I very much enjoyed this historical mystery set in Czechoslovakia in 1935 (so the rise of the Nazis makes for some ugly background music for this tale, adding yet another threat). Prague and Slavic folklore are almost like actual characters in this story with the latter playing a huge role in how everything plays out.

Doctor Viktor Kosarek is a young Jungian psychiatrist on a search for what he's calling 'the devil's aspect' something he believes is behind some of the worst in humanity. He's been hired by an asylum housed in an ancient castle steeped in bloodshed and evil, reputed to be on a hellmouth. Viktor believes that by sedating the violent mentally ill to the point of near-death he'll be able to access this aspect (having been led to the field by finding his mother hanging in the forest, a suicide, after his sister's drowning death).

He's been given 'the devil's six', six of the most violent, most warped killers (many of them serial in a time where the words serial killer hadn't been coined yet) and much of the text is given over to the six and his sessions with them, and he is assisted by Judita, a former med student now transcriptionist (after a nervous breakdown). She is Jewish and naturally is very fearful, wanting to flee to America (as there are Nazi sympathizers on staff).

A second plot dovetails with this. A serial killer, Leather Apron, is running around Prague, murdering and dissecting women. Smolak, the detective, is frantically trying to solve the case where the killer seems to be drawing inspiration from Jack the Ripper. He has a clue that leads to the asylum as well. Viktor has cause to fear that his friend who is in a downward spiral might be behind it.

In both cases, there is a hint that Beng (Rom for the devil) or Mr. Hobbs (the devil's aspect) could be an actual entity and the way the Slavic mythos is woven in is just marvelous. There were twists I didn't see coming and I almost went to five stars for this but it was a bit draggy in the middle. All the characters, Viktor, Judita, Smolak and the devil's six are all so well drawn they felt real. It's a toss up which is scarier, the serial killer or the spread of Nazism.

I'll definitely be looking for more from this author.

I would like to first thank the publisher and author for gifting me a digital ARC of this title via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is not my usual reading genre, but I like a change every now and then and was quite intrigued by the plot. A serial killer mimicking Jack the Ripper, 6 of Europe's worst pyscho-path killers held together and alone in a old castle steeped in dark legends. It all sounded fun, creepy, mysterious, and I was hooked. The writing is good. The two storylines hold their own but also mingle well together throughout the book., My husband and I have both worked in the mental health field so I was interested in how it was perceived and treated in earlier history. I found the Dr's views on mental illness containing a devil aspect, to be consistent with out-dated medical approaches and treatment, believing that a devil characteristic was to blame for the mental illness and that by identifying and addressing each patient's devil aspect, they can be cured. An interesting concept for the limited medical information and beliefs held at that time. There was a little of that can't look away from a car-wreck, guilty pleasure in reading each of the 6's story and crimes. I didn't quite like how the devil aspect manifested in each story as the actual devil. It made the book a little too far-fetched and weird for my liking, but I was intrigued enough the story and who was the serial killer that I kept reading. I am glad I did. The ending made the book worth the read for me. I never saw it coming and so enjoyed being that surprised.

I'd give this 4 stars for the writing and clever story line. 3 stars for my personal interest.

This book definitely went in a way I wasn't suspecting. It was cerebral and satisfying but also a nice easy read. I do love the idea of the Devil's 6. They all had a bit of damage from the start to build on. The setting is perfectly oppressive. Feels just like you are in the budding republic and looking over your shoulder at the Reich as it breathes down your neck. Adding to it, you have the castle in the woods as a bin for them. You can almost feel the place. Solid read. I kept wanting to come back to it. The book ending was nice, but I will forever want to know if the Nazis perform test on any subjects after? 4/5 for setting and interesting throughout. A couple small errors in grammar keep it from a 5.

Wow! Great terrifyingly dark story.. I'm a fan of thriller books and this was quite possibly the scariest one I've read. Loved the historical references and how all that tied into the story. Ending I wasn't expecting.. highly recommend!

A very interesting, new take on an old idea. Asylums were definitely not for the fainthearted and neither is this book.

The summary of this book is what made me want to read it. I love psych/thrillers. I thought that the book would be a page turner. Although the book wasn’t that quick of a read for me I thought it was very interesting. It is a dark and brooding book if you like that type of read. There are some twists in the book that kept me reading it. I will have to read the book again since I do believe that I may have missed some parts that pull the story more together.

This novel brings a fictional character of Viktor Kosarek, who was trained by Carl Jung (true character – a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology). Dr. Kosarek 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 place and its village people below the castle and a bit less of descriptive cases (which were still expertly written).

Lou Jacobs's Reviews > The Devil Aspect

The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell
The Devil Aspect
by Craig Russell (Goodreads Author)
M 50x66
Lou Jacobs's review Dec 04, 2018 · edit
it was amazing

Myth and legend blend into explanations for present day mysteries. The setting is in Czechoslovakia in a small village nestled in the foothills of the ancient Hrad Orlu Castle. At any moment the image of Dr Frankenstein materializing out of the mist is expected. The castle just happens to be the site for confinement and supposed treatment for the Devil's Six - six of the most notorious serial killers in history. The locals refer to it as The Castle of Witches ... rumor has it that it is actually a stronghold for Sudetener Nazi's that are conducting horrendous experiments on Czech citizens.
Historically it is the time of the emerging cloud and madness of Hitler and Nazi Germany. "Everyone seemed to be blind to what was before their eyes: everyone could see the gradual accumulation of cruelties but not their clustering into some monstrous ultimate malice ...."
Professor Romanek has read Dr Viktor Kosarik's theoretical paper on the Devil's Aspect and is enthralled and impressed enough to interview him. The handsome and aristocratic Dr Kosarik's is hired and is anxious to begin his research on the Devils's Six utilizing his novel techniques of drug induced hypnosis interview. He is convinced there is a real entity harbored in the minds of the violently insane and is intent on drawing it out and binding it. Viktor believes that the Devil is responsible for all of the darkness and evil in society ... and all the madness and violence dwelling in the insane individual. He denies the presence of a supernatural devil ... but rather a force alive in all of us, but most prominent in the violently insane.
At the same time in the local area, police officer Kapitan Lukas Smolak is investigating a series of horrific murders by the so-called: "Leather Apron" .. the murders bear an uncanny resemblance to those attributed to "Jack The Ripper". The locals believe the legend of Jan of the Black Heart ... an aristocrat known responsible for murders who was confined and supposedly walled up in the castle ... however legend has it that through a warren of underground tunnels and caves Jan was able to escape at night and continue his massacre of women and girls. The locals are convinced that the Devil's Six are the culprits in present murder spree.
The narrative is stacked with well fleshed out characters .. most with a nefarious cloud hanging over them. Details are doled out in delicious morsels. The prose is extremely cinematic with intense and provocative images conjured up in the mind. The exciting denouement is wonderful and only expected if one pays close attention to subtle clues and crumbs. Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for providing this Uncorrected Proof of this gem , in exchange for an honest review.

I loved first the sophisticated, polished writing style and even though I sort of guessed who the murderer was, I enjoyed the sleight-of-hand it took to get me to the reveal. Though it’s set in 1935 and the beginning of the rise of Nazism, the story has a decidedly Gothic feel—the old castle containing both an ancient and modern evil, the superstitious villagers, and the heroine with her dark, prophetic dreams. The parallel murder investigation going on in Prague is just as compelling as the interviews with the six murderers and how the author reconciles the two is fantastic. The Eastern European folklore aspect and the references to Jung, deepen the story and balance out the more gruesome aspects.

Perhaps because the writing is so visual is why I also think this would make an excellent movie.

I enjoyed this book so much, I wish I could give it ten stars!

Viktor Kosarek is a young ambitious Psychiatrist who is trying to prove his theory of the Devil's Aspect. He is being transferred to a castle that houses only six patients. Six of Europe's most horrific and notorious patients. He Hope's to be able to prove his theory through them. Of the six patients one is a child killer, one is a glass collector who encases human heads in glass. One chopped his family to bits with an axe. All did horrible murders. They have never had contact with each other. Yet, each has the same story, they are innocent. A demon did the killings.
So, what does six murders, Jack the Ripper, a castle, and Hitler have in common? This sensational, terrifying book can tell you! Definitely worth reading.

This book was a winner. Perfectly creepy and interesting. Paet police procedural with a whole lot of psychological thriller thrown in. It probably won't be for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Really enjoyed this book!! Definitely a page-turner...intense! Kept me want read more. I will definitely be recommending this one to others interested in this genre & more...

What lurks in the shadows of a person's mind?

The setting and the era couldn't be better for this story.
The characters are hauntingly well developed, memorable, and interesting.
The chapters are the right size to keep you moving, yet deep enough to develop the story.

Castles, mental hospital, murders, Jack the Ripper, Nazi Germany, Prague, dark alleys, mystery, shadows, darkness, mythology, hidden chapels in the forest, mental illness, the devil and his many names from different cultures, blending of cultures in the melting pot of Europe ... this book masterfully combines all of these into a very readable, enjoyable tale.

This was expertly written and a ton of fun to read.

I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into the story but this could be a best seller and I would be shocked to not see this made into a movie.

The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell has something for everyone. It is a kaleidoscopic mélange of myth, history, politics, bigotry, psychology, romance, crime, mystery, and sublime horror with each aspect taking turns directing the action, fighting for attention, toying with readers as they struggle to anticipate the shattering denouement. However, none can say that the author plays foul; all the clues are there to be discovered, but only by the most perceptive readers.

The tale takes place in Czechoslovakia at a time of political unrest. The evil Nazi movement is slithering into existence and marginalized societies sense a chill creeping over them. The extraordinarily handsome clinical psychiatrist Dr. Viktor Kosárek travels to his new place of employment, the Hrad Orlů, an asylum for the criminally insane, home to the Devil’s Six—six of the most dangerous serial killers in history. There Kosárek plans to prove his theory of the Devil Aspect which he believes causes severe mental illness. At the same time, police officer Kapitán Lukáš Smolák, a man of facts and logic, must investigate a series of horrific murders perpetrated by a criminal referred to as Leather Apron. Soon, Kosárek and Smolák cross paths as they struggle to reach their antithetical goals.

The main characters are deeply complete. Each is unique, fully formed, and enhanced by detailed backstories. They are real, and readers will connect with them and care about them. In addition, the characters fears and superstations offer readers insight of the zeitgeist of the era.

The literary quality is sublime and is tailored to mirror the time and place. The language might remind readers of Kostova’s The Historian in its respect for and faithfulness to a region. The prose is smooth, attractive, and easy to read and will immerse readers in period and place.

The setting is central Europe in 1935. Czechoslovakia is a trembling region populated by fascinating ethnic groups. Myth and superstition dominate minds and bleed into the plot, connecting Dr. Kosárek’s theory to local reality.

The plotting of The Devil Aspect is brilliant, flawless. Although random elements may seem initially inconsequential, every single one serves to propel the trajectory forward to a stunning conclusion. Every event has a purpose and is an integral element in the trail of bread crumbs that leads to discovery. Numerous red herrings will challenge the most discerning reader’s intellectual acuity. Given the highly complex nature of the story, it is amazing that it all comes together with such exquisite precision.

The Devil Aspect will enthrall a wide array of readers and comes highly recommended, especially for lovers of mystery, suspense, and the supernatural who at the end will no doubt cite evidence to support rousing discussions over what is real and what is not.

Read it before it hits the big screen.

This is a stunning historical thriller. Once you start it, you will not be able to stop. Dark and unsettling with well developed characters. Thanks to Doubleday Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The "Devil's Six", that was enough to get me started. How this is not on the top of the shelf I don't know. NETGALLEY has discovered yet another gem amongst ALL THE DIGITAL junk. It is in the horror vein (no pun intended) but you watch all the copycats come out on this fresh premise in the next 12 months. Have a great creep out with this one.

The atmosphere of this book was incredibly well done, and the characters and their various psychosis were fascinating. All in all, a creepy read, one of the better horror novels to come out this year.

Award winning British author, Craig Robinson, has added his take on the concept of the Devil in “The Devil Aspect,” and it’s a weird, horrifying view that had me in its grip from the beginning.

1935 finds six homicidal maniacs confined in an isolated castle in Czechoslovakia. Their acts are so horrific that they are referred to as the Devil’s Six, and they are the sole inmates in Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane near Prague. They are immobilized and closely supervised to keep them under control. Dr. Viktor Kosárek, a dedicated psychiatrist known for innovative techniques, has recently been hired to unlock their deranged secrets and, hopefully, find a cure for their illnesses.

While the demented inmates are secured away in their remote prison, Prague is under assault by another serial murderer, known as “Leather Apron,” who is butchering victims across the city. His killing habits closely follow those of Jack the Ripper in London, some fifty years earlier. Investigators are interested in the behavior patterns of the inmates and how they might give clues to the mind of the current maniacal person. Are there links between all of them and other serial killers throughout time? Police investigators join with the doctor at Hrad Orlu in trying to establish patterns in the psychotic criminal mind that will aid in the capture of Leather Apron..

Dr. Kosárek utilizes a new medical technique to prove the patients share a common model of evil known as the Devil’s Aspect. His studies into these maniacs, who are outwardly very physically and psychologically different, reveals a commonality that provokes a much darker secret; there is a hidden bond in the depths of their warped minds that explodes centuries of belief about the very existence of the Devil. Deep chemical and hypnotic probing brings revelations that appear to extend to the behavior of Leather Apron and, possibly, to every demented person in history.

Robinson appears to be infatuated with the subject of evil and the Devil. His research is carefully conducted and the findings, when combined with Eastern European folklore, religious extremism, and traditional beliefs, have been carefully woven into his story. Although the actual history is extensive and complex, the author has presented it in graphic and opulent prose that never fails to involve the reader in his story. I was fascinated and entertained throughout, finding the book to be impossible to set aside.

The Devil Aspect by author Craig Russell is a dark, thrilling novel! It’s nail biting suspense and secrets throughout with keep anyone’s interest until the very end. Great character developments and the plot is thick with creepiness.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of The Devil Aspect in exchange for an honest review.

Russell’s novel takes a chilling look into the world of mental illness….and what really causes it. It’s the mid 1930’s in Czechoslovakia, a brutal serial killer dubbed the Leather Apron killer is butchering women in Prague as Dr Viktor Kosarek prepares to take up his new post at the most infamous Asylum in Europe. Only six inmates are held in the facility, but they are deemed so dangerous they are kept locked away in a former castle, converted to a mental hospital. As Kosarek interviews his new patient, he notices they all share a commonality that he calls the “devil aspect”. He hopes that by studying them he can learn the root causes of their afflictions. This book scared the hell out of me, at times gruesome, at others, almost poetic, but in the end utterly terrifying. The ending blew me away