The Devil Aspect by Craig Russell, Gothic noir in style it could almost have been set years before 1935. I really loved the writing style, highly descriptive yet perfectly expressed, so no need to keep rereading a sentence. It built up a wonderful and terrifying atmosphere with a young man’s fascination for finding the Devil Aspect to confirm his theory. I found the two words really annoying, they don’t work well together and if you don’t believe in the Devil….even more ridiculous. However, most frustrating of all was the false prospectus we were fed. This isn’t the first time this has happened reading a book and I hope it’s not the start of a trend, so from my perspective I am going to knock a star off. As for the last quarter of the book, I was almost convinced that with the rise of National Socialism and taking in to account the history of the castle there would have been a greater melding of evil within, making a better ending than the twist we were faced with.

Literary Gothic horror. All the ingredients of the genre. A brooding, old castle, deep woods, winter weather. The characters are evocatively drawn and are resonant of both good and evil: but which is which?

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.