The Nilsen File

by Brian McConnell, Ist, Douglas Bence

1st paperback, vg+

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Douglas Bence decided to do this updated edition on his own, as his co-writer had passed away. The book is about infamous British murderer Dennis Nilsen, who got himself in trouble due to a clogged drain. I remember when this happened and later read the other book on him, Killing for Company by Brian Masters and got a general idea about his case. This book has more that wasn’t included in the other, more information about people he tried to kill that survived, etc. More about the incident that got him caught, being the clogged drain, and more on Nilsen himself. Gripping true crime at its best. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Douglas Bence, and the publisher.

[Brenda Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very hot and cold.
A plumber was called to an apartment house as an emergency. None of the toilets flushed - many complaining for at least a week. After reviewing the situation with a tenant, he goes to the entrance to the sewer - to discover what appears to be human remains. After reviewing with his supervisor, Bob goes home and returns on the money. Though he desperately wants to call the police. The next day - only trace amounts can be found. Police investigate- Nilsen confesses. Then begins the real horror.
Several times victims able to escape went to the police, only to leave frustrated.
Nilsen followed a strict pattern, though the amount of time between kills varried. He used his apartments to house the remains until they could be disposed.
The details regarding those victims that could be identified were fascinating. They were mostly vagrants with drug issues, unemployed, prostituting themselves to geed their drug needs.
A terrifying account of a still well known serial killer shedding tremendous light on prejudice- police left gay men to fend for themselves.

[teleri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe a 2.5?

This book started off strong, but towards the hundred-page mark, I really lost interest. It also seemed to be filled with so much information, that at times I just put it down and contemplated dnfing it.

Sure it goes into the life of Dennis Nilsen, but coming out on the other side, I still feel like I haven't really learned anything new about him or his case. I was expecting more from this book, and it really let me down.

>I received an ebook of this from NetGalley, in return for an honest review.

[Syeda Sumayya Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a revised version of the book that was hastily put together on the last day of Des Nilsen’s trial, back in 1983. What‘s new about edition is that it includes excerpts and from Des Nilsen’s writings and letters that he frequently wrote during his time at the prison until he died in 2018, but were not allowed to be published like this before. It also includes so many new details about the murders, victims and the trial.

I’ve read about Des Nilsen before but only in passing, I only knew about the grisly murders and nothing about the murderer, and it’s easy to assume that he was just another, run-of-the-mill depraved psychopath, which is true for the most part, but this book offers so much insight into Des Nilsen’s personality while giving due respect to the victims as well. Some of the facts were surprisingly new for me. During his trial, Des Nilsen came out to be a quietly polite, and very rational person. He was painfully aware of his crimes and did not try to evade law at any point. He was so cooperative to the law that even the police was surprised.
I was actually amazed by how well-versed his writings and poetry is, like, seriously! I don’t know of many people who can talk like that, even the well-educated ones. It was both chilling and sad to read whatever reflections he had for himself very suggestive of how troubled and confused he was about his crimes, and there were times he thought he would be able to stop himself from committing the murders.

If you are a true crime buff, this is a must-read. At 180 pages I finished it in two sittings, and I really appreciate how much it is focused on the psychological aspects of the murders rather than on the gory details. Recommended!

[Jade aka MrsTosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally published in the 80's and you can tell from the language use and case notes, in these days I am not sure of it would be politically correct but as I say it is a re-print with added content. The surviving author has updated some of the information and it includes letters by Nilsen from prison which could only be published after his death.

Like most people I find this case really intriguing. How can a man so unassuming, who had a career in the army, worked for the police force and would be someone you would pass in the street everyday be capable of these horrific attacks. I think for me personally the one thing that bothers me most is why for one he would dispose of the bodies down the drain where someone would find them, to then try to hide the evidence to eventually telling the police when asked where he was hiding the bodies "They're in two plastic bags in the other room. I'll show you,"

This is a really interesting book and a must read for anyone interested in true crime.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'm old enough to remember this story breaking,and reading Killing for Company a while later.
The new tv show has sparked interest in Nilsen again.
He's a fascinating study... the way he just gave himself up calmly once questioned.
This book gives insight into the victims,which I thought was good,as so many of them still aren't known.
It's very interesting reading,if you like this sort of thing.

