This is the first book i have read by this author. Excellent book really enjoyed it, gives you a new understanding of mental health issues along with the turbulent issues at the start of the second world war from a new perspective.
The cheq names took a bit of getting used to.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable book highly recommend it. 5 stars

Hmmm ... this is a difficult one for me to review because I loved the story, the characters, the setting, the time and the writing style but thought it a little drawn out and it dragged on a little too much for me BUT please do not let me put you off, I appear to be in the minority as this has had a lot of praise and 5 star reviews and it will definitely be perfect for people who want to have a lot of information to enable them to become totally immersed in a story; clearly the author has done a lot of research into the location, time period, culture, traditions and history and it certainly transported me there but I felt a little bogged down by it all at times which did detract from my overall experience.

Overall, although not a book that I find myself gushing about, it was mostly enjoyable and one which I definitely feel would transfer well onto the big screen.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! It is the best thing I've read in ages. Really atmospheric set in Central Europe just before the second world war where it picked up on the dread of anticipation for those involved. The story itself was gripping - about a young doctor who takes up an assignment to try out a new form of therapy with six of the most dangerous killers of the time who are locked in an asylum Hrad Orlu. The back stories of each were intriguing as were the back stories of the other peripheral characters. Great ending as well - can't fault it.

This is my first time reading this author. If this amazing book is anything to go by it certainly won’t be my last. This is the best book I’ve read so far this year. I doubt if anything will top it in the few scarce days left this month. I loved The Devil Aspect. I adored every word and every page with words on it. This is one corker of a book. I’m actually drooling wth delirious joy when I read this. I think this is the first time I’ve read a book set in an asylum so the made the book stand out. I loved Viktor’s sessions with his patients who were dark and disturbing yet fascinating. The Devil Aspect is the kind of book you don’t want to stop reading once you start. The book gets darker and darker as Viktor’s has sessions with his patients and Leather Apron remains at large. The end of the book when Leather Apron is revealed floored me. Well done for fooling me! I cannot recommend this book enough.

Craig Russell clearly takes severe mental illness - what the layman might term "madness" - very seriously and that has the effect of making this novel unnervingly believable.
The story begins in 1937 with Dr Victor Kosarek [ a psychiatrist ] accepting a posting to a remote castle deep in the Czechoslovakian mountains. The opportunity to continue his research into "the Devil Aspect" which he sees as a key component in madness by working in this castle, which houses the Devil's six, is irresistible. The Devil's Six are the very worst murderers in Central Europe.
Things don't start well in that his close friend Filip doesn't show up at the station to say goodbye and furthermore Victor gets involved with the shooting, by the police, of a man seemingly acting under the temporary influence of the devil.
Victor's work at the castle however produces some surprising results as, with the aid of drugs, he gets the Six, to open up about their pasts. Meanwhile in Prague there is an ongoing series of gruesome murders being carried out by a man who becomes known as "the leather apron". Smolak, the investigating officer finds himself repeatedly frustrated by the confusing testimonies of witnesses. With help from Viktor he narrows down the possible killers but catching the "madman" proves elusive. Is one of the Six somehow escaping from the castle or is there a terrible imitator of Jack the Ripper terrorising the dark streets of Prague?
Most certainly this is not a book for the squeamish as it would certainly give them nightmares but it is an absolutely engrossing read with grim horror being present right to the very end. The devil takes many shapes...……….so prepare to be surprised!

Viktor, psychiatrist, is convinced that criminals are possessed with the devil, what he calls the Devil Aspect, when they commit the most horrendous crimes. He transfers to a castle where several of the most hardened criminals are locked away from society, and takes on the task of questioning them to prove his theory. The locals are understandably anxious about the inhabitants of the castle which overlooks their neighbourhood, and are even somewhat hostile towards those who work there.

Viktor settles in to his new workplace, studies the records of his new patients, and lays down strict rules about his sessions with these criminals. Contrary to sensible safety advice, he refuses to have any of the other employees sitting in on his sessions. These sessions are utterly chilling.

At the same time a vicious serial killer is on the loose. Viktor puts forward his theory that this killer is also driven by the devil.

I was completely drawn in to this story. The psychiatry was fascinating in itself. This was a real page-turner, a brilliant story which I can thoroughly recommend.

4 out of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/01/21/the-devil-aspect-by-craig-russell/
The Devil Aspect is an intriguing concept and a thought provoking story that involves a gothic setting, a serial killer murdering women in a style reminiscent of Jack the Ripper and a period where Nazi politics were on the rise creating an additional level of tension. The story takes place in Czechoslovakia during 1935, a period when superstition and ancient folklore still played a prominent part.

The story kicks off in Prague as a young psychiatrist, Victor Kosarek, sets off on a journey that marks a new beginning. Victor is about to start a position in a progressive asylum that treats the criminally insane. Well, it treats the six most dangerous minds of the country – no other inmates reside at Hrad Orlu Asylum. Victor has impressed the asylum with his work on a new technique he’s named the ‘Devil Aspect’ and using his new method he hopes to reveal that these inmates share a common type of evil. This involves interviewing each of them individually using a form of drug induced hypnosis. It’s during these interviews that the reader learns of the crimes committed by the six and they’re pretty horrific to say the least. These sessions however begin to reveal an unexpected aspect to the six that brings with it something quite sinister.

Alongside Victor we also follow the police investigator, Lukas Smolak, who is looking into the brutal deaths of a number of women. The City is gripped with fear and seems to hold its collective breath waiting to see where ‘Leather Apron’, as the killer has been dubbed, will strike next. In desperation Lukas seeks the help of the doctors at the Asylum hoping that they can help to shed some light on a case that otherwise has few leads.

I must say that I enjoyed this, it’s not exactly what I’d envisioned to be honest but regardless it was a compelling read that drew me in and kept the pages turning. I think I’d expected more horror and chills when in actual fact this feels, how to put this, less sensational, more stealthy and, well, clever I suppose. It definitely had aspects that gave me the shivers, and some of the crimes committed were undoubtedly hideous but this isn’t blood and guts and grisly death, although there is death within the pages, and whilst those deaths are unpleasant, the deaths aren’t gratuitous and the way they’re reported is more in an interview or report style. This is more the sum of all it’s parts. We have the asylum, a very old castle that in the past has been the home of some terrible deeds that has left the local villagers in terror of the place. There’s the growing Nazi movement, there’s the police investigation into the serial killer and then there’s Victor’s work with the inmates.

I thought the writing was really good, we have two points of view in Victor and Lukas and the switches in perspective worked very well and helped in creating a trail of red herrings. I thought the dialogue was realistic and flowed naturally, in fact the only thing I struggled with a little, initially, was the naming of people and places and their correct pronunciation but I soon came to terms with that or, more to the point, found my own way of saying the words in my head that felt okay – even if I was probably getting things wrong.

The characters are an interesting bunch, I can’t say I absolutely loved them but now that I come to write this review I think that’s probably the author’s intention in that he throws suspicion on more than one person as the story progresses. Victor is a very brooding character and Lukas has the feeling of an overworked, seen too many horrors, beleaguered detective – they’re not unlikable thankfully but they’re both quite stern or serious – not surprising really given everything. Then of course there are the six inmates of the asylum who relate their dreadful deeds with an indifference that makes them that much more chilling – not a cuddly bunch at all.

In terms of criticisms. I think this is an ambitious novel. There are quite a few things going on here and at times I think it’s trying to achieve too much. I think the inclusion of the Nazi elements for example, whilst understandable given the timeframe involved, felt like they should be more of a backdrop. As it was it felt like those elements were trying hard to insert themselves more firmly in the story and, for me, they became something of a tangent or distraction. That being said, I think the author was probably aiming for that very distraction, and in fact this is the type of book that you do conclude and feel that you should read again – just to see if you can spot the trail of breadcrumbs. Not really a criticism – but – I wouldn’t say that I found this particularly scary – but that could just be me. I found it more a gripping than a chilling read, again, that might have been the distractions leading me astray.

Overall though this was an intriguing read and one that I would really like to read again, if time ever permits. I didn’t see the ending coming, until almost the reveal jumped out and I’d love to go back and see what I overlooked. Also, I think this would make a terrific movie!

I received a copy, courtesy of the publisher, through Netgalley – for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I have not read Craig Russell before. Hailing from Scotland he has published five novels in his post-war Glaswegian series “Lennox” and seven set in Hamburg with his detective Jan Fabel taking centre stage. This is a stand-alone which could, especially with Hollywood interest in the film rights, be a big-selling title.
Set in Czechoslovakia in 1935 and it wasn’t long before I could appreciate Russell as a real story-teller with his fiction enriched by cultural stories, myths, urban tales and localised legends. Main character Viktor Kosarek begins work at the Hrad Orlu Asylum For the Criminally Insane housed in a foreboding castle. The Asylum houses just six inmates, the most dangerous and criminally insane of the lot. Dr Kosarek has a theory that pure evil lurks in an obscure part of the psyche and this “Devil Aspect” can be brought to the surface during therapy and then exorcised. Meanwhile, there is a killer stalking the streets of Prague viciously dismembering whilst clad in a blood- stained leather apron.

Russell is very good at cranking up the fear factor and tying it back to the darkness in our pasts. There’s even a scary clown, for goodness sake! The technique of the main character dealing with the six prisoners in turn and getting their backstories through the guise of therapy starts off extremely effectively but perhaps six were a little too many as it was here I found myself losing a little interest amongst their catalogue of hideous crimes.

Apart from this minor gripe the plot is handled well. I never saw what was coming with any of the twists in the tale. It is extremely dark and occupies the space where crime and horror blend which would make it a potent and highly commercial brew for a film adaptation.

Although at times some of the revelations seem audacious and over-the-top, Russell certainly gets away with it. This is because of his seamless research, a good feel for the period and that enrichment of legends from the past juxtaposed with the psychological theories in his novel’s present which all builds up the spine-chilling elements. This is a gory read, but a gripping one.

Devious! Absolutely devious!

Reading The Devil Aspect was like reading two books at the same time. One story line followed a serial killer murdering women in Prague in a brutal fashion, the other was set in a proper creepy castle, a completely pointless fortress in the middle of nowhere, that seems to have been built not to keep something out, but to make sure something stays in, housing six terrible criminals, all suffering from some type of mental illness where a young psychiatrist arrives to perform some questionable experiments on these inmates. Need I say more?

This book was brilliant. Even though I'm not a big fan of historical fiction (or so I thought), I fell head over heels with this one.

The murders in Prague bore a strong resemblance to Jack the Ripper's work, but our devilish Leather Apron took things even further. The butchered women are left in such condition that a few seasoned police officers had to be sent outside to not contaminate the crime scene as they were puking left, right and center. We are not spared from any of the gory details either.

Meanwhile, in Hrad Orlu, Doctor Kosarek set out to conduct his experiments. If being locked up with a bunch of psychotic murderers is not unnerving enough, the repeated mentions of Slavic folktale creatures coming to life would surely do the trick for you. The whole village seemed to be on edge, talking about curses, demons and other satanic creatures on the loose. Charming place, isn't it?

The whole business with the Devil, Veles, the part bear - part man lord or the Underworld, strange runes carved into the pillars of the village chapel gave the whole story an undeniable paranormal feel and I found myself battling with ideas, trying to convince myself, that surely there must be a scientific explanation for it all. Forever the skeptic. But was I right?

As Detective Smolak, the Handsome races against time to prevent more women falling prey to the increasingly violent killer, and Doctor Kosarek and his colleagues make a shocking discovery, the two story lines converge. Can Kosarek help figure out the mind of a murderer who appears to be beyond human?

Now, you might wonder what all this have to do with Nazis. To be fair, not much. While there are some German doctors working in the institute, and Judita, with whom Victor found an instant connection is Jewish, their origins don't have too much bearing on the mystery itself. Considering the location and the time period however, one can't write a historical fiction and pretend the Nazis didn't exist.

A chilling, Gothic novel, The Devil Aspect will appeal to both fans of historical whodunits and readers who enjoy horror stories with a hint of folklore and psychology.

Well this compulsive book certainly has everything, a serial killer “leather apron”, 6 highly dangerous serial killers locked securely in an an ancient castle and the devil aspect !! It is a fantastic novel full of mystery, very gruesome and an excellent and unique plot line. Set in the wild countryside of Czechoslovakia and brimming with suspense and terror it makes for one hell of a good read and oh my goodness what an ending and one I had not expected one bit and it was just jaw dropping to say the least. It’s an intense book full of detail and exceptionally well written, the characters are all superb and to say more would spoil the story ...so if you want a terrifying but brilliant read you have it all here ..I loved it and can’t praise it enough.
My thanks to the wonderful Craig Russell, NetGalley and Little,Brown book group UK/ Constable for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and read most of it in one day, I was so gripped by the story. It is set in1930s Czechoslovakia, against the background menace of the Nazis. This meant that I learned a lot about the politics of the time, and the fears of some people, made more terrible because we know how the situation ended. There is quite a lot of psychology too, which I also found interesting. And then there are the awful gory, dark parts to the book.....The twist at the end took me completely by surprise! Overall the book is quite unlike anything I've read before, even though I read many crime novels and psychological thrillers. I strongly recommend it, and will look out for more books by Craig Russell.

I have never read Craig Russell before but after reading The Devil Aspect I will be checking out his previous work. The story is set in Czechoslovakia 1935. Tensions are high with the Second World War looming. Politics and prejudices are rampant. A vicious serial killer nicknamed Leather Apron is stalking the streets of Prague. His brutality knows no limit and the city is in fear. Our main character is Dr Viktor Kosarek, a trailblazing young psychiatrist. His new methods have gained him the attention of the head of a notorious insane asylum set literally in a castle in rural Czechoslovakia. He starts working there with The Devil's Six. The six most infamous insane killers in eastern Europe. What could possibly go wrong?! I loved this book. It's beautifully written and well worth a read. Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy.

It does not take long to appreciate what a fine writer Mr Russell is. Starting The Devil Aspect, I immediately felt transported to the 1930’s. From the way people speak to an understanding of the culture and community of Czechoslovakia, Craig Russell has captured the mood and mores of a people at a time of turbulence and unwelcome change.

In Prague, these troubled times re underlined by the fear struck into the hearts of the townspeople as a result of the brutal murders of several women; murders which have an unsettling similarity to those of Jack the Ripper. This murderer, dubbed Leather Apron, is being pursued by the police force led by Kapitan Lukas Smolak, but forensic evidence is hard to come by and when at last some is found, it is hard to credit that it could be the work of a known petty criminal whom they take into custody.

German fascism is on the rise and the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia is not far away. Our protagonist is psychiatrist Victor Kosárek, headed for the most notorious asylum in central Europe; Hrad Orlu Asylum is a fortress of a castle high on a cliff face, seemingly impregnable. The castle is feared by the villagers that surround it not just because it currently houses six of the most fiendish serial killers known as the Devil’s Six, but also because it has an unpleasant history that goes back into folklore memory.

Victor Kosárek has a head full of theories after studying under noted psychologist Carl Jung and he has come to the high security asylum to test his theory that the incarnate evil that is embodied in each the six sadistic killer patients stems from a common phenomenon known as The Devil Aspect- an aspect of human psychology that is responsible for dark impulses. Viktor believes that if he can, through their subconscious, reach this aspect, he may be able to understand and and possibly cure their malevolent, macabre impulses.

With wonderful detail and precision, never putting a foot wrong, yet laying a trail of false clues up and down the mountain, Russell explores the ways in which folklore, history, religion, and psychology come together to explain how people behave and how they justify that behaviour; all the time with the rise of fascism hovering over our shoulders..

As I was quickly sucked into this fabulously gothic tale of madness, horror and foreshadowing worse to come, I was struck by how beautifully resonant the atmosphere is. In many ways I was reminded of the writing of Bram Stoker and Robert Louis Stevenson, for this is a literary book that will more than hold its own alongside Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde and Frankenstein.

Beautifully researched, the parallels between the savage murders and the unspeakable horrors of the Third Reich to come are ever present, leading to a very real sense of dread in this reader.

Verdict: Craig Russell has created an astonishing virtuoso piece of gothic horror writing. It is utterly immersive, authentically complex and completely propulsive. I was by turns transfixed, terrified and gripped. This is a must read for all fans of literary fiction, great crime and horror writing.

Not for the squeamish! Mixing myths, politics, mystery and horror, this si not for the faint hearted - hence I only read it during daylight hours.
As young psychiatrist Dr Kosarek travels to his new job at an asylum for the criminally insane, he is caught up in a hostage situation and his life is threatened as he attempts to talk to the young man who sees demons everywhere and in everyone. So begins a nightmare of murder murders in Prague and murderers incarcerated within a medieval castle. Atmospheric, malicious and with an undercurrent of the horrors of the forthcoming WW2, this was a little too thrilling for me - but then I get nightmares from reading a Stephen King blurb! However this novel is well written and researched and if you like suspense in your psychological reads then this is for you.

description

In 1930’s Czechoslovakia, shortly before the German occupation, six of the most notorious killers in Central Europe are being held at a remote castle now being used as an asylum. The castle is an impregnable place that seems to exist as part of a soaring cliff face. And it’s got history, before the Devil’s Six, as they are known, it once housed an infamous killer who would regularly descend from the castle to murder local villagers before returning to the safety of the fortress. Psychiatrist Victor Kosárek is about to test his theory that the evil that emanates from each of the six stems from a phenomenon known as The Devil Aspect. Is it possible that he can establish this and even cure them of their evil thoughts and deeds?

An hour's travel away, in Prague, a serial murderer is on the loose, butchering women in the style of the East London killer Jack the Ripper. Known as Leather Apron, clues to the identity of this evil butcher are few but police are under extreme pressure to halt the spree of gruesome murders. Heading up the chase is investigator Lućaš Smolák.

Before these two threads link up we are shown how the tensions present in this relatively new country manifest as its people face the possibility of the extinction of their nation before it has even had chance to fully develop. The castle itself and its inmates are brilliantly drawn, with the killers being given monikers such as The Clown, The Woodcutter and The Demon. In fact, the accounts of Victor’s narcotic controlled interviews with each individual are minor classics in their own right. And Prague too is expertly brought to life with its towers and dark streets, amongst which lurks the grim murderer.

So we are thrown into a tale of Gothic horror as murders both past and present are visited. Just about everyone we meet has some kind of suspicion thrown their way (I had a working list of at least five suspects). Is it possible that one of the six could be carrying out the recent murders, courtesy of a hidden network of tunnels running from the castle? Or is the existence of this network simply folklore? This and many other questions are posed as we work our way through this intriguing and engrossing puzzle.

It’s a long book but I found it just about impossible to put down. A superb tale of dark deeds and even darker characters from a writer I’ve previously only known for his excellent contemporary crime fiction novels. Not only that, I found that it provided an interesting historical insight and a fascinating exploration of Slavic mythology. Miss this one at your peril!

This was an excellent book. I enjoyed the setting and thought it was very imaginative. The storyline was very gothic and there was an excellent twist. Highly recommended.

This novel is set in Czechoslovakia in 1935. A young psychiatrist takes up a position in an asylum for the criminally insane where there are only six inmates, the Devil's Six. Meanwhile, in Prague, a serial killer is terrorising the people.This is real Gothic horror at it's best. Well researched by Craig Russell, dark in parts and would make an excellent film. My only fault, I struggled with character names! Thanks to Little Brown Books and Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Goodreads and Facebook.

I have to admit Craig Russell is not a name I’m familiar with, but after this I may have to start tracking down some more of his work.
Based in Czechoslovakia in 1935, the Nazi regime is starting to come to power, Europe is under a cloud, the population is nervous. Not just about the expansion of Germany though, also about the rise of Leather Apron. The Czech version of Jack the Ripper is running around In Prague butchering women in the same fashion as Jack did. Lukas Smolak is the detective trying to track him down, but given that clues are few and far apart, he seems to be getting nowhere, for all the devastation Leather Apron is dealing, he doesn’t seem to be leave any sign of his own presence.
At the same time Dr Victor Kosarek is at the Hrad Orlú Asylum, a high security asylum, housing only 6 inmates in an old castle based in a little village outside Prague. The 6 are the most psychopathic killers in Czechoslovakia and Victor is coming to study them. His theory is that there is an aspect of human psychology that is responsible for the darker impulses, and that by getting in touch with this aspect, it may be possible to understand and even cure the impulses.
Over the course of the novel, the individual back stories of the 6 are revealed, along with the story of Lukas and Victor trying to track down the killer. The life of one other character is also brought out, which is the castle. The castle itself throws a shadow over the characters, to the extent where it becomes a character in and of itself.
There’s a lot going on here, Victor was trained by Jung, and his theories are expounded, but in an indirect way, so it never feels intrusive. At the same time the historical issues with the rise of Nazi Germany, and the rumours of their treatment of Jews is covered in a way that makes it feel contemporary. At the same time there’s a proper Gothic feel to it all, it can get very creepy very quickly. There’s a definite feel of the supernatural to it all, especially with the history of the castle, and the local folklore coming out at points. I’ve got to be honest, the ending I didn’t see coming until the very last second, and that point it all makes perfect sense. Up to that point, you’re not quite sure what’s coming next. If the author keeps going like this, John Connoly is going to get a little worried. Highly recommended
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publishers Constable for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
Now I'll try and be neutral in my review, but I should disclose that I am a regular reader of Craig Russell's work,
Set against the backdrop of the impending outbreak of World War 2, the book starts in Prague and introduces the main character Dr Viktor Kosarek who is on his way to take up a new position at a remore castle asylum where the "Devils Six" are locked up.
Kosarek role is to interview all six and hear their stories. Definitely not for the faint hearted.
Meanwhile a killer known as "Leather Apron" is on a killing spree in Prague.
Can the two events be related ?
Five stars.

The Devil Aspect is a dark, gothic horror/thriller. I wouldn't normally choose this genre but sometimes it's good to read something out of one's comfort zone and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. It works on many layers and is well written. In fact the author made it easy for me to picture the various locations and the era.

Viktor Kosarev is a young psychiatrist about to take up a new position in an remote castle in rural Czechoslovakia, now an asylum which houses only six inmates who have all committed such horrific crimes they can never be released. He's going to be carrying out research on the inmates to try and unlock their secrets.

The castle too seems to have its secrets. A fellow traveller on the train tells him that the castle was built on a more ancient site under which was a network of caves, said to be the mouth of Hell, and the castle was built to seal it up.

Meanwhile in Prague someone or something is butchering victims in the most depraved manner. Lukas Smolak is leading the police investigation but there are few clues as to the killer's identity although his investigation does eventually lead him to the asylum to consult one of the inmates in his search for information.

The author is very good at building up an atmosphere. The story is set in 1935 Czechoslovakia. The two main locations being Prague and the castle/asylum and the surrounding area. There is an air of impending doom. Racial and political tension is increasing. Some of his colleagues are supporters of the Nazis.

Added to this mix are the stories of each of the inmates, the background stories of Lukas Smolak and the police medical examiner Dr Vaclav Bartos, plus a possible romance between Viktor and his colleague Judita, who also has a troubled back story. Then add suspicious locals, Czech folklore and mythology and a couple of final twists.

Somehow it all works.