Killer Cults

by Emma Kenny

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...

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Cults

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 4, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Killer Cults, by Emma Kenny, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have always been fascinated by cults. This book talks about 5 cults, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Heavens Gate, The Solar Temple, and Aum Shinrikyo. This was an interesting read on how many vulnerable people can be manipulated.

[Shawnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

"Killer Cults" takes on the question that we all have asked at one time - how can normal, everyday people be so deceived and manipulated to the point where they give up their careers, families, and sometimes lives for a cult and their leader? In fact, the author issues this stark warning in the introduction: "You are about to see how easily lives are hijacked, how ordinary people, just like you, are drawn into a web of manipulation." The author brings this home by saying that we all have vulnerabilities, and it just takes one charismatic person, like one of the cult leaders discussed, to exploit that in you and draw you into their web. A chilling thought and warning for us all.

Through each chapter, which explores one of 5 cults, the author not only provides a objective narrative - factually based, and not sensationalized rumor or speculation - but also highlights key steps on how the leader became the way they are, but also how smart, thoughtful, regular people fell under their control and the devastating consequences. I greatly appreciate the author going deeper and beyond the lure of a topical true crime book built to whet the appetite of us true crime junkies, and make us hold a mirror to ourselves to see if we are vulnerable and if we are being pulled in by a new era of cults in the digital age.

This book only received 4 stars as the quality of the writing deteriorated somewhat as the chapters progressed. Some chapters jumped around their timelines, making it hard to keep chronological order for cults that the reader may not have as much familiarity with. There also seemed to be some random fact interjections that felt more like side-tangents than part of the narration.

Overall, I recommend this book for people interested not only in cults, but also those with an interest in the psychology of how they pull in and control their members.

[Little Batties · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma Kenny clearly did her research for Killer Cults. She takes five cults that turned deadly and brings readers on a detailed journey on the history of each cults' beginnings, culminating to their demises. We get glimpses at the psychological effects that these cult leaders had on their group members, even going as far to explain some of these leaders upbringings to explain why they may have been they way they were. It was informative, and at times interesting, but the story as a whole had a few problems.

The story is written without the average reader in mind. The author uses complex language that the average person may not understand or have ever come across. The author has written the story in a way that even context clues may not help readers with the advanced vocabulary. It was disappointing to see because I thought this had a lot of potential. I was excited to be reading something that was meant to be filled with the psychology of these "killer cults," but it fell drastically short for what I was hoping for in that department too.

It doesn't help that there were moments of repetitiveness as well. It made it harder to stay engaged with the story. Overall, it was still educational, but the way it's written makes it more niche than it already would be for a topic, so this isn't a book for everyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Book Group for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[RavenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a compelling, meticulously researched deep dive into some of the most infamous cult tragedies in modern history. Kenny examines Waco, Jonestown, Heaven’s Gate, the Solar Temple, and Aum Shinrikyo, providing thorough background on each movement and, critically, on the leaders who shaped (and ultimately destroyed) them.

What stands out most is Kenny’s focus on the psychology of these leaders: their charisma, narcissism, and ability to manipulate vulnerable followers into unquestioning devotion, even unto death. She carefully traces the paths that led to each catastrophic outcome, making the progression toward tragedy both chilling and sadly understandable.

While the book does not shy away from detailing the deaths involved, Kenny approaches the subject matter with clear care and respect for the victims. The responsibility is placed squarely where it belongs: on the leaders who engineered these events, rather than sensationalizing the suffering of those who were manipulated and harmed.

Well written, thoughtfully handled, and impressively researched, Killer Cults is an excellent read for anyone interested in true crime, psychology, or the mechanisms of coercive control. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Emma Kenny, and Hachette Book Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Shayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The psychology behind cults is fascinating. I love that this author took us through the early lives of each cult leader, showing how they ended up in the position they did. Rather than only focusing on the "big" incidents that were results of the cults, Emma went through each pivotal moment in each leader's life that impacted their choices and their ultimate end. It's wild that while these horrific events occurred, taking the journey through the cult leaders' lives allows you to see how they got to that point and help you to really understand what was going through their minds.

It was also fascinating to see how so many of the followers were brought into the cults and why they remained, sometimes until their very death. So many vulnerable people gave up everything to be a part of something they perceived to be a greater purpose.

I appreciate that while the material in this book is sensitive and includes many triggering topics (sexual abuse, manipulation, death, etc.), Emma handled it professionally. She provided facts and was respectful of every victim she wrote about.

I've already recommended this book to my family and I will continue recommending it to others.

[Allison Free · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer Cults touches on five different cults and the impact that they had on the world.
-Branch Davidians
-Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple
-Heaven's Gate
-The Solar Temple
-Aum Shinrikyo

You could tell the book was well researched. Kenny does a great job of telling you the story of what took place in each of the cults and what led up to their respective tragedies. I appreciated that it was the overview of what happened but also how she dove deeper into the psychology of the 'behind the scenes'. She shows you how each cult leader was able to manipulate their followers for so long.


Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Book Group, and Emma Kenny for a copy of Killer Cults.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Killer Cults dives into the history of 5 cults that were deadly and their leadership: The Brand Davidians, The People's Temple, Heavens Gate, The Solar Temple, and Aum Shinrikyo.

This was an interesting book, focusing on the background and psychology of the leadership as well as what led the cults to reach their deadly demise. I did find the writing to be well researched, but there was a fair amount of redundancy in the style of the storytelling. I think this would've been better if it was edited down some to reduce the amount of restatements.

3 stars

[Sami Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Killer Cults on audio. Although the concept of cults is one of the most frightening crime topics for me, I wasn’t quite as gripped as I expected to be, especially compared to how absorbed I’ve been by Emma’s previous crime books.

I did enjoy the epilogue, and the bonus Q&A in the audiobook was a nice extra.

[Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid profile of 5 cults: Waco, Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, Aum Shiriko and Solar Temple, all of which ended with the deaths of either members of the cults or members of the public, and sometimes both.
While the book does not go deeply in depth into any of the cults, it is a good starting point for those curious about this particular phenomenon.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.

The writing handles its subject respectfully, and hits the right tone of informational versus salacious. It's well organized and thoughtful in its thesis and presentation.

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Cult leaders are adapting, evolving and growing more sophisticated in their tactics, reaching you through your phone, your computer, even your television.’

I have been a fan of Emma for a while as she has featured on a lot of true crime documentaries and when I discovered she had started writing books I was EXCITED!

This was a very interesting read, and quite scary to see how easy and simple it is to be part of a cult.

A must read for true crime readers.

‘Humans crave meaning, community and a sense of purpose. In the right (or rather, wrong) hands, these longings can be twisted into a mechanism of absolute control.’

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this. Had to look up what a lot of words mean. Plus, the jumping between years in each one of the cults made it hard to follow.

[JXR · Rating 4 out of 5]

solidly effective, if not as long as I felt was needed, profile on five different cults and what caused people to join them. 4.5, tysm for the arc.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It well written

[heather. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating to read about most of the time and terrifying at others.

[Deborah Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

For all my true crime fans, Emma Kenny is one of my true crime authors/YouTubers

This book was so good about different cults in history

Go check out her YouTube and other books

[Karla Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read from Emma Kenny. A gripping deep dive into a number of different killer cults. While focusing on the psychological impact experiences may have on both perpetrators and victims, absolutely loved this book

[Kelly Drain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Emma Kenny’s she never fails to deliver. Like her previous book “Serial Killer Next Door” she offers a deep dive into the minds of some of the world’s biggest religious cults.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️