The Alienist

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Summary: "True fiction" enlightens readers with true psychology
Review: Dark, foreboding and frightful. So explains the setting of this book which places the reader in New York just prior to the turn of the century. A young reporter for the Times and a criminal psychologist-- who were referred to as alienists-- are caught in the middle of a murder mystery to stop a criminal and save a troubled man. They, along with two detectives and a female police secretary, interact with real historical characters of the time in this wonderful fiction novel that teaches the reader perhaps more than they wanted to know about deciphering the criminal mind. The Alienist is beyond amazing. A horrific yet engaging story, action-packed and full of intrigue, serves as a veil for what can easily be called a lesson in psychology, forensics and detective work that will leave you somewhere between Sherlock Holmes and Sigmund Feud.

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Summary: Have you ever consumed an entire pack of American Cheese?
Review: It isn't enjoyable, but some inner compulsion drives you to tear through the whole packet. When you've finished you feel slightly quesy and have a greasy gloss on your skin. This, in brief, is the experience of reading Carr's Alienist. The historical detail of 1896 New York and the enigma of a tot-dicing psycho lead to a tangy first few chapters, but eventually Carr's bland plotting and truly dreadful prose leave a reader gagging on the latest offering of Kraft presliced serial killer fiction.

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Summary: Fascinating historical novel
Review: Always intrigued by stories within an historical context, I was anxious to read Carr's novel. What I found was a lurid description of the seamy side of turn of the century New York, specifically, Manhattan, replete with male prositution, horrid tenements, and corrupt politicians. Carr weaves numerous major historical figures into his tale (e.g. T. Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan) as well as the relatively obscure, but real figures who add to the rich texture of not only the past, but certainly Carr's novel as well (e.g. photograper J. Riis). Despite a few slow passages, the novel always entertains and lifts up the carpet of late 18th century New York to reveal its most unsavory, swept aside contents.

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Summary: Murder-thriller-mystery fans; entertainment with history
Review: An enjoyable read that entertains with believable characters (for 1886) with a fascinating preview of NYC. Somewhat reminiscent of Panama, but a lot more exciting. You can put the book down late at night, but you'll pick it up again. Carr has just written a sequel, get this one under your belt now

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Summary: Couldn't finish it - Weak, Sherlock Holmes rehash
Review: I had a lot of high hopes for this book. But I couldn't even finish it. The end of each chapter has the incredibly passive main protagonist being "jerked" into the next chapter's so-called "adventure". Portraying a historically accurate setting is one thing, but developing characters of depth and creating a truly suspenseful plot is another. I cannot believe how people have fawned over this book. Conan Doyle, this guy ain't.

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Summary: A Period Thriller -- Robert Ludlum meets Jane Austen
Review: Carr deftly navigates through turn of the 20th-century Manhattan landscape as if he were a contemporary taxi driver. A mix of of psychological intrigue and historical presence make "The Alienist" a terrific read. A charter member of the modern top-ten list (Hemingway, Mailer, Salinger, at al.

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Summary: Trendy book over-rated
Review: After seeing so many complimentary reviews of this book, and looking for something light to read, I finally picked it up. Honestly a very poorly written book. All charactors are stero-types. The authors smugness and class superiority comes through on many pages. Female charactors are ridiculous. Poor people are treated as somewhat less human than the well-off. I expect that Mr. Carr has met very few people other than white, middle class+, academic types in his life. Writing was so bad at times I cringed and/or laughed, especially the time the main charactor is running from the tennament and scatters money on the sidewalk to discourage pursuit. It would have been offensive if not so damn stupid. However, a lot of interesting ideas and very good historical touches. All in all I was often interested in the book and did not find it unpleasant. Not a book I would recommend to someone who reads less than 30 books a year, your time certainly could be better spent. Happy ending felt contrived, but than again so did most of the book. The research, historical depth and early pyschological theroies written about are the only things that make it worth reading. Certainly does not stand on its own for literary value.

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Summary: First Class Mystery
Review: This book is wonderful for two reasons. First, the story is so spellbinding and fascinating, one does not want to put the book down. It takes place at the end of the 19th century in old New York. Teddy Roosevelt is the Chief of Police. (His new detective toy is something new called "fingerprinting". It goes from the seedy side to the elegant. The second thing that is so great about the book is the true historical detail woven into the setting. From the old Delmonico's to Five Corners and Wannamaker's, many of the locations mentioned in the book are still standing in NYC today. The mystery is truly first rate and the reader will be transported back in time to a strange world in the red light district of NY's not too distant past

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Summary: This book pulls you in. You'll lose work & sleep time.
Review: What a novel! I had 'The Alienist' on my bookshelves for over a year before I plunged in. 'This one will be some work' I thought as I put off reading it, but I was wrong. This book grabs you like an undertow and sucks you in. You'll probably lose work time, sleep time, and eating time, and you'll love it. By the time I was on page 40 of this 400 page novel, I was already telling people (in that slightly demented, evangelistic way we book lovers have) that they just HAD to read it. It's the best serial-killer novel I've read since 'Silence of the Lambs' and anyone who's read that classic knows what high praise that is. It was fascinating to read of New York at the turn of the century and compare how the city's changed and how it hasn't. Carr brings the city to smelly, chaotic life as he explores it's highest tiers and lowest depths with a cast of marvelously flawed characters; men and a woman who are determined to stop a killer who preys on victims that no one else cares about and who risk life and reputation simply because it's the right thing to do. My only beef with this amazing work is the very end (as in last page) which seemed a bit flat, as though a few paragraphs were chopped off, but don't let that stop you. Move mountains (or buy it, whichever seems easiest) to read 'The Alienist', You'll be glad you did

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Summary: READ IT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Those who gave this a poor review should stick to reading those ever boring (literary) novels of english class. For entertainment it won't get any better than this. I just wish mr. carr would delight us with a new novel soon