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Seeking Hearts: Love, Lust and the Secrets in the Ashes
When Inspector Belin set out to catch the elusive Henri Landru for embezzlement and fraud, he wasn't prepared for the complex web of secrets that would unravel. As war raged on and husbands fought on distant battlefields, Landru preyed upon the vulnerable hearts of lonely young women, presenting himself as a grieving widower desperate to fill the void in his shattered life.
Beneath the façade of a broken man lay a disturbing truth - a predator driven by insatiable desires. Would some of Landru’s 283 targets find out in time to save themselves?
Seeking Hearts is a chilling journey through the depths of human darkness. As the riveting tale unfolds, it forces readers to confront the unsettling realisation that, for Henri Landru, murder became the ultimate means of tying up loose ends.
Beneath the façade of a broken man lay a disturbing truth - a predator driven by insatiable desires. Would some of Landru’s 283 targets find out in time to save themselves?
Seeking Hearts is a chilling journey through the depths of human darkness. As the riveting tale unfolds, it forces readers to confront the unsettling realisation that, for Henri Landru, murder became the ultimate means of tying up loose ends.
- GenresTrue Crime
4 pages, Audible Audio
Published July 27, 2023
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 4, 2023
The Bluebeard of Gambais – a truly unique monster!
Once again, Ryan Green has summoned his unique ability to seamlessly combine fact, psychoanalysis, and well-reasoned conjecture to transport his readers back in time so that we may experience, almost first-hand, the life story of a truly unique monster. Henri Désiré Landru was a French serial killer of notable intellect and considerable magnetism. His humble beginnings seemed to predict a trajectory quite different from the path he eventually traveled. After obtaining a modicum of education, he became firmly convinced that a keen mind such as his, coupled with his ravenous curiosity and a bit of hard work would be generously rewarded in life. He was soon disabused of this notion after being swindled out of the hard-earned bond money he entrusted to a potential employer as a good-faith gesture to secure a respectable job. The devastating financial loss shook his belief system to the core and prompted him to take up a life of fraud at which he excelled as if born to it. Posing as a successful businessman in need of a wife (despite already having a wife and four children), he was able to win the trust of an impressive number of women, mostly widows or women who had fallen on hard times. After relieving them of their assets, he soon tired of their company and they met a violent end with their ashes being scattered in his garden. Between 1914 and 1919 this lethal Lothario killed at least ten women, the teenage son of one of his victims, and even the beloved pets of the women who had fallen prey to his charismatic charms. This riveting examination of a truly contemptible Casanova, dubbed the Bluebeard of Gambais, firmly held my attention throughout the account of his criminal exploits, his arrest, trial, and ultimately his execution by guillotine for eleven cold-hearted murders. In a macabre twist of fate, this monster who dispassionately dismembered his victims to fit them into his stove can currently be found in Hollywood, California, at the Museum of Death where his severed head is on public display.
Once again, Ryan Green has summoned his unique ability to seamlessly combine fact, psychoanalysis, and well-reasoned conjecture to transport his readers back in time so that we may experience, almost first-hand, the life story of a truly unique monster. Henri Désiré Landru was a French serial killer of notable intellect and considerable magnetism. His humble beginnings seemed to predict a trajectory quite different from the path he eventually traveled. After obtaining a modicum of education, he became firmly convinced that a keen mind such as his, coupled with his ravenous curiosity and a bit of hard work would be generously rewarded in life. He was soon disabused of this notion after being swindled out of the hard-earned bond money he entrusted to a potential employer as a good-faith gesture to secure a respectable job. The devastating financial loss shook his belief system to the core and prompted him to take up a life of fraud at which he excelled as if born to it. Posing as a successful businessman in need of a wife (despite already having a wife and four children), he was able to win the trust of an impressive number of women, mostly widows or women who had fallen on hard times. After relieving them of their assets, he soon tired of their company and they met a violent end with their ashes being scattered in his garden. Between 1914 and 1919 this lethal Lothario killed at least ten women, the teenage son of one of his victims, and even the beloved pets of the women who had fallen prey to his charismatic charms. This riveting examination of a truly contemptible Casanova, dubbed the Bluebeard of Gambais, firmly held my attention throughout the account of his criminal exploits, his arrest, trial, and ultimately his execution by guillotine for eleven cold-hearted murders. In a macabre twist of fate, this monster who dispassionately dismembered his victims to fit them into his stove can currently be found in Hollywood, California, at the Museum of Death where his severed head is on public display.
November 17, 2024
Ryan Green really has it dialed in: compelling true crime stories ably narrated by Steve White. Green also indulges in imagining for us the internal thoughts and monologues of killer and victim. The author brings in personal history and societal context that helps explain the opportunity that the killer found. Personal history is a stolen bond that leads to defrauding and then killing victims. In this case, the societal scene is the disruption to French society of WW I demobilization. Henri Landru, nicknamed the "Bluebeard of Gambais", murdered at least seven women in the village of Gambais between December 1915 and January 1919. Landru also killed at least three other women and a young man in the house he rented. The true number of Landru's victims is suspected to be higher.
Green has other works that pick out a murderer from a society in radical transition, including
Butcher, Biter, Spy: A True Story of Madness, Mutilation and Unspeakable Acts of Brutality with the hyperinflation and social upheaval of the Weimar Republic and Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder spanning both World Wars.
Very interesting to me is the lonely hearts killer topic. Also called want-ad killer, this is a criminal who commits murder by contacting a victim who has either posted advertisements to or answered advertisements via newspaper classified ads and personal or lonely hearts ads. Such a thing in its classic form hearkens back to a newspaper age and a time when even someone seeking spouses would not unusually use that venue. Other books by Green with examples of this type of criminal include The Hunt: The True Story of Alaska's Most Notorious Serial Killer, Robert Hansen and, with an example of the female killer, Black Widow: The True Story of Giggling Granny Nannie Doss.
Green has other works that pick out a murderer from a society in radical transition, including
Butcher, Biter, Spy: A True Story of Madness, Mutilation and Unspeakable Acts of Brutality with the hyperinflation and social upheaval of the Weimar Republic and Doctor Satan: A Despicable True Story of Hope, Exploitation, Greed and Murder spanning both World Wars.
Very interesting to me is the lonely hearts killer topic. Also called want-ad killer, this is a criminal who commits murder by contacting a victim who has either posted advertisements to or answered advertisements via newspaper classified ads and personal or lonely hearts ads. Such a thing in its classic form hearkens back to a newspaper age and a time when even someone seeking spouses would not unusually use that venue. Other books by Green with examples of this type of criminal include The Hunt: The True Story of Alaska's Most Notorious Serial Killer, Robert Hansen and, with an example of the female killer, Black Widow: The True Story of Giggling Granny Nannie Doss.
July 7, 2023
As usual, the author Ryan Green, has taken a relatively obscure criminal and written a book detailing the true nature of a human beast.
Henri Landru, wasn't a handsome man or in any way exceptional, but he defrauded hundreds of people in France during the time of WWI by spinning tales of get rich schemes. In time, just taking their money wasn't enough and he began to find pleasure in killing women and disposing of their bodies in horrific ways. Through it all, his long-suffering wife, Marie, continued to support him and even unknowingly aided him in some of his crimes.
I especially appreciate the amount of research that the author does in order bring life to the victims of the featured murderer. The first chapter of this book (as well as most of the others that I have read by him) goes into lengthy detail about how the victim got involved with the murderer and vividly describes their last moments alive. He adds a lot of detail about the victims, honoring them long after their deaths.
If you "enjoy" the true crime genre, you can't go wrong with Mr. Green's books. They give a brief but in-depth look into the psyche of some truly twisted individuals.
Henri Landru, wasn't a handsome man or in any way exceptional, but he defrauded hundreds of people in France during the time of WWI by spinning tales of get rich schemes. In time, just taking their money wasn't enough and he began to find pleasure in killing women and disposing of their bodies in horrific ways. Through it all, his long-suffering wife, Marie, continued to support him and even unknowingly aided him in some of his crimes.
