A Holy Devil: True evil wears no mask, but a mirror.

by Roman Horňák

Holiness and madness are separated by a thin line. And he crossed it...

A Holy Devil is a chilling thriller that touches on questions of humanity’s moral decay, guilt, and the measure of redemption.
Into a town where truth no longer means anything and indifference has risen above humanity comes a mysterious man.
His mission is so terrifying, it seems divine.
In whose hands is he a tool? In the hands of God, or the devil? His satisfaction is the screams of victims who have succumbed to their own corruption.
Detectives from the serious crimes unit face a brutal fanatic who has begun a bloody path of cleansing.
And time is running out...
Where does punishment end?
Where does salvation begin?

Seven sins
Seven verdicts
One judge

The story begins with the ritual murder of a young woman. Shortly after, another controversial figure – the owner
of a nightclub chain – finds himself in the killer's crosshairs. And the number of victims keeps increasing...
The executions are brutal and marked by an almost fanatical motive that blurs the line between madness and sanity. Ancient symbols, references and biblical riddles appear at every crime scene.
Despite the police's efforts to keep the cases secret, the killer is one step ahead.
Who is behind these crimes? Is it a saint or a devil? And can the devil be a saint?Driven by rage over humanity's moral decay, he "negotiates justice" and cleanses the earth of sin.

A HOLY DEVIL delves into the psyche of a murderer consumed by faith and anger.
This novel will appeal to fans of gritty crime fiction who appreciate authentic depictions of crime scenes without embellishment. Readers who enjoy realistic depictions of detective work, forensic analysis, psychology, and pathology will find much to enjoy.

425 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 27, 2025

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some great kills and descriptions of the deaths. It also had a somewhat good storyline. But for the love of god the police were so stupid I nearly want to kill them all. Or is it because that’s how the police behave and work in that country? The police work drove me nuts. I nearly couldn’t finish this book because of them. The book and writing had potential need more polishing keep up the good work.

[Sofia Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Holy Devil is a dark and disturbing thriller that plunges the reader into a world where the boundaries between good and evil blur so thoroughly that they seem to vanish altogether. This novel is not only a chilling journey through brutal crimes and forensic detail, but also a philosophical exploration of guilt, penance, and justice itself.

The story opens with the ritualistic murder of a young woman, but it quickly becomes clear that this is only the beginning of a far more terrifying “cleansing.” An unknown killer chooses his victims based on their sins, leaving behind biblical messages and ancient symbols. The reader follows not only the investigation from the detectives’ point of view but also the psychological descent of a fanatic who believes he is carrying out divine – or perhaps diabolical – judgment.

One of the book’s strongest elements is its authenticity. The author doesn’t shy away from harsh details, yet the violence is never gratuitous – every scene has meaning, atmosphere, and a weighty moral undercurrent. The detective work is meticulously portrayed, from crime scene analysis to psychological profiling, making the story feel gritty, real, and intensely suspenseful.

An especially compelling theme is the tension between faith and madness. Who has the right to judge? And when does justice turn into fanaticism? The killer, who sees himself as an agent of a higher power, is a brilliantly written character – terrifying, yet tragic and fascinating at the same time.

A Holy Devil is a must-read for fans of dark thrillers and those who appreciate psychological depth, moral complexity, and authentic, cliché-free detective storytelling. It’s a novel that won’t leave you indifferent – and long after the last page, you’ll still be asking yourself: Who is the true judge?

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW...🔥💯😲❤️
Holy Devil – When Justice Turns into Obsession

Some books simply tell a story. Others burn it into your memory.
Holy Devil is definitely one of the latter.

This is not your typical detective novel. It’s a dark, disturbing psychological thriller that blurs the line between justice and fanaticism. The deeper you dive into the story, the more you realize this isn’t just about murder. It’s about ritual, symbolism, and faith twisted into something terrifying.

The author builds the plot around a brilliantly simple yet chilling question:
What if someone doesn’t kill out of revenge... but because they truly believe it’s right?
And what if that someone isn’t insane—but a prophet?

Each murder carries biblical undertones. Each crime has meaning. While the detectives try to uncover the killer’s identity, you, the reader, soon understand that the real question isn’t “who”, but “why.” And that the line between a killer and a redeemer may be frighteningly thin.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It’s raw, philosophical, and disturbingly relevant.
If you enjoy dark thrillers with moral depth—stories that force you to think as much as they shock—Holy Devil will find you. And it won’t let go.

[Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:

In Slovakia, ritualistic murder of a young woman happened. Soon, another horrific murder of nightclub owner happened, then another... Every execution is brutal and ritualistic.
Soon as police finds something out, it looks like the killer is one step ahead of them.
Will police catch him before he finishes his work?

Review:

"A Holy Devil" is tenth novel in Roman Horňák's thriller series and first one translated into English.
You don't need to know what happened earlier to jump into this one.
Book is very graphic, brutal and thought provoking (mix of killings and religion).
It was really interesting read, that left no unanswered questions with really likeable characters.

If you are a fan of Chris Carter's Robert Hunter series, Boris Starling's Messiah or the movie Se7en, you shouldn't miss this one.

I hope other novels will soon be translated into English.

[Kirsty Ney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-star overall rating

A very descriptive, gripping thriller.
It follows two detectives hunting down a religious fanatic, who has taken it upon themself to be judge and executioner.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. There was alot of information thrown at you in regards to religion, which i could understand might put some off, but for me it helped add to the mystery.
The killer isn't revealed until near the very end, which is fab - i honestly didn't have a notion about who it could be or how on earth it was all connected.
This was the first book from this author I have read, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more!

[Tya Kolumber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!!! I went to Roman’s new work with great expectations, but very quickly I realized that my expectations had been exceeded. There are sick people, and then there are insanely sick people… even though they think that what they are doing is right… the truth is the exact opposite. Thanks to Roman’s work, I’ve learned one thing: there are always two truths… one is the one you believe in, and the other is the law. I can hardly wait to read another book by Roman. The moment I have his book in my hands, the outside world no longer exists for me. On a scale of 1 to 5:
5 out of 5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mary Beres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, that was something. Great book. I got exactly what I expected from it. Finally a crime novel that had depth. No shallow waters. You can tell the author cared about the book and did a lot of research. The book has everything you expect from a thriller - suspense from the first page to the last, a serial killer, a great investigation team and a great connection between reality and fiction. And I learned a lot. I learned about things I had no idea about before. If you like suspenseful crime novels that don't let you breathe, this is it. I recommend it with all ten.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the premise was intriguing, the constant biblical references and sermons sometimes disrupted the pacing and overshadowed the character arcs.
I would try other books from the author as I feel he can produce great crime thrillers, but the subject matter would need to be different. I have read and loved books by such authors as Chris Carter, Thomas Harris and Mo Hayder which I thoroughly enjoy as dark crime is a favourite of mine.

[Lucas Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read recently. The topic is popular. They say: the greatest darkness is under the lamp. This is doubly true in this book. I was shocked to find out who the serial killer was. It literally took my breath away. I definitely recommend it. Great characters, the chemistry between the investigators worked perfectly. I fell in love with the historian, librarian Dr. Hájny. Great pace, no dead ends. Definitely five stars for me.

[Samantha Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and intense from start to finishh.
A Holy Devil dives deep into the blurred lines between justice and madness, faith and fanaticism. The story had me hooked with its dark atmosphere, layered characters, and unsettling questions about morality and redemption. If you're into crime thrillers thatt don’t hold back, this one’s worth the read.

[Margaret Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What impressed me most about A Holy Devil is how it forces you to question the fine line between justice and vengeance. The writing is sharp, the characters are complex, and the crimes are described with chilling precision. It’s the kind of book that keeps you awake at night, not just because of the suspense, but because of the questions it leaves behind.

[Debby Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dnb1953

Loved loved this book..this is a new author to me and I plan to read his other books. This story and these characters will get you from the first and the ending is such a big surprise! Like in the book " I don't know who to pity in this story" you will not be disappointed when reading this! Thanks for such a good story

[Emily Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, mysterious, and thought-provoking
This isn’t an easy read, but it’s a rewarding one. The writing style feels raw and poetic. Some parts confused me at first, but by the end, it all tied together beautifully.

[Drey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible concept!
I was really drawn in by the idea of a “holy devil” and what that means philosophically. The story had me questioning good and evil the whole time. Loved the symbolism with the mirror too.

[Cinthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the premise, but parts of it felt overly cryptic for me. I wish there were more straightforward explanations of what was happening. Still, the atmosphere is really powerful.

[Juliet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly bought this on impulse because the title sounded cool, but it turned out to be one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. It’s a mix of myth, philosophy, and inner demons.

[Ameilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to really get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. There’s a lot going on under the surface—symbolism, questions about faith, identity, and sin.

[Beushka Ďuríková · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strory was great, but English translation was terrible :-(