Viviane Janouin-Benanti

Misha Smile

Mikhail Popkov, Serial Killer

Misha Smile is the story of a killer who is unique, not only in the number of his victims, but above all in his singular motivations as a "cleaner"… After a 20-year hunt, when he is finally caught he shows neither remorse nor regret, but great pride. Indeed, he is convinced that he is within his rights, within the law. In fact, he started cracking down when he was a police officer, "cleaning up" the city. The culprits in his eyes are unfaithful women, those who destroy couples and families through their immoral behavior. On them, he takes revenge for his mother's abandonment and his wife's infidelity. These women, aged between 16 and 40, reassured by his uniform and his smile, he humiliates, rapes, and severely mutilates. The brutality of his assaults contrasts with the precautions he took. Without his DNA, he would never have been suspected.

Mikhail Popkov has confessed to killing 83 people, including a police captain. In almost all cases, he gave precise details of where he deposited or buried the bodies.

As the death penalty is subject to a moratorium in Russia, he is currently serving a life sentence.

Articles published on Misha Smile

Telling the story of Russia's greatest serial killer was a challenge. His crimes spanned twenty years and he confessed to 83 murders!

Mikhail Popkov eliminates women who, in his eyes, deserve it. He is perfectly sane. He kills with a clear conscience and is indifferent to the opinions of others. He believes he kills to serve his country.

In this novel, we discover his life from early childhood to his arrest. Popkov is not a lone wolf; he's married, his wife loves him and his only daughter worships him. To all his neighbors, he insists on presenting the image of a solid couple and a model family. He himself is the perfect husband, the accomplished sportsman, the man with a successful career in law enforcement.

Mikhail Popkov's smile is almost permanent, as you can see from the lines. But what passion lies behind it? We had to find out, and novelist Viviane Janouin-Benanti has done just that. And with brio! Her simple but effective style draws us into the story, without letting go for a moment until the end.

CDL 44, March 2023.