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Notes on an Execution

The bestselling thriller that everyone is talking about

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About this listen

 'THRILLING' Paula Hawkins
'COMPULSIVE' The Times
'SEARING' Brit Bennett
'DEVASTATING' Observer
'UNFORGETTABLE' Ashley Audrain
'BRILLIANT' Chris Whitaker

Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. But this is not his story.

Ansel doesn't want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood. Yet now he awaits the same fate he forced on those girls, years ago.

This is the story of the women who survive.

As the clock ticks down, three women - a mother, a sister, a detective - reckon with the choices that culminate in tragedy, the impact on those in its wake, and the possibility of redemption.

WINNER OF THE MWA EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL 2023 Crime Crime Thrillers Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Thriller Thriller & Suspense Exciting Scary Tear-jerking Heartfelt Suspense

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Critic reviews

A killer is on death row but this is not his story. It's the narratives of three women affected by his actions: his mother, Lavender; his ex-wife's sister, Hazel; and the female detective, Saffy, who tracked him down. Exploring the effects of violence by men and the worlds that are ruined, this is a breakout book for 2022
At once blistering with righteous anger and radical empathy, Notes on an Execution is destined to become a contemporary classic.
This novel is defiantly populated with living women; it ruminates on trauma, the criminal justice system and guilt . . . In particular, the relationships between women - sisters, friends, colleagues - are beautifully drawn, dense with detail and specificity . . . Notes on an Execution is nuanced, ambitious and compelling
Spellbinding and beautifully written. Danya Kukafka's Notes on an Execution is an irresistible, unbearably tense thriller, a poignant, deeply compassionate tale of resilience, and a vital intervention in the way we talk about violent crime, its endless reverberations and foremost its survivors.
A searing portrait of the complicated women caught in the orbit of a serial killer. Notes on an Execution examines a culture that romanticizes men who kill while also exploring the lives of the overlooked women altered by this violence. Compassionate and thought-provoking.
Reading Danya Kukafka's Notes on an Execution is a profound and staggering experience of empathy that challenges us to confront what it means to be human in our darkest moments. The stories of these richly drawn characters are layered like nesting dolls, each one revealing more about how we love and how we survive. Kukafka's prose, alive and poetic, is unforgettable. I relished every page of this brilliant and gripping masterpiece
Provocative, intelligent, thrilling, moving
This author, who was Good Housekeeping book of the year winner with Girl In Snow, returns with a sledge-hammer of a thriller. As a killer awaits his execution on death row, we hear from three women affected by his actions: his mother, Lavender, his ex-wife Hazel and the detective who caught him
Bruising, chilling, powerful and brilliant. Notes on an Execution is that rare book that transcends genre, moving from a deft thriller to an examination of fractured lives and the ripples of violent crime. Staggeringly accomplished
All stars
Most relevant
Beautiful prose, well-fleshed-out characters and great narration. I love this author and will be reading more of their work. Highly recommended!

Riveting!

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Proper enjoyed this novel, lots of twists & turns, noted that the writer describes characters breath a lot lol xoxo

Great story that takes hold of you

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A gloomy subject but very well written. The narration was excellent and the premise realistic. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Loved this ...

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Really enjoyable listen. The narration was great and very quickly I was absorbed in the story. I liked the alternating between the women and man.

Excellent

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I have discovered a new favourite writer. Will not be surprised to see a list of prize wins from this delicately considered work. Beautiful prose, characters, narrative. The 2 narrators do a great job here. I did not want it to end and will probably listen again to this original take on the story around a serial killer. There isn't a cluche in sight. Loved loved loved this!

Amazing

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