Drapet på Harriet Krohn

Konrad Sejer #7

by Karin Fossum, Nils Ole Oftebro (Narrator)

Jeg er Charles Olav Torp, tenker han, så rart å våkne i denne tunge kroppen, det er lyder utenfor, men de vet ingenting, de tror at denne dagen er en helt alminnelig dag. Ingen har merket dette skjelvet, men snart vil ringene bre seg og treffe alle de anstendige menneskene. Han ser en menneskemengde for sitt indre, i samme øyeblikk snur de seg og ser på ham, anklagende.Et mørkt og intenst portrett av en drapsmann. Leseren er med i hans tanker og handlinger fra første stund til gjennomførelsen av det heslige drapet. Et drap som skaffer ham økonomisk frihet til å oppfylle en stor drøm for sin unge datter, Julie. Alt er bedre enn på lenge og fremtiden synes lys og åpen. Hadde det bare ikke vært for Konrad Sejer.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Nordic Noir, Scandinavian Literature, Mystery Thriller

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Karin Fossum (née Mathisen) is a Norwegian author of crime fiction,often known there as the "Norwegian queen of crime". She lives in Oslo. Fossum was initially a poet, with her first collection published in 1974 when she was just 20. It won the Tarjei Vesaas' Debutant Prize. She is the author of the internationally successful Inspector Konrad Sejer series of crime novels, which have been translated into over 16 languages. She won the Glass key award for her novel "Don't Look Back", which also won the Riverton Prize, and she was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger in 2005 for "Calling Out For You".

Series:
* Inspector Konrad Sejer
* Eddie Feber

Reviews

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karin Fossum transcends the familiar concerns of mainstream crime fiction and once again offers an original and fascinating novel of psychological suspense and proves herself the heir apparent to the late Ruth Rendell. Translated out of order and appearing belatedly as the seventh outing for Inspector Konrad Sejer, this is an atypical investigation for the series and has markedly more in common with the standalone novel, I Can See In The Dark, meaning that it serves as a poor introduction to a continuing series for potential new readers. Inspector Konrad Sejer is largely a periphery figure for almost two-thirds of this novel, appearing in person at approximately two-hundred pages in and alluded to initially on page seventy-seven. Added to the fact that there is little investigative work on show and Fossum tells this story through the eyes of a murderer, The Murder of Harriet Krohn is a powerful expose of a very desperate man but most definitely not a standard police procedural. In short, this story focuses on living with a crime, atoning for ones sins and the uncharted waters of coping with the fear that pervades every moment thereafter. If the scales of good and evil are unbalanced, is there any chance of righting this and can a murderer ever be absolved?

The Murder of Harriet Krohn opens with despairing middle-aged father Charles Olav Torp (“Charlo”) writing another letter to his estranged daughter, sixteen-year-old sixth former student, Julie. In it he acknowledges his failings as a father, his addiction to gambling and his fondness for alcohol which has left him in a wretched state, unemployed after embezzling funds in his former job and in debt by several hundred thousand krone. With loyal wife, Inga Lill, succumbing to leukaemia two years preciously he does not expect forgiveness of sympathy from Julie, but merely a chance to make amends with his daughter and restore their relationship. For as Charlo states in his letter, he believes he can change the course of destiny with willpower and imagination and the beginning of the story details the execution of his heinous plan to rob a defenceless elderly woman as she approaches the age of seventy-six. Armed with a bouquet of flowers as a means of gaining entry and an unloaded World War II revolver, the pilfered cash and value of the silver is enough to pay off his creditors and see him reunited with Julie. Except Charlo had never planned to murder Harriet Krohn, he certainly wasn’t expecting her to fight back and her vociferous response sees him battering her skull with the butt of the gun. Evidently the actions of a very disturbed man, but also a frightened and panicking one, yet a callous and deranged Charlo’s first concern is making a quick exit and there is a total absence of remorse on his part.

