This was such an interesting read. A real different perspective into treating patients at Broadmoor prison. 5 stars.

Fascinating book, didn’t want it to end. The case histories were all different, and gives you an insight into human nature, and fractured psyches. Educational and very interesting. Beautifully written.

I was drawn to this book as I have always been interested in the psychology of people and what makes them behave the way that they do.

Gwen Adshead is both a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist and has worked in Broadmoor, treating people who have committed terrible crimes and some who have severe mental health issues. The case studies in this book are an amalgamation of some of the patients that she has treated in her career, and I found it to be a fascinating and enlightening but sometimes difficult read. Her job entails "thinking of the whys and wherefores of behaviours that may appear to be alien to most."

She explains each of the case studies with objectivity and compassion, which in some instances might seem to be difficult, considering the violent nature of some of the crimes, or the person's challenging behaviour. It would be easy to dismiss some of these people as monsters, but as each study progresses, a clearer picture of their life emerges and it becomes easier to see them from a more sympathetic point of view. This book challenges the gut reaction most of us will have to these behaviours and encourages us to engage with a deeper understanding.

Adshead employs literary references throughout the book, as part of the narrative instead of an introductory 'quote' at the beginning of each chapter, which reinforces the adage of art imitating life.
I also found it interesting reading about the development of her career as a psychiatrist and how she deals with her own emotions and feelings.

An interesting and thought provoking read.

This is a really interesting look at forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy told by looking at the cases of patients that Dr Adshead has worked with, primarily in secure hospitals and prisons. Empathetic and thought-provoking.

I’m afraid I found this a bit boring. I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. At times it felt like a political rant rather than an in depth look into the psychology of certain criminals.
I did find it interesting when the author was describing the meetings with her patients but there seemed to be a lot of reference to other reading materials and texts she had read while learning her subject which I wasn’t bothered about. I was hoping that this book would help me to understand why some people feel it necessary to commit some of the most horrific crimes imaginable. Although it did give some insight it was basically what I was already aware of. That some people have experiences in life that they struggle with and those experiences can trigger something in them that leads them to commit these acts.
I am sure that other people will find it fascinating but I’m afraid it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

A really interesting but heavy read!

A fabulous book that depicts people and the crimes they commit, the author separates the crime from the person and delves into the reasons why the crime was committed. A fascinating read.

A fascinating read where the people that are written about are presented as people and the crimes they committed and why they were are looked into carefully rather than sensationalised, lovers of true crime will find it a must
However the quotes from classical literature are at odds with the book and got annoying,,well to me but this is still a great read

The thing that struck me most about Dr Adshead's account is how incredibly difficult her job must be, on so many levels. A psychiatrist and psychotherapist with some 30 years experience, her role is very much a balancing act and an exercise in finding humanity. Through case studies, research and anecdotes we are afforded a greater understanding of human cruelty. Dr Adshead also raises issues with the current system and the ways in which mental health services are often not fit for purpose. "The Devil You Know" boasts an extensive further reading list, featuring both fiction and non-fiction titles. I also appreciated the inclusion of reference sources relevant to each case study. An intriguing, thought-provoking read.

An absolutely compelling look into the minds of criminals.
What drives people to commit a crime?
Dr Gwen Adshead looks into why someone could commit a serious crime.
Excellently written with empathy.

The Devil You Know is a moving, thought-provoking and compassionate exploration of the psyche of convicted criminals and in eleven vivid narratives based on decades of providing therapy to people in prisons and secure hospitals, an internationally renowned forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist demonstrates the remarkable human capacity for radical empathy, change, and redemption. What drives someone to commit an act of terrible violence? Drawing from her thirty years’ experience in working with people who have committed serious offenses, Dr. Gwen Adshead provides fresh and surprising insights into violence and the mind. Through a collaboration with coauthor Eileen Horne, Dr. Adshead brings her extraordinary career to life in a series of unflinching portraits.

Alongside doctor and patient, we discover what human cruelty, ranging from serial homicide to stalking, arson or sexual offending, means to perpetrators, experiencing first-hand how minds can change when the people some might label as “evil” are able to take responsibility for their life stories and get to know their own minds. With outcomes ranging from hope to despair, from denial to recovery, these men and women are revealed in all their complexity and shared humanity. In this era of mass incarceration, deep cuts in mental health care and extreme social schisms, this book offers a persuasive argument for compassion over condemnation. Moving, thought-provoking, and brilliantly told, The Devil You Know is a rare and timely book with the power to transform our ideas about cruelty and violence, and to radically expand the limits of empathy. I found it riveting and fascinating with great insight and objective information examining the minds of the sickest individuals in society.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

While at times hard to read, I really appreciated the insights and the perspective the author chose, to tell stories of those often deemed 'evil monsters'. I think it's really important to stress that while compassionate, this book did not try to explain away or make excuses for the crimes and actions committed, but more explored and explained the mental states that leads to such behaviours and how mental health services are and can (and should) be utilised before, during, and after acts of violence.

The introduction was too long and the many references to Shakespeare were somewhat off putting but the rest to the content was so well put together, I was able to overlook those personal nuisances.

This is quite an honest and fascinating read. Fascinating because it proves, to me anyway, that most serious issues come from emotional or mental turmoil, not badness. Honest because the author doesn't shy away from admitting her own vulnerabilities. (Only in two accounts did I wonder why she didn't act a bit quicker.)

A fascinating and informative book. Anyone who has an interest in prison, offenders, psychology or mental health would benefit from this book. It demonstrated in painful honesty with real case studies how even the most horrific crimes come from a place of illness and can be treated.
A secure mental unit is not an easy alternative to a custodial sentence but help to be able to understand their actions and work through obstacles to a better place.
Thank you to the authors.

Really thought provoking and so interesting. I studied psychology for my degree, so I do have a fascination with this kind of book- the detail and the stories involved are so intricate and hold your attention fiercely. Will make you question your ideas on rehabilitation and justice.

There’s some really interesting stuff here, but I found the presentation a little dry in places. I do really admire the fact that the author didn’t sensationalise or demonise any of the people she wrote about, but instead presented them with compassion and care (although that is arguably a bit undermined by then calling the book The Devil You Know). There are a lot of moments when the author starts quoting classical literature and it felt a bit stuffy and at odds with the very real situations she was describing. But elements were fascinating.

This is a non-fiction account of some the individuals that Dr Gwen Adshead has encounter during her time as a "psychiatrist and psychotherapist who works with violent offenders" (her words not mine) at some of the most highest security prisons.

I found this to be fascinating and informative, and would be an ideal read for anyone interested in criminology and investigating offenders profiles. This gives just a little glimpse into the minds of some of the most vicious criminals, whose brutal attacks are unravelled, piece by piece. Deeply thought provoking and captivating. I am particularly impressed at the inclusion of both male and female offenders in this, and how Dr Gwen brought to our attention some of the not so high profile criminals which were equally as savage as some of the well known cases over the decades.

After reading this, I am still undecided whether some people are simply born evil, or if there is a much deeper reasoning and conclusion as to why some offenders are so extreme. Could there ever be ground and/or purpose to take another's life? However, this book does have me swaying towards the latter. The human mind can be so fragile and extraordinary at times. Don't we all, somewhere deep rooted and locked within us, have the ability to act out in such disturbing ways if that was ever unleased for some reason?

What do you think? I'd be keen to discuss this with anyone who has read this either now or in the future. A perfect read for book clubs and discussions..

An absorbing read , covering a subject that I know very little about but that has always interested me.
Dr Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist and has worked in both in Broadmoor and other settings including private practice.
The book is well written and covers a wide range of criminal behaviour making traumatic cases / crimes comprehensible with the knowledge within her field. She allows the reader to be enlightened without the book being written in the style of a text book.
I feel I will think twice when next reading a shocking headline about a crime that has taken place , and wonder what really made that person act that way? Is anyone really born evil or are they a victim of their circumstances?

An engrossing and informative read .

Thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd.

Dr Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist who has worked within the NHS, the probation service and in private practice. She begins her book with an interesting introduction in which she discusses her views on people who commit unspeakable crimes. As one person says ‘You can be an ex bus driver but not an ex murderer’ which emphasises the notoriety of the crime. But, as the author herself says ‘Every violent crime is a tragedy.’ The introduction then leads into the 11 cases that feature in the book and begins in Broadmoor. However, she doesn’t judge her patients. Instead, she presents the facts of their cases, their crime, and the background to events. The cases include arson, sexual abuse, neglect and stalking amongst others. What makes people take that final step into the darkness? As each case progresses through the therapy sessions, clues are revealed through their past history and Dr Adshead’s notes and observations.
Dr Adshead includes background information on them as the sessions progress which gave an invaluable insight into the patients as people and not just perpetrators. There was no sensationalism but instead a calm and considered approach. She also includes her thoughts on the person in front of her. The case of the stalker, Lydia, was particularly disturbing. Dr Adshead feelsuneasy about Lydia without knowing why. On the face of it. Lydia seems to be engaging in the process and is looking forward to release. Then she finally plays her hand and Dr Adshead realises how manipulative, determined and angry Lydia really is. I couldn’t see a positive outcome for her or her victim.
The author also discusses the changes in the NHS with treatments and care in the community, reorganisations, funding, austerity and which can lead to difficulties in people being able to access the help that they need. She works within prisons and in private practice as well. I felt that two of the cases might have a more positive outcome as the patient had gained insight into what they had done and had changed.
However, I sense Dr Adshead’s compassion for these people and her sadness that only 10-20% of grossly ill prisoners receive therapy. With an emphasis on ‘care in the community’ and the family, if there is one, increasingly having to carry the burden themselves.
If you’re looking for gory details, then this book isn’t for you. Instead, it offers the reader the opportunity to look inside the minds of people who have committed the worst of crimes and are now faced with the aftermath. The Devil You Know is a thought provoking book which has real insights. It demonstrated how the unspeakable crime is often the culminations of a slow build up of smaller factors and not just an act out of the blue. The human mind is infinitely fascinating and this book goes a long way to explaining its darker side.

My thanks to Faber & Faber and Netgalley for an ARC.

What drives human beings to commit horrific crimes such as decapitating a stranger, murdering a parent or abusing a child? Shouldn’t we just lock up these evil monsters and throw away the key? Surely we shouldn’t waste scarce resources on therapy for people who might never be released from prison?

In this brilliant book, forensic psychologist and psychotherapist Dr Gwen Adshead provides illuminating and compassionate answers to these questions. Dr Adshead has spent a lifetime working with ‘the violent insane’, and believes passionately that ‘no one should be discounted for treatment’: ‘it is only through a staunch belief in every human heart that we move forward’. The offenders she works with, she says, are ‘like survivors of a disaster, where they are the disaster’: Dr Adshead and her team are the first responders.

You would need to have a heart of stone not to be moved by the life stories of these eleven offenders who, Dr Adshead firmly and compassionately believes, are more sad than bad.

Dr Adshead reminds us in every case that ‘this person was once a child’. Unsurprisingly, many of her patients open up to her about the horrific trauma they have suffered in childhood which has led directly to their disorganised, criminal lives. Marcus, who initially irritates Dr Adshead as he presents as a boastful, vain womaniser, eventually reveals what Shakespeare calls his ‘naked frailties’, saying that he never received affection as a child. ‘All I ever wanted was to be beautiful’, he weeps as he finally takes responsibility for murdering his lover.

I was particularly moved by the story of Gabriel, who was granted asylum in the UK at the age of 17 and twenty years later made an unprovoked, near-fatal attack on a stranger. After several sessions, Dr Adshead feels that he is possibly too disturbed for therapy. Yet on hearing a Christmas carol being rehearsed, Gabriel breaks out into a beatific smile, telling Dr Adshead that he was named after the angel Gabriel: ‘God is strong in me’. Gabriel is finally able to reveal the horrors he has seen in Eritrea. Witnessing such moments, says Dr Adshead, is a special privilege, what a colleague describes as ‘the strange and terrible beauty’ of the work.

Another story which stays in the mind is that of Lydia. The story reads like a riveting psychological thriller. Dr Adshead is initially taken in by the smart, intelligent ex-solicitor, who is the ‘picture of serenity and calm’ and appears to show regret for her stalking offence. Dr Adshead is about to agree with her team that Lydia is safe to be released, but cannot understand why she suddenly feels ‘a nagging fear’ in her presence. It is a chilling moment when she realises why.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me is the way Dr Adshead practises forensic self-analysis and self-control in only asking her patients about their crime when she feels they are ready, not when she wishes to satisfy her curiosity. The breakthrough moment, in which the patient finally accepts responsibility for their crime, comes only after months of often frustrating sessions in which little of importance might be said. It is also fascinating to see how Dr Adshead refrains from passing judgement on her patients, ‘hovering in the Bardo’ with ‘a kind of compassionate detachment’. The process is slow, and costly.

It is desperately sad that only 10-20% of grossly mentally ill prisoners receive therapy, and only after they have committed a crime. So much money is put into the care of our physical bodies, says Dr Adshead, whilst so little is spent ‘to help people fix or rediscover their minds’. Yet is only by attempting to understand the factors that cause violence that we can prevent them from happening again. Dr Adshead is eloquent in her plea for more money for mental health services and reveals the devastating effects of austerity as prisoners do not receive the help they need to be able to leave prison and desist from re-offending.

Dr Adshead believes that telling ‘these tales of suffering and violence’ will have served a purpose if the people in this book stay with the reader, in the same space where the media ‘conjure ideas of the devil’. She believes that we need to look at those the media call ‘monsters’ ‘with a new consciousness’, knowing that we are all more alike than we are different. To use her brilliant ‘bicycle lock release’ analogy, we are all just one number away from that fatal combination of stressors that release an act of cruelty.

Written with boundless compassion, huge intelligence, ruthless self-analysis and great humanity, this groundbreaking book deserves to reach the widest possible audience. The frequent quotations from Shakespeare and Keats illuminate Dr Adshead’s writing and underscore her understanding of what it is to be human.

I would like to thank Faber and Faber and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book in return for an unbiased review.