Slow pacing but still an interesting story. With most of the story taking place in a secluded psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps, the foreboding sense of darkness and...wrongness permeates the book.

This isn't a fast read - it's more of a character study...of darkness and intrigue.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ann Gosslin has done it again! I ended up devouring this psychological fiction in one sitting!

I was completely gripped by the characters and the storyline. They were incredibly realistic and at times relatable!

I wish I could talk more about this one but I don't want to spoil it! If your interested in human behaviour and different psychological diagnoses then you need to pick this one up!

A beautifully written novel investigating the physiological side of a killing. Set in an psychological institute on the top of a Swiss mountain you may be thinking asylum but no, more health retreat, housing only a handful of patients the two doctors encourage freedom, fresh air and the beauty in nature to help their patients understand and overcome their difficulties. The main storyline follows Dr Gessen's attempt to clear professor Kiraly from an attack he made to a member of the public seemingly unprovoked. As Dr Gessen works at discovering what caused the professor's outburst something sparks a recognition with his youth and he becomes intent on finding who the professor really is.
The extremely descriptive language paints a beautiful picture of where they are, and as they travel back to find out more about the professor the story comes to life.
I think this is a well nurtured story with plenty of imagery to bring the mountain alive, I found it a page turner looking forward to finding out more about both the professor and Gessen himself.
A beautifully written story well worth the read. 4*
Thanks to NetGalley and legend press for the ARC

This book is sort of a slow burn. I would call it atmospheric. I actually love books like this because when the action finally starts you have a good exposition in order to delve into the plot. So I really loved it I especially like the scenery and the characters. I would highly recommend it.

The story was very interesting and I enjoyed the dynamic between Gessen and his patient, but the book as a whole was incredibly slow paced. Usually when I put a book down, I want to pick it back up and get back to where I started but in this case, I found that I had to convince myself to finish the book. I'm not going to destroy this book because sometimes a book and a reader just don't pair well together and I want to give this book the benefit of doubt. Ultimately, I'm giving it 3 stars because it's not amazing but the concept is there.

This suspenseful and fascinating psychological thriller was impossible to put down, even delaying dinner. Observing what goes on inside people's minds is intriguing and this book gives glimpses into several interesting minds, literally using psychology as methodology.

Most of the story is set in an unusual psychiatrist clinic in the beautiful Swiss Alps, the new "home" of Vidor Kiraly, a brilliant neuroscientist. Whilst delivering his acceptance speech for a prestigious award along with a huge monetary prize, he suddenly leaps off the stage and tackles a man near the entrance. Of course this is captured on television which is seen all over, including the Swiss clinic and its owner, Dr. Gessen. He feels Vidor needs psychiatric aid so offers his help...besides, Dr. Gessen could use the income. Much to Vidor's disgust he is checked in and scrutinized and finds himself in the midst of a handful of other patients, one of whom dies mysteriously.

Though not full of action, to me the intent is a slow psychological unveiling and revealing. The pace really appeals to me. I like the subtleties, nuances and that there is no gore. Throughout the book I questioned who was on what side and was pleased with how it ended.

My sincere thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this dark and mysterious book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

As other reviewers have said,the pacing on this felt slow.
It was too slow for me. I found myself skim reading some of the pages in a bid to feel I got somewhere.
As sometimes happens not the right book for me.

I was almost reluctant going into this book, because some of the reviews have mentioned abysmally slow pacing. Took a chance and guess what…the rumors of slow pacing have been greatly exaggerated. I mean this isn’t a fast paced book, by any means, but then again it doesn’t need to be. This appears to be very much the case of mismanaged expectations and possibly mismarketing. Because it looks like a thriller, doesn’t it? Like yet another one of those female authored thrillers that are so popular right now. But the thing is, this is first and foremost very much a work of psychological fiction. And yes, there are some crime elements and some mysteries to unravel, but not quite as it would be with a thriller, different speed, different pace, different style.
The very basic description of this novel would read something like two clever men battle wills and wits, battle each other and the dualities of their own nature. One of them, Kiraly, is a genius scientist who, just as he was given a prestigious award, one that comes with a million dollars, goes mad and attacks a stranger in the audience. The other is Gessen, a mindshrink extraordinaire with much to prove, who operates a fancy asylum and is desperate to put in back on the map, get ore funds and recognition for his work…and what would bring more publicity that the famous case that has made all the papers and the puzzle that is the suddenly violent scientist.
Then again, that violence might have been a one off. The scientist appears to be perfectly calm now, if not especially forthcoming with any personal information that might help his case. So Gessen sets off to uncover the mystery that is Kiraly, a task that involves international traveling and no small amount of detective work, though the facts he uncovers don’t quite match up and Kiraly appears more and more to be a puzzle wrapped in an enigma sort of a man. And maybe not someone to get snowed in with in a remote Swiss mountain location.
So yeah, technically a mystery novel, but the mysteries are mostly of the psychological make up of one’s mind, a drive to reinvent, fit in, become something, someone who belongs in the world. A desperate reach for something greater. A desperate attempt to avoid paying the high cost of the sins of the fathers.
The two main characters parallel each other in many ways, especially the sins of the father thing. Their dynamic is the most interesting and compelling thing about the novel, it is the glue and the soul of it. And it makes for a pretty interesting read, especially for fans of dark psychological fiction. Just don’t go in expecting a machine gun paced thriller. This one is more of an old fashioned duel. Not perfect by any means, but it maintained my interest throughout and entertained sufficiently. Thanks Netgalley.

Slow paced, but compelling story of the relationship between Doctor and patient as they try to understand why an esteemed Professor would attack a stranger. The dual timelines of present and the past that shaped these two men is well crafted, but suffers from overcomplication and too many threads overlapping. It's difficult to place this in a genre - it's a fascinating psychological study, but lacks the pace or urgency to be classed as a mystery or thriller.

Rating: 1.2/5

This book was nothing like I had been expecting. From the blurb I had anticipated a psychological thriller, but that turned out to be only 50% accurate ... There is plenty of psychology, but it is devoid of anything vaguely thrilling.

"The Double" is set in an isolated psychiatric clinic in the Swiss Alps. Following a violent outburst at an awards ceremony, Vidor Kiraly - a prize-winning neuroscientist and Cambridge University professor - finds himself an unwilling patient at the establishment. He is treated by Dr Anton Gessen, who employs some unorthodox methods to try to unearth the source of Vidor's troubles. But, along the way, he begins to doubt whether his high profile patient really is the person he claims to be.

Unfortunately, the pace of the story is painfully slow. I had hoped that it would develop into a slow burner, but it never sparked into life. Ann Gosslin clearly has a keen interest in psychology. She writes elegantly and with commendable knowledge of the subject. However, it takes more than a passion for a particular topic to turn it into a compelling piece of fiction. Unless someone is equally ardent about psychology, I find it difficult to imagine that they would be captivated by this novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.