Despite the daily onslaught of reality setting in and fresh realisation, Charlo appears ambivalent and remote from his action and opts for the perspective that the crime and Harriet Krohn’s fury trapped him. His fear is one of discovery and although his conscience does not trouble him unduly, the threat of a shadowy detective looking over his shoulder continually weighs. As he watches fearfully from his window and sets in action his own attempt at making recompense to his daughter, newspaper coverage of the murder hints at the tenacious Inspector Konrad Sejer, a man who has never overseen an unresolved murder in his lengthy career. Nevertheless, Charlo’s life does begin to improve, making redress to his daughter and being duly rewarded with a steadily improving relationship and his days filled with a part-time job that means he finally feels he is able to give something back to her. Demonstrating genuine resolve for his work and having a reason to live, it is easy to see how a feckless Charlo transforms into a worthy man. Yet as he does so, he feels his body breaking down and is afflicted by a strange array of medical ailments and continually losing weight fretting over the fear of exposure that has the potential to destroy the fragile relations between a parent and child. Fossum’s sensitivity and unparalleled characterisation gradually led me to warm to Charlo and as he begins to adds some credits to his failed life, his adoration for Julie and his love for his deceased wife is evident. However, perhaps more poignantly it is Fossum’s study of a man losing his mind that brings the reader closer to an understanding of a severely disturbed man and his warped logic. Notably, sixteen-year-old daughter Julie is similarly well-drawn and her fears and concerns about a possible relapse have left her sceptical, yet longing to be proved wrong as to her fathers past. Alert to the first sign of a return to the nightmare of his past and the disappointment that it will bring leaves a suitably suspenseful feeling of trepidation in the mind of Julie and most definitely the reader.

As Konrad Sejer finally steps out of his grey Volvo that has been keeping an eye on Charlo, the patient and authoritative detective exerts an uncomfortable pressure with his painstakingly detailed questioning. It is this as opposed to an overt menace that ultimately draws the details from Charlo and it is the empathy of his audience that sees him incriminate himself and finally explain what drove him to such deplorable action. The Murder of Harriet Krohn is an understated novel which takes a compelling look at a man labouring under the toll of his guilt, weighing his life events on the scales of justice and seeking absolution to begin his life with a clean slate. Heartbreaking for both its look at man who went off the straight and narrow and became a murderer, it is the shattering dismay of a mortified Julie that saddens me the most. A brilliant display of Karin Fossum’s psychological insight but the sedate build-up and lack of police focus may potentially frustrate those with an urge for action.

For readers who are keen to see more insight from the mind of a man who turns violent criminal and a similar background investigation, I can highly recommend Hour of the Wolf by Håkan Nesser.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a fan of Karin Fossum, the author responsible for introducing me to my love of Nordic Noir, it pains me to give her book The Murder of Harriet Krohn one star. However, I would be lying if I did not say that this is my least liked book in the entire Inspector Sejar series.

Ms. Fossum's previous works and even those after it, while not strictly police procedurals or psychological studies always manage to do a fantastic balance between the two. Unfortunately with this book, we do not see this. Ms. Fossum focuses mainly on the life of the killer and flushes out who he is. We don't even really see Inspect Sejer until page 158 and then he continues to be in and out of the story. I found myself highly disappointed with this.

Second, unlike her other works, this one had a feeling of jumping all over the place. It almost had the feeling that it was thrown together and then published as is.

I will say that, like all series, it had a fluke feeling to it. That one book in the series that the reader scratches their heads and tries to make sense of the book because the 3 books next in the series, I returned to my normal 4/5 star ratings for this author's works.

On that note, if someone asked me if I needed to read this book to understand occurrences in later reads, I would tell them no. There was not enough of Sejer in here to learn anything new about him that would carry into a deeper understanding of the Inspector.

[Sportyrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crime of desperation didn’t go as planned. Can they make up for it?

A fascinating debacle. We are told from the get go that the guy commited the crime. Harriet Krohn was murdered. Mainstream books will lead with a police investigation but this one goes against the current and tells it mostly from the killer’s perspective.

What I thoroughly enjoyed was the psychological element. There was also a sense of impending doom. He knew he’d get caught sooner or later and he just wanted some quality time until that happened. This killer had a conscience. He knew he’d crossed the line. But according to him, he had no other choice.

