The Confessions of Psychopaths: Their Evil Crimes Told in Their Own Words

by Al Cimino

What dark thoughts roam the mind of a murderer?

Serial killers like Ed Kemper, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer and David Berkowitz have committed some of the most horrible crimes known to man. Their evil deeds seem unthinkable to the rest of us. Yet each had their own twisted logic for their dastardly deeds. In this book, author Al Cimino examines these serial killers by their own words—through the confessions they gave to police, their outbursts in court and the chilling manifestos they left behind.

Tinged with sadistic glee, an intense desire to justify their own actions, rage against society and the most intricate descriptions of their victims and the atrocious actions they took against them, their shocking confessions provide a window into the darkest side of human nature.

Genres: True Crime

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

Reviews

[Kristen S · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off this is an author I am fond of. Because their books typically has a lot of information about the VICTIMS as well as the killers.

This book had a whole page that expressed why that was not the case for this one.

I personally loved the transcripts of the confessions. It made this feel more like I was watching an episode of my favorite crime show vs reading a book which I enjoyed. Getting to see the words vs hearing them, to me, helped it stick better because I absorb information better when I read it vs hearing it.

I will be buying this book when it comes out. If you are a true crime fan that enjoys getting that extra glimpse into a psychopaths mind- this is the book for you.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok. I’ve read most of it in the past from other books. Most of it seemed very familiar. It covers Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Dennis Nilsen, Peter Sutcliffe, Charles Manson, Aileen Wuornos, David Berkowitz, Albert DeSalvo, H. H. Holmes, and Carl Panzram. If any of these killers are new to you, you may have a different result.

[Allieveryday · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know the title says "in Their Own Words" but I didn't think the book would be 80% transcripts of confessions and whatnot.

Every chapter structure is basically: date+crime, transcript, repeat repeat repeat. And too often the transcripts were explicitly violent/sexual and there is no further analysis, breakdown, context, dive into the mind of the psychopath. Without this, the transcripts feel present for shock value. Without further commentary on the transcripts, the whole book feels lazy (sometimes sloppy), superficial.

[Annie Vanhoose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, some chapters were more boring than others. Lots of information. Some of the more “famous” psychopaths chapters like Ted Bundy and Charles Manson were full of facts that most everyone already knows from the media.

[Tracy Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Chapter 9 was the most boring though.

[Christy Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between 3 and 4 stars. If you are interested in true crime I would pick this up but it can be very graphic

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not going to read any books about murderers for a long time. The realization of how horrible people can be is nauseating.

[Brandy Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audio, which was better than reading it. The narrator was entertaining but the book itself lacked some substance

[Alora Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay true crime. Some of the chapters were really interesting while others definitely lagged. I do find that most of the information in the book I had read other places before now. It was an interesting premise to go off just what these serial killers had said in interviews instead of background information.