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Execution Lullaby
A tight, tortured mix of serial murder and bizarre sexuality, told from an unusual viewpoint. Simon Chance, on death row awaiting execution for a series of murders committed by his wife, Juliette, tells the story of his final nine weeks before his scheduled execution.
325 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Nigel Latta
20 books23 followersNigel Raymond Latta ONZM was a New Zealand clinical psychologist, author and broadcaster. He has been described as "New Zealand's best-known psychologist".
Nigel Raymond Latta was born and raised in Oamaru, New Zealand. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School & he studied Marine Science and Zoology at the University of Otago, and completed a Master of Philosophy with First Class Honours in Psychology at the University of Auckland, along with a postgraduate diploma in clinical psychology.
Latta worked as a consultant in his field for private companies and government social service agencies, including Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Police and Child Youth and Family.
In the 2010s, he became known for his true crime documentaries and psychology-based television series, as the host of Beyond The Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers and The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, and a science show called Nigel Latta Blows Stuff Up, among others. In 2016, Latta co-found Ruckus Films, a production company which produced several feature documentaries including Born This Way: Awa’s Story and Stan. He also began presenting general interest television shows, such as The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta, which approached social and political issues,and You've Been Scammed by Nigel Latta which examines common types of scams.
Latta was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, for services to psychology.
In September 2024, Latta revealed that he had been diagnosed with "inoperable and incurable" terminal stomach cancer, and that he was undergoing chemotherapy that had shrunk the tumour by about 60 percent. Latta was told that he had 6 to 12 months to live. In February 2025, the prognosis was reduced to four weeks after a scan indicated that the cancer had spread to his lungs. However, Latta later said that, because of the treatment he was receiving, he believed he would continue to live for "years and years". In March 2025, he stated that he was no longer terminally ill. Latta died on 30 September 2025, at the age of 58 at the Mercy Hospice in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Abridged from Wikipedia, information about his death from the Stuff website.
Nigel Raymond Latta was born and raised in Oamaru, New Zealand. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School & he studied Marine Science and Zoology at the University of Otago, and completed a Master of Philosophy with First Class Honours in Psychology at the University of Auckland, along with a postgraduate diploma in clinical psychology.
Latta worked as a consultant in his field for private companies and government social service agencies, including Department of Corrections, the New Zealand Police and Child Youth and Family.
In the 2010s, he became known for his true crime documentaries and psychology-based television series, as the host of Beyond The Darklands, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Teenagers and The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show, and a science show called Nigel Latta Blows Stuff Up, among others. In 2016, Latta co-found Ruckus Films, a production company which produced several feature documentaries including Born This Way: Awa’s Story and Stan. He also began presenting general interest television shows, such as The Hard Stuff with Nigel Latta, which approached social and political issues,and You've Been Scammed by Nigel Latta which examines common types of scams.
Latta was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, for services to psychology.
In September 2024, Latta revealed that he had been diagnosed with "inoperable and incurable" terminal stomach cancer, and that he was undergoing chemotherapy that had shrunk the tumour by about 60 percent. Latta was told that he had 6 to 12 months to live. In February 2025, the prognosis was reduced to four weeks after a scan indicated that the cancer had spread to his lungs. However, Latta later said that, because of the treatment he was receiving, he believed he would continue to live for "years and years". In March 2025, he stated that he was no longer terminally ill. Latta died on 30 September 2025, at the age of 58 at the Mercy Hospice in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Abridged from Wikipedia, information about his death from the Stuff website.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 3, 2015
Before New Zealand psychologist Nigel Latta became renowned for his many parenting books and his lively television appearances that focus on 'cut through the crap' advice for parents and families, he was a forensic psychologist who had spent a career dealing with the much darker side of human nature. Several years ago he fronted a popular television show, Into the Darklands, which provided viewers with remarkable insights into 'the criminal mind', and the motivations behind some of New Zealand's most horrifying real-life crimes.
Into the Darklands was inspired by Latta's 2003 non-fiction book of the same name, where he confronted readers by lifting the curtain on the realities of his career, tiptoeing through the psychological minefields that were the personalities and lives of some of our most notorious and dangerous offenders.
Nigel Latta lived up close and person with real-life crime and horror, and that insight comes through clearly in his one work of fiction, EXECUTION LULLABY, a disturbing crime thriller he published back in 2000, long before television celebrity came calling. Unsurprisingly given its title, EXECUTION LULLABY is a death-row thriller - Simon Chance is counting the nine weeks he has left before the state ends his life in retribution for a series of lives it says he ended. Seven teenage girls, wiped from existence.
