The Devil You Know is an incredibly powerful book. It is challenging - in places almost too difficult to read - and dark, moving and impossible to forget. Dr Adshead gently encourages a more open, empathetic perspective towards some of our most violent offenders by giving a voice to her patients and her practice. The stories she has documented are graphic, heart-breaking, and often difficult to stomach. But they are also in many cases inspiring and transformative. I was left floored by the authors resilience and compassion.
There were moments when I would have liked to see more conversation surrounding policy, especially when discussing the difficulty offenders go through to access treatment and resources. However, the way her writing carefully challenged my thinking and expanded my view mean this book has to be five stars.