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menthyyyy's review against another edition
4.0
This book was lowkey scary. I probably will not read again but it was decent.
sphbrd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
timgrubbs's review against another edition
5.0
If disease can be spread among individuals, then is true evil similarly contagious? A young doctor will attempt to prove his theory of the devil’s existence by interviewing half a dozen truly wicked killers…
The Devil Aspect: The Strange Truth Behind the Occurrences at Head Orlu Asyum for the Criminally Insane by Craig Russell is unfortunately historical fiction…about the existence of madness and evil…
Dr Viktor Kosarek is a young doctor in Czechoslovakia in 1935. He has been given the opportunity to interview the Devil’s Six, the infamous occupants of an asylum without a former castle-prison…itself allegedly built in the very Gates of Hell.
Meanwhile, a seventh killer stalks women with police unable to apprehend him. Will there soon be a seventh notorious murderer admitted to the asylum?
This novel is essentially interview with the Vampire meets Silence of the Lambs.
Rather than learning about the Devil’s Six third hand, we are treated to intense interviews with each six individually…giving us a look into their minds and backgrounds…as well as their attempts to deflect and blame someone else for their crimes.
Are they deluded madpeople…or are they truly innocent and the Devil is the guilty one?
This was a deeply fascinating story.
The author did a wonderful job crafting various folklore and dark histories to the setting which are sadly entirely made up. I kind of wish many of the historical details he inteoduces had more basis in fact.
I highly recommend this one…
The Devil Aspect: The Strange Truth Behind the Occurrences at Head Orlu Asyum for the Criminally Insane by Craig Russell is unfortunately historical fiction…about the existence of madness and evil…
Dr Viktor Kosarek is a young doctor in Czechoslovakia in 1935. He has been given the opportunity to interview the Devil’s Six, the infamous occupants of an asylum without a former castle-prison…itself allegedly built in the very Gates of Hell.
Meanwhile, a seventh killer stalks women with police unable to apprehend him. Will there soon be a seventh notorious murderer admitted to the asylum?
This novel is essentially interview with the Vampire meets Silence of the Lambs.
Rather than learning about the Devil’s Six third hand, we are treated to intense interviews with each six individually…giving us a look into their minds and backgrounds…as well as their attempts to deflect and blame someone else for their crimes.
Are they deluded madpeople…or are they truly innocent and the Devil is the guilty one?
This was a deeply fascinating story.
The author did a wonderful job crafting various folklore and dark histories to the setting which are sadly entirely made up. I kind of wish many of the historical details he inteoduces had more basis in fact.
I highly recommend this one…
lindsayb09's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.75
Wow, that was a wild ride! I highly recommend picking up the audio for this one -- the narrator is absolutely superb. I don't know if his pronunciations of the Czech and German names and places are correct, but it was much better than trying to slog through them myself. He gives such subtle differences to each character that really brings them to life.
The best thing about this book is the atmosphere. It's brooding, cold, bone chilling. You can feel the looming ancient castle walls, the dark and twisty city streets, the dark and secretive forest. There's such a creeping feeling of dread and unease from the very first scene.
There is a wide cast of characters and it took me a little while to get all the names straight. The story has two main focal points -- the investigation of the Leather Apron murderer in Prague, and Viktor's sessions with his patients at the castle. There are the 6 patients, known as The Devil's Six, as well as hospital staff, and the police team, and other ancillary characters. It's a lot to track, but it gets easier as their stories start to intersect.
The plot kept me guessing, and the final few twists were pretty wild. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting that at all, though others may be able to work it out sooner. It was a thrilling climax, followed by a final sinister twist.
Overall it was a great listen that I didn't want to pause! If you like historical fiction, true crime, and psychological thrillers, definitely check this one out. I can't wait to check out his other books.
The best thing about this book is the atmosphere. It's brooding, cold, bone chilling. You can feel the looming ancient castle walls, the dark and twisty city streets, the dark and secretive forest. There's such a creeping feeling of dread and unease from the very first scene.
There is a wide cast of characters and it took me a little while to get all the names straight. The story has two main focal points -- the investigation of the Leather Apron murderer in Prague, and Viktor's sessions with his patients at the castle. There are the 6 patients, known as The Devil's Six, as well as hospital staff, and the police team, and other ancillary characters. It's a lot to track, but it gets easier as their stories start to intersect.
The plot kept me guessing, and the final few twists were pretty wild. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting that at all, though others may be able to work it out sooner. It was a thrilling climax, followed by a final sinister twist.
Overall it was a great listen that I didn't want to pause! If you like historical fiction, true crime, and psychological thrillers, definitely check this one out. I can't wait to check out his other books.
teaandtales1's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Genre: Horror, Psychological, Mystery, Historical fiction
Pages: 414
Plot: In 1930s Czechoslovakia a serial killer is stalking the streets of Prague. About an hour away, locked in an asylum built in an old castle are 6 of Eastern Europe's most notorious criminals. A young psychiatrist seeks to learn the origin of evil even though it seems to be closing in from all sides.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is great. In books that deal with two storylines, I usually find that I like one of them more and can't wait to get back to it, but in this book each of them were equally strong. The interviews with the six criminals were interesting and horrifying, and the terror running through Prague reminded me of the movie Seven. Definitely recommended to those looking for a dark, but well-written horror/mystery book.
Pages: 414
Plot: In 1930s Czechoslovakia a serial killer is stalking the streets of Prague. About an hour away, locked in an asylum built in an old castle are 6 of Eastern Europe's most notorious criminals. A young psychiatrist seeks to learn the origin of evil even though it seems to be closing in from all sides.
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book is great. In books that deal with two storylines, I usually find that I like one of them more and can't wait to get back to it, but in this book each of them were equally strong. The interviews with the six criminals were interesting and horrifying, and the terror running through Prague reminded me of the movie Seven. Definitely recommended to those looking for a dark, but well-written horror/mystery book.
tiffanyxcc's review against another edition
5.0
The first time I attempted to read this I did not make it very far before putting it down, thinking that I would probably not finish reading it. I gave it another try a couple days ago and barely put it down until I read the entire story.
The story takes place in Prague, 1935. An up and coming psychologist Viktor Kosárek is beginning his new job at the Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. This asylum, an ominous mountaintop castle that looms over the nearby town (much to the dismay of the citizens there) houses the Devil's Six. Six killers who are all deemed to dangerous to ever walk again among civilized society. Here Viktor intends to test out his theory that all six of these patients share a commonality, a trait he refers to as their Devil Aspect. Their stories are not for the faint of heart, but engrossing in their recount. If I had to pick a favorite part about this novel, it would be the stories of the devil's six.
While the asylum does indeed house the devil's six, the nearby city is being stalked by a serial killer dubbed as "Leather Apron. " It leads some to believe at least one of the patients is able to come and go from the castle as he pleases. Investigator Lukas Smolak visits the asylum following up on a lead and to glean information from the doctors about the mind of a psychotic killer. The knowledge imparted is less than comforting for the investigator however, what if this killer does not know he is in fact a killer at all?
Both the investigation into Leather Apron's murders and the interviews at Hrad Orlu are enough to keep the pages turning, never a dull moment. The ending I found rather predictable but as it was well written and thoroughly entertaining I was not at all disappointed. Usually I am not a fan of historical fiction but in this case I would definitely recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in Prague, 1935. An up and coming psychologist Viktor Kosárek is beginning his new job at the Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. This asylum, an ominous mountaintop castle that looms over the nearby town (much to the dismay of the citizens there) houses the Devil's Six. Six killers who are all deemed to dangerous to ever walk again among civilized society. Here Viktor intends to test out his theory that all six of these patients share a commonality, a trait he refers to as their Devil Aspect. Their stories are not for the faint of heart, but engrossing in their recount. If I had to pick a favorite part about this novel, it would be the stories of the devil's six.
While the asylum does indeed house the devil's six, the nearby city is being stalked by a serial killer dubbed as "Leather Apron. " It leads some to believe at least one of the patients is able to come and go from the castle as he pleases. Investigator Lukas Smolak visits the asylum following up on a lead and to glean information from the doctors about the mind of a psychotic killer. The knowledge imparted is less than comforting for the investigator however, what if this killer does not know he is in fact a killer at all?
Both the investigation into Leather Apron's murders and the interviews at Hrad Orlu are enough to keep the pages turning, never a dull moment. The ending I found rather predictable but as it was well written and thoroughly entertaining I was not at all disappointed. Usually I am not a fan of historical fiction but in this case I would definitely recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
afreckledbookwrym's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
njmaas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
joann_l's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
trin's review against another edition
3.0
Well this was a wild ride! A horror/thriller that takes place in 1930s Czechoslovakia, this novel follows a young psychiatrist, Viktor, who has just gotten a new job at the Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane – an institution in a remote village outside of Prague, built into a legendary old castle, and housing six of the country’s worst serial killers, known as the Devil’s Six. As Viktor pursues his pet theory of criminal insanity, which he calls “the Devil Aspect,” a new series of brutal murders, with shades of Jack the Ripper, are occurring in Prague. A detective named Lukas Smolak is on the trail of the killer, known only as Leather Apron.
This is a cheesy, pulpy, tropetastic thriller, but goodness if it isn’t a lot of fun. The opening is slow and exposition heavy, but once Viktor arrives at the asylum and starts working with his patients, and Smolak’s investigation really kicks off, the book becomes a pacey, addictive page-turner. Despite its length, I happily devoured it in two days. The writing is, at its best, cinematic, and there are a number of genuine scares (oh god the Glass Collector) and a general atmosphere of sinister paranoia.
The historical detail is not always perfect – I caught a number of anachronisms – but what Russell does really well is capture the mounting political tensions of the 1930s. Some of Viktor’s fellow doctors have joined the Czech branch of the Nazi party; there’s growing anti-Semitism and anti-gypsy sentiment in Prague; and Viktor’s love interest, who’s Jewish, is having prophetic nightmares about the Holocaust. I also found Russell’s interweaving of Slavic mythology – Chernabog, Koschei the Deathless, and various other unsettling forest spirits – to be incredibly effective. There are many scenes and images that will haunt me for a while.
The biggest problem with the book, for me, is the “twist” ending – I saw it coming from about page 10 and spent the rest of the book bracing myself for its inevitable arrival, and hoping against hope that Russell would surprise me with a different conclusion. Alas, he didn’t:
Yet in spite of this particular eyeroll, I have to say, I still enjoyed the journey of the book a great deal. This is some blackened, evil-smelling, but yummy, yummy cheese.
This is a cheesy, pulpy, tropetastic thriller, but goodness if it isn’t a lot of fun. The opening is slow and exposition heavy, but once Viktor arrives at the asylum and starts working with his patients, and Smolak’s investigation really kicks off, the book becomes a pacey, addictive page-turner. Despite its length, I happily devoured it in two days. The writing is, at its best, cinematic, and there are a number of genuine scares (oh god the Glass Collector) and a general atmosphere of sinister paranoia.
The historical detail is not always perfect – I caught a number of anachronisms – but what Russell does really well is capture the mounting political tensions of the 1930s. Some of Viktor’s fellow doctors have joined the Czech branch of the Nazi party; there’s growing anti-Semitism and anti-gypsy sentiment in Prague; and Viktor’s love interest, who’s Jewish, is having prophetic nightmares about the Holocaust. I also found Russell’s interweaving of Slavic mythology – Chernabog, Koschei the Deathless, and various other unsettling forest spirits – to be incredibly effective. There are many scenes and images that will haunt me for a while.
The biggest problem with the book, for me, is the “twist” ending – I saw it coming from about page 10 and spent the rest of the book bracing myself for its inevitable arrival, and hoping against hope that Russell would surprise me with a different conclusion. Alas, he didn’t:
Spoiler
Viktor has a split personality, his own Devil Aspect, and was the killer all along! I’m fairly tired of books that fall back on the old Fight Club shocker, as it has long ceased to shock me. Other readers seem less annoyed and even surprised by this twist, but to me it was a major disappointment.Yet in spite of this particular eyeroll, I have to say, I still enjoyed the journey of the book a great deal. This is some blackened, evil-smelling, but yummy, yummy cheese.