Prague, 1935: Psychiatrist Viktor Kosárek arrives at the infamous Hrad Orlu Asylum for the Criminally Insane, which houses the killers known to the staff as the Woodcutter, the Clown, the Glass Collector, the Vegetarian, the Sciomancer, and the Demon. As Kosárek begins to learn the secrets of these five men and one woman, he must face the disturbing possibility that these six may share another dark truth. Meanwhile, the city is terrorized by a phantom serial killer known as Leather Apron, and police investigator Lukas Smolak, turns to the doctors at Hrad Orlu for their expertise with the psychotic criminal mind. But how can Leather Apron be found, and what is his connection to the six inmates?

"Sensational…. A mind-blowing story line that will appeal to fans of Caleb Carr and Thomas Harris."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)