Caithness psychologist reveals ‘why ordinary people kill’ in latest true crime book
A Wick-raised author has topped the Amazon bestseller charts this week with a chilling new book uncovering the dark psychology behind Scotland’s most shocking murders.
‘Scottish Killers: 25 True Crime Stories’, released by former Wick High School pupil Dr Aaron Mullins, reveals the hidden motives behind Scotland’s most infamous true crimes.
In addition to his creative writing exploits, Dr Aaron Mullins is also an internationally published, award-winning psychologist. “When I first started writing this book, I didn't anticipate the emotional rollercoaster it would become,” he said.
“As a psychologist, I spent years exploring the intricacies of the human mind, but nothing quite prepared me for the emotional depths of writing these stories.”
The book rocketed up the bestseller charts as fans of true crime snapped up the chance to gain insights into the fascinating psychological questions around the killers.
It’s been a successful few years for Aaron, with his 2024 book, ‘Ayrshire Stories: Tales from the West Coast’, reaching number one bestseller status in 13 countries and being stocked in libraries around the world. This followed the similar success of his Caithness-based bestseller, Mysteries and Misadventures: Tales from the Highlands.
Aaron said: “It’s strange to think of people across France, Germany, Italy, Australia and the USA sitting reading stories about Wick, Thurso and John O’Groats, but I’m happy they enjoyed them.”
Drawing from real case histories, Aaron’s latest book is over 300 pages long, with 50 chapters in total, as 25 famous Scottish killers are paired with chapters on aspects of criminal psychology related to their crimes. Examples include: Why do women kill? How do hitmen kill without emotion? How does criminal profiling work? As well as exploring the psychology of hiding a body.
Aaron adds: “There’s something compelling about true crime books. You tell yourself you’ll read one chapter before bed. Then suddenly it’s 2am, four murders in, tea gone cold, and the next morning you’re side-eyeing your neighbours and colleagues.”
“I remember sitting in my writing study, surrounded by my notes, trying to process the emotions of each case. It's one thing to read about a crime, but it's another to immerse yourself in it, to try and understand the minds behind it, and then get those thoughts, feelings and psychological insights down on paper.”
Some of the famous serial killers revisited from Aaron’s uniquely qualified perspective include Dennis Nilsen, Peter Tobin, Archibald Hall and Ian Brady, as well as some lesser-known murderers. The final psychological chapter, titled ‘Could any of us kill?’, brings together all the information from the previous chapters to reveal why ordinary people kill.
Aaron said: “I didn’t write this book solely for entertainment or shock value, though if it keeps you hooked into the wee hours, I’ll consider that a win. What I really wanted was to uncover answers to the difficult questions we have about murder. With the main question being, could any ordinary person do the same, given the right circumstances?”
“This book isn't for the faint-hearted. The stories are raw, unfiltered, and, at times, deeply unsettling. But they are real. They happened. And I believe they deserve to be told with honesty and respect. Not just to understand why these murders occurred, but to learn how we can prevent them in the future.”
Scottish Killers: 25 True Crime Stories is available from Amazon as both a paperback and ebook at: www.amazon.co.uk/Scottish-Killers-True-Crime-Stories/dp/B0F7Y3HTJY
More info on the author can be found on his website at: www.aaronmullins.com
The bestselling author, publisher and doctor of psychology says he is also available for interviews, author talks, guest blogs and judging panels.
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