He interacts mostly with his daughter, trying to make-good past wrongs. She’s quite shallow to be honest. Easily bought. But intuned enough to make it work. The killer tries to go about his day without letting the horrific memories get in the way. This is the thrilling part. Normal people are thinking how could anyone do what he did, and yet he tries to manipulate and justify his behaviour hoping it will all just go away.

Recommended if you want a non-gruesome, killer’s pschology murder story. The plot is a touch thin but is just enough. There are others like this, but this one’s done well. Set in Norway. Similar style as Willy Vlautin ahem. Dummies are guaranteed to solve this one ;)

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read.

I'm a fan of Scandinavian Crime Novels (or as some refer to it, Nordic Noir - actually I really like that I'm going to use it). They're just so moody, dark and simply written. Perfect reading material for me.

Karin Fossum and her Inspector Sejer series is fantastic, and totally glom worthy (Nordic Noir as a whole is easy to glom)

The Murder of Harriet Krohn is a bit different to the usual Inspector Sejer novels in that it is narrated from the view point of the murderer. I really enjoyed this different perspective and Fossum's exploration of the human psyche.

Glom, glom, glom.

(Yes I am attached to the word glom today.)

[Vesela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Тази книга се оказа една малко по-различна криминална история , с тихо, камерно действие, разкриващо гледните точки, житейските премеждия и страсти (хазарт) на убиеца, когото бих опроличила на някакъв норвежки вид Разколников.
Карин Фосум и в тази си книга , макар да ми хареса най-малко от досега прочетените нейни, пак се проявява с характерното ѝ вглъбяване в психологическите причини на престъплението и във вътрешния свят на престъпника.
Продължавам да мисля, че е една изключително интересна авторка.

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a highly unusual psychological thriller, in that it’s told from the viewpoint of the killer.
Charlo Torp is truly a pathetic person: a widower, deeply in debt due to a gambling addition and desperately trying to win back the affections of his beloved teenage daughter Julie via her abiding passion for horses.
The middle of the book flashes back over a decade to Charlo’s life with five-year-old Julie and his wife Inga Lill. It is there we get a glimpse of the beginning of his decline.
Karin Fossum’s usual protagonist, Inspector Konrad Sejer doesn’t appear in person until about two-thirds way through the novel, which is when it becomes apparent that Charlo will not escape with his crimes.
Full marks to Karin Fossum for her narrative approach, which probably hasn’t been attempted since Dostoevsky. However, in the end, I still felt this was a depressing tale about a sad little man who commits an horrendous crime for the most banal of reasons.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read 45 pages and decided I didn't like the book. It is completely written from the murderer's point of view and the murderer is not an interesting person. He's just wierd and a misfit. Time for reading is limited so I am not finishing this. The advantage of getting a book from the library is guiltless discarding.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I generally appreciate that Karin Fossum tries new storytelling techniques with each novel, but this one really missed. It is told from the perspective of the murderer, and Inspector Sejer doesn't even come into the story until 60% in (thanks, Kindle). The main problems with this book are a) is is completely lacking the the fun of a mystery-- figuring out what happened and following the investigators as they piece it together; and b) the voice of the narrator was completely unengaging-- almost stream of consciousness-like. I need dialogue! Plus nothing really happens. There was no suspense whatsoever because a) we know Sejer closes every case (literally); and b) the murderer is so stupid-- Inspector Clouseau could close the case!
If you're reading the Sejer books, skip this one!

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saddens me to give this rating, which I STRETCHED to a 2 star. Karin must have tried to do a Crime and Punishment Nordic style. It came off as a whining, bumpy, pathetic characterization. Most of the book is thought patterns of the murderer's thoughts and through his eyes. Sejer isn't visible at all until way after the half, and then minimally. I skimmed at the three quarters point onward. Large sections had nothing to do with the plot, IMHO. Horse buying and tons of back information about his daughter- all kinds of slants he uses to NOT think about what he had done. He was so off-putting that I would not recommend this book, despite liking Sejer series and this author in other works.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The preoccupation for Scandinavian crime fiction of many readers is sometimes questioned. One response is to get people to read Karin Fossum's Inspector Konrad Sejer series. Within the one series, Fossum is able to shift the perspective, analyse the reasons why, explore the outcomes and long-term effects of crime, and play with accepted perceptions of clear cut resolutions. In THE MURDER OF HARRIET KROHN, whilst still part of the Sejer series, she's tipped the perspective completely - this is not a whodunnit, or even necessarily a whydunnit, but a how do you live with what you've just done.

