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Summary: A thrilling look into the heart and mind of a madman
Review: Caleb Carr has crafted a rollicking thriller of a yarn with The Alienist.Prepare for a dark and chilling rampage through the streets of late nineteenth century New York as our heroes attempt to breach the mind and soul of a terrifying new breed of criminal. Eerie, moody and full of atmosphere, Mr. Carr pulled me in hook, line and sinker. Not only did I feel the fear and suspense of the chase, I tasted the dank and feral underbelly of a city replete with squalor and corruption. Carr has utilized many of the most modern insights in criminology and the study of serial killers, here presenting them, as if for the first time, in the fertile ruminations of the brilliant Dr. Laszlo Kreizler. Written as a narrative from the perspective of John Moore, Laszlo's friend and confidant, the reader becomes a part of the action, vicariously experiencing Moore's doubts, hopes, and, oh yes, fears. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as I'm sure any suspense fan will. The methods used (both forensic and cerebral) to understand and capture the monster being hunted are based on the most recent findings of the world's great criminologists. This makes the story an interesting study of the phenomenon we call serial murder. I highly recommend The Alienist to mystery, and suspense readers everywhere, armchair criminologists and fans of fine writing in general.
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Summary: What a pageturner!
Review: I read The Alienist with my face-to-face bookclub this month and was immediately excited for a couple of reasons. First, we needed a change, having focused on "issue" books primarily, and second, I love serial killer mysteries. There's nothing like a great thriller to keep you company on a rainy afternoon. And this was no exception.It's Spring, 1896, and the New York City police department is faced with a dilemma. Someone is murdering and mutilating young male prostitutes. Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt brings together Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a controversial profiler (aka alienist), John Moore, the police beat reporter for the Times, and an assorted cast of trustworthy detectives and friends to take the case. Can this team of unexpected investigators find the murderer before he strikes again?? Guess you'll have to buy the book to find out... Overall, I enjoyed Carr's vivid description of turn of the century NYC and his ability to write in response to the time period's needs. I don't think he missed a single detail. The ending was slightly anti-climactic though I would not hesitate to recommend the book to anyone interested in this type of novel. I'm on my way to find The Angel of Darkness for more adventures with this funny, endearing group of characters.
Rating: 
Summary: An absolute masterpiece
Review: I honestly cannot imagine how anyone of sufficient intellect could give this book anything less than five stars. While I had heard of the book after it was first published, I had put off reading it since I've never been much of a serial killer/mystery reader. However, I was sitting in my Aunt's house one hot summer day, dreadfully bored, and decided to have a glance at the book, even though I had already decided I wouldn't like it. When I say that I was hooked on the first page, I am not being dramatic. This book whisked me away into the dark, stinking alleys and gutters of 19th century New York and didn't let me go until I had devoured the last page. I found that putting the book aside for even several hours was tantamount to agony and I would stay up late into the wee hours of the morning avidly reading its pages.
While this is one of the most depressing, graphic novels I have ever read, it was also filled with memorable and likeable characters, from John to Roosevelt himself. I felt as if I knew these people, like they were old friends and I was frantically trying to solve the case along with them. I am an avid but very discerning reader and do not often give books high ratings. This book is fully deserving of five stars and if I could give it more, I happily would. If you haven't read The Alienist, you've missed an amazing and mind-blowing experience.
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Summary: Not a literary accompaniment to ET or Area 51
Review: Caleb Carr indeed adds some unique elements to the psychological-serial-killer-gumshoe-on-the-case-detective-thriller type genre. What Carr brings to this novel is his attention to history as he attempts (and succeeds) to catch the essence of the times. Those times would be Gotham City, The Big Apple, NYC almost at the turn of last century, in the late 1880's. The reader finds all sorts of characters within The Alienist (none of which disappointingly are actual Aliens)...the quirky and innovative "Alienist" Lazzlo Kreizler, the crime beat reporter for the NY Times, John Moore, and the on-the-rise action -oriented Theodore Roosevelt. Side characters include New York street denizens rescued by Lazzlo, J.P. Morgan, Crime bosses, street urchins/boy prostitutes and potential murder victims, forensic detectives and a cast of others. All of this is centered around catching a serial killer that is offing NY boy-male transvestite prostitutes. The most unique element of the book is the way Carr reveals techniques that Lazzlo and detective crew employ that are brand new at the time...psychological profiling and forensics. Furthermore, he places these techniques in history by showing how "normal" society blanches at this unproven "witch doctor" science methods. It is truly interesting observing the construct of the killer from clues that Roosevelt's ad hoc underground detective group pick up and build the criminal in order to stop future murders. The characters aren't strongly developed. The plot sometimes comes haltingly. But for all that, it is an engaging read. It doesn't top my list or get 5-stars, but I think you will enjoy it for a summer read or for enhancing those dark short days of winter.
