He is not who he seems: Why women fall in love with serial killers

The idea for this book was born to French journalist Valérie Benaim when she first heard about the love story in the solitary confinement of a brutal murderer and his girlfriend, a social worker. This story began through correspondence, and the author was struck by how strong the relationship was between the criminal and an ordinary woman – as it lasted almost three years. After this, she started to delve deeper into cases where women fell under the spell of prisoners convicted of serious crimes. Her heroines are 4 French women of different professions and fates, with various motivations for communicating with the convicted, the outcomes of whose "abnormal romances" were a surprise both for those around them and for themselves. In the actions of these extraordinary women, maternal instinct and compassion are intertwined, as well as the desire to overcome the legal system and genuine affection. 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.