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The Devil Aspect
Steeped in the folklore of Eastern Europe, and set in the shadow of Nazi darkness erupting just beyond the Czech border, this bone-chilling, richly imagined novel is propulsively entertaining, and impossible to put down.
Czechoslovakia, 1935: Viktor Kos�rek, a newly trained psychiatrist who studied under Carl Jung, arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The facility is located in a medieval mountaintop castle surrounded by forests, on a site that is well known for concealing dark secrets going back many centuries. The asylum houses six inmates--the country's most treacherous killers--known to the terrified public as the Devil's Six. Viktor intends to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon he calls The Devil Aspect. Yet as he begins to learn the stunning secrets of these patients, he must face the unnerving possibility that these six may share a darker truth.
Meanwhile, in Prague, fear grips the city as a phantom serial killer emerges in the dark alleys. Police investigator Lukas Smolak, desperate to locate the culprit (a copycat of Jack the Ripper), turns to Viktor and the doctors at Hrad Orlu for their expertise with the psychotic criminal mind. And Viktor finds himself wrapped up in a case more terrifying than he could have ever imagined.
Czechoslovakia, 1935: Viktor Kos�rek, a newly trained psychiatrist who studied under Carl Jung, arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The facility is located in a medieval mountaintop castle surrounded by forests, on a site that is well known for concealing dark secrets going back many centuries. The asylum houses six inmates--the country's most treacherous killers--known to the terrified public as the Devil's Six. Viktor intends to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon he calls The Devil Aspect. Yet as he begins to learn the stunning secrets of these patients, he must face the unnerving possibility that these six may share a darker truth.
Meanwhile, in Prague, fear grips the city as a phantom serial killer emerges in the dark alleys. Police investigator Lukas Smolak, desperate to locate the culprit (a copycat of Jack the Ripper), turns to Viktor and the doctors at Hrad Orlu for their expertise with the psychotic criminal mind. And Viktor finds himself wrapped up in a case more terrifying than he could have ever imagined.
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2019
About the author
Craig Russell
96 books718 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Award-winning, best-selling and critically-acclaimed author. His novels have been published in twenty-five languages around the world. The movie rights to the Devil Aspect have been bought by Columbia Pictures. Biblical, his science-fiction novel, has been acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment, four Jan Fabel novels have been made into movies (in one of which Craig Russell makes a cameo appearance as a detective) for ARD, the German national broadcaster, and the Lennox series has been optioned for TV development.
Craig Russell:
• won the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series;
• was a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize);
• won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series;
• was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France;
• is the only non-German to be awarded the highly prestigious Polizeistern by the Polizei
Hamburg.
Official website: http://www.craigrussell.com
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/craigrussell...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecraigrussell
Also writes under the pseudonym Christopher Galt
Award-winning, best-selling and critically-acclaimed author. His novels have been published in twenty-five languages around the world. The movie rights to the Devil Aspect have been bought by Columbia Pictures. Biblical, his science-fiction novel, has been acquired by Imaginarium Studios/Sonar Entertainment, four Jan Fabel novels have been made into movies (in one of which Craig Russell makes a cameo appearance as a detective) for ARD, the German national broadcaster, and the Lennox series has been optioned for TV development.
Craig Russell:
• won the 2015 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize) for 'The Ghosts of Altona', and is currently longlisted for the 2017 McIlvanney Prize for 'The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid', the latest in the Lennox series;
• was a finalist for the 2013 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2012 Crime Book of the Year (McIlvanney Prize);
• won the 2008 CWA Dagger in the Library for the Fabel series;
• was a finalist for the 2007 CWA Duncan Lawrie Golden Dagger;
• was a finalist for the 2007 SNCF Prix Polar in France;
• is the only non-German to be awarded the highly prestigious Polizeistern by the Polizei
Hamburg.
Official website: http://www.craigrussell.com
Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/craigrussell...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecraigrussell
Also writes under the pseudonym Christopher Galt
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,253 reviews
December 23, 2018
Czechoslovakia 1935, and in scenes reminiscent of London’s Jack the Ripper, someone is butchering women in a most brutal and sickening manner. Cold, damp, and foggy weather lends an ethereal and creepy feel to the streets and alleyways of Prague’s Old Town, whilst at the same time having the effect of dulling the streetlights - very convenient for those with murder in mind!
In a small village outside Prague, psychiatrist Victor is about to start his new job at an asylum for the criminally insane. This is a state of the art facility within a medieval castle, sitting in splendid isolation atop a forest covered mountain.
The villagers below are superstitious about the castle - for hundreds of years it seems to have attracted those intent on murder, torture and an interest in the occult! They even view those who work there currently with suspicion, and wonder exactly what medical experiments are being performed. There are only six patients incarcerated in the castle, but these are the most dangerous and deviant killers known to man.
Using a new medical technique, Victor hopes to prove his theory that these killers share a phenomenon known as the ‘Devil Aspect ‘ but as his work continues he becomes concerned that they might also share something much darker!
Gosh, this has such a dark and menacing feel to it, increased by the inclusion of the culture and sinister folklore of this particular region. It was certainly well written, and the characters were perfectly at ease in their skins, frighteningly so at times. The plot was interesting as it attempts to tie the murders in Prague, to the patients in the asylum, in what can only be described as a supernatural twist. Oppressive at times, this was nevertheless a compelling and darkly gothic read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown book group for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
In a small village outside Prague, psychiatrist Victor is about to start his new job at an asylum for the criminally insane. This is a state of the art facility within a medieval castle, sitting in splendid isolation atop a forest covered mountain.
The villagers below are superstitious about the castle - for hundreds of years it seems to have attracted those intent on murder, torture and an interest in the occult! They even view those who work there currently with suspicion, and wonder exactly what medical experiments are being performed. There are only six patients incarcerated in the castle, but these are the most dangerous and deviant killers known to man.
Using a new medical technique, Victor hopes to prove his theory that these killers share a phenomenon known as the ‘Devil Aspect ‘ but as his work continues he becomes concerned that they might also share something much darker!
Gosh, this has such a dark and menacing feel to it, increased by the inclusion of the culture and sinister folklore of this particular region. It was certainly well written, and the characters were perfectly at ease in their skins, frighteningly so at times. The plot was interesting as it attempts to tie the murders in Prague, to the patients in the asylum, in what can only be described as a supernatural twist. Oppressive at times, this was nevertheless a compelling and darkly gothic read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown book group for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
December 13, 2018
The wonderful Craig Russell's latest novel is a Gothic Horror, a well researched piece of historical fiction set in Czechoslovakia amidst a background that echoes the rising drumbeat of Nazism in Germany and its consequent repercussions. It is 1935, Victor Kosarek, an ambitious psychiatrist who studied under Carl Jung, takes up his post at the notorious Hrad Orlu Asylum housed in a ancient medieval castle steeped in dark history and local folklore. This cutting edge and well resourced facility is near the tiny village of Mlada Bolslav, not far from Prague. The high security asylum has only six patients, the most notorious killers in Czechoslavakia, Pavel Zeleny, the Woodcutter, Leos Mladek, the Clown, Michal Machachek, the Glass Collector, Hedvika Valentova, the Vegetarian, Professor Dominik Bartos, the Sciomancer, and the most dangerous and feared, Vojtec Skala, the Demon, all incarcerated for life with no possibility of release. Kosarek hopes to carry out research on these inmates to prove his theory that they share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon he names The Devil Aspect. On a personal level, Victor has concerns that his friend in Prague, Filip Starosta, is displaying worrying behaviours, and is in need of his professional help.
In Prague itself, the local population is consumed with fear with a brutal serial killer on the loose butchering women in the most heinous of ways, he is known as Leather Apron, a nod to the infamous East End London killer, Jack the Ripper, whose methods the killer appears to be replicating. The detective leading the manhunt is Kapitan Lukas Smolak, he finally finds forensic evidence at the latest crime scene that leads to a known Gypsy petty criminal, but the man is terrified out of his wits and seems an unlikely suspect for the killings. As the murders continue, it becomes clear that their investigation is far from closed. Victor's research on the six patients yield surprising and stunning results but what do they mean? As the narrative progresses, connections emerge between the Leather Apron case and the Hrad Orlu Psychiatric Facility.
Russell writes a chilling and atmospheric novel rooted in Jungian psychology, European folklore and legends, and the political history of Czechoslavakia that documents the seeds and shadows of Nazism and its growth before WW2, and the accompanying rise of community and ethnic tensions. It is impossible to escape drawing the parallels of the madness within Hrad Orlu amidst the much larger collective madness taking place outside the psychiatric facility throughout Europe. As we all know, the outside world is to burgeon with unspeakable horrors that come to boil throughout Europe, wreaking untold levels of death and genocide. Given the contemporary reality of the rise of populism, it seems that similar shadows of madness once again are growing amongst the populations of Europe and beyond. The gothic horror at the heart of Russell's novel is beautifully imagined, complex and compulsive reading, and the twists and turns had me fearful, utterly gripped and absorbed. As always with Craig Russell books, all I can say is that I loved this, his latest novel, and I am sure many other readers will enjoy it too. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
In Prague itself, the local population is consumed with fear with a brutal serial killer on the loose butchering women in the most heinous of ways, he is known as Leather Apron, a nod to the infamous East End London killer, Jack the Ripper, whose methods the killer appears to be replicating. The detective leading the manhunt is Kapitan Lukas Smolak, he finally finds forensic evidence at the latest crime scene that leads to a known Gypsy petty criminal, but the man is terrified out of his wits and seems an unlikely suspect for the killings. As the murders continue, it becomes clear that their investigation is far from closed. Victor's research on the six patients yield surprising and stunning results but what do they mean? As the narrative progresses, connections emerge between the Leather Apron case and the Hrad Orlu Psychiatric Facility.
Russell writes a chilling and atmospheric novel rooted in Jungian psychology, European folklore and legends, and the political history of Czechoslavakia that documents the seeds and shadows of Nazism and its growth before WW2, and the accompanying rise of community and ethnic tensions. It is impossible to escape drawing the parallels of the madness within Hrad Orlu amidst the much larger collective madness taking place outside the psychiatric facility throughout Europe. As we all know, the outside world is to burgeon with unspeakable horrors that come to boil throughout Europe, wreaking untold levels of death and genocide. Given the contemporary reality of the rise of populism, it seems that similar shadows of madness once again are growing amongst the populations of Europe and beyond. The gothic horror at the heart of Russell's novel is beautifully imagined, complex and compulsive reading, and the twists and turns had me fearful, utterly gripped and absorbed. As always with Craig Russell books, all I can say is that I loved this, his latest novel, and I am sure many other readers will enjoy it too. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
September 1, 2019
The year is 1935 and the political changes which took place two years earlier in Germany begin to influence the attitudes of more and more citizens of Czechoslovakia. A psychiatrist, Viktor Kosarek, arrives at Hrad Orlu Asylum to observe some most dangerous murderers kept there. Kosarek introduces Carl Jung’s ideas into his practice and his intention is to analyse the minds of his patients.
