The Executioner’s Song (1979) is a work of literary true crime by American author Norman Mailer. The book portrays the last nine months of the life of Gary Gilmore, who kills two men after being released from prison. Using interviews, court records, and witness accounts, Mailer pieces together the story of Gilmour’s trial and execution, exploring The Death Penalty as Public Spectacle, The Influence of Love and Hate in Human Lives, and Individual Will Versus Societal Control.

The Executioner’s Song won the Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into a film in 1982.

This guide uses the 2014 Vintage Books edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide feature depictions of graphic violence, sexual content, sexual violence, sexual harassment, substance use, cursing, domestic violence, emotional abuse, rape, suicidal ideation, death by suicide, mental illness, and death.

Plot Summary

The Executioner’s Song recounts the life, crimes, legal battles, and execution of Gary Gilmore, followed by the aftermath among those connected to him.

Gary Gilmore is released from federal prison in 1976 after serving time for armed robbery. He travels to Utah to live near relatives, including his cousin Brenda Nicol and his uncle Vern Damico. Gary struggles to adjust to freedom. He works briefly, drinks heavily, and soon meets Nicole Baker, a young, divorced mother with two children. Their relationship becomes intense and volatile. They move between Provo and Spanish Fork, arguing, reconciling, and separating repeatedly. Nicole, a survivor of abuse who has had a string of unsuccessful relationships, begins to fall in love with Gary, even as Gary’s behavior grows increasingly unstable.

In July 1976, Gary commits two murders in Utah County. He kills Max Jensen, a gas station attendant in Orem, during a robbery. The following night, he kills Bennie Bushnell, a motel clerk in Provo. He is quickly identified and arrested. During questioning, he confesses. He is charged with capital murder.

At trial, Gary is represented by court-appointed attorneys Ron Stanger and Robert Moody. The prosecution seeks the death penalty, even though no one in the United States has been executed for four years. The jury convicts Gary and recommends execution. He is sentenced to die, and he asks to be executed by firing squad. Almost immediately, Gary announces he does not want to appeal. He insists that the sentence be carried out. His attorneys and relatives attempt to persuade him to pursue appeals, but he refuses.

Various legal efforts begin to delay the execution despite Gary’s stated wishes. The American Civil Liberties Union files suits arguing that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional and that federal funds may be implicated. With Gary’s encouragement, Nicole attempts to die by suicide and is institutionalized. Gary attempts to die by suicide on the same night, and he also survives, though the pills he takes may not have been enough to kill a person, casting doubt on the sincerity of his act. Public attention intensifies as the scheduled execution approaches. Reporters, lawyers, prison officials, and family members prepare for possible last-minute stays.

Gary continues to reject appeals. He gives interviews and records tapes. He spends time with clergy, including Father Thomas Meersman. He arranges for the donation of his organs and for his body to be cremated and his ashes scattered over Spanish Fork. He leaves personal items and letters for Nicole. At the same time, a large-scale battle to acquire the rights to his story takes place. Eventually, Larry Schiller emerges as the likely candidate to hold the rights to Gary’s story. He signs contracts with many members of the family and meets with Gary, though he is often frustrated in his efforts to gain clarity into Gary’s motivations.

On the night before the execution, legal maneuvering accelerates. A federal judge issues a temporary stay. Utah Attorney General Robert Hansen and his deputies, including Earl Dorius and Mike Deamer, travel to Denver to seek relief from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The ACLU attorneys argue against lifting the stay. In an early morning hearing, the Tenth Circuit grants a writ of mandamus vacating the stay and directing that no further action be taken unless initiated by Gary or his attorney. At the same time, appeals are filed with the United States Supreme Court. Applications for stays are submitted to individual justices and then to the full Court. Each is denied. Prison officials consult with the Attorney General’s office to confirm that no legal impediment remains. After sunrise on January 17th, 1977, with no further stays in effect, the execution proceeds.

Gary is led to the execution area at Utah State Prison. There is a brief struggle over shackles. He is strapped into a chair. Witnesses, including attorneys and selected observers, are present. A firing squad of five men shoots him. After he is pronounced dead, his body is taken to the University of Utah Hospital. An autopsy is performed. Organs are removed for transplant and examination. His body is then cremated at a Salt Lake facility.

News of the execution spreads immediately. Family members and associates react in different ways. Toni Gurney, Brenda Nicol, Bessie Gilmore, and others receive the news with grief and anger. Some confront reporters. Nicole, still institutionalized, hears conflicting reports of stays and then the confirmation of his death. Various participants reflect on their roles, and officials give statements to the press. Newspapers debate the meaning of the execution and its costs. A memorial service is held in Spanish Fork. Family members, attorneys, and clergy speak. The service emphasizes Gary’s final days and his expressed wish to die with dignity. The next day, a small group flies over Spanish Fork and releases his ashes from the plane.

In the weeks that follow, attention turns to publishing Gary’s recorded interviews. Larry Schiller and Barry Farrell complete a lengthy Playboy interview based on tapes. Nicole is released from the hospital after legal arrangements and flown to California. Schiller rents a house in Malibu for Nicole and her family. She receives Gilmore’s belongings, including letters, a pipe, a broken watch, and a Bible. Schiller begins extensive interviews with her about her life and relationship with Gary. Nicole attempts to establish a new life in California. She moves to a modest home in the San Fernando Valley and later to Oregon. She tries to work and attend school while raising her children. She resumes relationships with men but has depression and confusion about her feelings toward Gilmore. She occasionally senses his absence sharply, especially when a ring he gave her breaks.

Family members face ongoing difficulties. Vern Damico encounters lawsuits against Gary’s estate and financial strain. Ida suffers a stroke. Bessie becomes increasingly isolated in her trailer, receiving hate mail and letters from strangers. April, Nicole’s sister, experiences nightmares and fear connected to Gilmore. Associates such as Barry Farrell and Lucinda recall Gary’s voice on tapes long after his death.