There's absolutely no doubt from the opening set up of this book who Charlo Torp is, what a self-inflicted mess he's made of his life, and what his solution to the problem is. It's quite a chilling portrayal. The matter-of-fact way in which Torp sets out to murder Harriet Krohn and his initial reactions post the crime.

It would be an easy thing to have him remain ambivalent, self-justifying. Comfortable that his decision is what was required to sort out his own life and his relationship with his daughter. Certainly post his crime, and as a result of the money and possessions he steals, his life takes a turn for the better. He's able to reconnect with his daughter, he can provide her with the one thing she longs for more than anything else. But somewhere in the middle of all that happy ever after there's something more than just the pressure he's feeling from Inspector Sejer's investigation.

The investigation does take a back seat in this book, but fans of crime fiction that's all about the "chase" would be doing themselves a disservice by missing THE MURDER HARRIET KROHN. This is a carefully laid out, conservatively presented, seeringly understated, big dose of what goes around, comes around. The frightening thing is how blithely ignorant Torp is of what's happening, how his choices impact other people, and what he could have done differently. Until it's way too late.

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read. It is part of a series that features a detective, Konrad Sejer, but in this book he is actually behind the scenes as it is told from the perspective of the murderer. The murderer is a ne'er do well kind of guy, a sad sack, so most of his troubles are brought on by his foolishness, but there are events that are beyond his control as well, so it rounds him out. My favorite scene: counting the peppercorns, trying to see if his good deeds evened out the bad.

[Cookie M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story, the 7th in the Inspector Sejer series was not as effective as the first six. Something seemed to be lacking. It was told from the viewpoint of the murderer. He was neither a sympathetic nor an evil man, just some guy who made a lot of mistakes and tried to take the easy way out of his troubles.
I didn't care about him, though, one way or the other. I neither wished he would pay for his crime nor hoped something would happen to let him get away with it.
When Inspector Sejer was questioning him, I felt it went on for way too long. I am sure it does in real life, but I wanted to say, "Hey, Konrad, rough him up a little. I won't tell. Let's just get this over with." I'm the bad cop.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 4 out of 5]

My View:
Can you balance the scales or wipe out an evil act with good deeds?

Fossum poses a very interesting question in this psychological study when Sejer asks the suspect “What is a human being?” and he answers profoundly; “There are probably as many answers as there are human beings. And I hate all that guff about free will.” Sejer responds with equal insight, “Because you feel you haven’t got it. But many people would maintain that they do have it. You’re envious and so you dismiss the term” (p.275). This book is an interesting study about free choice, guilt and about how far an individual will go to change the circumstances of their life, a life where choices seem limited or non-existent. Can you wipe out one act of evilness with a lifetime of goodness? Can we re balance the scales?

This book is a little different to others I have read by Fossum – the narrative is told from the perspective of the villain, we see the wretchedness of his life, his illogical logic, his attempts to convince himself he had no choice but to commit this heinous crime and his efforts to lead a “good life” after the crime is committed. Inspector Sejer’s appearance is largely in the periphery – he is mentioned in the newspaper reports of the crime and it is not til the very end that he makes an entrance, in his usual calm and composed manner. We learn very little of how Sejer puts his case together – we know it is by solid police work and investigation, witness statements etc. but we are not privy to his thought processes.

This is a very unassuming book; not your average work of crime fiction, but them we know not to expect average from Ms Fossum. This narrative is told in a very slow and calm manner with a very deliberate and detailed look at a life less fortunate and the choices we may or may not have and the repercussions of those choices. A great psychological expose.

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Billed as an Inspector Sejer novel, this is in fact a novel about Charles Olav Torp. We know he's committed a brutal murder of an elderly lady and throughout the story Torp tries to justify his actions but in reality he is only trying to buy back his daughter and blame is addiction to gambling but not himself. In the end Sejer interrogates him without the presence of a lawyer and by the use of leading questions.

