He Is Not Who He Seems: Why Women Fall in Love with Serial Killers

The concept of this book was born to French journalist Valérie Benaim when she first heard about the love story in the solitary confinement of a brutal killer and his girlfriend, a social worker. This story began with correspondence, and the author was struck by how strong the bond was between the criminal and an ordinary woman – as it lasted almost three years. After that, she started to delve deeper into cases where women fell under the spell of inmates convicted of serious crimes. Her heroines are 4 French women of different professions and fates, with various motivations for communicating with the convicted, the finales of whose “abnormal romances” became a surprise both for those around them and for themselves. In the actions of these extraordinary women, maternal instinct and compassion, the desire to overcome the judicial system, and sincere attachment are intertwined. The main message of the book is humanitarian. The author urges not to judge anyone without understanding the essence and to see, even in a killer, primarily a human being.