that we stayed pulled in, but neither dragging out the reveals nor giving away too much too early. It kept the pace well and the pull strong.

Listening to the audiobook version, the two narrators Mozhan Marno and Jim Meskimen were both excellent. I often avoid literature via audiobook and veer more towards romance for ease of listening. But the writing was so strikingly good and the narrators so excellent that I was really drawn into the audio. All in all, I highly recommend this complex, heavy, and fascinating study of the paths our lives take and the unexpected ways that they veer and intersect.

Solid story, great characters. Built well. I enjoyed this book. I will absolutely recommend my library purchase.

A prisoner, a lone twin, and a police officer. Their lives are connected in unimaginable ways, all of which are slowly revealed in this expertly crafted novel. The narration is perfectly in tune with the tone and adds to the enjoyment. Perfect for fans of psychological suspense.

This book was not for me. However all you creepy ghouls out there will love it. The story opens on death row with an inmate and his last 24 hours to live. Then it begins when he was born and left in foster care system at 4. I am a audio reader with lots of miles to go. But not enough miles to listen to something I'm not in love with.

This is a devastatingly sad story. The chapters alternate between a prisoner on death row and a woman in his life. The story is heartbreaking through the eyes of both characters, even though one has been a monster. The death row prisoner counts down the days, hours, and minutes until his execution time, while the woman tells the story of his actions.

Even though the death penalty is a controversial subject, the manner in which this book was written would not have been as impactful if the prisoner had been sentenced to life in prison.

The narrator of this audiobook had a smooth voice, which enhanced the listening experience.

This is a very quick read, or listen, since I had the audiobook. It is engrossing and fast-paced, with moments that slow down enough for the reader to get a good look at the characters.

The book is a 12-hour countdown to the execution of Ansel Parker, who murdered four women. He's guilty and doesn't try to hide it, but sure does want to leave behind a legacy with his book (it's NOT a manifesto, he'll say again and again). This book doesn't glamorize the murderer; instead, Ms. Kukafka shines light on the women in Ansel's life, both victims and bystanders.

Jim Meskimen narrates Ansel's story and does so with the smarmy confidence you just know Ansel has. Mozhan Marnos narrates the women's stories, and there are a lot of them: Lavender, Saffy, Hazel, Jenny, Blue, and more. Some are stronger than others, and Ms. Marnos does their stories justice.

My thanks to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating book that dissects the fragile masculinity of men who commit crimes against women, and rather than giving them a pass ("Oh he sustained a head injury as a child" or "He was wronged by his mother as a child"), this book makes the main character Ansel, culpable for his crimes. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to say this was a refreshing perspective, but in my opinion, it kind of was.

Truly an entertaining read.

Outstanding and captivating. Danya Kukafka expertly dissects our culture's fascination with violent men and turns that on its head by exploring the lives of the women caught in a serial killer's orbit. <b>I could not put this down</b> - once I started listening, I I could not stop thinking (or talking!) about it. This was so damn good!!!

I cannot say enough about the excellent narration in this audiobook - especially that of the killer, Ansel Packer. The voice actor was chilling, yet sympathetic and really brought that character to life. The female narrator was equally effective at embodying the multiple perspectives of the women around Ansel.

This novel is truly something special and will be with me for a long time. I cannot wait to recommend this to friends and patrons. FIVE STARS!

Notes on an Execution is a very compelling look at the psyche of a killer. The story is told both thru his eyes and thru the eyes of three woman in his life. I did not expect to like this book at all. You know from the beginning that the main character is a killer and as such should be totally repelling and unlikeable. But the articulate telling of the story and the philosophical questions posed made this a very unusual and riveting book to listen to. The narration was perfect!. I can just imagine the hours of discussion that it will elicit from book clubs.

Finally a story with teeth. This well crafted tale is told from multiple points of view. From the killer; a death row inmate, from the detective who worked on the case, and from the victim’s family members. A refreshing take on your typical serial killer trope with its rich and lyrical prose and unique perspective will surely make this novel become a 2022 break-out hit. Read-a-likes: THE EXECUTIONER’S SONG by Norman Mailer and DEAD MAN WALKING by Sister Helen Prejean.

Oh boy, this book has a lot to unpack. It's heartbreaking and infuriating to see how abuse and trauma causes generations of damage, like ripples in a pond.. I thought the way the story of Ansel and the women whose lives were irrevocably impacted by his choices was very compelling. I can definitely see this novel making the book club rounds and stirring up lots of discussion.