Book Review: The Psychopath A True Story of Survival & Deception

A System That Fails

This chilling true story follows a woman who survived a psychopath—and lost almost everything because of him.

First, what makes this tale stand out is the abuser’s casual cruelty. Moreover, the survivor—who also wrote this memoir—outsmarted him and rebuilt a life for herself and her children.

The Predator: William Allan

William Allan wore many masks: bigamist, conman, and pedophile. In fact, he truly embodied evil. Essentially, he lied and exploited people for personal gain. For example, he hunted single mothers on dating sites, promising unconditional love and a secure future. Then, once he’d trapped them, he impregnated them to keep them vulnerable and more likely to forgive him.

Furthermore, he claimed to work for the CIA and juggled multiple lives and wives. By forcing isolation—warning that anyone else would betray them—he convinced victims that only he could protect their children. Consequently, he faked documents so convincingly that he fathered sixteen children. Remarkably, he even pretended to be infertile, using their maternal instincts to tighten his control.

Financial Exploitation

In addition to emotional abuse, Allan ran up loans in his victims’ names. As a result, Mary ended up £65,000 in debt after their divorce—alone with three young kids, no savings, and no job. Clearly, countless other women and their children suffered similarly.

Surprisingly, Allan served only three to five years in total. Each time he left prison, he resumed his scams. For him, prison felt like a vacation.

Understanding Psychopathy

According to Mary, psychopaths can’t empathize. Instead, they see life as a game. She offers a powerful analogy: we don’t blame a lion for hunting a gazelle, nor does the gazelle resent its hunter—only grateful to survive. With this insight, Mary realized none of the abuse was her fault.

It takes enormous courage to face prolonged domestic violence—and then walk away without hate or losing your mind. Yet Mary did precisely that. Even after her ordeal, she found the strength to share her story and inspire others.

Educational Value

The book grips you until the last page while teaching you how to spot a psychopath. Additionally, Mary weaves in research on sociopathy, psychopathy, and narcissism—citing the DSM-V and offering concrete tactics to break free from manipulation.

Admittedly, this isn’t light reading. You may feel unsettled afterward. However, this harsh reality matters: predators like William Allan exist, and anyone can fall prey. Whether you’re a woman or a man, you need tools to defend yourself.