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Landru’s Secret: The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer
On 12 April 1919, the Paris police arrested a bald, short, 50-year-old swindler at his apartment near the Gare du Nord, acting on a lead from a humble housemaid. A century later, Henri Désiré Landru remains the most notorious and enigmatic serial killer in French criminal history, a riddle at the heart of an unsolved murder puzzle.
The official version of Landru’s lethal rampage was so shocking that it almost defied belief. According to the authorities, Landru had made “romantic contact” with 283 women during the First World War, luring ten of them to his country houses outside Paris where he killed them for their money.
Yet no bodies were ever found, while Landru obdurately protested his innocence. “It is for you to prove the deeds of which I am accused,” he sneered at the investigating magistrate.
The true story of l’affaire Landru, buried in the Paris police archives for the past century, was altogether more disturbing. In Landru’s Secret, Richard Tomlinson draws on more than 5,000 pages of original case documents, including witness statements, police reports and private correspondence, to reveal for the first time
Landru killed more women than the 10 victims on the charge sheet.
The police failed to trace at least 72 of the women he contacted.
The authorities ignored the key victim who explained why the killings began.
Landru did not kill for money, but to revel in his power over what he called the “feeble sex”.
Lavishly illustrated with previous unpublished photographs, Landru’s Secret is a story for our a female revengers’ tragedy starring the mothers and sisters of the missing fiancées, a lethal misogynist and France’s greatest defense lawyer, intent on saving his repulsive client from the guillotine.
The official version of Landru’s lethal rampage was so shocking that it almost defied belief. According to the authorities, Landru had made “romantic contact” with 283 women during the First World War, luring ten of them to his country houses outside Paris where he killed them for their money.
Yet no bodies were ever found, while Landru obdurately protested his innocence. “It is for you to prove the deeds of which I am accused,” he sneered at the investigating magistrate.
The true story of l’affaire Landru, buried in the Paris police archives for the past century, was altogether more disturbing. In Landru’s Secret, Richard Tomlinson draws on more than 5,000 pages of original case documents, including witness statements, police reports and private correspondence, to reveal for the first time
Landru killed more women than the 10 victims on the charge sheet.
The police failed to trace at least 72 of the women he contacted.
The authorities ignored the key victim who explained why the killings began.
Landru did not kill for money, but to revel in his power over what he called the “feeble sex”.
Lavishly illustrated with previous unpublished photographs, Landru’s Secret is a story for our a female revengers’ tragedy starring the mothers and sisters of the missing fiancées, a lethal misogynist and France’s greatest defense lawyer, intent on saving his repulsive client from the guillotine.
312 pages, Hardcover
Published December 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 8, 2021
Henri Landru is supposed to be the worst serial killer in French history. In this stunning case, no bodies were ever found, and only 10 charges were brought. The count is likely much, much higher though. The facts of the real story were locked away in secret French police files for 100 years and only came out in the last 40 to 50 years. During the early years of WWI when Paris was nearly bare of men, Landru was placing lonely heart ads in order to meet women. He got tons of responses, and set about meeting multiple women around the city each day. Good true crime, filling in my knowledge about Mr. Landru and his wretched murders. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Richard Tomlinson, and the publisher.
February 27, 2022
This is a fascinating book about a serial killer who is one of the most prolific to ever live. In spite of that, no bodies were ever found. The author does a thorough job of detailing what happened. Highly recommended for those with an interest in this type of subject.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
August 21, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword History for fulfilling my wish and providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love true crime but I’ve not heard of Landru - Frenchman, swindler, and potentially prolific serial murderer. This book covers the period of time between his first and last alleged victims, and his subsequent murder trial.
I found this book entertaining and engaging. I’ve been on quite a historical true crime kick recently, and this was definitely one I enjoyed. It read as very well researched, and I especially liked how the history of the time was flavour rather than a large part of the book - these disappearances (no bodies were ever found so was it murder?) occurred during the tumultuous back drop of WWI which is a huge topic in and of itself, so I really appreciated the focus on the lives of the women and Landru rather than that.
