Published in 2022, Notes on an Execution is a novel steeped in a current cultural phenomenon: the peaking popularity of true crime. True crime is a genre of media that explores the details of real crimes, most often murders. Though true crime media has existed for over a century, its modern prevalence is often credited to Truman Capote’s 1966 novel In Cold Blood, a detailed account of the murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas.

Since the publication of In Cold Blood, true crime media has seen a steady rise in popularity, from crime TV shows like Dateline to hit documentaries like Tiger King and podcasts like My Favorite Murder. Recently, a renewed interest has been cast on serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, with documentaries and biographies on them attaining widespread success. With this acclaim has come new criticism. Some critics of the genre have argued that consuming true crime content for entertainment is unethical and exploitative to victims.

Kukafka grew up watching and reading about true crimes. In an interview with Kailey DelloRusso for Write or Die Magazine, Kukafka admitted that she is repulsed by her own interest in true crime. “Why do we […] glorify average men who hurt women?” Kukafka asked (DelloRusso, Kailey Brennan.