Rating: 
Summary: A worthy sequel
Review: "A sequel to 'The Alienist'? YES! " I actually shouted that out loud in a library when I was told about "The Angel of Darkness." Again, Caleb Carr paints an intricate portrait of Golden Age New York, and brings back all the great characters from "The Alienist," utilizing a unique twist in changing his narrator from society reporter John Moore to the street-smart Stevie Taggert, whose less-than-perfect grammar doesn't obscure his keen observations. Again, Carr utilizes real-life historical figures, most notably a young Clarence Darrow, to bring authenticity to the story of a female child-murderer and the investigation that brings her heinous crimes to light. So why only four stars? Those of you who have read Ann Rule's "Small Sacrifices" will see a lot of Diane Downs in murderer Libby Hatch--in fact, Carr cites Rule's book as an influence. Overall, though, a great sequel--can't wait for the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read
Review: "The Angel of Darkness" is an excellent follow-up to "The Alienist," also a great book. Despite what some say, the characters' actions make sense in the context (as Kreizler would say) of their situations and lives. It is well-written and will keep you fascinated for hours. Don't start it if you're going to have to get up and do something else (you won't want to) and don't read the latter parts when you're alone in the house at night. It does get a big spooky.
Rating:
Summary: soonerfan
Review: A fan of Caleb Carr's after 'The Alienist', I was unable to put this one down as well. Carr's unique method of entwining the characters' unique traits into the turn-of-the-century time period is excellent. This novel is definitely a page turner. Carr has once again delivered a refreshing read!
Rating:
Summary: Carr's inimitable style strikes again... Suspenseful & more
Review: A Mesmerizing Tome, ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a sequel to Carr's "The Alienist". This reader, as am sure there are others, appreciate continuity in writings that carry forward some of the same characters, even though the narrator is a different person -- the street youth whom Dr. Kriezler "adopted", and rescued from a life of crime -- Stevie Taggart. After all, proteges are developed by other narrators, and in other fields as well - this slant in THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS is no exception. I have an appreciation for authors who bring in true-to-history participants -- e.g., Clarence Darrow; Theodore Roosevelt; & Mrs. Cady Stanton. -- after all, didn't they play a part in history?
Author Carr is a master storyteller, with hard-to-put-down books, very engaging trade dialogue with a style of 'teller to listener'. Added are the glimpses with a clear visual field from a window on life during the early 20th century New York City time period.
ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a riveting tale of a tormented murderess, facing crime & punishment for actions applicable to latter 19th century. Albeit an evil, cunning female would be difficult to believe in that era of history, with the "feminine" roles women were assigned then - more so than today.
Libby Hatch compares in stature with villain John Beecham. Added spice is a first-rate mind that is always calculating the next move; Mr. Carr enfolds readers with examples of dark society, with excellent, poignant, & some humorous dramatization. The author raises this story to a plateau of the black underside of human psyche, including madness, frailty of the human mind & development of socio-political forensic science methods, combining criminology & psychology with deepening nooks and crannies creating a suspenseful read.
As with any book of this nature, plot, scope and length there are bound to be a few flaws... however, the reader becomes entranced with the story's path that flaws matter none. The narrative style contains some inconsistencies in which no single character nor sub-plot is given the in-depth development it could have been assigned, but perhaps readers can then expand their imaginations?!
This reader boasts proudly of having met Caleb Carr at his signing at the famous NY theme -- "NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY" -- Annual Book Fair, 5th Avenue... Biblioholic heave! This review is based on hardcover first edition 1997. Be sure to read author Carr's KILLING TIME.)
(This reader also recommends a same century read: CITY OF LIGHT by Louise Balfour, set in burgeoning Buffalo, NY and Niagara Falls with Pan Am Expo & other historical events, cast of note.)
Rating:
Summary: Carr's inimitable style strikes again... Suspenseful & more
Review: A Mesmerizing Tome, ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a sequel to Carr's "The Alienist". This reader, as am sure there are others, appreciate continuity in writings that carry forward some of the same characters, even though the narrator is a different person -- the street youth whom Dr. Kriezler "adopted", and rescued from a life of crime -- Stevie Taggart. After all, proteges are developed by other narrators, and in other fields as well - this slant in THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS is no exception. I have an appreciation for authors who bring in true-to-history participants -- e.g., Clarence Darrow; Theodore Roosevelt; & Mrs. Cady Stanton. -- after all, didn't they play a part in history?
Author Carr is a master storyteller, with hard-to-put-down books, very engaging trade dialogue with a style of 'teller to listener'. Added are the glimpses with a clear visual field from a window on life during the early 20th century New York City time period.
ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a riveting tale of a tormented murderess, facing crime & punishment for actions applicable to latter 19th century. Albeit an evil, cunning female would be difficult to believe in that era of history, with the "feminine" roles women were assigned then - more so than today.
Libby Hatch compares in stature with villain John Beecham. Added spice is a first-rate mind that is always calculating the next move; Mr. Carr enfolds readers with examples of dark society, with excellent, poignant, & some humorous dramatization. The author raises this story to a plateau of the black underside of human psyche, including madness, frailty of the human mind & development of socio-political forensic science methods, combining criminology & psychology with deepening nooks and crannies creating a suspenseful read.
As with any book of this nature, plot, scope and length there are bound to be a few flaws... however, the reader becomes entranced with the story's path that flaws matter none. The narrative style contains some inconsistencies in which no single character nor sub-plot is given the in-depth development it could have been assigned, but perhaps readers can then expand their imaginations?!
This reader boasts proudly of having met Caleb Carr at his signing at the famous NY theme -- "NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY" -- Annual Book Fair, 5th Avenue... Biblioholic heave! This review is based on hardcover first edition 1997. Be sure to read author Carr's KILLING TIME.)
