The Murder of Harriet Krohn by Karin Fossum

This is the story of a man who slipped off life's path.  He lost his job, his family, and his money to drugs.  He desperately wants to see his daughter again and he knows an old woman who has family heirlooms worth money.  He takes her flowers and then attempts to steal from her.  She may be old but she's still full of fight.  And then she's dead...

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It was published in November, so you can find a copy at your local bookstore now.

What this author analyzes in her story is how an accident can become a nightmare.  The psychological affect on the killer is almost more than he can handle.  He tries to justify his actions by saying she was old, didn't need the goods, and she shouldn't have fought back.  But it eats at his soul.

He buys his daughter a horse.  This man who had nothing can afford to buy a show horse for her.  He is working at the stable, but it still looks suspicious. When the police start questioning him, he has answers.  But the detective never quits asking his questions.

This is a sad tale with a predictable outcome.  I usually hate the killers in stories but I found myself feeling sorry for him.  He was a weak man that fell by the wayside.  Sometimes it's like that.