Poisoners, Courtesans, Anarchists. The Case of Poisons and Other Stories of Famous Criminals

For centuries, women have killed, and they have done so for various reasons: some coldly and calculatingly removed obstacles on the path to wealth, some tried to escape domestic violence, while others pursued political goals. Despite the fact that criminals sometimes managed to evade justice due to a lack of evidence, loud and extraordinary crimes inevitably attracted public attention, and the names of women murderers often became notorious. Relying on investigation protocols, archival materials, and even press publications, French writer Marc Lefrançois narrates the stories of sixteen murders: from the 17th century to the present day. The author focuses not only on the motives and methods of the intricate crimes, but also on the court verdicts and societal reactions.