I especially appreciate the amount of research that the author does in order bring life to the victims of the featured murderer. The first chapter of this book (as well as most of the others that I have read by him) goes into lengthy detail about how the victim got involved with the murderer and vividly describes their last moments alive. He adds a lot of detail about the victims, honoring them long after their deaths.
If you "enjoy" the true crime genre, you can't go wrong with Mr. Green's books. They give a brief but in-depth look into the psyche of some truly twisted individuals.
July 7, 2023
This book was a real page turner. The author has a really good insight into what makes the murderer tick. Henri Landru was not particularly handsome, yet, with his well practiced charm and chameleon like ways, he manages to charm many, many women into his lairs. Alas, the women usually realise, far too late that he is merely a snake hiding beneath a mask. Surprisingly, even though he is a master at fraud and robbery, it is not usually the women's money or possessions that he is after. They are mere playthings to him, and, once he has tired of them, he kills them and destroys and hides their remains, never to be found. At times while reading this book, I found myself wondering whether Henri Landru perhaps was at least partly as kind as he pretended to be. But time and time again, with each new murder, it was shown that he really was a cold blooded killer.
July 11, 2023
After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. If you like dark, absolutely unpredictable, twisted, raise-the-hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck type of suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book! A very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters. The suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. Worthy of your TBR list.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
July 14, 2023
What started as an enthralling love story ended in the most dastardly crimes. Ryan does so much research into these obscure individuals & spends a lot of time presenting them to his audience. He vividly describes the crimes in detail while portraying a great deal of sympathy & empathy for the victims to their last breath.
Great book for true crime readers. Ryan always gives a brief but in-depth description into,what makes them tick.
Great book for true crime readers. Ryan always gives a brief but in-depth description into,what makes them tick.
February 6, 2024
I really like Ryan Green's writing and this one was a challenge. For me, it was different than the others I have read by him, but I did like it. This one took place in war, so I was not sure how to handle it, but after reading it, I thing he handled it fine. The rest of the book was written great and hard to put down, as usual, with characters described so well you could picture them in your head. This book was easy to read, as most of Ryan Green book's are. I high recommend this book.
July 9, 2023
Another great story from Ryan. As usual expertly researched and told. Well worth a read.
July 24, 2023
Once again, Ryan Green brings us a book that you cannot put down. With his ability to tell a story like no other, and his in depth research, this is a writer on top of his game. Highly recommend!
July 5, 2023
Excellent Job On Retelling The Story Of Henri Landru
Seeking Hearts is extremely professionally researched and written book by Ryan green. It is set in France about a man called Henri Landru who was a famous French serial killer nicknamed the Bluebeard of Gambia's. Henri was born in 1869 and died in 1922. Henri married his girlfriend Marie Remy who already bore 2 children to him before he left the army. After leaving the army they settled into married life but Henri find's he has been swindled out of money by a fraudulent employer soon after he gives him money for a job. Henri is enraged at first but that soon changes when he realises how easy it was for the fraudulent employer to make quick money.
Henri quickly becomes estranged from his wife and children leaving them in poverty. Henri sets himself up working as a furniture dealer and turns to crime operating swindles swindling elderly windows. In 1900 Henri is sentenced to two years in prison after being arrested for fraud and this will be the first of several convictions for Henri.
Henry began his next swindle by leaving an advertisement in the lonely heart sections in Paris newspapers reading “widower with two children, aged 43 comfortable serious and moving in good society desires to meet widow with a view to matrimony”. As World War One is underway so many of the men have been killed in action which means this leaves plenty of widows for Henry to prey upon.
Henri would seduce the women who came to his Parisian villa and after he got them to give him access to their assets, he would kill them dismember their bodies and burn them this in his oven. Between the years of 1914 and 1918 Henry's claim 11 victims 10 of whom where women and the son of one of his victims. His victims where all listed as missing and nobody knew what had happened to them due to the way he disposed of the bodies.