This novel is not for the faint-hearted readers, as the analysis of the murderers’ minds starts with the descriptions of their horrific crimes, which resemble those by Jack the Ripper. I never find such graphic presentations to my liking, however, I admit that in case of this novel they are justified.
DEVIL ASPECT is an atmospheric novel that offers wonderful insight into the folklore and superstitions of the place surrounding Hrad Orlu, which is not a real castle, but if you have ever visited Czechia, you will have no difficulty imagining it, a complex mystery, and frightening feel of the danger looming over Czechoslovakia.
I did not find any characters I could relate to, but I think they are well-developed and the Author did not intend to make them likeable.
This was my first ever novel by Mr Russell, and I will definitely follow his literary path.
*I would like to thank Craig Russell and Constable for a print copy of this novel.*
This novel is not for the faint-hearted readers, as the analysis of the murderers’ minds starts with the descriptions of their horrific crimes, which resemble those by Jack the Ripper. I never find such graphic presentations to my liking, however, I admit that in case of this novel they are justified.
DEVIL ASPECT is an atmospheric novel that offers wonderful insight into the folklore and superstitions of the place surrounding Hrad Orlu, which is not a real castle, but if you have ever visited Czechia, you will have no difficulty imagining it, a complex mystery, and frightening feel of the danger looming over Czechoslovakia.
I did not find any characters I could relate to, but I think they are well-developed and the Author did not intend to make them likeable.
This was my first ever novel by Mr Russell, and I will definitely follow his literary path.
*I would like to thank Craig Russell and Constable for a print copy of this novel.*
December 14, 2018
Malignant
The Devil Aspect is absorbing, mystifying and deliciously sinister. Craig Russell is a talented writer that has superbly blended a compelling nefarious plot, with inexplicably damaged characters, myths and legends, and a setting that is dark and chilling. I just loved it. :)
Dr Viktor Kosárek is a young enthusiastic psychiatrist who was a student of Carl Jung and he joins the staff at the Hrad Orlů Asylum, not far from Prague. The asylum is one of the most advanced high-tech facilities in the world but it is housed in Hrad Orlů Castle, which carries an ancient history steeped in folklore and is locally known as the Mouth of Hell. The myths and legends surrounding the Castle are woven perfectly into the story and the narrative seamlessly ties the past to the present. Has the past returned or has it never left?
The renowned Professor Ondřej Románek runs the asylum and in recent times it is infamous for securing the Devil’s Six – six psychopathic inmates responsible for the most horrific murders, involving extreme torture, rape and cannibalism. Románek’s theory is that perhaps evil is like a virus that can infect the susceptible mind. Viktor’s hypothesis is that we all contain the potential of evil and madness, and that a trigger can release this omnipresent Devil Aspect. Victor has been given the opportunity to examine each of the Devil’s Six to assess and validate these theories and understand their alarming commonality. OR. Is it a demonic possession from The Devil himself to use these human vessels to conduct the purest of evil deeds?
Meanwhile, Prague is being terrified by the Leather Apron Serial Killer who is modelling himself on Jack the Ripper and brutally mutilating the bodies of his victims. Police Kapitan Lukás Smolák is investigating the deaths and recognises they fall within the pattern associated with the Devil’s Six. The 2 threads will eventually converge with surprising revelations.
The setting and period in Czechoslovakia in 1935 were masterfully developed, firstly the remote region of the Castle constantly had a threatening atmosphere and the forests harboured dark shadows where evil plays. Secondly, the novel illustrated the evil growing at a systemic level in Nazi Germany and spreading across national boundaries, especially into regions where German influence and culture played a significant impact.
This book is truly amazing and just delivered everything I love in a story - crime, mystery, suspense, police investigation, something sinister, history, myths, legends and exceptional writing. If I could give this 6 stars I would. I would highly highly recommend this book and I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
The Devil Aspect is absorbing, mystifying and deliciously sinister. Craig Russell is a talented writer that has superbly blended a compelling nefarious plot, with inexplicably damaged characters, myths and legends, and a setting that is dark and chilling. I just loved it. :)
Dr Viktor Kosárek is a young enthusiastic psychiatrist who was a student of Carl Jung and he joins the staff at the Hrad Orlů Asylum, not far from Prague. The asylum is one of the most advanced high-tech facilities in the world but it is housed in Hrad Orlů Castle, which carries an ancient history steeped in folklore and is locally known as the Mouth of Hell. The myths and legends surrounding the Castle are woven perfectly into the story and the narrative seamlessly ties the past to the present. Has the past returned or has it never left?
The renowned Professor Ondřej Románek runs the asylum and in recent times it is infamous for securing the Devil’s Six – six psychopathic inmates responsible for the most horrific murders, involving extreme torture, rape and cannibalism. Románek’s theory is that perhaps evil is like a virus that can infect the susceptible mind. Viktor’s hypothesis is that we all contain the potential of evil and madness, and that a trigger can release this omnipresent Devil Aspect. Victor has been given the opportunity to examine each of the Devil’s Six to assess and validate these theories and understand their alarming commonality. OR. Is it a demonic possession from The Devil himself to use these human vessels to conduct the purest of evil deeds?
Here am I and here I stay,The physical interaction between Kosárek and the patients is wonderfully portrayed by creating a sense of menace and at times precarious interaction, where one miscalculation could have lethal consequences. The psychological interplay is full of suspense knowing that the psychiatrist's actions could ignite or transfer an evil stimulant. As Kosárek digs deeper into the patients' minds, the horror and source of their evil become evident.
for this is where Evil resides.
Here am I and here I stay,
for this is where the Devil hides.
Meanwhile, Prague is being terrified by the Leather Apron Serial Killer who is modelling himself on Jack the Ripper and brutally mutilating the bodies of his victims. Police Kapitan Lukás Smolák is investigating the deaths and recognises they fall within the pattern associated with the Devil’s Six. The 2 threads will eventually converge with surprising revelations.
The setting and period in Czechoslovakia in 1935 were masterfully developed, firstly the remote region of the Castle constantly had a threatening atmosphere and the forests harboured dark shadows where evil plays. Secondly, the novel illustrated the evil growing at a systemic level in Nazi Germany and spreading across national boundaries, especially into regions where German influence and culture played a significant impact.
This book is truly amazing and just delivered everything I love in a story - crime, mystery, suspense, police investigation, something sinister, history, myths, legends and exceptional writing. If I could give this 6 stars I would. I would highly highly recommend this book and I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2021
“I will return,” the voice hissed in Viktor’s ear. “I will return and show you the truth and you will be blinded by it. I will show you such horror and fear that you will be burned by its beauty and its clarity.”
The Devil Aspect is simply a Masterpiece in Gothic crime and one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read, with deep characterisation and a stunningly evil plot making this a sensational read.
Psychiatrist Viktor Kosárek, following years of research, has developed a theory that most people share a common archetype of evil, known as the Devil Aspect, but the presence of such traits is more prevalent in the most psychopathic minds and depraved killers. Keen to test his new medical technique and research, Victor takes up a post in the in Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The state-of-the-art facility located in a medieval mountaintop castle outside of Prague.
The asylum houses six of the country’s most dangerous killers, dubbed “The Devils Six”, known to the staff as The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer, and the most feared of all - The Demon. All incarcerated for life but perfect candidates for Victor’s study.
As a story line this in itself is superb, but Russell moves up a gear to reveal the escalating death rate in Prague by the infamous killer known as “Leather Apron” who is murdering his victims with the same brutality and theatre reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. The question is “will Victor’s research help the police in solving the case of Leather Apron putting an end to his reign of terror and deadly killing spree?”
The stage is set, the setting is haunting and dramatic, the characters are set to play their part, in their own evil way, whilst the author tests his theories and seeks to rehabilitate his patients in some way as he creates the theatre and unspools the story of “The Devil Aspect”.
I was gripped from the first page. I couldn’t put it down, and then was disappointed I had finished it so quickly. I wanted more. Dark, twisty, and captivating. Brilliant characters, great story telling and a superb plot. Best book I’ve read in a long time. I would highly recommend.
Read in June reviewed properly now.
PS. What this book is not - it is not satanic, gory or sadistic although the name might lead our minds there. It is a gripping psychological thriller.
The Devil Aspect is simply a Masterpiece in Gothic crime and one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read, with deep characterisation and a stunningly evil plot making this a sensational read.
Psychiatrist Viktor Kosárek, following years of research, has developed a theory that most people share a common archetype of evil, known as the Devil Aspect, but the presence of such traits is more prevalent in the most psychopathic minds and depraved killers. Keen to test his new medical technique and research, Victor takes up a post in the in Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The state-of-the-art facility located in a medieval mountaintop castle outside of Prague.
The asylum houses six of the country’s most dangerous killers, dubbed “The Devils Six”, known to the staff as The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer, and the most feared of all - The Demon. All incarcerated for life but perfect candidates for Victor’s study.
As a story line this in itself is superb, but Russell moves up a gear to reveal the escalating death rate in Prague by the infamous killer known as “Leather Apron” who is murdering his victims with the same brutality and theatre reminiscent of Jack the Ripper. The question is “will Victor’s research help the police in solving the case of Leather Apron putting an end to his reign of terror and deadly killing spree?”
The stage is set, the setting is haunting and dramatic, the characters are set to play their part, in their own evil way, whilst the author tests his theories and seeks to rehabilitate his patients in some way as he creates the theatre and unspools the story of “The Devil Aspect”.
I was gripped from the first page. I couldn’t put it down, and then was disappointed I had finished it so quickly. I wanted more. Dark, twisty, and captivating. Brilliant characters, great story telling and a superb plot. Best book I’ve read in a long time. I would highly recommend.
Read in June reviewed properly now.
PS. What this book is not - it is not satanic, gory or sadistic although the name might lead our minds there. It is a gripping psychological thriller.
March 29, 2019
Here am I and I here stay,
for this is where Evil resides.
Here am I and I here stay,
for this is where the Devil hides.
It’s difficult to describe a book like The Devil Aspect. For me, It was an excellent psychological thriller with a perfect blend of historical fiction, mystery and horror.
Set in Prague in the year 1935: Viktor Kosárek, a psychiatrist arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The asylum is located on a mountain top castle outside of Prague and houses the country's six most treacherous killers--known as The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer, and The Demon--and Viktor hopes to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon known as The Devil Aspect.
Meanwhile, in nearby Prague, police captain Lukas Smolák is hunting a new serial killer. As he chases down diminishing leads, all his investigation’s paths lead to Hrad Orlů. When both Viktor and the Lukas realise that the Leather Apron’s and the asylum may have some darker connection to the case.
“We all have a part of ourselves—the id—an element in our deep unconscious that’s impulsive, volatile and potentially violent... And within the id, I believe there is an element that is the coalescence of all our ideas—individually and collectively—of evil……The Devil Aspect”
The Devil Aspect reminds you of the dark worlds created by H P Lovecraft (The Call of Cthulhu comes to mind) and has the same sinister and menacing feel to it. Set in Pre-WWII Czechoslovakia with the backdrop of Rise of Nazism in Germany, The Devil Aspect by Craig Russel is an intelligently written and well researched psychological thriller. It combines elements of psychology and mythology with the political history of Czechoslovakia. A set of weird characters, added to the dark and creepy environs of the castle creates a surreal setting for the story. The writer is able to weave the concepts of psychology with mythology into a gripping story. The political background of rising Nazism in Europe also adds another dimension to the story, without feeling superficial. The two tracks of the story tracking the two protagonists keep moving separately till the climax when the two tracks come together in a thrilling finale.
The writer manages to create truly believable characters, even the minor ones, all with a proper backstory. The story revolves mainly around Viktor and Lukas but the writer has managed to create six unique characters for the six psychopaths; with equally terrifying backstories for each of them. It was one of the highlights of the book for me. I really hope this book made into a movie or a web series because the story has immense potential.
The Epilogue does leave you hanging but it hints towards a sequel. The story itself gives away a big spoiler in the early chapters which may ruin the ending a bit. Despite that, the ending was well executed and the rest of the story was well worth it.
Overall, The Devil Aspect is a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller with an engaging storyline and some unique twists. The horror and suspense will keep you captivated right till the end. If you love dark psychological thrillers with a hint of horror this one is highly recommended. 4.5/5
Many thanks to the publishers Doubleday & Random House, the author Craig Russell and Edelweiss for the ARC.
for this is where Evil resides.
Here am I and I here stay,
for this is where the Devil hides.
It’s difficult to describe a book like The Devil Aspect. For me, It was an excellent psychological thriller with a perfect blend of historical fiction, mystery and horror.
Set in Prague in the year 1935: Viktor Kosárek, a psychiatrist arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The asylum is located on a mountain top castle outside of Prague and houses the country's six most treacherous killers--known as The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer, and The Demon--and Viktor hopes to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon known as The Devil Aspect.
Meanwhile, in nearby Prague, police captain Lukas Smolák is hunting a new serial killer. As he chases down diminishing leads, all his investigation’s paths lead to Hrad Orlů. When both Viktor and the Lukas realise that the Leather Apron’s and the asylum may have some darker connection to the case.
“We all have a part of ourselves—the id—an element in our deep unconscious that’s impulsive, volatile and potentially violent... And within the id, I believe there is an element that is the coalescence of all our ideas—individually and collectively—of evil……The Devil Aspect”
The Devil Aspect reminds you of the dark worlds created by H P Lovecraft (The Call of Cthulhu comes to mind) and has the same sinister and menacing feel to it. Set in Pre-WWII Czechoslovakia with the backdrop of Rise of Nazism in Germany, The Devil Aspect by Craig Russel is an intelligently written and well researched psychological thriller. It combines elements of psychology and mythology with the political history of Czechoslovakia. A set of weird characters, added to the dark and creepy environs of the castle creates a surreal setting for the story. The writer is able to weave the concepts of psychology with mythology into a gripping story. The political background of rising Nazism in Europe also adds another dimension to the story, without feeling superficial. The two tracks of the story tracking the two protagonists keep moving separately till the climax when the two tracks come together in a thrilling finale.
The writer manages to create truly believable characters, even the minor ones, all with a proper backstory. The story revolves mainly around Viktor and Lukas but the writer has managed to create six unique characters for the six psychopaths; with equally terrifying backstories for each of them. It was one of the highlights of the book for me. I really hope this book made into a movie or a web series because the story has immense potential.
The Epilogue does leave you hanging but it hints towards a sequel. The story itself gives away a big spoiler in the early chapters which may ruin the ending a bit. Despite that, the ending was well executed and the rest of the story was well worth it.
Overall, The Devil Aspect is a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller with an engaging storyline and some unique twists. The horror and suspense will keep you captivated right till the end. If you love dark psychological thrillers with a hint of horror this one is highly recommended. 4.5/5
Many thanks to the publishers Doubleday & Random House, the author Craig Russell and Edelweiss for the ARC.
February 8, 2019
1935, Prague.
A young doctor named Viktor comes to the ancient castle/asylum, Hrad Orlu, excited to test his new theories in psychology. Housed at this asylum, isolated atop a mountain, are the 6 most dangerous killers alive today. At the bottom of the mountain in the town proper, a police detective named Lukas is trying his best to solve a series of murders which the press attributes to the "leather apron killer." At the same time as these events, the Nazis are on the rise in Germany. Will Viktor's new theories pan out, and allow psychiatry to identify dangerous individuals in the future? Will Lukas find his killer? Will the Nazis put a stop to all of that before it has even properly begun? You'll have to read THE DEVIL ASPECT to find out!
I found this book to be a marvelous new (to me), voice in fiction. The synopsis had me so psyched I couldn't help but want to read it right away. I loved the Gothic setting of the castle, surrounded by rocky areas and dense forest. (What horror lover doesn't love that type of isolated setting?) Yet, just down the mountain is a town full of scared people. Losing its citizens one by one to a brutally violent killer, with what seems like zero progress by the police- I almost expected to see the townsfolk armed with torches heading up to the castle. (Because, surely that must be from where their misfortune emanates?)
But, that didn't happen, because the voice of Craig Russell is more original than that. This tale twisted and turned until I had no clue what was going to happen! As more of Viktor's theories were tested, some things became clearer, while others became more perplexing. On top of all this, there was the rise of the Nazi party always in the background. Combined together, these components contributed to the overall feelings of anxiety and darkness that permeated this book.
So why 4 stars and not 5? I felt the pacing dragged a bit during the middle portion of the story. Even though I was interested in all of the criminals Viktor was interviewing, I didn't feel that all of them were integral to the tale. It's a small thing, but at times I felt like I had been reading quite a lot without really getting anywhere.
This is what I took away from THE DEVIL ASPECT: A NOVEL. Fun? Check! Hypnotizing scenes between the doctor and the criminals? Check! A Gothic castle, set atop a mountain surrounded by a dense forest, and creating a dark and gloomy atmosphere? Check! Twists and turns galore which put our heroes in jeopardy? Check! A denouement to beat the band? Hell yes!
In short, (too late!), I recommend this novel to fans of the above, but most especially to fans of Gothic fiction and psychological horror! I predict that this novel is going to knock some socks off!
Available March 5th, but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/2SIQwgd
*Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
A young doctor named Viktor comes to the ancient castle/asylum, Hrad Orlu, excited to test his new theories in psychology. Housed at this asylum, isolated atop a mountain, are the 6 most dangerous killers alive today. At the bottom of the mountain in the town proper, a police detective named Lukas is trying his best to solve a series of murders which the press attributes to the "leather apron killer." At the same time as these events, the Nazis are on the rise in Germany. Will Viktor's new theories pan out, and allow psychiatry to identify dangerous individuals in the future? Will Lukas find his killer? Will the Nazis put a stop to all of that before it has even properly begun? You'll have to read THE DEVIL ASPECT to find out!
I found this book to be a marvelous new (to me), voice in fiction. The synopsis had me so psyched I couldn't help but want to read it right away. I loved the Gothic setting of the castle, surrounded by rocky areas and dense forest. (What horror lover doesn't love that type of isolated setting?) Yet, just down the mountain is a town full of scared people. Losing its citizens one by one to a brutally violent killer, with what seems like zero progress by the police- I almost expected to see the townsfolk armed with torches heading up to the castle. (Because, surely that must be from where their misfortune emanates?)
But, that didn't happen, because the voice of Craig Russell is more original than that. This tale twisted and turned until I had no clue what was going to happen! As more of Viktor's theories were tested, some things became clearer, while others became more perplexing. On top of all this, there was the rise of the Nazi party always in the background. Combined together, these components contributed to the overall feelings of anxiety and darkness that permeated this book.
So why 4 stars and not 5? I felt the pacing dragged a bit during the middle portion of the story. Even though I was interested in all of the criminals Viktor was interviewing, I didn't feel that all of them were integral to the tale. It's a small thing, but at times I felt like I had been reading quite a lot without really getting anywhere.
This is what I took away from THE DEVIL ASPECT: A NOVEL. Fun? Check! Hypnotizing scenes between the doctor and the criminals? Check! A Gothic castle, set atop a mountain surrounded by a dense forest, and creating a dark and gloomy atmosphere? Check! Twists and turns galore which put our heroes in jeopardy? Check! A denouement to beat the band? Hell yes!
In short, (too late!), I recommend this novel to fans of the above, but most especially to fans of Gothic fiction and psychological horror! I predict that this novel is going to knock some socks off!
Available March 5th, but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/2SIQwgd
*Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
November 16, 2018
In Czechoslovakia 1935, a small rural village sits in the sinister gloom of an ancient castle that has a primordial history of evil. It is now being used as an asylum for six of the most violent murderers in Europe and their murders are indeed stomach churning. A young psychotherapist begins his work with the patients at the asylum in order to prove his theory of The Devil Aspect of personality. In Prague, a detective attempts to solve brutal murders that more than resemble those of Jack the Ripper despite having occurred one hundred years in the past. The Prague murders may be connected to the asylum. Be prepared for a brush with Jungian archetypes of the collective unconscious, a brief encounter with quantum physics and the rising black cloud of Hitler and the Nazis across the border not to mention “murder most foul.” The setting was a brilliant choice given the ethnic and unequal cultural diversity of the time as it mirrored the buried splits in personality that the young psychotherapist is so eager to find. I found the epilogue to be superfluous; nonetheless, this is an excellent and unsettling historical thriller.
February 17, 2019
6 evil stars for the "Devil's Six"
Shrouded in mystery, the eye of evil takes hold of the darkest minds in the faces of the most notorious killers of all times. Secluded, up in the mountains near Prague, in an old stone castle that was built upon the devil's nether “Mouth of Hell”, the devil still controls his hold.
“It was that - that extinguishing of their very last hope – that I savored more than anything, more even than the extinguishing of their lives…It was then they realized that the Devil is just God in his night attire.”
- “Mr. Hobbs”
(Recorded at Hrad Orlů Asylum for the Criminally Insane)
It is 1935 and Dr. Viktor Kosárek, a handsome man at the age of 29 is transferring from Bohnice Asylum to the Hrad Orlů Asylum for the Criminally Insane in Prague, where the infamous "Devil’s Six" are locked up. He is hoping to use some of his new treatment methods to enter the tortured minds of the insane, bringing them to the edges of their being to a point he calls “The Devil Aspect”.
