M. Derues

A mesmerizing case from H. B. Irving’s A Book of Remarkable Criminals: the rise and ruin of Antoine François Derues, the smooth‑smiling Parisian grocer who posed as a nobleman to seize an estate—and left a trail of fraud, poison, and audacious disguise. With a dramatist’s eye for motive and method, Irving follows Derues as he charms the de Lamotte family, forges fortunes, spirits away bodies in trunks, impersonates his victim in another city, and faces a relentless investigation and a harrowing public execution. Part social history, part courtroom thriller, this classic true‑crime profile lays bare the vanity, piety, and cold calculation behind one of 18th‑century France’s most infamous poisoners. Todd Richards narrates with crisp, steady suspense, immersing you in salons, wine cellars, and courtrooms as the net tightens. Perfect for listeners of historical crime, legal history, and immersive nonfiction storytelling.