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cherryyy4's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
addicted_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
laconic_nomad's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, weak ending...
Thought that almost all of the book was great, and atmospheric. But the contrived ending just felt tacked on and maybe a first draft.
Thought that almost all of the book was great, and atmospheric. But the contrived ending just felt tacked on and maybe a first draft.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
4.0
What do you get when you throw Silence of the Lambs, gothic / supernatural mood, WII and Fight Club in a blender?
You get this gem.
This has already been snatched up by Sony for film rights. To be quite honest, I can't wait to see where it goes.
I think listing one of the movies in that list is a bit of a spoiler, but hey, it's true. Anyway, I loved the atmosphere, the characters, and it flowed on a nice level of suspense and mystery.
I originally gave this 5 stars but I'm knocking it down a star because I feel like the WWII theme (er, the nazi regime sprinklings) didn't really add THAT much to the book. I feel that some of the characters were just asses because of their stance of political views. Like, no spoiler, but there is a bit of a strife between the pure Germanics and those with mixed heritage. This was a think in WWII, and while it was there, this bit of the story didn't really add much only to give it a time frame and or a more 'heightened' time of fear and budding unrest. I kind of thought that this would be linked more heavily but it wasn't. So at times it was just used as a scene/timeline enhancer than an actual character/motivation for the plot.
Anyway. I do recommend this book. I grabbed it because the summary appealed to me and I hope it becomes a film.
You get this gem.
This has already been snatched up by Sony for film rights. To be quite honest, I can't wait to see where it goes.
I think listing one of the movies in that list is a bit of a spoiler, but hey, it's true. Anyway, I loved the atmosphere, the characters, and it flowed on a nice level of suspense and mystery.
I originally gave this 5 stars but I'm knocking it down a star because I feel like the WWII theme (er, the nazi regime sprinklings) didn't really add THAT much to the book. I feel that some of the characters were just asses because of their stance of political views. Like, no spoiler, but there is a bit of a strife between the pure Germanics and those with mixed heritage. This was a think in WWII, and while it was there, this bit of the story didn't really add much only to give it a time frame and or a more 'heightened' time of fear and budding unrest. I kind of thought that this would be linked more heavily but it wasn't. So at times it was just used as a scene/timeline enhancer than an actual character/motivation for the plot.
Anyway. I do recommend this book. I grabbed it because the summary appealed to me and I hope it becomes a film.
ljones's review against another edition
4.5
This is my first introduction to Craig Russell's books and wow.
The castle of Hrad Orlu outside Prague has been turned into Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Pyschiatrist Dr. Viktor Kosárek takes a job at the asylum to look at the motivations behind the six inmates housed there. Known as the “Devil’s Six” these inmates are the worst of Europe's worst criminals. Meanwhile, a serial killer is terrorizing Prague. Kapitán Lukás Smolák is hunting the Leather Apron, a killer who is killing in a Jack the Ripper style.
This book is DARK. Russell does such a great job pulling together many different threads and weaving them into a gruesome, brutal, menacing, and interesting story.
Think of a setting of a dark mountainside castle, the dark time following WWI, dark Eastern European folklore, and the political and cultural unrest associated with rising Nazism. That's the backdrop for a hunt of brutal serial killer. Because that's not enough, Russell also includes the most gruesome tales of murder, torture, and cannibalism.
I was riveted from page one. The only downside was that I had to take it slow because this was a lot for my soul to handle.
The castle of Hrad Orlu outside Prague has been turned into Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Pyschiatrist Dr. Viktor Kosárek takes a job at the asylum to look at the motivations behind the six inmates housed there. Known as the “Devil’s Six” these inmates are the worst of Europe's worst criminals. Meanwhile, a serial killer is terrorizing Prague. Kapitán Lukás Smolák is hunting the Leather Apron, a killer who is killing in a Jack the Ripper style.
This book is DARK. Russell does such a great job pulling together many different threads and weaving them into a gruesome, brutal, menacing, and interesting story.
Think of a setting of a dark mountainside castle, the dark time following WWI, dark Eastern European folklore, and the political and cultural unrest associated with rising Nazism. That's the backdrop for a hunt of brutal serial killer. Because that's not enough, Russell also includes the most gruesome tales of murder, torture, and cannibalism.
I was riveted from page one. The only downside was that I had to take it slow because this was a lot for my soul to handle.
sprainedbrain's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ellocasia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and War
banjax451's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An interesting psychological murder mystery with a tremendous sense of place. I liked a lot about this novel, though I have to say that like others, I'd guessed at the twist from an early point in the book. Not exactly "horror" as much as psychological suspense, there is an evocative sense of creeping dread that came across very well. Good for anyone with an interest in psychological suspense, but in other respects a rather paint-by-numbers approach.
daniel_thewalkingdude's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
lallie91's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0