Pick 1 title (2 titles for Prime members) from our collection of bestsellers and new releases.
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
Your Premium Plus plan will continue for $14.95 a month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.
Killing for Company  By  cover art

Killing for Company

By: Brian Masters
Narrated by: Jason Watkins
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $23.72

Buy for $23.72

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Soon to be an ITV drama, Des, starring David Tennant.

Winner of the Gold Dagger Award for Crime Non-Fiction.

Dennis Nilsen, who died in May 2018, murdered at least 15 people before his arrest in 1983. This ground-breaking criminal study of his killings was written with Nilsen's full cooperation, resulting in a fascinating - and horrifying - portrait of the man who worshipped death.

On February 9th 1983, Dennis Nilsen was arrested at his Muswell Hill home, after human remains had been identified as the cause of blocked drains. 'Are we talking about one body or two,' a detective asked. Nilsen replied 'Fifteen or sixteen, since 1978. I'll tell you everything.' 

Within days he had confessed to 15 gruesome murders over a period of four years. His victims, all young homosexual men, had never been missed. Brian Masters, with Nilsen's full cooperation, has produced a unique study of a murderer's mind, essential listening for true crime aficionados.

©1985 Brian Masters (P)2020 W F Howes

Critic Reviews

"One of the most remarkable and accurate accounts ever written of the singular relationship between a mass murderer and a society.” (Observer

What listeners say about Killing for Company

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 0 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 0 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

No Reviews are Available
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Lee
  • Lee
  • 09-11-20

Killing for Company

First off Dennis Nielsen was a monstrous serial killer who deserved to die behind bars but this book shows him to be intelligent, articulate and someone who gave the appearance of being just a normal joe.

Inwardly Nilsen harboured psychopathic tendencies which resulted in the deaths and dismemberment of young men whom he mostly pickup via gay bars.

In the book Masters , using correspondence from Nilsen, suggests this behavior began with the death of his grandfather. This left him with feelings of loneliness, rage and the need to relate to death. Who knows.....

I ‘enjoyed’ this book but it’s not for the faint hearted as it does contain some graphic descriptions of Nilsen actions against the bodies of his murder victims but it’s a book about a serial killer.

So to sum up it’s interesting, well written, well narrated and well worth my time and money.

37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Alison
  • Alison
  • 10-13-20

A fascinating, unsettling and harrowing listen

I first read this book when I was a teenager, I think it was the first book about serial killers, and now 30 years later on audiobook, it’s no less difficult to hear because of Nilsen and his murders.
As a Scot myself I thought the insights about Nilsen’s life and spiritual death in Scotland were, un usually, for an English writer accurate and unsensational, despite such clear dysfunction on which Mr Masters could have drawn upon to make the end even more horrible.
The depictions of his life after leaving Scotland also rang true as I myself spent 15 long years in London tho unlike Dennis ( I’m no calling him Des, cos to me people who have to change their names usually have something to hide) i worked in mental health care and nursed many broken people, some of whom had killed and caused chaos to themselves and others.
This is a must read/hear for those with a desire to understand what made Nilsen what he became but it’s no fir the faint hearted, as some of the depictions of his murders can and would and SHOULD disgust and repulse us. Hell is other people, like Dennis Andrew Nilsen.
Now he’s dead at last he has peace and none of us will lose a loved one to his perverse sense of self.

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mrs. D. I. Reynolds-hale
  • Mrs. D. I. Reynolds-hale
  • 10-16-20

Not for the queasy.

I watched David Tennant's stunning performance as Neilson on TV and hoped the book might give an interesting insight into the character of the man. Had I realised that a good part of the book (as far as I have been able to read anyway) was in Neilson's own words, giving in the most grisly details the murder and dismemberment of his victims, then I wouldn't have touched it.
Frankly it made me feel ashamed just to be listening to it. One to be returned I am afraid.

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Pauline Allen
  • Pauline Allen
  • 11-19-20

Dissapointing

Parts were interesting but a great deal read like a literature review, with comments and conclusions written by an author, not a trained experienced psychiatrist. Quite boring

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Beelez
  • Beelez
  • 11-30-20

Compelling and utterly chilling

Great narration from Jason Watkins. Fascinating account of one of Britain's notorious murderers. An unpleasant listen at times and the last hour or so turns into a dissertation but ultimately worth a listen.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 11-09-20

A must for true crime reader

At times hard to comprehend a human can do this and at times made me cringe.
Well worth a listen.

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mr B Foy
  • Mr B Foy
  • 09-25-20

Chilling

Last chapter went on far to long for me. The narrator was excellent though. It was a Horrific story off an evil twisted mind a must listen for true crime buffs

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kevin Blake
  • Kevin Blake
  • 03-07-21

Brilliant account of Nielsen's chilling crimes

Jason Watkins is superb in narrating this true crime story of Dennis Nielsen's monstrous murders. Brian Masters' account is as thorough, erudite, and gripping as you could wish for. Highly recommended.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ashley
  • Ashley
  • 02-14-21

Incredible

Brilliant, inspired prose, masterfully narrated by Jason Watkins (who portrayed Masters in ITV adaptation).
This and Jeffrey Dahmer’s Shrine also by Masters and Watkins are masterpieces

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 01-22-21

A tragic but excellent telling of the Muswell Hill Murderer

This is a must for any criminal psychology fan, or anyone wanting an insight into the mind of a murderer.

Jason Watkins was an excellent choice in narrator, having come from watching ITV’s ‘Des’ where Watkins played author Brian Masters, this felt like a natural progression from the show. His acting, his distinctive and different voices brought the book to life.

1 person found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 09-16-20

Beautifully Written

Masters somehow captures the deepest reaches
Of an admittedly cooperative subjects mind. You will be revolted, riveted and deeply moved. This is
Not an average crime buff book. This is difficult to process on many levels, because it is so far beyond a factual account. No book better captures the tragic mind of a killer.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for GTB
  • GTB
  • 06-23-22

Disturbing but thorough account of these murders

Quite difficult to listen to at times. Nothing is left out. Interesting insights into Nilsen's thoughts and behaviour but was, for me, a little too philosophical.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Lucy Buchanan
  • Lucy Buchanan
  • 06-22-21

Man of a thousand Accents

This was honestly the most entertaining I've listened to so far, not only for the fascinating subject matter but for the exquisite performance of Jason Watkins. He has the perfect affectation for every quote, Scots, Australian, German, French, American, he can do it all. I felt, at times like I was listening to a radio play.

The tone of the reading was also perfect. With such a horrific topic it is easy to slip into sensationalism or scorn. Neither Masters writing nor Watkins reading ever entertain either of these extremes; a factual and even tone prevails, but not one devoid of grief. For Nilson, there is not sympathy, but an honest attempt to understand how such a life could ever have come to be lived.

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 02-07-21

fantastic

loved it and the narrator was amazing!!!!!!

really great insight into forensic psychology,
recommend +++

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for klink
  • klink
  • 10-28-20

Incredible story!

What a story! Shocking and sickening but also heart breaking as well. The whole range of emotions came flooding through. Unfortunately the narrator when speaking in the voice of Dennis sounded so much like Shrek that it somewhat spoiled the dramatic context of the book. Still highly recommended!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Deborah Frye
  • Deborah Frye
  • 10-02-20

THE BRIAN MASTERS PRIMER

This book is about Brian Masters. his opinions, his language, his tone. Dennis Nilsen is a mere carnation in his lapel.
And the narrator should drop the impressions. Terrible.