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Summary: Fascinating Story
Review: Caleb Carr's The Alienist is an interesting mystery novel. The plot revolves around a serial killer who is preying on very young (12, 13 years old) boy prostitutes in New York City. The police have no suspects and no real leads. Sounds familiar, but the twist is that the story takes place in 1896. The story is told from the perspective of a New York Times reporter, John Schuyler Moore. His friend is Laszlo Kreizler, who is a controversial psychologist (they were called Alienists at the time, thus the book's title) and together are brought into the case by their mutual friend, NYC Police Commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Carr expertly mixes real life characters like Roosevelt with his fictional ones. The two bring in a young aggressive woman (and friend) Sara Howard and two brothers, detectives, Luscious & Marcus Isaacison. The Isaacison's subscribe to a new and highly controversial method of police work, forensics. Together with the help of two of Dr. Kreizler's charges Stevie & Cyrus, they track the killer through psychological profiles and forensic evidence. They face numerous roadblocks along the way, but the book climaxes in a rousing and thrilling end. Mr. Carr does an incredible job of detailing New York City in the late 19th century. Through his vivid descriptions, you can imagine what the city was like at the time. The Alienist is a very fascinating story and a great read.
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Summary: the alienist, positively alienates any other book!
Review: i must say, i read this book for a school assignment my junior year in high school, but found that it quickly became my favorite book that i've yet read. This book is a great mystery thriller and keeps you reeled in with every line. A great read and brilliant historical context! My FAVORITE BOOK.
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Summary: Puts you back in the Low Life...
Review: References to Luc Sante's seminal work Low Life (foundational to Scorcese's Gangs of New York) are almost too obvious not to mention. Mr. Carr puts you right back into the lower side of New York in the late nineteenth century, writing about the alternative history we rarely visit. The main character, a New York Times reporter, gets invovled with an old friend, who is an alienist (what we today might call a psychiatrist, psychologist, or criminologist or a little bit of all three), to investigate a series of murders of 'boy whores' in the immigrant population of New York's seedier side. It may sound relatively uninteresting but with a historian's exactitude, Mr. Carr unfolds this side of life with precision and you feel as if you really are there. It's a brilliant setting. His writing style, that of a historian, is slow and intentional but ultimately inviting. It is not a fast paced read but is a very detailed book that unfolds very methodically, just as the mind of his antagonist works. He dabbles in psychology, criminology, police methods and brings in a host of historical characters such as his good friend, Theodore Roosevelt, police chief prior to being the President as he is so remembered. He brings the city to life, drawing from his historical data bank to keep it as accurate as fiction can be. All in all, I was greatly surprised, having picked this up just recently in a thrift store for fifty cents. Considering my interest in this period of time and that of the alternative histories of cities, it was serendipitous. If you haven't read it already, it is well worth reading.
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Summary: Great police procedural and historical setting
Review: It's the end of the century-the 19th that is-in New York City and Theodore Roosevelt is Police Commissioner. When a series of disturbing child murders and mutilations begins, an unorthodox team is assembled including an alienist (the 19th century's version of an abnormal psychologist basically), a reporter, 2 detective brothers trained in such "pioneering" methodologies as fingerprinting and a young woman determined to be the City's first female police officer. Their goal is to find one of the first known serial killers. Although this story is fiction, historical figures such as Roosevelt and John Hunt Morgan do make appearances and turn-of-the-century New York is rendered in fascinating detail. The story is fast-paced and despite its length you'll find that you'll make short work of reading it with most chapters ending with a teaser that makes you keep going. If you've read the other reviews, you may have noticed comments about the characters being rather flatly drawn and this criticism is valid. The character of Sara in particular is not fleshed out well and comes across as something of an anachronistic caricature. Still, this wouldn't be the first mystery novel with this shortcoming and Carr loads the story with details about 19th century New York and criminal science without killing the pacing. Definitely worth it but don't let the setting fool you. This is a graphic story and the victims are children so be warned.
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Summary: Great Book-graphic parts can make it hard to stomach
Review: Caleb Carr's The Alienist explores the process of tracking a killer in the 1890's. Without the use of high-tech "CSI" tools, Dr. Lazlo Kreizler is forced to track a killer through use of profiling. Told by John Moore, a writer, the Alienist follows the investigation as the detectives uncover more bodies and more clues to the killer's past and mindset. While I found this book exciting and interesting, It has many graphic parts when describing the deceased and I could see this as being a hard book for some to get through. Overall I liked the book and the characters in it and don't regret reading it.
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Summary: A worth-while mystery-thriller
Review: This book moved a little slow for me through oh, say - the first half of the book. Mostly it's an introduction to the characters who are grouped together by Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (yes, the President Roosevelt of Teddy Bear fame) to solve the murders of child hustlers in the late 1800's New York. But, when the action picks up - it does so with great alacrity! This is definitely a worth-while mystery-thriller to read - the history is well researched and you can nearly smell the stench of the streets of the 1890s. Narrated by investigative journalist John Schuyler Moore, we get to participate in the investigation with Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, the "alienist" as psychiatrists were known then, Miss Sarah Howard, Teddy Roosevelt's assistant, Stevie Taggart, Dr. Kreizler's servant, and two New York City police detective brothers. The best part of this book is knowing that the characters have been established and you can move on to the next book, The Angel of Darkness, which, in my opinion, is a much better, faster- moving read.
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