An interesting use of the perpetrator as the narrator but we never really discover how Torp was found out. All a bit up in the air and didn't do much for me hence 2 stars only.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, harrowing book from the murderer’s point of view. But I enjoyed the story. Another writer to keep in mind.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who picks up The Murder of Harriet Krohn and expects to read a typical Konrad Sejer police procedural is in for a rude shock. This seventh book in the series is told from the killer's point of view. At the beginning, this is a successful ploy as we get to see just how messed up Charles Olav Torp's life is, how he's ruined his relationship with his 16-year-old daughter, how far he's willing to go in an attempt to straighten everything out-- and ultimately how self-deluded he is. Harriet Krohn isn't particularly sympathetic as a murder victim. She's abrasive, judgmental, and wrapped in a thick batting of entitlement. No, this book is all about Charlo... and the Sejer-sized shadow that looms ever larger in the background.

I've read the other books in Fossum's marvelous series, and as Charlo committed robbery and murder, I mentally cataloged each clue that he left for Sejer and his team to find. As certain things were released to the press, I smiled because I knew the inspector was closing in, and it certainly was interesting to see an interrogation through the killer's eyes. But Charlo just wasn't the right character to carry the entire weight of the narrative. Perhaps if he were an intelligent sort of killer capable of playing cat and mouse with a worthy adversary like Sejer, but he isn't. Charlo isn't particularly smart; he's self-centered, whiny, and pathetic, and after a while all his whining, all his complaints, all his justifications have gathered enough strength to pull a reader's interest right down into the dust.

It wasn't until I'd had time to digest this book a bit more that I felt a chill moving up my spine. Most criminals are exactly like Charles Olav Torp. They're not very smart. They can never accept responsibility for their own actions. They whine and complain. The Murder of Harriet Krohn may be Karin Fossum's warning to us all: Be careful. There are many more Charlos out there than we can ever realize, and they're all bringing their clouds of disaster with them. To share.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a story about a man who envisions his life as being imperfect and who wants to improve it via committing a crime. Things go downhill for him and we witness his fall. A good study of guilt, desperation and depression. However I have read her other books and enjoyed them more.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This newest book by the author of the lauded Inspector Sejer series is presented from the point of view of Charles Olav (“Charlo”) Torp, a widower just over 50, unemployed for the past two years after he was found to have pilfered a relatively small amount of money, following the discovery of which he was fired on the spot. An inveterate gambler, and in serious debt, he is terrified by the thought of what the unsavory people from whom he borrowed the money have in mind for him as his debt grows ever larger. And worst of all, his greatest humiliation comes from the fact that money he had promised to his 16-year-old daughter has been gambled away, along with everything else. He has been completely estranged from her ever since.

He comes to the conclusion, out of utter despair, that he must steal a valuable antique silver collection owned by a wealthy woman in her late seventies so he can pay off his debts and start a new life, and familiarizes himself with her habits and the area where she lives. The reader sees all of this from Charlo’s point of view, the events leading up to the planned burglary, and the crime itself which, as the title intimates, results in the woman’s death when Carlo becomes violent after his victim does not simply succumb and give him her money and valuables.

The question for the reader becomes: Do I want to go inside the mind of a murderer? Surprisingly, I found myself sympathizing with him, despite the brutality of the crime, to the extent that when Charlo things that “perhaps he’ll get away with it. Some people do escape,” this reader couldn’t help but think, “maybe he will,” and wants him to do so.

The author’s series protagonist, Inspector Sejer, makes a critical appearance relatively late in the novel, and what ensues is a battle of wills as much as anything else. There is nothing that Charlo will not do to try to salvage his new life and his re-established relationship with his daughter, but who will prevail? This is a very different kind of book, from this author and to this reader, but I do not hesitate to recommend it.