Kapitán Lukáš Smolák of the Prague Police knows the asylum and the animosity towards it by the locals very well. Currently, he is investigating a chain of terrible murders happening around Prague that seem to copy the infamous “Jack the Ripper” murders of women. The tabloids call this new killer “Leather Apron” per witness descriptions. An apron, such as a butcher would wear, only that this killer is dismembering his human victims and is removing their organs.
Viktor Kosárek believes innately that everyone is infected with the potential for madness and evil, but only some develop a disease. He is beginning his casework on the six notorious killers, nicknamed The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer, and The Demon .
Through hypnosis and drugs, Kosárek is entering the minds of these men one by one, while they are restraint. He makes them tell their version of the murders. A most disturbing truth and evil come forth in these patients that will put him and others in major harm. What each of them possesses is the devil “Mr. Hobbs”, and he has only just begun to unleash his power. Like a virus through space and time, he is the elusive evil spreading minds. Unstoppable!
***
This novel is absolutely stellar. Amazing!
I am stunned in the best of ways by this historical fiction/mystery/ thriller. The setting was amazing, the twists and elusive plot were completely engrossing and the suspense held me captively surrendered to the pages.
There was so much thought put into this masterfully crafted novel, it left no stone unturned to be included to deliver a detailed, atmospheric plot. Some of these I did not mention in the review above and they include:
*Time and place in this novel reflect the young Republic of Czechoslovakia, where most people identified themselves as Czech, Moravian, Silesian, Slovak, German, Polish, Ruthenian, Hungarian and Jews, “The principal ingredients of a richly seasoned stew.” Targeted victims were women of German heritage the killer beheld as “Fotze”…a very dirty word. Other references and subgroups in this novel that add to the general ambiance and tension are the German-Czechs, the High-Germans, Nazis, and Gypsies.
*There were three main characters aside from the insane. For each of them a backstory and past is presented for the reader to keep up with. In part diversion, in part enrichment. It may or may not play an important role in figuring out this mystery. Some of them are misleading, but all are detailed to bring the characters to life vividly in the readers' mind. It creates the perfect blend of a character-driven novel and the mystery itself.
*“The Devils Six” encounters and recollections were suspenseful and horrible in the cerebral sense. References to myths and legends, intellect and dark brooding places gave the novel a dark, imaginative, mystical feel. Absolutely stunning.
*The murder cases and their elusive details were told from the side of the victims and the murderers, as the plot wove in waves back and forth through time, place and recollections. Simply mesmerizingly fabricated, it created a perfect maze of intricate details in the big puzzle.
*There was a hint of romance blooming and referenced to by some characters, in all of this. For one, I thought perhaps I had figured out who the “Leather Apron” was. A case of obsessive love or something I had missed somewhere. But to no avail, I was unable to crack the mystery.
My suspicions to solve this case began perhaps 2/3'rds into the novel, but the twists kept on coming. At that point I was somewhat mad with myself, thinking that perhaps I had missed some detail somewhere. Therefore it is definitely worth a reread on my part. Plus it's so engrossingly entertaining!
Summing up, this novel was par excellence. Simply superb. If you enjoyed Dracul by J.D. Barker and Dacre Stoker, you will love this book. I implore you to read it, it’s superb.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
PS. This is also the book that inspired my latest Music Monday blog post choice of Smetana’s poetic symphony of The Moldau (a river in Prague). A classical piece I have loved since childhood. To this day it gives me chills for it’s stunning beauty. You can check it out here: https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
Review on my blog has added pictures.
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
Shrouded in mystery, the eye of evil takes hold of the darkest minds in the faces of the most notorious killers of all times. Secluded, up in the mountains near Prague, in an old stone castle that was built upon the devil's nether “Mouth of Hell”, the devil still controls his hold.
“It was that - that extinguishing of their very last hope – that I savored more than anything, more even than the extinguishing of their lives…It was then they realized that the Devil is just God in his night attire.”
- “Mr. Hobbs”
(Recorded at Hrad Orlů Asylum for the Criminally Insane)
It is 1935 and Dr. Viktor Kosárek, a handsome man at the age of 29 is transferring from Bohnice Asylum to the Hrad Orlů Asylum for the Criminally Insane in Prague, where the infamous "Devil’s Six" are locked up. He is hoping to use some of his new treatment methods to enter the tortured minds of the insane, bringing them to the edges of their being to a point he calls “The Devil Aspect”.
Kapitán Lukáš Smolák of the Prague Police knows the asylum and the animosity towards it by the locals very well. Currently, he is investigating a chain of terrible murders happening around Prague that seem to copy the infamous “Jack the Ripper” murders of women. The tabloids call this new killer “Leather Apron” per witness descriptions. An apron, such as a butcher would wear, only that this killer is dismembering his human victims and is removing their organs.
Viktor Kosárek believes innately that everyone is infected with the potential for madness and evil, but only some develop a disease. He is beginning his casework on the six notorious killers, nicknamed The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer, and The Demon .
Through hypnosis and drugs, Kosárek is entering the minds of these men one by one, while they are restraint. He makes them tell their version of the murders. A most disturbing truth and evil come forth in these patients that will put him and others in major harm. What each of them possesses is the devil “Mr. Hobbs”, and he has only just begun to unleash his power. Like a virus through space and time, he is the elusive evil spreading minds. Unstoppable!
***
This novel is absolutely stellar. Amazing!
I am stunned in the best of ways by this historical fiction/mystery/ thriller. The setting was amazing, the twists and elusive plot were completely engrossing and the suspense held me captively surrendered to the pages.
There was so much thought put into this masterfully crafted novel, it left no stone unturned to be included to deliver a detailed, atmospheric plot. Some of these I did not mention in the review above and they include:
*Time and place in this novel reflect the young Republic of Czechoslovakia, where most people identified themselves as Czech, Moravian, Silesian, Slovak, German, Polish, Ruthenian, Hungarian and Jews, “The principal ingredients of a richly seasoned stew.” Targeted victims were women of German heritage the killer beheld as “Fotze”…a very dirty word. Other references and subgroups in this novel that add to the general ambiance and tension are the German-Czechs, the High-Germans, Nazis, and Gypsies.
*There were three main characters aside from the insane. For each of them a backstory and past is presented for the reader to keep up with. In part diversion, in part enrichment. It may or may not play an important role in figuring out this mystery. Some of them are misleading, but all are detailed to bring the characters to life vividly in the readers' mind. It creates the perfect blend of a character-driven novel and the mystery itself.
*“The Devils Six” encounters and recollections were suspenseful and horrible in the cerebral sense. References to myths and legends, intellect and dark brooding places gave the novel a dark, imaginative, mystical feel. Absolutely stunning.
*The murder cases and their elusive details were told from the side of the victims and the murderers, as the plot wove in waves back and forth through time, place and recollections. Simply mesmerizingly fabricated, it created a perfect maze of intricate details in the big puzzle.
*There was a hint of romance blooming and referenced to by some characters, in all of this. For one, I thought perhaps I had figured out who the “Leather Apron” was. A case of obsessive love or something I had missed somewhere. But to no avail, I was unable to crack the mystery.
My suspicions to solve this case began perhaps 2/3'rds into the novel, but the twists kept on coming. At that point I was somewhat mad with myself, thinking that perhaps I had missed some detail somewhere. Therefore it is definitely worth a reread on my part. Plus it's so engrossingly entertaining!
Summing up, this novel was par excellence. Simply superb. If you enjoyed Dracul by J.D. Barker and Dacre Stoker, you will love this book. I implore you to read it, it’s superb.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you.
PS. This is also the book that inspired my latest Music Monday blog post choice of Smetana’s poetic symphony of The Moldau (a river in Prague). A classical piece I have loved since childhood. To this day it gives me chills for it’s stunning beauty. You can check it out here: https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
Review on my blog has added pictures.
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
January 11, 2019
In 1930’s Czechoslovakia, shortly before the German occupation, six of the most notorious killers in Central Europe are being held at a remote castle now being used as an asylum. The castle is an impregnable place that seems to exist as part of a soaring cliff face. And it’s got history, before the Devil’s Six, as they are known, it once housed an infamous killer who would regularly descend from the castle to murder local villagers before returning to the safety of the fortress. Psychiatrist Victor Kosárek is about to test his theory that the evil that emanates from each of the six stems from a phenomenon known as The Devil Aspect. Is it possible that he can establish this and even cure them of their evil thoughts and deeds?
An hour's travel away, in Prague, a serial murderer is on the loose, butchering women in the style of the East London killer Jack the Ripper. Known as Leather Apron, clues to the identity of this evil butcher are few but police are under extreme pressure to halt the spree of gruesome murders. Heading up the chase is investigator Lućaš Smolák.
Before these two threads link up we are shown how the tensions present in this relatively new country manifest as its people face the possibility of the extinction of their nation before it has even had chance to fully develop. The castle itself and its inmates are brilliantly drawn, with the killers being given monikers such as The Clown, The Woodcutter and The Demon. In fact, the accounts of Victor’s narcotic controlled interviews with each individual are minor classics in their own right. And Prague too is expertly brought to life with its towers and dark streets, amongst which lurks the grim murderer.
So we are thrown into a tale of Gothic horror as murders both past and present are visited. Just about everyone we meet has some kind of suspicion thrown their way (I had a working list of at least five suspects). Is it possible that one of the six could be carrying out the recent murders, courtesy of a hidden network of tunnels running from the castle? Or is the existence of this network simply folklore? This and many other questions are posed as we work our way through this intriguing and engrossing puzzle.
It’s a long book but I found it just about impossible to put down. A superb tale of dark deeds and even darker characters from a writer I’ve previously only known for his excellent contemporary crime fiction novels. Not only that, I found that it provided an interesting historical insight and a fascinating exploration of Slavic mythology. Miss this one at your peril!
My thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2019
It's 1935 in Czechoslovakia, a pre-Nazi era is upon us, and a mass killer of epidemic proportions, is continuing his bold ruthless killings. It is a time of fear, a time of dread and horror that runs through the city of Prague as the police seem to try in vain to catch the diabolical killer know as the Leather Apron killer. All this murder, mayhem, and fear takes place in the book, The Devil's Aspect.
Viktor Kosrek, a newly trained brilliant psychiatrist has arrived at Hrad Orlu Asylum, a state of the art asylum housed in a castle that has its fair amount of strange and evil legends surrounding it. Viktor was trained by the eminent Carl Jung, and arrived at the castle armed with a theory that if he is able to reach deep inside its patients, he will find their devil, the momentum, the evil, that drove them to arrive at this institution for the criminally insane. Then and only then, he will be able to drive the evil out and cure them.
Within its concrete walls are housed the most dangerous of the insane. There are six patients, those who will never be released, always to be watched, guarded, and these are the patients that Dr Kosrek hopes to help.
In sessions with the most notorious killers in Czechoslavakia, Pavel Zeleny, the Woodcutter, Leos Mladek, the Clown, Michal Machachek, the Glass Collector, Hedvika Valentova, the Vegetarian, Professor Dominik Bartos, the Sciomancer, and Vojtec Skala, the Demon, he learns of their crimes in details that are horrific and abhorrent, their intentions, and their thirst for blood and death. He also learns that they seem to share a common thread, a common inner self that drives them to do what they did, a kind of split personality, a terrifying inner self. It seems as if the same spirit is the one driving them forward, the devil they all see in the shadows of the dark, the evil that resides in them, that is fueled in them, that has selected them to go forth and commit heinous crimes
Meanwhile, the outside village contends with The Leather Apron killer and the people left dead by his hand in the most macabre and gruesome ways. Is this person,this killer tied to the six in the castle? Could one of them be this wanton killer?
The author does an extremely fine job of creating an atmosphere of dread and fright. He weaves together history, Jack the Ripper and others who have bestowed murder and death upon others set up against the oncoming rise of the Nazi movement. .....And then there is his conclusion, a jaw dropping finale that made this book filled with horror and grisliness, turn at the end sending shivers down one's spine. I recommend this book to those who enjoy books that explore the dark side we have within us and the evil that lurks in our world ready to sally forth at any opportunity.
This book is due to be released on March 5, 2019
Thank you to Craig Russell, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
Viktor Kosrek, a newly trained brilliant psychiatrist has arrived at Hrad Orlu Asylum, a state of the art asylum housed in a castle that has its fair amount of strange and evil legends surrounding it. Viktor was trained by the eminent Carl Jung, and arrived at the castle armed with a theory that if he is able to reach deep inside its patients, he will find their devil, the momentum, the evil, that drove them to arrive at this institution for the criminally insane. Then and only then, he will be able to drive the evil out and cure them.
Within its concrete walls are housed the most dangerous of the insane. There are six patients, those who will never be released, always to be watched, guarded, and these are the patients that Dr Kosrek hopes to help.
In sessions with the most notorious killers in Czechoslavakia, Pavel Zeleny, the Woodcutter, Leos Mladek, the Clown, Michal Machachek, the Glass Collector, Hedvika Valentova, the Vegetarian, Professor Dominik Bartos, the Sciomancer, and Vojtec Skala, the Demon, he learns of their crimes in details that are horrific and abhorrent, their intentions, and their thirst for blood and death. He also learns that they seem to share a common thread, a common inner self that drives them to do what they did, a kind of split personality, a terrifying inner self. It seems as if the same spirit is the one driving them forward, the devil they all see in the shadows of the dark, the evil that resides in them, that is fueled in them, that has selected them to go forth and commit heinous crimes
Meanwhile, the outside village contends with The Leather Apron killer and the people left dead by his hand in the most macabre and gruesome ways. Is this person,this killer tied to the six in the castle? Could one of them be this wanton killer?
The author does an extremely fine job of creating an atmosphere of dread and fright. He weaves together history, Jack the Ripper and others who have bestowed murder and death upon others set up against the oncoming rise of the Nazi movement. .....And then there is his conclusion, a jaw dropping finale that made this book filled with horror and grisliness, turn at the end sending shivers down one's spine. I recommend this book to those who enjoy books that explore the dark side we have within us and the evil that lurks in our world ready to sally forth at any opportunity.
This book is due to be released on March 5, 2019
Thank you to Craig Russell, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
February 27, 2019
Prague, 1935: Viktor Kosarek, a psychiatrist trained by Carl Jung, arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlv Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The facility is located in a medieval mountaintop castle just outside of Prague. The asylum houses six most treacherous killers - known to the staff as The Woodcutter, The Clown, The Glass Collector, The Vegetarian, The Sciomancer and The Demon. Viktor hope to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon known as the Devil Aspect.
There are five men and one woman taking part in the experiment. The setting for this book is eerie with its Gothic castle being surrounded by a dense forest. There is also supposed to be a hidden network of tunnels running from the castle. The author explores the history, myth, religion and psychology to try and understand what makes people tick. The 1935 rise of Nazism and virulent nationalism provide the menacing backdrop to the story. The pace is slow but that is the best pace for this novel. I did find the last few chapters to be a bit disappointing though.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group, UK and the author Craig Russell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are five men and one woman taking part in the experiment. The setting for this book is eerie with its Gothic castle being surrounded by a dense forest. There is also supposed to be a hidden network of tunnels running from the castle. The author explores the history, myth, religion and psychology to try and understand what makes people tick. The 1935 rise of Nazism and virulent nationalism provide the menacing backdrop to the story. The pace is slow but that is the best pace for this novel. I did find the last few chapters to be a bit disappointing though.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group, UK and the author Craig Russell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2019
A creepy, original historical thriller!
Viktor Kosarek is a young psychiatrist, a protege of Carl Jung, when he’s hired to work at the Hrad Orlu Asylum in Prague. The year is 1935. The facility is considered state of the art for its time, a castle built right into the mountaintop.
Hrad Orlu is home to six of the country’s most notorious murderers, and each has a chilling nickname by the staff.
Viktor’s theory is that these patients share a personality trait of evil in common, and he has developed a medical technique to identify just that. He calls the trait The Devil Aspect.
At the same time as Viktor’s arrival, there’s a serial killer on the loose in Prague, setting everyone on edge and in fear. Lukas Smolak is the investigator in charge, and he quickly takes note that the killer is imitating Jack the Ripper from 100 years before. Smolak comes to Hrad Orlu for help in tracking the suspect through Viktor’s breakthrough.
Overall, The Devil Aspect had my mind spinning and my pulse racing. If you are looking for an original thriller with a historical edge, this is it. The interactions with the killers gave me the for-real heebie jeebies. The plot moves along at a brisk, even pace. It’s dark. It’s gothic and atmospheric. It’s a wonderfully engaging thriller that kept me up late flipping its pages. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Viktor Kosarek is a young psychiatrist, a protege of Carl Jung, when he’s hired to work at the Hrad Orlu Asylum in Prague. The year is 1935. The facility is considered state of the art for its time, a castle built right into the mountaintop.
Hrad Orlu is home to six of the country’s most notorious murderers, and each has a chilling nickname by the staff.
Viktor’s theory is that these patients share a personality trait of evil in common, and he has developed a medical technique to identify just that. He calls the trait The Devil Aspect.
At the same time as Viktor’s arrival, there’s a serial killer on the loose in Prague, setting everyone on edge and in fear. Lukas Smolak is the investigator in charge, and he quickly takes note that the killer is imitating Jack the Ripper from 100 years before. Smolak comes to Hrad Orlu for help in tracking the suspect through Viktor’s breakthrough.
Overall, The Devil Aspect had my mind spinning and my pulse racing. If you are looking for an original thriller with a historical edge, this is it. The interactions with the killers gave me the for-real heebie jeebies. The plot moves along at a brisk, even pace. It’s dark. It’s gothic and atmospheric. It’s a wonderfully engaging thriller that kept me up late flipping its pages. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
December 13, 2018
The gateway to hell, a church of Bones, Jungian psychology and Slavic and German mythology, the sense of the gothic, the dark forest, the advent of the Holocaust, all combine here to make a fine, menacing and fear inducing tale,a historical psychological thriller. I do believe as in this book, that some places retain the energy and memory of negative emotions and events. The combination of mythology and the philosophies of Jung was an inspired choice. Well written and researched, this would make an atmospheric film. Being set in an asylum, this has aspects in common with Shutter Island too.
August 31, 2026
2.5 stars
short review for busy readers:
A historical horror-thriller with a lot of tropes and "Dan Brown" moments. Set in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia. Mixes historical build up to WW2 with Slavic mythology and legends around Houska Castle, psychology and interesting discourses on the nature of evil.
in detail:
Unfortunately, this novel is marred by unevenness in writing quality and with some bungled, OTT or unintentionally amusing scenes, a few logic holes, a "victims only" approach to female characters, and an overshot ending.
Oddly, it still manages to entertain!
Perhaps that is due to the solid Eastern European atmosphere and a tangible use of Czech history and mythology. The characters -- almost entirely male -- are realistically drawn, for the most part, and the twists and turns keep coming.
The highlight of the novel for me were the theories and discussion about the Devil and the nature of evil (human made or supernatural or both?) and the use of Slavic mythological elements. You hardly ever see Veles, Perun, Svartog or Černobog in English language fiction, so that's a real treat.
Still, it wasn't enough of a treat for anything more than an average 2.5 stars. Currently, this novel has a 4 star rating on GR, which makes my 2.5 a half-outlier opinion.
Buddy read with Barbara K and Paul A. Thanks guys!
short review for busy readers:
A historical horror-thriller with a lot of tropes and "Dan Brown" moments. Set in the 1930s in Czechoslovakia. Mixes historical build up to WW2 with Slavic mythology and legends around Houska Castle, psychology and interesting discourses on the nature of evil.
in detail:
Unfortunately, this novel is marred by unevenness in writing quality and with some bungled, OTT or unintentionally amusing scenes, a few logic holes, a "victims only" approach to female characters, and an overshot ending.
Oddly, it still manages to entertain!
Perhaps that is due to the solid Eastern European atmosphere and a tangible use of Czech history and mythology. The characters -- almost entirely male -- are realistically drawn, for the most part, and the twists and turns keep coming.
The highlight of the novel for me were the theories and discussion about the Devil and the nature of evil (human made or supernatural or both?) and the use of Slavic mythological elements. You hardly ever see Veles, Perun, Svartog or Černobog in English language fiction, so that's a real treat.
Still, it wasn't enough of a treat for anything more than an average 2.5 stars. Currently, this novel has a 4 star rating on GR, which makes my 2.5 a half-outlier opinion.
Buddy read with Barbara K and Paul A. Thanks guys!
December 15, 2018
The Devil Aspect is such a delicious thriller. A story about psychopaths and a serial killer on the loose. What's not to like? The time period in this book also adds much to the story since there is a big growing unease in Czechoslovakia and also burgeoning xenophobia. And now there is a serial killer loose as well. Amides all this is Dr. Viktor Kosárek taking up his new position as a psychiatrist for the so-called "Devil's Six". Six really nasty and dangerous psychopaths.
This book was very fascinating to read, and of course, a bit bleak since the theme of the book is pretty dark. During the book's progress do we get to know more about "Devil's Six" as Viktor Kosárek is trying to unlock their secrets. We also follow the police investigation in the hunt for the serial killer known as "Leather Apron". Kosárek himself gets involved in the case because of his job. There were moments closer to the end when I was starting to wonder how it would all end. The serial killer case seems to be near its ending and I was unsure how it all would end up at the castle with all the psychopaths. It's here something brilliant happens. Something that I did not expect, at all! A twist that really makes me see past events in the book in a different way. I just have to say wow! That ending is so fabulous. This is definitely a thriller I recommend if you want to be astonished!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
This book was very fascinating to read, and of course, a bit bleak since the theme of the book is pretty dark. During the book's progress do we get to know more about "Devil's Six" as Viktor Kosárek is trying to unlock their secrets. We also follow the police investigation in the hunt for the serial killer known as "Leather Apron". Kosárek himself gets involved in the case because of his job. There were moments closer to the end when I was starting to wonder how it would all end. The serial killer case seems to be near its ending and I was unsure how it all would end up at the castle with all the psychopaths. It's here something brilliant happens. Something that I did not expect, at all! A twist that really makes me see past events in the book in a different way. I just have to say wow! That ending is so fabulous. This is definitely a thriller I recommend if you want to be astonished!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
September 6, 2026
Set in Czechoslovakia in 1935, the story weaves together two stories; one is of a young psychiatrist attempting to prove his theory of a common archetype of evil by treating six mentally disturbed killers: the other is a police investigator searching for a serial killer who mimics Jack the Ripper, and all this is taking place against the backdrop of rising Nazism. I found it to be an ambitious project that was full of invention, but felt the author just bit off a little more than he could chew with both central stories dragging after a while. I also found the ending, when both stories came together, to be rather disappointing. I applaud the attempt to put together such an ambitious historical thriller and did find parts quite interesting, but I just felt the result was disappointing.
March 18, 2019
Set in Czechoslovakia in 1935 with the menacing shadow of Naziism growing daily, Craig Russell has presented us with a truly gothic horror of murder and madness.
Viktor Kosárek, a young psychiatrist has accepted a new position in a secluded high security asylum for the country's six worst serial killers. Built on a cliff top and surrounded by forest the Devil's Six as they are known are kept in strict isolation. Viktor, trained in Jungian psychology is convinced that each of them is harboring a 'devil aspect' to their personality which he is convinced he can find with a new technique in the hope that he can cure them. At the same time, a new serial killer, emulating Jack the Ripper is killing and eviscerating women in Prague. Detective Lukas Smolak is convinced this new killer has some connection to the Devil's Six.
The mix of anti-semitism and ethnic tensions, local mythology, madness and the ominous creepiness of the castle make for a very dark and brooding atmosphere. This is a long book and although well written and researched, I did find the first half of the novel a little slow and ponderous as Viktor draws out each of the patient's history and crimes. However the second half made up for that by being wholly engrossing and the twist of the plot was superb as Viktor finds more than he was looking for. A very dark tale indeed.
With thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for a digital ARC to read
Viktor Kosárek, a young psychiatrist has accepted a new position in a secluded high security asylum for the country's six worst serial killers. Built on a cliff top and surrounded by forest the Devil's Six as they are known are kept in strict isolation. Viktor, trained in Jungian psychology is convinced that each of them is harboring a 'devil aspect' to their personality which he is convinced he can find with a new technique in the hope that he can cure them. At the same time, a new serial killer, emulating Jack the Ripper is killing and eviscerating women in Prague. Detective Lukas Smolak is convinced this new killer has some connection to the Devil's Six.
The mix of anti-semitism and ethnic tensions, local mythology, madness and the ominous creepiness of the castle make for a very dark and brooding atmosphere. This is a long book and although well written and researched, I did find the first half of the novel a little slow and ponderous as Viktor draws out each of the patient's history and crimes. However the second half made up for that by being wholly engrossing and the twist of the plot was superb as Viktor finds more than he was looking for. A very dark tale indeed.
With thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for a digital ARC to read
October 16, 2019
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The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell was a very pleasant read for me for many reasons! I am so glad I got the chance to read it!
The Plot
A terrifying novel set in Czechoslovakia in 1935, in which a brilliant young psychiatrist takes his new post at an asylum for the criminally insane that houses only six inmates–the country’s most depraved murderers–while, in Prague, a detective struggles to understand a brutal serial killer who has spread fear through the city, and who may have ties to the asylum.
Psychiatrist Victor is starting a new job in the Asylum where the Devil’s Six are – Czech Republic’s most dangerous murderers. Victor has a theory by the name of the Devil Aspect, where he believes that is manifested in these six murderers. He believes it comes out in certain circumstances, making these people commit crimes, but not being aware they have done it. Something similar to a split personality, but in this case, the murderers think that the Devil is next to them, and he is making them do all these things.
My thoughts
This book was such a pleasurable roller coaster. I wasn’t able to put it down and I read it in only a few days. The writing is unbelievable and I am going to be picking up other books from this author, for the sole reason of his writing. The Devil’s Aspect was so intriguing and it kept me on my toes at all times. I found it extremely enjoyable.
The blend of mythology, culture and psychology is perfectly put together, and having lived in the Balkan countries, I can easily relate to many of the culture aspects. It was perfectly described and I felt as if I am in 1935 together with the characters. The time and place are wonderfully written, with incredible accuracy.
The ending was the most pleasurable, and without spoiling anything, I will only say a few things… Be ready for everything to happen. This book has many twists and many scenes where dangerous things are happening. A lot of intensity which I devoured with great pleasure. If you are coming for an adventure, you will get even more that you bargained for.
Proceed at your own risk! And good luck!
Thank you to the team at LoveReading UK and the author, Craig Russell, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell was a very pleasant read for me for many reasons! I am so glad I got the chance to read it!
The Plot
A terrifying novel set in Czechoslovakia in 1935, in which a brilliant young psychiatrist takes his new post at an asylum for the criminally insane that houses only six inmates–the country’s most depraved murderers–while, in Prague, a detective struggles to understand a brutal serial killer who has spread fear through the city, and who may have ties to the asylum.
Psychiatrist Victor is starting a new job in the Asylum where the Devil’s Six are – Czech Republic’s most dangerous murderers. Victor has a theory by the name of the Devil Aspect, where he believes that is manifested in these six murderers. He believes it comes out in certain circumstances, making these people commit crimes, but not being aware they have done it. Something similar to a split personality, but in this case, the murderers think that the Devil is next to them, and he is making them do all these things.
My thoughts
This book was such a pleasurable roller coaster. I wasn’t able to put it down and I read it in only a few days. The writing is unbelievable and I am going to be picking up other books from this author, for the sole reason of his writing. The Devil’s Aspect was so intriguing and it kept me on my toes at all times. I found it extremely enjoyable.
The blend of mythology, culture and psychology is perfectly put together, and having lived in the Balkan countries, I can easily relate to many of the culture aspects. It was perfectly described and I felt as if I am in 1935 together with the characters. The time and place are wonderfully written, with incredible accuracy.
The ending was the most pleasurable, and without spoiling anything, I will only say a few things… Be ready for everything to happen. This book has many twists and many scenes where dangerous things are happening. A lot of intensity which I devoured with great pleasure. If you are coming for an adventure, you will get even more that you bargained for.
Proceed at your own risk! And good luck!
Thank you to the team at LoveReading UK and the author, Craig Russell, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wishlist | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
February 10, 2019
Wow, really blown away by how great this book was. Blew through it in two days. Perfectly creepy, atmospheric, and disturbing. I can't recommend this book enough. If you thought The Alienist was good, this one is even better.
April 19, 2020
4+ stars for enjoyment, 5 stars for writing skill, so 4.5 stars
What a fascinating gem this turned out to be.
It’s 1935ish Czechoslovakia. Viktor is a psychiatrist who takes on a new job at an asylum for the criminally insane, set in a converted ancient castle deep in a forest. It houses six inmates, called The Devil’s Six (sort of a Frankenstein vibe). Meanwhile, police in Prague are frantically trying to catch a serial killer who is a copycat of Jack the Ripper.
So there is a lot going on. Russell weaves several storylines together and also throws in Slavic folk elements, literary themes, and historical elements. It’s part psychological thriller and part murder mystery and masterfully put together. This is top-notch storytelling. The mystery — mysteries — become so tantalizing as well as creepy. I began to conjure a bunch of wild theories, and one of them was partly correct.
Because of the serial killer elements, the story is rather dark. (Each of the inmates tells his/her story in detail.) The violence is more disturbing than graphic, though. It’ll say, for instance, something like “he cut out her heart” or “I didn’t know where the blood came from” but it won’t go into much more detail than that. If you can handle “Forensic Files” and true crime stories, you should be fine with this one.
Side note: I began listening to this back in February but got half-way through when it expired on Overdrive. As the Reader’s Choice program ends April 30, I checked out a hard copy in case the audio wouldn’t come back in time. I got the audio back and Overdrive remembered where I left off. Out of curiosity, I followed along in the book a few times. I noticed that the wording was different in places, and the chapter numbers were different. (The audio version started over at chapter 1 with each Part and the book didn’t.) Audio narrator Julian Rhind-Tutt is excellent.
I still remain in awe of the skill involved in crafting this complex tale. If you’re looking for a good psychological thriller, go here.
Contains maybe three swear words in all – violence and disturbing elements – some sexual content that I don’t remember much of now
*Reader’s Choice Spring 2020*
Book Blog
What a fascinating gem this turned out to be.
It’s 1935ish Czechoslovakia. Viktor is a psychiatrist who takes on a new job at an asylum for the criminally insane, set in a converted ancient castle deep in a forest. It houses six inmates, called The Devil’s Six (sort of a Frankenstein vibe). Meanwhile, police in Prague are frantically trying to catch a serial killer who is a copycat of Jack the Ripper.
So there is a lot going on. Russell weaves several storylines together and also throws in Slavic folk elements, literary themes, and historical elements. It’s part psychological thriller and part murder mystery and masterfully put together. This is top-notch storytelling. The mystery — mysteries — become so tantalizing as well as creepy. I began to conjure a bunch of wild theories, and one of them was partly correct.
Because of the serial killer elements, the story is rather dark. (Each of the inmates tells his/her story in detail.) The violence is more disturbing than graphic, though. It’ll say, for instance, something like “he cut out her heart” or “I didn’t know where the blood came from” but it won’t go into much more detail than that. If you can handle “Forensic Files” and true crime stories, you should be fine with this one.
Side note: I began listening to this back in February but got half-way through when it expired on Overdrive. As the Reader’s Choice program ends April 30, I checked out a hard copy in case the audio wouldn’t come back in time. I got the audio back and Overdrive remembered where I left off. Out of curiosity, I followed along in the book a few times. I noticed that the wording was different in places, and the chapter numbers were different. (The audio version started over at chapter 1 with each Part and the book didn’t.) Audio narrator Julian Rhind-Tutt is excellent.
I still remain in awe of the skill involved in crafting this complex tale. If you’re looking for a good psychological thriller, go here.
Contains maybe three swear words in all – violence and disturbing elements – some sexual content that I don’t remember much of now
*Reader’s Choice Spring 2020*
Book Blog
April 8, 2019
Apasionante novela de terror y misterio. De lo mejor que he leído en el género de terror últimamente. Un psiquiatra se dirige a un castillo donde se internan los seis psicópatas más peligrosos de la Republica checa: la vegetariana, el coleccionista de cristal, el científico, el leñador, el payaso y el diablo. Estamos en la Alemania pre nazi y la oscuridad comienza a cernirse sobre el país. Al mismo tiempo un oscuro asesino tiene en jaque a la policía de Praga realizando macabros asesinatos a lo Jack el destripador.
Tanto las historias de cada uno de los criminales como la del psicólogo y el policía son geniales y la ambientación está muy lograda. Es un libro que se devora con un alto ritmo, como si fuera una película. De echo Sony ya ha comprado los derechos para adaptarlo a film.
El final es brutal. De próxima publicación en España. no he podido esperar para leerlo y lo he hecho en inglés.
Tanto las historias de cada uno de los criminales como la del psicólogo y el policía son geniales y la ambientación está muy lograda. Es un libro que se devora con un alto ritmo, como si fuera una película. De echo Sony ya ha comprado los derechos para adaptarlo a film.
El final es brutal. De próxima publicación en España. no he podido esperar para leerlo y lo he hecho en inglés.
December 8, 2018
This novel brings a fictional character of Dr. Viktor Kosarek, who introduces his sedative-aided hypnosis therapy to his patients to find the Devil Aspect in human psychology. While he works on his cases, the folk myths, superstition and legends of Easter Europe come out.
1935, Prague, Czechoslovakia
Dr. Viktor Kosarek, 29 years old, just recently was an intern at Bohnice Asylum. Now, he has taken a new position at Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. A place known for confining murderers known as the Devil’s Six. As he travels to his new post outside Prague, on the train he meets an archeologist who reveals to him the story of the Neolithic hill fort on which the castle was built and of the network of caves. Now, the castle is an asylum holding the most extreme cases in Europe. When he arrives at the city of Mlada Boleslav, the nearest major settlement to the castle, the culture aspect of two languages is being revealed: Czech and German.
At the castle, he meets Judita Blochova, his mentor’s daughter. Due to her Jewish heritage and due to the Nuremberg Race Laws, she was forced to stop her studies in medicine as the new laws put anti-Semitic restrictions on education.
The bright doctor introduces his new therapy to his new six patients. And while the cases are revealed, the story of the castle itself gets unraveled including a story of a lord of the castle named Jan of the Black Heart.
Meanwhile, Kaptain Lukas Smolak is investigating murders happening in the city of Prague. In his custody, there is someone Smolak interrogated many times before and had been guilty. Tobar Bihari is a Gypsy and that would have been enough for some police officers to find Tobar guilty. “But Smolak knew that prejudice was the quickest path to a false conviction.” When the gypsy reveals his superstition that is something new to the detective.
On a personal note, I do not read criminal stories, but the aspect of new hypnosis got me interested in this story. And what engrossed me into this story was the aspect of culture and folklore of Eastern Europe. The story is skillfully written and richly imagined. Again on a personal note, as not a reader of criminal stories, I wished the book had a bit more feeling of the place and its village people below the castle and a bit less of descriptive cases (which were still expertly written).
1935, Prague, Czechoslovakia
Dr. Viktor Kosarek, 29 years old, just recently was an intern at Bohnice Asylum. Now, he has taken a new position at Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. A place known for confining murderers known as the Devil’s Six. As he travels to his new post outside Prague, on the train he meets an archeologist who reveals to him the story of the Neolithic hill fort on which the castle was built and of the network of caves. Now, the castle is an asylum holding the most extreme cases in Europe. When he arrives at the city of Mlada Boleslav, the nearest major settlement to the castle, the culture aspect of two languages is being revealed: Czech and German.
At the castle, he meets Judita Blochova, his mentor’s daughter. Due to her Jewish heritage and due to the Nuremberg Race Laws, she was forced to stop her studies in medicine as the new laws put anti-Semitic restrictions on education.
The bright doctor introduces his new therapy to his new six patients. And while the cases are revealed, the story of the castle itself gets unraveled including a story of a lord of the castle named Jan of the Black Heart.
Meanwhile, Kaptain Lukas Smolak is investigating murders happening in the city of Prague. In his custody, there is someone Smolak interrogated many times before and had been guilty. Tobar Bihari is a Gypsy and that would have been enough for some police officers to find Tobar guilty. “But Smolak knew that prejudice was the quickest path to a false conviction.” When the gypsy reveals his superstition that is something new to the detective.
On a personal note, I do not read criminal stories, but the aspect of new hypnosis got me interested in this story. And what engrossed me into this story was the aspect of culture and folklore of Eastern Europe. The story is skillfully written and richly imagined. Again on a personal note, as not a reader of criminal stories, I wished the book had a bit more feeling of the place and its village people below the castle and a bit less of descriptive cases (which were still expertly written).
February 21, 2023
Novela leída en el Club de lectura Se ha escrito un crimen. Luces y sombra. Unas luces muy intensas y una sombra creo que más achacada a mis gustos personales que a la propia novela.
Las luces:
La ambientación histórica y los encuentros entre el psiquiatra Viktor Kosárek con los seis internos del castillo. En esas charlas vamos conociendo sus historias. ¡Todas me han parecido muy buenas e impactantes!
La sombra:
Tantíííísima presencia #esotéricaespiritualdiablesa. No me suelen interesar los temas paranormales y me ha costado sumergirme en una trama donde lo pararnormal es lo normal.
Las luces:
La ambientación histórica y los encuentros entre el psiquiatra Viktor Kosárek con los seis internos del castillo. En esas charlas vamos conociendo sus historias. ¡Todas me han parecido muy buenas e impactantes!
La sombra:
Tantíííísima presencia #esotéricaespiritualdiablesa. No me suelen interesar los temas paranormales y me ha costado sumergirme en una trama donde lo pararnormal es lo normal.
December 22, 2018
While a possible Jack the Ripper copycat stalks the streets of Prague, frustrating the investigatory efforts of Kapitan Lukas Smolak at every turn and leaving brutally eviscerated victims in his wake, Dr Victor Kosarek, a young and ambitious psychiatrist, heads to Hrad Orlu Asylum where the Devil's Six are held. Here he hopes to prove his theory that we all have a hidden darkness, a Devil Aspect, which lurks beneath every seemingly innocent facade. His test subjects are the worst of the worst, men and women who have killed in nightmarish fashion, yet his methods reveal something darker than anyone could have imagined.
The set up is exceptionally well done, with questions about the nature of human behaviour and morality layered throughout. The author explores the interconnectedness of myth, history, religion, and psychology in understanding what makes people do what they do... and the ways in which they explain their behaviour to themselves and others. Is there Evil in the world? Well, it's 1935 and the rise of Nazism and virulent nationalism provide a menacing backdrop to the story, inescapable evidence of dehumanisation and violence on a grand scale. And the difference between this sort of mass psychosis and that of one twisted mind? Little. The Devil's Six may provide more extreme examples of individualistic barbarity, but the racist behaviour of some of the asylum staff also show how small, personal choices feed into a greater horror. Dark minds and dark times build upon each other to create a real sense of foreboding, underscored by the reader's knowledge of what is coming, and provides a powerful background for the tense uncertainty of a plot which offers so many possibilities for whodunnit.
It opens with a stiltedness that is initially off-putting, reading almost like it's been badly translated from another language. Perhaps this an attempt to reflect the more formal tone of the period, but it eases off as the book gets going. Certainly, the time and place is richly evoked, darkly atmospheric and filled with fascinating detail. The extensive research is clearly evident, adding effectively to the narrative without ever overwhelming it. However, there are times when the pacing suffers. As interesting as Victor's sessions with the Devil's Six are, they aren't particularly relevant to the plot except to illustrate the paths via which someone might crack. Utilised to show the external vs internal foundations of evil acts, these side stories feel like little more than a means to shovel in extra acts of sadism. Frankly, the story didn't need them. Otherwise, it's creatively put together with the kind of signalling that isn't too obvious but becomes beautifully clear on the reveal. Whether you see it coming or not depends on how much you've noticed along the way, but it's done in such a creepily gleeful moment that it hardly matters since it's all stabby fun. Even when you think all your questions are answered, there's more. Always more. And that's the best kind of conclusion, one that makes you wonder if there's really an end to it at all...
ARC via Netgalley
The set up is exceptionally well done, with questions about the nature of human behaviour and morality layered throughout. The author explores the interconnectedness of myth, history, religion, and psychology in understanding what makes people do what they do... and the ways in which they explain their behaviour to themselves and others. Is there Evil in the world? Well, it's 1935 and the rise of Nazism and virulent nationalism provide a menacing backdrop to the story, inescapable evidence of dehumanisation and violence on a grand scale. And the difference between this sort of mass psychosis and that of one twisted mind? Little. The Devil's Six may provide more extreme examples of individualistic barbarity, but the racist behaviour of some of the asylum staff also show how small, personal choices feed into a greater horror. Dark minds and dark times build upon each other to create a real sense of foreboding, underscored by the reader's knowledge of what is coming, and provides a powerful background for the tense uncertainty of a plot which offers so many possibilities for whodunnit.
It opens with a stiltedness that is initially off-putting, reading almost like it's been badly translated from another language. Perhaps this an attempt to reflect the more formal tone of the period, but it eases off as the book gets going. Certainly, the time and place is richly evoked, darkly atmospheric and filled with fascinating detail. The extensive research is clearly evident, adding effectively to the narrative without ever overwhelming it. However, there are times when the pacing suffers. As interesting as Victor's sessions with the Devil's Six are, they aren't particularly relevant to the plot except to illustrate the paths via which someone might crack. Utilised to show the external vs internal foundations of evil acts, these side stories feel like little more than a means to shovel in extra acts of sadism. Frankly, the story didn't need them. Otherwise, it's creatively put together with the kind of signalling that isn't too obvious but becomes beautifully clear on the reveal. Whether you see it coming or not depends on how much you've noticed along the way, but it's done in such a creepily gleeful moment that it hardly matters since it's all stabby fun. Even when you think all your questions are answered, there's more. Always more. And that's the best kind of conclusion, one that makes you wonder if there's really an end to it at all...
ARC via Netgalley
March 24, 2019
This one took me a while to get into. The setting was decent enough and the story had the potential to be pretty spectacular but the characters felt flat and not much happened until about a third of the way through. Then things started to pick up and I became very intrigued as to what the hell was really going on and who was responsible for what. I loved the ending and have a lot of respect for the way the author kept me guessing right up until the reveal even though the clues were there the whole way. So, for me, the story did live up to its potential and everything came together into a cohesive whole that was satisfying and plausible.
July 29, 2021
Decidí que en vez de hacer una reseña les indicaré las razones por cuáles deben leer este libro🔥.
¿Por qué leerlo?
• Porque es una buena mezcla de dos géneros muy entretenidos, terror y thriller. El libro tiene una ambientación gótica, que pueda llegar a ser muy siniestra en algunos momentos, además de que todo lo que te cuentan te hace especular de que existe una presencia paranormal detrás de los siniestros acontecimientos narrados, despistando al lector en todo momento. Tanto la mitología de la zona como el propio castillo parecen indicar que hay una maldad muy superior a todos ellos acechando desde las sombras.
• El valor de la novela radica en el juego psicológico que podría haber con el lector y la fuerte ambientación histórica que marca y envuelve lo que estamos leyendo. Ambientada a las puertas de la II Guerra Mundial, en una joven república como es Checoslovaquia, llena de culturas, naciones, pensamientos, idiomas, religiones y todos los miedos y odios que esto conlleva, la historia viene envuelta en un halo de misterio y de terror, por esos Seis Diabólicos y sus testimonios, que acrecientan la sensación de claustrofobia que podemos sentir en el castillo medieval donde se encuentra el psiquiátrico, eje central de ese miedo y esa maldad.
• Todo lo que rodea a esta novela transmite angustia, oscuridad, miedo, maldad. Eso si no es una novela claustrofóbica ni tampoco tiene un ritmo trepidante, lo cual la hace ideal como comenzar a adentrarse en el género para lectores principiantes.
¿Que no me gusto tanto…?
• La novela podría haber sido menos descriptiva en algunos momentos, ya que a veces el exceso de descripciones resulta anticlimático y disminuye la tensión. Además, siento que el final podría haber sido mejor abordado, aunque igual me dejo satisfecha.
Veredicto (4/5): Es un buen exponente de los géneros terror / thriller, recomendada sobre todo para la gente que no ha leído mucho de genero y quiere comenzar con algo no tan visceral
¿Por qué leerlo?
• Porque es una buena mezcla de dos géneros muy entretenidos, terror y thriller. El libro tiene una ambientación gótica, que pueda llegar a ser muy siniestra en algunos momentos, además de que todo lo que te cuentan te hace especular de que existe una presencia paranormal detrás de los siniestros acontecimientos narrados, despistando al lector en todo momento. Tanto la mitología de la zona como el propio castillo parecen indicar que hay una maldad muy superior a todos ellos acechando desde las sombras.
• El valor de la novela radica en el juego psicológico que podría haber con el lector y la fuerte ambientación histórica que marca y envuelve lo que estamos leyendo. Ambientada a las puertas de la II Guerra Mundial, en una joven república como es Checoslovaquia, llena de culturas, naciones, pensamientos, idiomas, religiones y todos los miedos y odios que esto conlleva, la historia viene envuelta en un halo de misterio y de terror, por esos Seis Diabólicos y sus testimonios, que acrecientan la sensación de claustrofobia que podemos sentir en el castillo medieval donde se encuentra el psiquiátrico, eje central de ese miedo y esa maldad.
• Todo lo que rodea a esta novela transmite angustia, oscuridad, miedo, maldad. Eso si no es una novela claustrofóbica ni tampoco tiene un ritmo trepidante, lo cual la hace ideal como comenzar a adentrarse en el género para lectores principiantes.
¿Que no me gusto tanto…?
• La novela podría haber sido menos descriptiva en algunos momentos, ya que a veces el exceso de descripciones resulta anticlimático y disminuye la tensión. Además, siento que el final podría haber sido mejor abordado, aunque igual me dejo satisfecha.
Veredicto (4/5): Es un buen exponente de los géneros terror / thriller, recomendada sobre todo para la gente que no ha leído mucho de genero y quiere comenzar con algo no tan visceral
October 24, 2019
Spooktober read #8!
“It was then they realized that the Devil is just God in his night attire."
I’m not sure what this says about me, but if you have the words “asylum for the criminally insane” in your book blurb, I’m paying attention (once again, thank you Mother, for letting me watch “Silence of the Lambs” inappropriately early in life: this is working out great!). This book could have just been about the Devil’s Six’s stories, and I would have been on board. But then there was also a Jack the Ripper-style story going on in parallel, with the oncoming Nazi occupation in the background. Squeeee!
Set right outside of Prague in the 1930s, “The Devil Aspect” is the story of Viktor Kosarek, a young psychiatrist and student of Karl Jung, who has an unorthodox theory about the human potential for evil. This theory gets him a job at the notorious castle Hrad Orlu, a medieval fortress which is now being used as an asylum for the criminally insane, and where the six most famous and dangerous serial killers of Central Europe are… kept. Viktor is thrilled at the opportunity to test out his theories and experimental treatments on the Devil’s Six, but this won't be a simple as he thinks. You see, the only thing those six murderers really have in common is a conviction that their crimes were actually committed by the devil...
In the city itself, Kapitan Lukas Smolak is hunting down a serial killer. Known as Leather Apron, the criminal seems like a Jack the Ripper copycat: his murders are brutal, openly taunting the police and just politicized enough to set everyone on edge. Smolak's investigation goes from bad to worse, and he finds himself in need of the expertise of one of the Devil's Six to find Leather Apron.
In the background of those two story lines, the Nazi Party is gaining more power and traction around Europe, making everyone potentially suspicious (for different reasons, depending on your inclination), paranoid and shifty. This creates a tense and anxious atmosphere that’s hard to shake off as one reads. As if the sessions with Viktor’s patients weren’t creepy enough!
I always loved those stories that blur the lines between insanity and demonic influence, and “The Devil Aspect” does it better than any I have read in a long time. I had never read any of Craig Russell’s books before, and I am very impressed with his writing. It’s gripping, almost cinematic – and his imagination is as dark and twisted as the tunnels under Hrad Orlu!
One thing I did not expect from this book was that it would echo certain aspects of my reality rather strongly. Not the bits about serial killers and lunatics asylums, but Viktor's mixed cultural identity is something I associate with very strongly, and his discomfort at being surrounded by people who make a really big deal of cultural purity is also something I have experienced often - especially lately, as we have just had our federal elections in Canada, and one of our parties had the unfortunate idea of urging people to vote for candidates who "looked and thought like them", which is truly badly concealed racism (they didn't win, whew!). It's ironic that those parts of the book managed to unnerve me more than Leather Apron's actions.
A fantastic and beautifully written horror thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. 4 and a half stars.
Thank you so much Char, for putting it on my radar!
“It was then they realized that the Devil is just God in his night attire."
I’m not sure what this says about me, but if you have the words “asylum for the criminally insane” in your book blurb, I’m paying attention (once again, thank you Mother, for letting me watch “Silence of the Lambs” inappropriately early in life: this is working out great!). This book could have just been about the Devil’s Six’s stories, and I would have been on board. But then there was also a Jack the Ripper-style story going on in parallel, with the oncoming Nazi occupation in the background. Squeeee!
Set right outside of Prague in the 1930s, “The Devil Aspect” is the story of Viktor Kosarek, a young psychiatrist and student of Karl Jung, who has an unorthodox theory about the human potential for evil. This theory gets him a job at the notorious castle Hrad Orlu, a medieval fortress which is now being used as an asylum for the criminally insane, and where the six most famous and dangerous serial killers of Central Europe are… kept. Viktor is thrilled at the opportunity to test out his theories and experimental treatments on the Devil’s Six, but this won't be a simple as he thinks. You see, the only thing those six murderers really have in common is a conviction that their crimes were actually committed by the devil...
In the city itself, Kapitan Lukas Smolak is hunting down a serial killer. Known as Leather Apron, the criminal seems like a Jack the Ripper copycat: his murders are brutal, openly taunting the police and just politicized enough to set everyone on edge. Smolak's investigation goes from bad to worse, and he finds himself in need of the expertise of one of the Devil's Six to find Leather Apron.
In the background of those two story lines, the Nazi Party is gaining more power and traction around Europe, making everyone potentially suspicious (for different reasons, depending on your inclination), paranoid and shifty. This creates a tense and anxious atmosphere that’s hard to shake off as one reads. As if the sessions with Viktor’s patients weren’t creepy enough!
I always loved those stories that blur the lines between insanity and demonic influence, and “The Devil Aspect” does it better than any I have read in a long time. I had never read any of Craig Russell’s books before, and I am very impressed with his writing. It’s gripping, almost cinematic – and his imagination is as dark and twisted as the tunnels under Hrad Orlu!
One thing I did not expect from this book was that it would echo certain aspects of my reality rather strongly. Not the bits about serial killers and lunatics asylums, but Viktor's mixed cultural identity is something I associate with very strongly, and his discomfort at being surrounded by people who make a really big deal of cultural purity is also something I have experienced often - especially lately, as we have just had our federal elections in Canada, and one of our parties had the unfortunate idea of urging people to vote for candidates who "looked and thought like them", which is truly badly concealed racism (they didn't win, whew!). It's ironic that those parts of the book managed to unnerve me more than Leather Apron's actions.
A fantastic and beautifully written horror thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. 4 and a half stars.
Thank you so much Char, for putting it on my radar!
March 15, 2019
1935. An asylum outside Prague. Viktor Kosarek is a psychologist who dreams of being able to cure the severely insane. Not just any mentally ill patients...but the most dangerous. The criminally insane. Murderers. Those who have what he calls The Devil Aspect. Kosarek decides to conduct an experiment. He will use narcoanalysis to get inside the heads of six serial killers held in the asylum. Five men and one woman. A cocktail of drugs will allow him to probe for their impressions of their crimes and give him a way to perhaps make them confront their personal demons. What he discovers is more disturbing and twisted than he ever imagined.
This story is chillingly frightening. It really brings home the idea that some things are best left alone. Kosarek has good intentions....he really wants to help people. But, searching for the devil -- even inside the minds of killers -- is never a safe endeavor....mostly because sometimes you find him.
This book is a creepy, disturbing, and twisted tale. I loved it! I halfway saw the twist coming at the end....but was still pleasantly surprised at the way the plot played out. Nicely done! I like this author's writing style. The plot wasn't presented in a heavy handed way, despite the gruesome details. Things progressed more subtlety until the ending smacked me in the head. Totally awesome!
This is the first book by Craig Russell that I've read. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Doubleday Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This story is chillingly frightening. It really brings home the idea that some things are best left alone. Kosarek has good intentions....he really wants to help people. But, searching for the devil -- even inside the minds of killers -- is never a safe endeavor....mostly because sometimes you find him.
This book is a creepy, disturbing, and twisted tale. I loved it! I halfway saw the twist coming at the end....but was still pleasantly surprised at the way the plot played out. Nicely done! I like this author's writing style. The plot wasn't presented in a heavy handed way, despite the gruesome details. Things progressed more subtlety until the ending smacked me in the head. Totally awesome!
This is the first book by Craig Russell that I've read. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Doubleday Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
April 5, 2019
wow this book is so dense, without being heavy. a historical thriller which touches on politics, very relevant being set in 1935 Czechoslovakia. it also offers insight into psychology and mental health with a touch of implied supernatural motifs. Russell sets the story with aplomb building slowly to a super fast paced climax. I literally just finished so my thoughts are not completely organized Haha yet the story structure was incredible drawing from thriller, philosophy horror elements. highly recommended
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