Killing Laura

by Ruth Newman

A mother murders her young daughter then commits suicide, a shocking act of revenge against her husband; but is there more to this horrific act than simple retribution?
The book begins with Paula at the brink of death by suicide, her daughter already dead beside her. What follows is Paula's life told in the flashback of her final moments.
The true reasons for her tragic end become apparent as her life story unfolds, revealing childhood trauma which could never be fully overcome. Physically and psychologically damaged by a violent father and an emotionally neglectful mother, Paula spends her entire life battling the demons of her past and struggling to come to terms with her father's disturbing death, caused by her mother in self-defence.
The struggle to cope with her feelings and emotions leaves Paula feeling lost and alone, unable to fully understand the impact of what has happened to her.
Marrying and having a daughter only serve to reinforce the horror of her own childhood, and as she begins to lose her fragile ability to fight the darkening depression which frequently overshadows her, Paula becomes increasingly unstable.
As the marriage begins to crumble, Paula loses all hope. She commits the tragic crime of filicide before taking her own life.

Killing Laura is a fictional case study of filicide (the murder of one's own children).
Despite there often being a catalyst for this despicable act, such as spousal betrayal, the killer usually has a back story of dysfunction, trauma and mental instability. While this is no justifiable reason for filicide, the importance of effectively dealing with childhood trauma becomes painfully apparent in the telling of Paula's story.

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2015

About the author

Ruth Newman lives in Cambridge where she works as a Web editor for the University Business School. She won the Long Barn Books first novel competition for her "dark psychological thriller" Twisted Wing.