I would categorize this book as a true crime but not true true (so fictional) and it has a literary aspect but also such a compelling read overall! I really loved this flip on the head of a serial killer focused book. We do hear from Ansel Pecker, our serial killer, but the story mainly unfolds from the women in his life. We specifically follow his mother, sister-in-law, and the detective who threw him in jail. In juxtaposition we hear from Ansel in the countdown to his execution on death row. 

 

I was so intrigued by this premise and set up, because the mystery is not really who did it, but how and why he did it. Instead of hearing just from the serial killer we hear from the women who knew him better then himself. We hear from women who were better and more interesting then Ansel himself. Almost taking his position out of the equation. 

 

Kukafka in the author's note talks about why she wanted to write this book, because often we find these men so interesting, but only after they have killed women. "Average men become interesting when they start hurting women." And how our obsession with true crime often veers from caring about the victims, and into caring about how this man came to be. 

This book reminded me of Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll which I really loved so if you liked this book, check that one out as well.