I also really enjoyed the nuanced writing of the trial. You couldn’t help but feel that Landru was completely guilty but there were no bodies and no evidence alongside some questionable detective work, and it was interesting reading how it played out and why the jury likely convicted like they did.
As with all cases this old, we will never know the full truth of what happened, and Landru took his secrets with him. But I thought this book went a long way in laying out the facts so you could make up your own mind. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone interested in historical true crime!
I love true crime but I’ve not heard of Landru - Frenchman, swindler, and potentially prolific serial murderer. This book covers the period of time between his first and last alleged victims, and his subsequent murder trial.
I found this book entertaining and engaging. I’ve been on quite a historical true crime kick recently, and this was definitely one I enjoyed. It read as very well researched, and I especially liked how the history of the time was flavour rather than a large part of the book - these disappearances (no bodies were ever found so was it murder?) occurred during the tumultuous back drop of WWI which is a huge topic in and of itself, so I really appreciated the focus on the lives of the women and Landru rather than that.
I also really enjoyed the nuanced writing of the trial. You couldn’t help but feel that Landru was completely guilty but there were no bodies and no evidence alongside some questionable detective work, and it was interesting reading how it played out and why the jury likely convicted like they did.
As with all cases this old, we will never know the full truth of what happened, and Landru took his secrets with him. But I thought this book went a long way in laying out the facts so you could make up your own mind. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone interested in historical true crime!
December 13, 2023
I was in the mood for a true crime story this week and wanted something different. I wanted something I had not heard about on the numerous YouTube videos and podcasts that I’ve seen in the past. Considering the language barrier, I am pretty oblivious to a lot of BIG true crime cases outside of America, so a case from France one hundred years ago was something that intrigued me. Henri Désiré Landru, a convicted conman working under a myriad of assumed names, took advantage of the lack of men during World War I and placed hundreds of “lonely hearts” classified ads with a dark motive behind it. His goal was to fleece money off of lonely women while having a family of his own, and “dispose” of the evidence by nefarious means. This book chronicles the crimes and eventual capture of a man that may have very well murdered more than one hundred women.
In Landru’s Secret – The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer, Richard Tomlinson uncovers some truly disturbing details that had been concealed within the depths of the Paris police archives for over a century. Landru’s sinister actions extended far beyond the ten women who are officially recognized as his victims. Shockingly, the authorities failed to trace at least 72 other women who had fallen into Landru’s web of deceit and manipulation. They ignored key witnesses and even victims that could have led authorities to stop his murderous rampage far earlier than they did. In a world where men ran the show with absolute certainty, listening to women was just not something that happened. Testimonies of prostitutes, downtrodden women, and others were overlooked simply due to misogynistic attitudes of the time.
Contrary to what one might assume, and what most have come to believe about this case, Landru’s motivation behind these brutal killings was not driven simply by a desire for financial gain. Sure, he was taking money from his victims, and it allowed him to basically “work” without having a real job and support his family that aided him, but this was merely a perk of his “hobby”. Rather, his murderous intent stemmed from a disturbing thirst for power and control over what he perceived as the “feeble sex.” This revelation only adds to the chilling and profound nature of the case, painting a picture of a man who reveled in exerting dominance over vulnerable individuals.
Richard Tomlinson is truly a remarkable writer, with a unique skill for transforming snippets from old historical documents into captivating narratives that leave readers on the edge of their seats. What sets him apart is his meticulous attention to detail, as he doesn’t simply present the bullet points of a case, but delves into every aspect from numerous angles, drawing from an array of sources such as personal letters and witness testimony. This careful approach enables Tomlinson to recreate historical events in a way that is both informative and engaging. By weaving together diverse perspectives and piecing together the puzzle of the past, he creates a rich tapestry that brings history to life. I truthfully don’t read a lot of true crime books because most of them read like Wikipedia articles, but this is a solid exception.
Landru’s Secret – The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer by Richard Tomlinson stands as a chilling testament to the darkness that can lurk behind a seemingly ordinary facade, a stark reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and justice for all victims involved. This is a great book by a somewhat overlooked publisher from the UK (Pen and Sword) and should get more attention. I am glad I got to learn about such an interesting case, and need to both follow this author and other true crime books from this publisher.
In Landru’s Secret – The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer, Richard Tomlinson uncovers some truly disturbing details that had been concealed within the depths of the Paris police archives for over a century. Landru’s sinister actions extended far beyond the ten women who are officially recognized as his victims. Shockingly, the authorities failed to trace at least 72 other women who had fallen into Landru’s web of deceit and manipulation. They ignored key witnesses and even victims that could have led authorities to stop his murderous rampage far earlier than they did. In a world where men ran the show with absolute certainty, listening to women was just not something that happened. Testimonies of prostitutes, downtrodden women, and others were overlooked simply due to misogynistic attitudes of the time.
Contrary to what one might assume, and what most have come to believe about this case, Landru’s motivation behind these brutal killings was not driven simply by a desire for financial gain. Sure, he was taking money from his victims, and it allowed him to basically “work” without having a real job and support his family that aided him, but this was merely a perk of his “hobby”. Rather, his murderous intent stemmed from a disturbing thirst for power and control over what he perceived as the “feeble sex.” This revelation only adds to the chilling and profound nature of the case, painting a picture of a man who reveled in exerting dominance over vulnerable individuals.
Richard Tomlinson is truly a remarkable writer, with a unique skill for transforming snippets from old historical documents into captivating narratives that leave readers on the edge of their seats. What sets him apart is his meticulous attention to detail, as he doesn’t simply present the bullet points of a case, but delves into every aspect from numerous angles, drawing from an array of sources such as personal letters and witness testimony. This careful approach enables Tomlinson to recreate historical events in a way that is both informative and engaging. By weaving together diverse perspectives and piecing together the puzzle of the past, he creates a rich tapestry that brings history to life. I truthfully don’t read a lot of true crime books because most of them read like Wikipedia articles, but this is a solid exception.
Landru’s Secret – The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer by Richard Tomlinson stands as a chilling testament to the darkness that can lurk behind a seemingly ordinary facade, a stark reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and justice for all victims involved. This is a great book by a somewhat overlooked publisher from the UK (Pen and Sword) and should get more attention. I am glad I got to learn about such an interesting case, and need to both follow this author and other true crime books from this publisher.
August 13, 2019
I wanted to like this book. After all, the premise sounded good: the unveiling of a mystery surrounding France’s Ripper, guillotined for the murder of 10 women and one young man, in 1921. Ghoulish, dramatic, French. What’s not to like? Exhaustively and meticulously researched, the book claims to shed new light on the problematic court case, in which no absolutely undeniable evidence was produced to make the prosecution’s case watertight. It was in part the memory of this case which eventually led to the abolition of the death penalty in France — everything pointed to Landru and yet nothing was verifiable.
Proust mentions the notorious affair, and integrates it into his overall condemnation of indifference, suggesting that Landru might be spared the guillotine if he had had a motive for killing the women, but not if he had acted out of ‘sadisme’ or what he terms ‘irresponsabilité’.
It is this indifference to women which the French police and judiciary could not quite stomach. The case against Landru could only be made if he had killed for money and the women had been besotted by Landru. Anything more random, or industrial, could not be tolerated. Although Landru in fact contacted nearly 300 women and the police could not account for all of them, the trial focused only on the women named in Landru’s carnet.
Tomlinson’s revelation, then, is the speculation that Landru was a sadist, who got a taste for killing women after being cornered into doing away with the first and her son, and in effect killed for pleasure. The problem with Tomlinson’s theory is that, like the French police and prosecution, he has no evidence.
Tomlinson is at pains to point out that the French authorities were dullards who missed the obvious, steeped as they were in the same casual misogyny of Belle Époque France that dismissed the female spectators at Landru’s trial. Yet it is Tomlinson who has missed the point. We do not need another laborious rehashing of the Landru affair; we need a social history that reveals the structural inequality and sexism of turn of the century Europe, even after the Great War.
Proust mentions the notorious affair, and integrates it into his overall condemnation of indifference, suggesting that Landru might be spared the guillotine if he had had a motive for killing the women, but not if he had acted out of ‘sadisme’ or what he terms ‘irresponsabilité’.
It is this indifference to women which the French police and judiciary could not quite stomach. The case against Landru could only be made if he had killed for money and the women had been besotted by Landru. Anything more random, or industrial, could not be tolerated. Although Landru in fact contacted nearly 300 women and the police could not account for all of them, the trial focused only on the women named in Landru’s carnet.
Tomlinson’s revelation, then, is the speculation that Landru was a sadist, who got a taste for killing women after being cornered into doing away with the first and her son, and in effect killed for pleasure. The problem with Tomlinson’s theory is that, like the French police and prosecution, he has no evidence.
Tomlinson is at pains to point out that the French authorities were dullards who missed the obvious, steeped as they were in the same casual misogyny of Belle Époque France that dismissed the female spectators at Landru’s trial. Yet it is Tomlinson who has missed the point. We do not need another laborious rehashing of the Landru affair; we need a social history that reveals the structural inequality and sexism of turn of the century Europe, even after the Great War.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pen and Sword History for fulfilling my wish and providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love true crime but I’ve not heard of Landru - Frenchman, swindler, and potentially prolific serial murderer. This book covers the period of time between his first and last alleged victims, and his subsequent murder trial.
I found this book entertaining and engaging. I’ve been on quite a historical true crime kick recently, and this was definitely one I enjoyed. It read as very well researched, and I especially liked how the history of the time was flavour rather than a large part of the book - these disappearances (no bodies were ever found so was it murder?) occurred during the tumultuous back drop of WWI which is a huge topic in and of itself, so I really appreciated the focus on the lives of the women and Landru rather than that.
I also really enjoyed the nuanced writing of the trial. You couldn’t help but feel that Landru was completely guilty but there were no bodies and no evidence alongside some questionable detective work, and it was interesting reading how it played out and why the jury likely convicted like they did.
As with all cases this old, we will never know the full truth of what happened, and Landru took his secrets with him. But I thought this book went a long way in laying out the facts so you could make up your own mind. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone interested in historical true crime!
I love true crime but I’ve not heard of Landru - Frenchman, swindler, and potentially prolific serial murderer. This book covers the period of time between his first and last alleged victims, and his subsequent murder trial.
I found this book entertaining and engaging. I’ve been on quite a historical true crime kick recently, and this was definitely one I enjoyed. It read as very well researched, and I especially liked how the history of the time was flavour rather than a large part of the book - these disappearances (no bodies were ever found so was it murder?) occurred during the tumultuous back drop of WWI which is a huge topic in and of itself, so I really appreciated the focus on the lives of the women and Landru rather than that.
I also really enjoyed the nuanced writing of the trial. You couldn’t help but feel that Landru was completely guilty but there were no bodies and no evidence alongside some questionable detective work, and it was interesting reading how it played out and why the jury likely convicted like they did.
As with all cases this old, we will never know the full truth of what happened, and Landru took his secrets with him. But I thought this book went a long way in laying out the facts so you could make up your own mind. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone interested in historical true crime!
January 31, 2023
This story, from 100 years ago, is about a French serial killer, who became a reviled and notorious figure in France following the end of the First World War. But it is also the story of the war, the tens of thousands of men who were slaughtered on the front, the equivalent number of single women left behind, many impoverished, vulnerable or even destitute. The story of what happened to Landau's poor victims is sadly familiar, from our own times, with Harold Shipman and Fred West, to name but two. What I found even more interesting was the account of the investigation, bungled and hapless even by a previous epoch's standards, because of societal misogyny, prejudice and exhaustion after the devastating impact of the war. The French media, whipped up a frenzy around the trial, partly, one concludes, to distract from the huge agony that France had just suffered. Some heroes emerge from the trial; the defence barrister, who despised Landru, but even more detested the death penalty and whose impact, we understand, eventually led to its abolition, many decades later; the brave (mainly female) witnesses, determined to see justice for their forgotten loved ones. There is a key mystery associated with this case, why, when so many women simply disappeared, were there no bodies? The book finishes with the author's own intriguing interpretation of this conundrum, his take on the characters in the book and what we learn about France then and now. I loved it!
January 10, 2019
I used to think that the villain in Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City was creepy. Well, meet Henri Landru in Richard Tomlinson’s chilling tale of France’s notorious serial killer.
A friend in London told me about Tomlinson’s Landru’s Secret: The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer. I bought a copy as soon as it was released in the U.S. in late December and took it on a recent long-haul flight, but not without first removing the jacket cover. Stare into the eyes of this monster and imagine his trial in 1921. Guaranteed nightmares.
Tomlinson combines the persistence of a journalist with the eye of a novelist to spin a truly monstrous tale. Set in Paris around 1915, the story begins with Tomlinson introducing us to 10 of Landru’s victims. He then walks us through the bungled investigation and high-profile trial, which became the talk of Paris.
Like Devil in the White City, Landru’s Secret gives a reader a glimpse into the mind of a madman. Every time Landru jots down a time in his small notebook, I shuddered for reasons that become clear to readers.
This book held my attention not only for the crime, but for the way it was investigated and tried. French courts work in a much different way from ours.
I recommend this book is you’re looking for a true-crime story that seems too ghoulish to be true.
A friend in London told me about Tomlinson’s Landru’s Secret: The Deadly Seductions of France’s Lonely Hearts Serial Killer. I bought a copy as soon as it was released in the U.S. in late December and took it on a recent long-haul flight, but not without first removing the jacket cover. Stare into the eyes of this monster and imagine his trial in 1921. Guaranteed nightmares.
Tomlinson combines the persistence of a journalist with the eye of a novelist to spin a truly monstrous tale. Set in Paris around 1915, the story begins with Tomlinson introducing us to 10 of Landru’s victims. He then walks us through the bungled investigation and high-profile trial, which became the talk of Paris.
Like Devil in the White City, Landru’s Secret gives a reader a glimpse into the mind of a madman. Every time Landru jots down a time in his small notebook, I shuddered for reasons that become clear to readers.
This book held my attention not only for the crime, but for the way it was investigated and tried. French courts work in a much different way from ours.
I recommend this book is you’re looking for a true-crime story that seems too ghoulish to be true.
September 27, 2024
I had high hopes but I didn't like the way the book was written. It's about a serial killer in France who sought out women and when he killed them, got their money but it wasn't the primary motivation- instead it was his conceited world that he wanted the power over these women who were "feeble".
The trial and story would have sucked me in but I found the writing convoluted. I wanted more facts and less pomp and circumstance though it was vivid to have the photos from the trial in the story as Landru has a fascinating look.
I know it'll go out but it doesn't have the umph that a book like Fleming's Murder Among Friends.
The trial and story would have sucked me in but I found the writing convoluted. I wanted more facts and less pomp and circumstance though it was vivid to have the photos from the trial in the story as Landru has a fascinating look.
I know it'll go out but it doesn't have the umph that a book like Fleming's Murder Among Friends.
February 2, 2019
This is true crime writing at its best – a thoroughly researched account that looks beyond one man’s horrific acts and explores the social and cultural milieu his crimes exposed. Richard Tomlinson pored over thousands of pages of court records and witness statements to recreate the shocking story of French serial killer Henri Landru, who claimed at least 11 victims before his arrest in 1919. And the author mounts a prosecution of his own, showing how the pervasive sexism of the time and the indifference of the French authorities almost allowed a monster to escape justice. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2022
This is a fascinating story, well written and thoroughly researched. Henri Désiré Landru, is one of France’s most infamous serial killers, who found his future victims by putting lonely-hearts adverts in newspapers. A brief declaration that he was a gentleman of means who was looking for a partner was enough to attract hundreds women over a two-year period some of whom would go on to become his victims.
Thoroughly recommend it.
Thoroughly recommend it.
August 29, 2022
A fascinating case and the materials provided, including photographs, add to the sense of thoroughness of the detailed research behind this book. I enjoyed reading about a case which is in a country other than USA, UK or Australia and had not heard about this case prior to reading this book, which made for a gripping reading experience.
November 19, 2018
Very comprehensive coverage of the crimes of Landru.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews