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Killer Cults

Gripping true stories from the terrifying hidden world of cults

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About this listen

What makes ordinary people, living normal lives, abandon everything to join a cult? Emma Kenny—psychologist and true crime expert—delves into gripping true stories of cults, operating all around us.

In this exhilarating and terrifying new book, Emma Kenny explores the bewildering world of cults, looking into the magnetic pull of cult leaders who find, ensnare and indoctrinate followers, transforming them from normal people into devoted acolytes, and, in the most extreme cases, into killers.

From Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple to David Koresh and the Branch Davidians; Marshall Applewhite's Heaven's Gate to Order of the Solar Temple, Emma unpicks the interplay between power, manipulation and faith that makes cults work, and takes readers on a journey into the minds of these enigmatic cult leaders and the people who fall under their spell.

Discover the answers to the questions that haunt the fringes of society and the human psyche in this must-read for all true crime enthusiasts. Are you immune to the call of the cult? There's only one way to find out...

©2025 Emma Kenny (P)2025 Hachette Audio UK Murder True Crime Exciting Scary
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a great insight into cults and emmas trademark honesty gives a unique spin. interesting and q and a is a nice touch too

great insight

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I have seen Emma Kenny twice now in my local theatres giving talks on serial killers. I find her so interesting. She doesn’t get caught up in dramatising horrific events but gives factual accounts. She gives her opinions and thoughts but also the views of other psychologists. This book I finished in 2 days and would highly recommend

Big Emma Kenny fan!

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I really enjoyed this audiobook because it takes you through how the cult leaders started life and how their decisions shaped what happened later on. I hadn't really looked into some of the cults other than Jonestown so I found it really engrossing (to the point I nearly forgot a work meeting!) Emma has a great way of making things so interesting but so easy to follow. I hadn't realised some of the background - the civil rights that Jones utilised to pull people into his circle and then the detachment from reality culminating in that awful mass suicide. The way Emma talks you through each step perfectly shows just how cults come to fruition. They start small and holistic and non violent and with a more liberal viewpoint and then it sort of spirals into something else. I honestly hope Emma continues to write more books. She is a valuable voice and clearly understands the psychology behind these things and how to make it accessible to us normal people. She has a natural charisma with strong empathy and understanding (not in a scary cult way!) and I'm really happy that an odd internet algorithm led me to her YouTube channel and then to both of her books. I honestly look forward to many more videos and books. Thank you.

A really cohesive and deep overview of cults

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Liked it all very much, excellent and well researched as always. Looking forward to the next one

Companion

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I did not enjoy the monotony of the stories, all very similar in nature , revolving around cult leaders manipulating the masses around religion. Very boring

The stories were all very similar in nature which made it boring

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