Notes on an Execution

I had extremely high expectations for this based on so many friends’ enthusiastic reviews, and

while I liked it, it didn’t move me quite the same way as it has others.

It’s the story of Ansel Packer, counting down on Death Row to his execution, and the story, more importantly, of the women whose lives he ended or impacted.  It elicits questions about why people make the choices they do.  Why did Ansel choose to kill?  How do our pasts define who we become?  Why do some turn their pain to good, while others choose evil?  

In the respect that it makes you think about the nature of trauma and who some become as a result, I found this fascinating. I liked that the story showed the impact of Ansel’s parents on his life without making his choices look sympathetic. I also liked that the focus was more on the women whose lives he affected. It’s definitely a thought-provoking, almost philosophical book that would be fantastic for discussion.

That said, there were a few things - in this case, all “P”s - I couldn’t connect with:

1. POV. I felt a pervasive lack of connection to the characters, other than perhaps Saffy, Ansel’s one-time friend and now lead investigator. Ansel’s chapters told in second-person POV, and omniscient third-person POV chapters for the remaining characters kept me at a distance I don’t think I would’ve felt if told in first-person, so I never felt as emotionally invested in them.

2. Purple prose.  Holy heck there was too much flowery language.  Things would flow nicely for awhile, then Kukafka would throw in these overwrought similes or metaphors that just sounded eye-rollingly pretentious to me.  Some readers love that.  I’m just not one of them.

3. “Porn” Lite.  OK, OK - not porn proper, and it’s only a few scenes, but I don’t need graphic descriptions of what parts are going where and doing what, or what those parts look like.  Eww.  (Here’s another “p” word for you: prude. That’s me.)

Despite my issues, it’s a good book and I think it will land well with most readers. I mostly enjoyed it,  and I like the ideas that it explores.  Those who love this seem to really love it, so I’d check out some of their reviews if you’re debating this one. I’d still recommend it!

★★★ ½  (rounded down to 3)

Thanks to William Morrow and Custom House, NetGalley and author Danya Kukafka for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.  It’s due to be published January 25, 2022.