Disposable Wives: Murder and Menace in Green Bay's Rural Belgian Settlement

by Lynda Drews

Genres: True Crime, History

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2026

About the author

Lynda Drews, a Wisconsin native and dedicated runner, gave the commencement speech at her college Alma mater. One lesson she shared was “to journal your life.” That’s what Lynda did after she made the decision to retire from her global marketing career. Her first book: RUN AT DESTRUCTION (Lynda’s True Crime Memoir, published in 2009, about the mysterious death of her running partner) was the outcome. Ann Rule, the best-selling true crime author, endorsed RUN AT DESTRUCTION saying it was “Wonderfully written… a must for True Crime readers.” Publisher’s Weekly said: “the author and victim’s shared moments… are remarkable.” In 2013, the Investigation Discovery Channel produced a “Deadly Affairs” episode based on the book.

Lynda’s second book, CIRCLE OF INNOCENCE, is a Mystery/Suspense novel that takes place in Door County, Wisconsin. Best-selling author Brian Freeman says, “Every shocking twist [...] lands on the reader like waves on a Door County beach…” Midwest Book Review says “Circle of Innocence excels in psychological depth and detail.”

Lynda and her husband, Jim, spend nearly every weekend in Door County, Wisconsin, but they still call Green Bay “home.” It’s where they’ve lived since the mid-seventies while raising their two sons.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disposable Wives by Lynda Drews is a well-researched, factual account of a man whose solution to a marriage he no linger wanted was to simply kill his wife. He did it three times and left very little actual evidence although between a variety of genealogists researching their own families and exhaustive researching of newspapers of the time, Drew has put together a compelling story. More importantly, it is extremely readable which often non-fiction books are not. It was easier to disappear in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but in retrospect, JP, a Belgian immigrant, did not accomplish that. This was also an intriguing look into family and the Belgian immigrant community in and round Green Bay, Wisconsin. This is an appealing book despite its gruesome topic.

I was invited to read Disposable Wives by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and feelings are mine. #Negalley #BookWhisperer #LyndaDrews #DisposableWives

[Krista Knigge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping exploration of the mysterious deaths that once haunted immigrant Wisconsin, Disposable Wives unravels a web of jealousy, rage, and suspicion. The disappearance of a third wife,surprising prison breaks, and ties to nearby communities all build toward a portrait of a region far more turbulent than its quiet reputation suggests. I had no idea Oshkosh was once known as “sin city,” and found it interesting that DNA research linked key figures to Idaho and Oregon—places that may have served as both refuge and final hiding place for the book’s central villain. The blend of courtroom testimony, small‑town gossip, and historical intrigue makes the entire narrative irresistibly compelling.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Rating: 4.25* of five

The Publisher Says: In the quiet Belgian farming settlements near Green Bay, Wisconsin, whispers traveled faster than truth.

At the center of it all stood Jean Philippe Soquet—a man known by many names: the Bay Settlement Bruiser, the Belgian Archfiend… and, to some, a murderer. Over four decades, suspicion followed him, especially in the wake of multiple disturbing deaths and disappearances—including those of three of his wives.

What began as gossip soon hardened into something far more troubling.
Determined to uncover the truth, Pauline Villiesse—sister to Soquet’s third wife—refuses to let the past be buried. With the help of Xavier Martin, a respected translator navigating both language and loyalty within the Belgian immigrant community, she begins a relentless pursuit of justice.

Set in the decades following the Civil War, this riveting true story reveals a world shaped by faith, survival, and tightly bound traditions—where secrets are protected, reputations are everything, and justice is far from guaranteed.

Through courage, persistence, and an unyielding search for truth, Pauline and Xavier confront a chilling question:

How many lives can be lost before a community is willing to see what’s been there all along?

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Male privilege is still unassailable, though that is steadily eroding. Hence the hysterical white-male rear guard action being waged by the reactionaries in this century. This is, they know, their final opportunity to avoid the reckoning for their multitudinous crimes against everyone not them.

As one who has benefitted from the privilege they've abused for millennia, i say bring the reckoning. Make it impossible for this hideous pattern of abuse to recur this generation. #ReleaseEpsteinFiles

The facts of Jean-Philippe Soquet's life are hard to stomach even at over 150 years' remove. The crimes he committed, and many we no doubt still don't know of, will call forth the horrified revolted rage that, in the twenty-first century, we're feeling as the Epstein Files slowly, inexorably, come to light. Apologists for Soquet's crimes pointed to his undeniable good works. That merely proves the ancient truism "bad people can do good things just like good people can do bad things" is never not accurate. It also follows that the actions don't change the essence of the person. Soquet's evil murdering heart did good too? Take that up with your god on Judgment Day.

I read this précis of a *mountain* of research done by the author. I came to the conclusion that Jean-Philippe Soquet was a sadistic, murdering scumbag, and no amount of good he did as well changes his status as an evil murdering bastard.

It's a tough read because it's so well sourced. It's stunning that male privilege has operated, and still operates, so well that even murder is...swept away, forgotten, ignored...because the remorse-free murderer does some objectively good things. How many women must die, lose their "one wild and precious life" in Mary Oliver's deathless formulation, before it matters more than someone's pallid do-gooding?

I've decided for myself: one.

Let justice be done at long last. It won't raise the dead. It might help heal the afflicted. That alone makes reading the case against a long-dead man for his crimes worth your time.

[TheCommonPlaceBookReviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked on this tale of abuse, societal cover ups and justice come too late

 

I didnt want to put this down, I was so desperate to know what turn of events would happen next in the saga of JP and Elvira as I could never tell precisely what would come next!

 

The dual viewpoint was a very good way to explain life and the societal expectations of the time period, especially with one being male and one being female. I found Pauline's viewpoint really helped to make Elvira seem more than just a character on a page, the way she recalled occasions of Elvira interacting with her family AND also the scandals in outer society really fleshed her out as a person. Pauline's recounting of her own life also gave an idea of what Esperance's life was like and likely how she thought and carried herself.

 

Having Xavier Martins viewpoint really showed how brutal a man J.P was,  and that how he treated his wives wasn't normal for the time, even if it maybe was more common that it should have been. Xavier straddling the border of the Belgian immigrant community and the American community also helped to give perspective on how these events were seen by the immediate community and by society as a whole.

 

This book pulled my emotions around in a good way, it truly showed how someone can be a good person and do bad things, or where they a bad person who did good things? Maybe life isn't so black and white as that. There was no sensationalising of the facts of the case (they didn't really need it) or speculating beyond the evidence and accounts/rumours of the time.

 

This book is an excellent example of how a true crime tale can be told without focusing purely on the offender, and that other stories exist around a crime that add the human element that can be missing from some accounts. I wasn't at all surprised to see at the end that the author is local to where this crime and the court cases took place. The evocative descriptions of the locales really put me there, despite the fact I don't even live in the US!

 

The bibliography at the back shows how well researched this book is, and would allow anyone with a deeper interest to go back to the primary sources and find out more should they feel the need to.

 

This book is definitely going on my list to get a physical copy to read once it comes out. Anyone with an interest in historical true crime should be familiar with this case.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first became aware of Lynda Drews when her previous book, The Maid and the Socialite, was published. That book was a hit in the Green Bay area, where Drews is from; her narrated tours of the book’s settings were always packed, and just a couple of months ago I saw she was giving a book talk to an audience in a local art center which sold out long before the event. Being a resident of Green Bay, I found The Maid fascinating, and recognized many of the places and names in the book. I was eagerly looking forward to reading her new book, Disposable Wives, and was thrilled to find it on NetGalley.

Disposable Wives is the story of a murder mystery that took place just north of Green Bay in the late 1880s. Part of the intrigue of the story is that it took place in a tight-knit Belgian immigrant community where many of the residents did not speak English. The county brought in a translator for the many legal proceedings, and the story alternates between his point of view and that of one of the victim’s sisters. Drews writes in a style that is reminiscent of Eric Larson and others who frame the story as reading more like a novel than a dry history book. This style worked well for The Maid, but in this book, where the story is more distant and direct references are more scarce, it sometimes felt forced. An example is describing Pauline musing on her sister’s situation while feeding and then burping her baby, References like that, which couldn’t come from historical sources, jerked me out of the narrative more than once.

As the book progresses, the story accelerates and it’s easy to become immersed Pauline’s grief, the translator Xavier’s frustration, and the effect the proceedings had on the people who were affected. Many thanks to The Book Whisperer, Lynda Drews and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jace · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

an interesting case with good storytelling – I find historical true crime cases to be fascinating, and I'm glad to read a book about a new case I've never heard of before. I really liked the pictures included relating to the case as they made it feel more "real"; since this is a fictionalised story based off a true case, this was definitely a nice touch to remind the reader that this was still based off actual people.

the timeskips between each chapter helped with the pacing, as otherwise the narrative/timeline felt quite slow; it's not until ~50% when Soquet's third wife goes missing, which is quite a long buildup for me. after her disappearance the pacing picks up, and I found it much easier to work through the second half than the first.

as someone outside the US, let alone the Wisconsin area, I wasn't even aware there had been a Belgian community, and reading about the immigration over and establishment was really interesting. the characterisation was good, but I did wish Xavier and Pauline's stories overlapped a little more in places as it felt like I was reading 2 different stories rather than 2 perspectives on a case, and I wish we had more about Soquet's first wife who gets a bit forgotten in it all after the first few chapters. the ending was also quite sad, but also a reminder that, while a fictional account, ultimately not all cases have a satisfying ending. many of the issues in the book are still prevalent today – the struggles to escape domestic abuse, collective silence from the community and the failings of the justice system, and the book is a sobering reminder of the consequences of all 3.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I so much enjoyed Lynda Drews’ last book, The Maid and the Socialite, that I have been eagerly anticipating her next book, which is Disposable Wives. If you thought Maid was riveting, you might find the same with Drews’ latest book. Drews has done an incredible amount of research to bring forth the stories from the Belgian Settlement, which is located north of Green Bay. As a descendant of those from the settlement, I had another reason to anticipate this book.

Let me say this: this work is not straight-up true crime or local history; the way the book is written clearly puts it in the historical fiction category. I just love narratives that combine deep historical research with a tension of a mystery. I think that one of the good things about this book is that more people might want to learn more about the Belgian Settlement in Wisconsin, which is home to the largest settlement of Belgian immigrants in the United States.

One of the things I really liked about Disposable Wives was the inclusion of photographs of the people and places that appear in the narrative. To those of us in the Green Bay area, you might recognize some of the names because of buildings and parks named after some of the players in the story,

There are a lot of direct quotes included in the book that come from archival documents, which helps flesh out story quite well. I read a lot of stories about women who were forgotten to history because it was men who wrote the histories. Lynda Drews’ efforts to bring forth the stories of women of Northeastern Wisconsin’s past is admirable.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the late-nineteenth century, a quiet Belgian farming community in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was rocked by the trial of a man who possibly murdered not one, not two, but three of his wives.

Jean Philippe Soquet was eventually brought to justice thanks to the efforts of Pauline Villiesse (the sister of Soquet’s third wife) & Xavier Martin, a respected translator within the Belgian immigrant community.

This is a well-researched & nicely written book about a long forgotten case. Drews takes the facts from court records & other primary sources & weaves a comprehensive narrative which brings those involved to life on the page. This is not told as a straightforward nonfiction case but more akin to historical fiction but it works very well here & the reader feels like a fly on the wall amidst all of what happened.

SUMMARY:
Research: Excellent - Well-researched account of the suspicious deaths of 3 women who were all married to the same man (consecutively not at the same time).
Writing Style: Excellent - Very well written in a way that brought the people involved to life on the page for the reader.
Enjoyment Level: High - Highly readable account of a possible ‘Bluebeard’ in the Belgian rural community of Green River, Wisconsin in the mid-19th century.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Book Whisperer, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Marcia Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This shocking true story is almost too incredible to believe it’s true! Author Lynda Drews’s extensive research into the details and nuances of the facts in this unbelievable tale clearly shows in the gripping, grizzly, and frightening macabre story she tells. It’s not only a deeply disturbing and devastating narrative of a violent man who wreaked havoc upon his community, murdered his three wives, one of his children, and two other men, and committed countless other crimes, but also on the terrible inadequacies of the prevailing justice system.

Ms. Drews writes with gripping authority, and I was riveted to her prose from the beginning. My only critique is that there are a few instances where she repeats facts almost verbatim throughout the story as though they hadn’t previously been told. I found that incredibly annoying and but for that would have given this book five stars instead of four. Nevertheless, reading the advanced reader’s copy of “Disposable Wives” given to me by NetGalley makes me want to read her previously published true crime book, “The Maid and the Socialite.” My review is voluntary.

[Eunice R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disposable Wives is of interest but not exactly a riveting read. In fits and starts it did briefly grab my attention but then lagged where details bogged the story down. However, I did keep in mind that this book is based on true life events. Some accuracy in those details needed telling, I believe.

A reader will encounter the story mainly through Pauline's and Xavier's eyes. Pauline was a sister to Elvira who was one of Jean Philippe Sosquet's unfortunate, disposable wives. Xavier was many things but functioned largely as a translater in this story.

One is taken through the runup to the alleged crimes, through the trials and what came afterwards. How could one truly like a book though that's about such a dispicable man. Yet, I feel some small spark of justice has been done by mention of the three respective wives. They have not been completely lost to buried history.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

May 2026

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting blend of true crime and fiction. The story as a whole shows you the real crimes of a horrible man in a manner I found more compelling than a purely non-fiction novel might’ve achieved. I appreciated the note at the beginning that the quotations are given from archival documents and I loved the inclusion of pictures and maps to help drive home that this is based on a true story.

At its core, this is a story that touches upon many failures within society we can still see today. It covers the failings of the legal system, patriarchy, abuse, and the systems in place to protect men like this. The ending was unsatisfying, but I find it mimics real life as not every villain meets the satisfying end you wish for them. There were points in the book that dragged and moments where I felt it read too much like a historical timeline rather than a novel, but it was an overall interesting read about a small piece of history most are unaware of.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the eARC.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did such an thorough job of presenting this crime, you would think it was recent, instead of the late 1880's.
Yes, evil walks among us, and we get to meet one up close and personal. From doing away with his wives, and children, with no regard for human life, everyone is disposable!
I found it interesting that this was a Belgium community, and they had their own language, and we learn quite a bit about them.
The story is told from the POV of a sister of one of the victims, and the author gives us a glimpse into her life, and others in this community.
We get an in-depth look into this trial, and did it turn out like I hoped?
We also go on in years and all that happens after the trial, and concludes with what happens to some of the other characters in this read!
Great job!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Book Whisperer, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love true crime and I love historical eras so this was an interesting blend of fact and fiction. I appreciate how the author took a few liberties to bring the story to life without changing the actual retelling of the crimes. That being said, I am so disappointed that JP never revealed the truth. Where is a death. bed confession when you need one?

The author included a lot of direct quotes and pictures that helped bring the story to life and put real faces to names instead of just leaving everything to your imagination. I do feel like there were a lot of problems in society that contributed to the outcome of the crime spree. Had just one person spoken up sooner the whole trajectory could have been changed.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two narraters tell their story of what happened in the late 1800s in Green Bay, WI. I loved the choice of one point of view being a woman and one being a man. This book is full of history that is really well researched with an engaging story line. I enjoyed seeing the pictures within the book of the actual people and places.

It is a harsh reminder of what it was like for women back then. Especially women in unhappy, unhealthy relationships. How little justice they received for what was done to them. What is wild to me about this book is that these things happened only over a hundred years ago.

I would definitely recommend reading this book. It might give you insight to what life was like back then but also what still happens now.

Thank you Lynda Drews and The Book Whisperer for the ARC.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynda really does a great job bringing us back in time and makes the characters come alive. She paints the picture of how the women have so little options and freedom in their lives.

I enjoyed the two different point of views in the story. It really helps to paint the picture from the woman’s point of view and the legal point of view from someone close to the community.

The author includes a lot of detail about what it is like to live in the time period.

I found myself rooting for certain people in the community even though they have their faults.

The book is broken into a couple different time periods and shows how long of a process it was for the people involved.

I felt there were times that the trial read like a thriller and I was racing through to get to the end.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in this area, I read a lot of local history, I research at all of the local haunts and until Lynda mentioned at a recent author event that her next work was about a series of murders in the Wisconsin Belgian community, I couldn't believe that I had never heard about these events. Lynda has taken what is almost unbelievable and chronologically walked the reader through the murders and aftermath. I enjoy the way she is able to seamlessly take the reader from courtroom to the action that ties with the testimony. If you are a fan of history, true crime, immigrant stories or courtroom drama this book checks all of those boxes and more.

[Terri Wangard · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Belgian ancestry in Green Bay, I was intrigued by this book despite the emphasis on a murderer. The book offers a good look at life in the Green Bay area in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

The life of the murderer, Jean Phillippe Soquet, is horrifying. Killing three wives, his lover’s husband, his young son, and possibly more. Committing his daughter to an insane asylum because she knew of his sins. Abuse of wives and children. And for the longest time, he got away with it. The legal system failed the community.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read about a horrible man! This book definitely reads as a novel. The characters are very convincing: you can hear them, fear him and just hope for justice. Unfortunately, in the mid 19th century, forensics were far from accurate and the status of women, well, definitely not as it should be... This book clearly illustrates the court ways of those days as well as farmers' families ways of life always depending on the nature about them. I really enjoyed it!
I received this book from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This historical true crime not only gave information on the time and people. I enjoyed that they also included pictures of the people I was reading about as well as the different POV‘s. It really touched on the victims which is really refreshing most true crime or even thrillers generally make it all about the perpetrator and not the victim

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disposable Lives

A powerful and thought-provoking read that really stays with you. The book shines a light on difficult truths with compassion and honesty, making it both emotional and eye-opening. Well written, engaging, and impossible to forget. Highly recommended Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jamie Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of research involved in writing Disposable Wives is staggering. Lynda Drews brings to life and gives voice to the real characters from the late 1800s living and working in Green Bay, while weaving together the disparate sides of good and evil. Disposable Wives shows how vulnerable we all can be when we allow ourselves to become entangled in toxic and deadly relationships. This is an intriguing work of true crime and an important piece of Green Bay's history. A page turner.

[kristen worth · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to read this book if you like a great story