Henry used different aliases and kept a ledger of all correspondence and names of women he corresponded with due to how many their where. Eventually one of his victims the sister of Madame Buisson managed to track down where Henri lived as she knew what he looked like, and she managed to persuade the police who eventually arrested Henri and charged him with embezzlement. The police soon found evidence in his home where various pieces of newspaper clippings and the list of missing women with Madame Buisson as one of the names on the list was found. Henri was committed to trial on 11 counts of murder in November 1921 and was convicted on all counts and sentenced to death by guillotine three months later.
Henri picked intelligent and loving women whom he is supposed to be going to marry and murders each one with his bare hands in his house as he chillingly takes all their money. Henri kills them all within days or months of each other.
I found This book to be professionally written and holds the reader’s attention from the first page. A truly gripping, and horrifying story and Ryan has done an excellent job on retelling the story of Henri Landru. Ryan once again a fantastically written book on a Serial killer from the late 1800 which is an utterly amazing read. Highly recommended for all true crime buffs I am part of the ARC group for Ryan Green, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Seeking Hearts is extremely professionally researched and written book by Ryan green. It is set in France about a man called Henri Landru who was a famous French serial killer nicknamed the Bluebeard of Gambia's. Henri was born in 1869 and died in 1922. Henri married his girlfriend Marie Remy who already bore 2 children to him before he left the army. After leaving the army they settled into married life but Henri find's he has been swindled out of money by a fraudulent employer soon after he gives him money for a job. Henri is enraged at first but that soon changes when he realises how easy it was for the fraudulent employer to make quick money.
Henri quickly becomes estranged from his wife and children leaving them in poverty. Henri sets himself up working as a furniture dealer and turns to crime operating swindles swindling elderly windows. In 1900 Henri is sentenced to two years in prison after being arrested for fraud and this will be the first of several convictions for Henri.
Henry began his next swindle by leaving an advertisement in the lonely heart sections in Paris newspapers reading “widower with two children, aged 43 comfortable serious and moving in good society desires to meet widow with a view to matrimony”. As World War One is underway so many of the men have been killed in action which means this leaves plenty of widows for Henry to prey upon.
Henri would seduce the women who came to his Parisian villa and after he got them to give him access to their assets, he would kill them dismember their bodies and burn them this in his oven. Between the years of 1914 and 1918 Henry's claim 11 victims 10 of whom where women and the son of one of his victims. His victims where all listed as missing and nobody knew what had happened to them due to the way he disposed of the bodies.
Henry used different aliases and kept a ledger of all correspondence and names of women he corresponded with due to how many their where. Eventually one of his victims the sister of Madame Buisson managed to track down where Henri lived as she knew what he looked like, and she managed to persuade the police who eventually arrested Henri and charged him with embezzlement. The police soon found evidence in his home where various pieces of newspaper clippings and the list of missing women with Madame Buisson as one of the names on the list was found. Henri was committed to trial on 11 counts of murder in November 1921 and was convicted on all counts and sentenced to death by guillotine three months later.
Henri picked intelligent and loving women whom he is supposed to be going to marry and murders each one with his bare hands in his house as he chillingly takes all their money. Henri kills them all within days or months of each other.
I found This book to be professionally written and holds the reader’s attention from the first page. A truly gripping, and horrifying story and Ryan has done an excellent job on retelling the story of Henri Landru. Ryan once again a fantastically written book on a Serial killer from the late 1800 which is an utterly amazing read. Highly recommended for all true crime buffs I am part of the ARC group for Ryan Green, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 4, 2023
Henri Landru married to Marie after his stint in the Great War to lead a normal life and not be the player he preferred to be. He played everyone, he was almost the father of the pyramid scheme except he didn’t pay any of his investors. His schemes kept he and his family living the high life until he was found out. Despite his fraud being uncovered, he was able to hide out then come back and do it all over again. The last time around is when his new passion took over, murder. He took advantage of unsuspecting woman that the war made widows. With no social media that we live off today, he was able to avoid authorities but was able to find new victims via the old social media platform, the newspaper. As much as I’d like to think that with our current state of world technology, a man like him wouldn’t be able to operate but anything’s possible.
November 6, 2023
Interesting take on a serial killer. It's amazing how someone who started out following the rules and doing everything right could take such a wrong turn. Smart and charismatic he carried out his desire to leave no witnesses. And good read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews