jervonyc's review
3.0
above-average thriller with a hokey title; a good twist that i probably should've seen coming; not nearly as terrifying as advertised.
asktheletters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
geminijen's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Very good story. Kept me engaged. Loved hearing each of the Devils 6 stories. Dark and mysterious with references to Slavik gods and Jack the Ripper.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
A very bloody story about sinister goings on in Prague and a very creepy czhechoslovakian castle in 1935 housing as an asylum the 6 most feared and dangerous criminals .
Our hero is a young aspiring jungian psychiatrist who wants to explore the inner demons in these serial killers but in doing so he unleashes a potential demon. At the same time a police detective hunts a killer in the capital 'leather apron' who is killing with appalling brutality.
Very creepy and well done but definitely not one for the squeamish. Perfect reading for dark winter evening with the wind howling and a reader not certain if they has locked the front door.
Our hero is a young aspiring jungian psychiatrist who wants to explore the inner demons in these serial killers but in doing so he unleashes a potential demon. At the same time a police detective hunts a killer in the capital 'leather apron' who is killing with appalling brutality.
Very creepy and well done but definitely not one for the squeamish. Perfect reading for dark winter evening with the wind howling and a reader not certain if they has locked the front door.
andrealage's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
readingrobin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Devil Aspect is a book that's hard to put into words how to feel about it. There are so many layers to its Gothic atmosphere and the lingering malevolence you feel after turning that final page. It talks about the human capacity for violence and evil, the rise of facism in the late 1930s, the effect of superstition and mythology on our perception and rationalization of certain events, all while delivering a compelling and thrilling mystery. It's one of those mysteries where, if you play close attention, all the clues are there right before you, with a red herring or two thrown in for good measure. While I wasn't able to predict the exact outcome, once everything was revealed, I was able to say "Oh yeah, that makes sense." It's a puzzle you piece together without knowing the final image, only to nod in satisfaction when you're finally able to complete it.
I will admit, I'm not a fan of stories set in the World War II era, or even the years leading up to it, as I find them to be particularly one note and depressing. You're not going to find much levity or hope in this book, but Craig Russell did a great job of keeping the time frame as a sort of secondary setting rather than one that dominates the story. It feeds into the concept of evil being naturally drawn to the asylum housing the most sadistic and dangerous criminals, as well as giving context to the characters' opinions and values. It also leaves the reader with a sense of defeat towards the end, that, even though the story is over and evil has been exposed, there are still horrendous things coming for them. It's a dark place to leave the story, but it's definitely appropriate.
If you are a fan of dark thrillers and mysteries, you'll probably have a great time with this one. Just be aware that there is a lot of disturbing content, such as cannibalism, murder including children, discussion of pedophilia and rape, demonic goings on, discussions of eugenics, etc.
I will admit, I'm not a fan of stories set in the World War II era, or even the years leading up to it, as I find them to be particularly one note and depressing. You're not going to find much levity or hope in this book, but Craig Russell did a great job of keeping the time frame as a sort of secondary setting rather than one that dominates the story. It feeds into the concept of evil being naturally drawn to the asylum housing the most sadistic and dangerous criminals, as well as giving context to the characters' opinions and values. It also leaves the reader with a sense of defeat towards the end, that, even though the story is over and evil has been exposed, there are still horrendous things coming for them. It's a dark place to leave the story, but it's definitely appropriate.
If you are a fan of dark thrillers and mysteries, you'll probably have a great time with this one. Just be aware that there is a lot of disturbing content, such as cannibalism, murder including children, discussion of pedophilia and rape, demonic goings on, discussions of eugenics, etc.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Visit the locations in the novel
Where do I start? I LOVED this novel and feared it at the same time. The setting is just perfect for this type of gothic tale and when I’d finished it and read the author’s inspiration, I was even more impressed with how he’d come about the story and enhanced it.
From the gothic castle, to the asylum, to the very idea that a Jack the Ripper character could be killing in Prague, this had every kind of delicious gothic ingredient that I just love. IT was perfect mix where setting is a character but where it also enhances the themes in the novel. The book looks at the ethnic and cultural diversity of the time, the work of an eminent psychologist and the splits in personality which so fascinated him. All woven together in a dark and delightful gothic tapestry.
I was immersed inside the heads and minds of the characters from the first page. This is gripping stuff and despite the chill in the air which came from the pages, I just had to read on.
There’s something wonderful about being taken to the spookiest castles in the world and then being told that now this is an asylum for six of the most violent murderers in Europe. A young psychotherapist is looking at them to prove his theory of The Devil Aspect of personality.Meanwhile there is a series of brutal murders that more than resemble those of Jack the Ripper …the scope for gothic glory, murders, gruesome killings, dark castles on a hill..this is just a feast for the senses. (Best not to eat during reading though)
Ooh I did enjoy reading this and being transported into such a deliciously dark world.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
First of all, a huge thank you to Clara Diaz and Constable, an imprint of Little Brown Publishers for getting in touch via email and providing me with a complimentary digital copy of The Devil Aspect via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. After reading that incredible synopsis, I couldn't help but be excited to read this novel, the first of Craig Russell's work that I've come across and now I've discovered him, definitely won't be the last. This fascinating and occasionally unsettling work of fiction is part historical, part crime and mystery, part thriller with a drop of horror thrown into this heady mixture of genres to make it a story that I still find myself thinking about weeks after finishing it.
You don't need to know anything extra about this novel save what is in the synopsis above. In fact, if you've already skipped the synopsis and headed straight to my thoughts, I might even boldly suggest that you go into this novel knowing as little as possible. This isn't because the synopsis gives away spoilers but because I read the synopsis a long while before I actually physically started the book and had forgotten much of what the novel encompassed. This meant that the juicy little surprises revealed throughout the narrative came as a welcome shock compared to if I had been overly familiar prior to starting my journey into Russell's delectable writing. All you really need to know is that it's the story of a psychiatrist in the 1930's who begins work at a Prague asylum harbouring incredibly dangerous prisoners who will never be released back into the general public. He is investigating new medicinal and hypnotic methods into unravelling the evil deeds that they have done with the hope that he can make them better people as a result.
That's The Devil Aspect in a nutshell. However, you can't really put this book into a nice little box and wrap a bow around it. It's about so much more than that. It explores the unpredictability of madness, the power of the human brain, the danger of psychopaths, the difference between evil and good and how folklore and superstition can be used against already fragile and vulnerable individuals to take advantage. It's definitely a thought-provoking read that made me consider how frightening the human mind can be, especially as we don't know half of what it's capable of OR how the terrifying way in which our memory can fail/change, sometimes without our conscious knowledge that it has occurred.I'm not usually too bothered about graphic events in a work of fiction but holy hell, some parts of this really were brutal - Russell definitely doesn't shy away from detail. I'm sure all I need to mention is Jack The Ripper for you the reader, to understand what I'm alluding to? As an aside, I would have been interested to see the fascist angle in this book to be explored in more depth however I completely understand why the author didn't do this. He has SO many irons in the fire with what he chooses to write about and perhaps another thread to the story would have been slightly too much to deal with. I was a perfectly willing and happy participant to the surprises and shocks I received throughout The Devil Aspect and will absolutely be seeking out more of the author's work.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
You don't need to know anything extra about this novel save what is in the synopsis above. In fact, if you've already skipped the synopsis and headed straight to my thoughts, I might even boldly suggest that you go into this novel knowing as little as possible. This isn't because the synopsis gives away spoilers but because I read the synopsis a long while before I actually physically started the book and had forgotten much of what the novel encompassed. This meant that the juicy little surprises revealed throughout the narrative came as a welcome shock compared to if I had been overly familiar prior to starting my journey into Russell's delectable writing. All you really need to know is that it's the story of a psychiatrist in the 1930's who begins work at a Prague asylum harbouring incredibly dangerous prisoners who will never be released back into the general public. He is investigating new medicinal and hypnotic methods into unravelling the evil deeds that they have done with the hope that he can make them better people as a result.
That's The Devil Aspect in a nutshell. However, you can't really put this book into a nice little box and wrap a bow around it. It's about so much more than that. It explores the unpredictability of madness, the power of the human brain, the danger of psychopaths, the difference between evil and good and how folklore and superstition can be used against already fragile and vulnerable individuals to take advantage. It's definitely a thought-provoking read that made me consider how frightening the human mind can be, especially as we don't know half of what it's capable of OR how the terrifying way in which our memory can fail/change, sometimes without our conscious knowledge that it has occurred.I'm not usually too bothered about graphic events in a work of fiction but holy hell, some parts of this really were brutal - Russell definitely doesn't shy away from detail. I'm sure all I need to mention is Jack The Ripper for you the reader, to understand what I'm alluding to? As an aside, I would have been interested to see the fascist angle in this book to be explored in more depth however I completely understand why the author didn't do this. He has SO many irons in the fire with what he chooses to write about and perhaps another thread to the story would have been slightly too much to deal with. I was a perfectly willing and happy participant to the surprises and shocks I received throughout The Devil Aspect and will absolutely be seeking out more of the author's work.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com