A review by hayley_magnant
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

WOW. This was one of my most-anticipated new releases of 2022 and it did not disappoint. The author is masterful at making you feel deeply for every character (yes, every single one) in a just-over 300 page book. Though serial killer Ansel Packer is at the center of the story, the alternating narrations of the women in his life are where the bulk of the story is spent. I was riveted by each woman’s story and felt that the author really developed each character to be multi-layered and real. Somehow, at the end of the book, I felt empathy for everyone, including Ansel.
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