(This reader also recommends a same century read: CITY OF LIGHT by Louise Balfour, set in burgeoning Buffalo, NY and Niagara Falls with Pan Am Expo & other historical events, cast of note.)
Rating:
Summary: Carr's inimitable style strikes again... Suspenseful & more
Review: A Mesmerizing Tome, ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a sequel to Carr's "The Alienist". This reader, as am sure there are others, appreciate continuity in writings that carry forward some of the same characters, even though the narrator is a different person -- the street youth whom Dr. Kriezler "adopted", and rescued from a life of crime -- Stevie Taggart. After all, proteges are developed by other narrators, and in other fields as well - this slant in THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS is no exception. I have an appreciation for authors who bring in true-to-history participants -- e.g., Clarence Darrow; Theodore Roosevelt; & Mrs. Cady Stanton. -- after all, didn't they play a part in history?
Author Carr is a master storyteller, with hard-to-put-down books, very engaging trade dialogue with a style of 'teller to listener'. Added are the glimpses with a clear visual field from a window on life during the early 20th century New York City time period.
ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a riveting tale of a tormented murderess, facing crime & punishment for actions applicable to latter 19th century. Albeit an evil, cunning female would be difficult to believe in that era of history, with the "feminine" roles women were assigned then - more so than today.
Libby Hatch compares in stature with villain John Beecham. Added spice is a first-rate mind that is always calculating the next move; Mr. Carr enfolds readers with examples of dark society, with excellent, poignant, & some humorous dramatization. The author raises this story to a plateau of the black underside of human psyche, including madness, frailty of the human mind & development of socio-political forensic science methods, combining criminology & psychology with deepening nooks and crannies creating a suspenseful read.
As with any book of this nature, plot, scope and length there are bound to be a few flaws... however, the reader becomes entranced with the story's path that flaws matter none. The narrative style contains some inconsistencies in which no single character nor sub-plot is given the in-depth development it could have been assigned, but perhaps readers can then expand their imaginations?!
This reader boasts proudly of having met Caleb Carr at his signing at the famous NY theme -- "NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY" -- Annual Book Fair, 5th Avenue... Biblioholic heave! This review is based on hardcover first edition 1997. Be sure to read author Carr's KILLING TIME.)
(This reader also recommends a same century read: CITY OF LIGHT by Louise Balfour, set in burgeoning Buffalo, NY and Niagara Falls with Pan Am Expo & other historical events, cast of note.)
Rating:
Summary: Now you're reading!
Review: A much better book than the first (The Alienist), this sequel is well worth checking out! Narrated by Stevie Taggart, Dr. Kreizler's servant and now on his own, owner of a tobacco shop, this story details the kidnap of the daughter of a Spanish diplomat, just as the diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Spain are imploding, leading to the Spanish-American War. The major characters are fully-blown here, oddly human and very real - each has his or her own limitations which are very well explored in the novel. The minor characters could use a little more fleshing out - but the murderer is very well explored and there is a great deal more plot to this book than the previous one.
Rating:
Summary: women's role in 1896 New York society
Review: A somewhat laborious read at 750 pages, this novel still has a lot going for it. The principal difference is that in this case the serial killer is a woman; therefore we are dealing throughout with women's role in society, and its impact on the killer, Libby. In "The Alienist" we were dealing with racism and a lack of a nurturing environment for the killer as a root cause. Libby is not a very nurturing mother, which she is unwilling to admit to herself; but this is the role held in highest esteem for women in society. Libby, unwilling to admit to her own incompetence, instead blames the children, and has a blind spot to the fact that she poisons or shoots them, believing instead that she is helping them. Until the trial, most people believe the same thing, so that she has an excellent reputation as a nurse, convincing even the Vanderbilts. Many of the townspeople in upstate New York, however, fear her, as do many in New York City where she is "protected" by the Dusters street gang. As was true of its predecessor, "The Angel of Darkness" is strong on atmospherics of turn-of-the-century New York; in addition, it contains many interesting if repugnant characters, including Goo Goo Knox, Ding Dong, the very poignant Kat (Stevepipe, the narrator's,girlfriend, and a cocaine addict) and El Nino the Filipino hitman. Also, the Spanish ambassador's infant daughter, kidnapped in the book's opening pages, ends up alive and healthy, somewhat amazingly.The cast of criminologists is the same as in "The Alienist". We also again have cameos by famous people, the most interesting of whom, again, is Roosevelt, though he doesn't appear until near the end of the book. So if you can slog your way through the first 600 pages, you will be rewarded with a "bully" conclusion.
Rating: 
Summary: Nowhere near as good as 'The Alienist'
Review: After loving 'The Alienist,' I was very disappointed in 'The Angel of Darkness.' It was completely implausible, especially the 'Angel' being on good terms with a street gang. And the midget was just too much. A big disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: A sequel and a winner - a rare combination
Review: After the exquiste ALIENIST I was prepared for a letdown with this latest novel. We are again back in turn of the century New York City and the description is just as real as before. Only this time the cast of characters has been augmented by a servant boy who becomes the narrator. This gives the story a whole new twist. This time we are chasing a female criminal, an evil woman, and an apparent rarity in those days where women were viewed as the gentler sex. She is a cunning criminal with a first-rate mind that is always calculating the next move. Again we have the intelligent and beautiful Ms. Howard going where no woman has gone before. She is a modern woman for her times but never for effect. SOme reviewers have criticized the inclusion of "famous" people but this was accomplished with a subtle touch and therefore is perfectly acceptable. Again, one is mesmerized at the writing and description as much as the witty dialogue and swift action.
Bravo!
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