As his time dwindles, Chance reflects on his happy marriage to Juliette, and how things irrevocably changed when he discovered a terrible secret. How did he really end up behind bars, preparing to walk the green mile? The reader follows along as Simon tells his story, almost as if we're the priest at final confession.
EXECUTION LULLABY isn't the easiest read out there - Latta take the reader to some dark places in terms of serial murder and sex crimes, threading in an intriguing whydunnit - as much as whodunnit - to power the narrative. As I read EXECUTION LULLABY I found the book settling into that 'good not great category', with some very interesting parts, plot and character-wise, but not quite the depth or texture of the better crime fiction. For a debut though, it showed a lot of promise, and was compelling and very clever.
But then Latta ramped things up significantly as Simon's time (and the remaining pages) diminished. He powered to a strong finish, that left me pondering for quite a while. His insight into human nature and the criminal mind, the dark things that lurk inside, coupled with some nice storytelling choices, made for a slick and gripping read, and left me hoping that Latta would write more crime fiction one day.
Into the Darklands was inspired by Latta's 2003 non-fiction book of the same name, where he confronted readers by lifting the curtain on the realities of his career, tiptoeing through the psychological minefields that were the personalities and lives of some of our most notorious and dangerous offenders.
Nigel Latta lived up close and person with real-life crime and horror, and that insight comes through clearly in his one work of fiction, EXECUTION LULLABY, a disturbing crime thriller he published back in 2000, long before television celebrity came calling. Unsurprisingly given its title, EXECUTION LULLABY is a death-row thriller - Simon Chance is counting the nine weeks he has left before the state ends his life in retribution for a series of lives it says he ended. Seven teenage girls, wiped from existence.
As his time dwindles, Chance reflects on his happy marriage to Juliette, and how things irrevocably changed when he discovered a terrible secret. How did he really end up behind bars, preparing to walk the green mile? The reader follows along as Simon tells his story, almost as if we're the priest at final confession.
EXECUTION LULLABY isn't the easiest read out there - Latta take the reader to some dark places in terms of serial murder and sex crimes, threading in an intriguing whydunnit - as much as whodunnit - to power the narrative. As I read EXECUTION LULLABY I found the book settling into that 'good not great category', with some very interesting parts, plot and character-wise, but not quite the depth or texture of the better crime fiction. For a debut though, it showed a lot of promise, and was compelling and very clever.
But then Latta ramped things up significantly as Simon's time (and the remaining pages) diminished. He powered to a strong finish, that left me pondering for quite a while. His insight into human nature and the criminal mind, the dark things that lurk inside, coupled with some nice storytelling choices, made for a slick and gripping read, and left me hoping that Latta would write more crime fiction one day.
February 3, 2022
Written by Nigel Latta, a Psychologist that I really like, I wasn't really sure what to expect, and found it a great read. Is a little macabre and gory in some places, and has a few twists and turns.
It's well written and can almost imagine the scenes described.
Really enjoyed it!
It's well written and can almost imagine the scenes described.
Really enjoyed it!
December 22, 2023
Not sure why the actual title Execution Lullaby isn’t showing. This was one hell of a ride, very dark and haunted.
September 9, 2008
Simon Chase is on death row for the murder of seven teenage girls. Execution Lullaby is told from his point of view. It quickly become apparent that Simon didn't murder the girls, but he is complicit.
The story follows Simon's blissfully happy marriage to his wife, until he discovers a terrible secret.
The blurb for the book asks the question "how far would you go for the one you love?" and gives Simon's answer.
Nigel Latta is a clinical psychologist who specialises in assessing and treating sex offenders. It's dark place he has to visit on a regular basis and EXECUTION LULLABY reflects that. It's a compelling read if you have the stomach for it, with a very clever twist at the end. I found EXECUTION LULLABY unputdownable.
The story follows Simon's blissfully happy marriage to his wife, until he discovers a terrible secret.
The blurb for the book asks the question "how far would you go for the one you love?" and gives Simon's answer.
Nigel Latta is a clinical psychologist who specialises in assessing and treating sex offenders. It's dark place he has to visit on a regular basis and EXECUTION LULLABY reflects that. It's a compelling read if you have the stomach for it, with a very clever twist at the end. I found EXECUTION LULLABY unputdownable.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews