The Devil Aspect

A Novel

De: Craig Russell

Narrado por: Julian Rhind-Tutt

A USA Today Best Mystery of All Time • Steeped in the folklore of Eastern Europe, and set in the shadow of Nazi darkness erupting just beyond the Czech border, this bone-chilling, richly imagined novel is propulsively entertaining, and impossible to put down.

"A wildly entertaining story...Russell has created a truly frightening story." —The New York Times Book Review

Czechoslovakia, 1935: Viktor Kosárek, a newly trained psychiatrist who studied under Carl Jung, arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane. The facility is located in a medieval mountaintop castle surrounded by forests, on a site that is well known for concealing dark secrets going back many centuries. The asylum houses six inmates--the country's most treacherous killers--known to the terrified public as the Devil's Six. Viktor intends to use a new medical technique to prove that these patients share a common archetype of evil, a phenomenon he calls The Devil Aspect. Yet as he begins to learn the stunning secrets of these patients, he must face the unnerving possibility that these six may share a darker truth.

Meanwhile, in Prague, fear grips the city as a phantom serial killer emerges in the dark alleys. Police investigator Lukas Smolak, desperate to locate the culprit (a copycat of Jack the Ripper), turns to Viktor and the doctors at Hrad Orlu for their expertise with the psychotic criminal mind. And Viktor finds himself wrapped up in a case more terrifying than he could have ever imagined.

That ending! Didn't see it coming at all!

You know a book is good when you can't stop thinking about it hours after you finished. This was a great historical fiction/thriller that started off a little slow but really picked up. I was totally shocked at the ending. I did not see it coming at all! I was also happy to see the book take place in Prague instead of the boring old England.Julian Rhind-Tutt did a great job with the names and keeping the voices just a little different from each other. Also big time kudos for not using a high pitched voice for the women characters.

Stunning and mind boggling! I couldn't put is down

I loved this story! I was obsessed with it and couldn't get enough! Hold on for a twisted ride down a dark path!

Almost five stars

The first four-fifths of this book--six stars. Once I unraveled the mystery, though, the story line kind of fell off a cliff. The denouement almost edged it back up to a five. Almost. Despite this reservation I'd still recommend The Devil Aspect--most of it is that good. Julian Rhind-Tutt's narration was pitch-perfect for the mood. I'm going now to look for more books by Craig Russell, and more narrations by Rhind-Tutt.

Surprisingly Amazing

The concept of the book sounded interesting to me, so I thought I would give it a go. I am glad I did! it is obviously fictional but makes an interesting connection to all the true crime murderers that talk about a darkness that took over when they committed the murders. It's worth a read!

Endings are hard, but this was perfect

I was a little concerned at first with the narrator. The story is set in Prague and around central Europe. Would there be accents that were distracting? Would the entire book have a German accent with words I didn't understand? Nope. He did a wonderful job of letting the listener know there is an accent without bringing it on thick. The words ( mostly names) that required the influx came smoothly and without doubt to it's authentic roots. The characters were well written ( kinda loved the Captain of the police- his voice was sooo smooth) .
The best part of the story is the impending doom that we know is on the horizon for our characters. The author delicately places the events leading to WW2 as the characters would have experienced them. Most writers cater to the reader, us having the knowledge of this time. This tension puts another layer to an already evil story, evil characters, and evil setting.
I highly recommend this book for the following. if you are interested in: serial killers, early psychology, WW2, crime detective story or ancient mythology.

Enjoyable

And a little creepy. I didn’t have any problems getting through this one. Worth the credit.

Bowled Me Over

Rich and meaty writing (no pun intended). Was difficult to put away and the ending was riveting.

Wow that flew by!!

For a long one it had me engaged all the way through!! Awesome dark narration.

Very graphic

Good book but could have done without some of the long descriptive narrative on various types of the murderers methods. Good narrator.

A MUST LISTEN!!!

It is a long story full of twist and turns but it never drones on. The narrator is spot on with the voices and accents for the way my brain thinks the characters should sound. It definitely takes an interesting stance on mental health in general.