Making a Psychopath: My Journey Into Seven Dangerous Minds

Find out what truly creates and defines a psychopath, from the leading expert who helped to create Killing Eve’s Villanelle.

Dr. Mark Freestone has worked on some of the most interesting, infamous and disturbing cases of psychopathology in recent years. His expertise has led to a consultant role on several TV series, helping them accurately portray their fictional villains. Now, he shares his phenomenal insight into the minds of some of the world’s most violent real-life criminals.

Angela the Remorseless, a rare female psychopath, casually confessed to murder on national television without a hint of regret. Danny the Borderline switched from grandiosity to rage to despair within minutes and killed his defenseless friend without explanation. Tony the Conman preferred charm, intimidation and sexual abuse over physical violence and once tried to dupe someone into buying the Eiffel Tower. Jason the Liar had a fantasy life that led to vicious murders around Europe and preyed on those who see the good in people. Case by fascinating case, get to know seven of the most dangerous minds that Dr. Freestone has encountered over the last 15 years. These are up-close accounts of some of the most psychopathic criminals, and of what can happen if you fall victim to their supreme powers of manipulation.

Exploring the many factors that make a psychopath, the complexities and contradictions of their emotions and behavior, as well as an examination of how the lives of psychopaths develop inside and outside the institutions that are supposed to contain them, Making a Psychopath opens up a window into the world of those who operate in a void of human emotion–and what can be done to control them.