Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

361 reviews

damira_rx22's review against another edition

This was a tough rating. I DNF @ 80%. I started this book as a buddy read with some friends. Though it did create some great conversations, I got bored with the storyline and never picked it back up. I do recommend this book for book clubs. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty

bubblybelle's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

this was just so not what i wanted it to be. i am not in favor of the death penalty, especially given the state of our current justice system. however, i also simply am not going to pity a serial killer who feels absolutely NO remorse for the lives he’s taken. i feel bad for what Ansel endured as a child, but that does not excuse his behavior as an adult. 

there was way too much romanticizing and pitying for a violent criminal throughout this book despite the blurb implying that it would do the opposite. it was only in the last few chapters that it would try to switch that narrative, but by that point it was frankly too little too late for me. 

the fact that Ansel’s pov was in 2nd person was also just annoying. all of his narration made me feel icky and gross. also, the first half of the book had so much random, unnecessary smut. it didn’t really fit in with the story and again just felt icky. i almost dnf’d so many times and frankly i wish i had. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Murder

Minor: Drug abuse and Death of parent

jvanwyen's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Dark, but made me think. Author did a good job of making Ansel’s story layered. Despite his “manuscript” being written off in the story by other characters, the questions posed were interesting for me to think about. 

I wonder why Lila’s voice was excluded in the last chapter in favor of her daughter, when we got to hear from the other 3 victims directly. I didn’t like that choice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Drug use and Murder

deremie's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Murder

prinzesstephi's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Abandonment

alexefontaine's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Abandonment

jennyf1sh's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Alcoholism

booksbri's review against another edition

dark informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Torture, Violence, and Alcohol

chels_ro's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

a beautifully written story on the nature of a serial killer through the lens of the women across his life. Kukafka questions how an individual’s choices make up their morality, the hopeful and obsessive idea of parallel universes, and the damage of making serial killer stories so consumable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, and Abandonment

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Racism, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent

katwritesandreads7's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

...look... I wanted to love this so much. I really did. But it dragged on and the serial killer character had no redeeming qualities. Very few of the characters were loveable and I really wish the author had taken this in another direction. One of the characters gets betrayed and we never find out why and never see that character again. I was just so frustrated with the missed potential of this read. It was by no means a BAD book... It was comprehensive and had a good plot... But for me, it was missing so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy