The Devil Aspect

A Novel

By: Craig Russell

Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt

Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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.

©2019 Craig Russell (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A seasoned writer, Russell keeps the police case moving at a good clip...but nothing to match the ending, which offers more twists than a Chubby Checker album. A smart, atmospheric, and entertaining read but not for the Jung and easily Freudened." (Kirkus)

"A horror story, a novel of psychological terror, or simply a mystery in a historical setting, The Devil Aspect is all three and more. It’s a novel the reader will remember and continue to think about long after that final sentence is read." (New York Journal of Books)

"Steeped in the chilling folklore of Eastern Europe and echoing the dread of a barbaric war to come, The Devil Aspect snatches the reader by the lapels for a thrilling, twisting trip through the darkest corridors of the human mind." (Daniel H. Wilson, New York Times best-selling author of Robopocalypse)

"[A] beguiling and gruesome new horror thriller...a wildly entertaining story that grabs you on page one and drags you into its dark world kicking and screaming...Russell has created a truly frightening story, one that gets under your skin slowly, then goes deep, like the tip of a butcher knife." (Danielle Trussoni, The New York Times Book Review)

Great book

Not what I expected. One of my favorite books so far. Narration was excellent. Not much of a review, but it is my first written review.

First Rate in All Ways

Intelligent, well researched, thought out, and beautifully written. Fascinating story from both the scientific psychological perspective and the folkloric perspective. A knowledgeable reader whose. interpretation supports the author's meaning. I am looking for more books that involve these talented people.

very intense moments

I loved the narrator, the story, the ending. definitely worth buying, very interesting getting into the devil aspect and sitting on a psychologist,investigators shoulder as he delves into sick minds. good from beginning to end.

One of the BEST audiobooks!

Excellent narrator, writer, and story! I listened to this durning two six hour drives and it kept my attention 100%. One of the best I’ve heard in years.

AMAZING!!!

if you like psychological thrillers read this book. it's fantastic!! keeps your attention the whole way through, one of my new favorites!!!

Incredible!

This was one title I got from a two for one sale and thought it looked interesting. I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. The story kept me hooked and the ending love up.

Perfect

This was easily one of the most beautifully written books I've encountered in a long time. I loved that through the entire book I kept switching between the devil being real or if it was simply madness of the mind. I loved every minute of this book and I know I'll be thinking about it for weeks to come! I loved the paranormal / mythological aspects. I'm honestly mourning the fact that I finished it!

Narrator is excellent!

I really liked the story. I did not see how this story would end. It pulled in parts, but still kept my interest.

The narrator is exceptional! I love his voices and accents. He truly enriches the story. I will search for more of his books, as well as Craig Russell’s books.

Pleasant surprise

Hadn’t heard of Craig Russell before coming across this book. So this was an excellent surprise. Such a good book and an even better narrator performance. Definitely worth a credit.

Such a good story

Great characters, great storyline. Highly recommended! I hope the twist reveals itself at the same time it did for me!!