Dennis Nielsen was one of the most famous British serial killer. His biography is not the easiest to read but provides a unique insight to the mind of a psychopath`s inner logic.
PS. The miniseries "Des" starring the brilliant David Tennant is a must to see! ( )

Verily, Brian Masters hath woven a tale most dark and grim in "Killing for Company". The chronicle of Dennis Nilsen's foul deeds, that took hold in London in the days of yore, doth strike terror into the heart of even the stoutest reader. Masters' prose is as eloquent as a sonnet, yet as piercing as a dagger. The machinations of Nilsen's mind are wrought with such depth that it doth cause one to ponder the very nature of man. This tome is not for the faint of spirit, but for those who seek to delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche, it is a work of great substance. ( )

Excellent and detailed account of serial killer Nilsen. Divided into chapters covering discrete stages of his life, Origins, Childhood, Army etc right through to Trial and a subsequent and final chapter entitled Answers. The tone of the book is balanced and fairly objective. Due to the level of detail, particularly that concerning his childhood, the young Nilsen elicits some sympathy but the older one ultimately defies any understanding. Ostensibly, Nilsen killed (according to himself) in order to prevent people he liked from leaving him. The exploration of his history although fascinating fails to adequately explain, to me at least, this assertion nor does the trial which is most interesting for the clashes between psychiatrists and lawyers. The last chapter, Answers, allows author Brian Masters to take Nilsen's crimes and discuss them within a range of contexts including comparisons with other serial killers. This chapter was fascinating but ultimately a full explanation for Nilsen remains elusive. ( )

Alas I did not write a review back then but I did gave it 5 stars and I remember that I liked it.

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ETA Checked and I gave it 9 out of 10 so not really 5 stars.

Decided to re read and finished reading yesterday. Now after having read true crime books for 15 years I think I am more experienced now then when I first started reading about about this subject.
That being said I would not give this book 5 stars again. Yes this book is filled with information about the murder and go's very deep into Nilsen's psyche. The author and the killer became friends which makes for interesting reading but there is one thing missing... The victims story.

First of all I did not like that the author jumped about. I skipped the first 2 chapters called preface and arrest and started with origins cause even though I knew a bit of this case I like my tc books in chronological order.First all was fine but then all of a sudden the author began about all the men Nilsen killed and some details and then jump back.

I felt there was a lack of interests for the victims. All the author cared about to seems to me was knowing more about Nilsen. So I felt he was biased.

Another thing which I do not blame the author back then, not all the victims were known and especially the first victim the so called Irish guy was Nilsen's first kill of which he fantasized about.


In 2006 I think they thanks to DNA? discovered who the victim was and he was not 18/19 runaway as Nilsen told Masters and the cops, but a 14 year old innocent boy.

Curious to find out more about the victims.

All in all even though Nilsen is known as the man who killed because he was lonely, like Dahmer in a way, I still think he was a selfish control freak and loved the control and am not so sure he was ever sorry.

So I am going to change this to 4 stars. ( )

Serial killer book. ( )