[Gisela Hafezparast · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess it is more of a 2.5. For a Karin Fossum book it is disappointing, would it not be for the quite excellent self-excusing and self-serving description of a murderer, his motives and actions and in the end the very well written interrogation by Konrad Sejer. However, the whinning, self-serving description of the murderer quickly goes on ones nerves and as the whole story is written from his point of view, other more interesting aspects of his life, murder and why he chose his victims, comes a bit short.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series may look like a police procedural and does use Inspector Sejer as the common element, but these varied books are more focused on the crime and criminal. Karin Fossum spends a lot if time in her characters' heads. I found this one book and protagonist boring and depressing and not even Sejer (when he finally appeared on page 150 of 242) could redeem it. Translation to English was out of sequence....I'm thinking publishers knew it wasn't a winner.

[Danni]

was terrible!!! stopped more than half way through!!! was about a guy who killed a woman. dont know why? and for so many pages you read about his daughter and horses.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very different book in the Konrad Sejer series, as Sejer is only on the scene for a few short segments, although he becomes a looming threat to the central character as the story progresses. I did not like Charlo Torp from the beginning of this book. He is whiney, full of self-pity, and very self-absorbed. But he does love his daughter, 16 year old Julie, and wants to try to make up for his gambling that costs the family their security, and his abuses of alcohol. Of course, his strategy for overcoming his past debts, and making things up to Julie, are also full of only what will remedy his problems, with no regard for someone else's life, which is what puts him in the path of Konrad Sejer.
It is a testament to the skill of this author that even though I had so thoroughly disliked Charlo, I began to see him as a much more complicated figure, and as Sejer began to close in on him I felt myself hoping that somehow everything could be made right without Charlo's new lease on life being disrupted. And even though I ended up really liking this book, I am hoping for a chance to spend more time with Konrad Sejer in my next outing in this series.

[Alma04 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi geschreven boek vanuit het perspectief van de dader. Je gaat van die man houden en je ergert je mateloos. Hij heeft duidelijk moeite met het onderscheid tussen goed en kwaad en denkt voornamelijk vanuit zichzelf. Bijzonder vond ik dat de dader op dezelfde dag geboren is als ik en dat de dader ook de diagnose m.s. krijgt. Ja, ook net als ik.

[piranha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Fossum I didn't much care for. Not that it was a bad character study, but I didn't like the character AND didn't come to empathize more with him by understanding him better - unusual for Fossum who can usually bring that about for me.

[Mim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping I’d like this as much as I liked her other books, but I didn’t. I didn’t care about any of the characters. There wasn’t much of the detective Sever. Also, it wrapped up quickly, and then a long letter. It was okay. Just, okay.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik vond het totaal niet storend dat inspecteur Sejer wat later in beeld kwam. het psychologische aspect van de hoofdrolspeler werd goed uitgewerkt. Fijn en spannend boek. leest als een trein.

[Dimitris Passas (TapTheLine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is one of the best in the Inspector Sejer saga and Fossum is on top of her game here. Fans of the Norwegian writer are simply obliged to read it.

RATING: 3,5/5

[La Lectora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Esta autora es bastante repetitiva en los temas y en el tipo de personajes pero lo peor es que su estilo con demasiados monólogos, datos irrelevantes y páginas de relleno me resulta denso y pesado. Aunque este libro mejora un poco a partir de la mitad y por momentos logra interesar, en conjunto me ha aburrido mucho. El final, como muchos de esta autora ,es tan abierto que no parece un final.

[Carmen Sanzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me ha parecido una historia horrible desde el minuto uno. No sé si me atreveré a leer ningún libro más de esta autora, que por otro lado, nunca me entusiasmó.

[Michael L Wilkerson (Papa Gray Wolf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the 5 or 6 (I've lost track) of the Inspector Sejer books. Fossum gives us a series of books, well written and with enough humanity and humility in Sejer to make them both realistic and interesting. This book, however was a departure from her usual format; it was written almost exclusively from the viewpoint of the perpetrator - not a spoiler, you're told that on the flyleaf.

I have to say it's well written but it just didn't do it for me. I slogged through this book. I was so tired of the whining that I couldn't wait for the perp to be undone.

No way have I given up n Ms. Fossum, I just hope she reverts to her former format and we see more of Sejer than this book gave us.