[Octavia (ReadsWithDogs) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a weird one.
I thought since this was re-opened and re-done it would have been updated since the 80's, but it clearly wasn't because apparently certain things can cause you to be gay.

*eyeroll*

There were some interesting segments, but overall, I found it boring and outdated. The adaptation will hopefully be better.

[Nigel Urquhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good account of a disturbed bloke. I worked in London at the time the story broke and the book carried an extra reality.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

I ’ve never heard of Dennis Nilsen till this book. I may have read of it in one of the true crime books but did not leave a lasting enough impression to remember.

I find the execution of the book well organised and easy to follow. It started off with how Nilsen’s crime was accidentally discovered or I would say intentionally, and the details surrounding the discovery was very entertaining and amusing from the start till the end.

Then the book went to study his victims, including the ones who escaped. Effort was made to weigh and compare them together and to seek an explanation to Nilsen’s grisly killings, alongside with several explained connections into his past.

Nilsen’s own thoughts were also included in the book so we get a peek inside the mind of Britain’s most prolific killer. Simply delicious.

The flow was easy for anyone to read, as you can see even for a newbie like me. Though one must be warned about the slightly gruesome description of the crime scenes (it’s a plus for me though). I highly recommend this book to aspiring true crime readers for its entertaining prose without the excess terminology or heavy facts.

I also particularly like how the book ended with an encouragement to reflect on how a flawed society (and I would also add on my own crime prevention incompetence) that allowed a mass murderer to operate so freely for so many years

[Louise Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a sitting and could not turn the pages fast enough. It goes beyond an account of true crime to explore police procedures, the psychology of victims who do not press charges and the circumstances which may contribute to the making of a killer. Some of the details are hard to read - the author does not pull any punches - but the facts are recounted with respect and I think readers will appreciate the author’s effort to give the victims the acknowledgement they deserve. These are terrible crimes and this book is a detailed, well written, raw account which will ensure they are not forgotten.

[Pam Devine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously a quick update on the original book published in the 1980s post-conviction as the language used is still very much of 35 years ago. The views on homosexuals expressed in the book are very dated and obviously of the time: some refer to police attitudes, which is fair enough, but some do not. Tenses change, sentences don't make sense, thoughts are left hanging in mid-air. This book needs a complete refresh for 2020 as well as a decent editor. It seems to have been reissued to cash in on Des on TV and perhaps Nilsen's death a couple of years ago, however a bit more care and attention to the editing, to the tenses used and to the actual content would have been time well spent.

[Jacqueline Murphy]

I read this book after I had read Brian Master’s “Killing for Company”, my attention to the serial killer Dennis Nilson having only piqued after watching the TV series “Des”. Although a lot of similar information provided here, there was much more about the victims and the surviving victims. I find this case very intriguing (hence reading all the Nilsen books), to this day, nobody knows the real reason Nilsen did what he did, he was a well-educated quiet man, a normal person on the outside so why? He gave himself up with no fuss and told the police all about the other bodies and where to find them, maybe he wanted to be caught? A lot of unknown factors but a compelling read.

[Miss C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, I have read several books on Nilsen including killing for company. This gives a different context the focus is on the impact on the public and how the murders were shown in the media. The author does not try to use too much scientific theory or gory details but focuses on the facts. Although I didn’t learn anything new about the case itself it was interesting to hear this perspective. I would certainly recommend this to true crime fans.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

i had never heard of this case before and I really appreciated getting to understand it. The author was able to be respectful of the subject and keep it informative.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so sorry to see this one end. The authors tell you all kinds of things about this murder series that were never really touched on in KILLING FOR COMPANY -- like the (I hope) unique experience of Mike Cattran, the Dyno-Rod man. (Hey, that rhymes!) You are missing large sections of the story until you read this one.