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Dr. Laszlo Kreizler #1-2

The Angel of Darkness and The Alienist

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From Book 1: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NOW A TNT ORIGINAL SERIES“A first-rate tale of crime and punishment that will keep readers guessing until the final pages.”— Entertainment Weekly“Caleb Carr’s rich period thriller takes us back to the moment in history when the modern idea of the serial killer became available to us.”— The Detroit NewsWhen The Alienist was first published in 1994, it was a major phenomenon, spending six months on the New York Times bestseller list, receiving critical acclaim, and selling millions of copies. This modern classic continues to be a touchstone of historical suspense fiction for readers everywhere.The year is 1896. The city is New York. Newspaper reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned by his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizler—a psychologist, or “alienist”—to view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy abandoned on the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge. From there the two embark on a revolutionary effort in creating a psychological profile of the perpetrator based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who will kill again before their hunt is over.Fast-paced and riveting, infused with historical detail, The Alienist conjures up Gilded Age New York, with its tenements and mansions, corrupt cops and flamboyant gangsters, shining opera houses and seamy gin mills. It is an age in which questioning society’s belief that all killers are born, not made, could have unexpected and fatal consequences.Praise for The Alienist“[A] delicious premise . . . Its settings and characterizations are much more sophisticated than the run-of-the-mill thrillers that line the shelves in bookstores.” — The Washington Post Book World“Mesmerizing.” — Detroit Free Press“The method of the hunt and the disparate team of hunters lift the tale beyond the level of a good thriller—way beyond. . . . A remarkable combination of historical novel and psychological thriller.” — The Buffalo News“Engrossing.” — Newsweek“A ripsnorter of a plot . . . a fine dark ride.” — The Arizona Daily Star“Remarkable . . . The reader is taken on a whirlwind tour of the Gilded Age metropolis, climbing up tenement stairs, scrambling across rooftops, and witnessing midnight autopsies. . . . A breathtaking, finely crafted mystery.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch “Gripping, atmospheric . . . intelligent and entertaining.” — USA Today“A high-spirited, charged-up and unfailingly smart thriller.” — Los Angeles Times“Keeps readers turning pages well past their bedtime.” — San Francisco Chronicle “Harrowing, fascinating . . .

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1000

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726 people want to read

About the author

Caleb Carr

42 books3,565 followers
Caleb Carr was an American novelist and military historian. The son of Lucien Carr, a former UPI editor and a key Beat generation figure, he was born in Manhattan and lived for much of his life on the Lower East Side. He attended Kenyon College and New York University, earning a B.A. in military and diplomatic history. He was a contributing editor of MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History and wrote frequently on military and political affairs.

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5 stars
365 (43%)
4 stars
305 (36%)
3 stars
140 (16%)
2 stars
17 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Marc Estes.
Author 2 books22 followers
March 5, 2014
Great follow up to an even greater book!
236 reviews11 followers
May 22, 2014
Read the Alienist first and them this. Love this author
Profile Image for Aditi.
140 reviews3 followers
May 26, 2014
I tried and tried to finish this book. But after three months of falling asleep, I just can't I loved "The Alienist," and this book has an equally interesting story, but MAN is it sloooow. Too slow for me. Also, it has a lot of typos/grammatical mistakes, which are a big turn off and a big contradiction to the book's otherwise immaculate diction. Maybe someday I'll finish it....or Wikipedia the ending.
Profile Image for D.B. Watson.
Author 14 books1 follower
November 7, 2018
All my favorte charaters came back and the narrorator is Stevy that said, this is a must read for anyone who live the Aienist.
Profile Image for Julia Culbreth.
107 reviews6 followers
January 26, 2021
Good solid read. Fast enough to keep me interested through to the end. Great characters. I will go back and read the first book in the series.
Profile Image for George.
145 reviews
March 2, 2021
An interesting read, but it does slow down in places, and other than the main character, the others are pretty one-dimensional. I would give the author another try in his new book.
439 reviews8 followers
August 26, 2021
Very good just not a happy ending. As if there can be one.
165 reviews
February 28, 2024
While the story was interesting, the novel was far too long. It didn't really add to the story.
22 reviews
February 22, 2022
Although the crime being investigated seemed contrived and a somewhat weaker story than the first Alienist book, revisiting the characters is satisfying.
31 reviews2 followers
May 6, 2008
This is actually two books. The Alienist is one of my favorite historical mysteries. The characters and story are very well developed and of their time. I liked the sequel, but not quite as much. The change of narator was not as strong. I always wanted another sequel from the female character's perspective.
Profile Image for Donna.
274 reviews4 followers
June 15, 2014
As always a great story combined with factual history thrown in to give an indepth depiction of the period. Carr delves into the underbelly which was the hardscrapple New York City streets. A tour de force which is hard for other authors to attain. My only wish is for this author to write more books!!!!! Bravo!
Profile Image for S.R..
Author 1 book14 followers
September 6, 2018
This book was hard to get through, not because of the writing, but because of the story line. So many people die in this one that the author spent time building up that each one felt like a punch to the gut. If you enjoyed the first book, you will probably enjoy this one, but be prepared to possibly tear up in the second half of the book...a lot...
Profile Image for Adriana.
12 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2008
I didn't have any expectations when I picked up this book but I really liked it. Carr really draws the characters beautifully and the setting is as clear as can be. Haven't read Angel of Darkness yet.
10 reviews
May 7, 2008
The Alienist is one of my all time favorite books. Mr. Carr casts an amazing picture of Teddy Roosevelt's Manhattan, at a time when the serial killer phenomenon was just being noticed in the civilized world. Very compelling thriller, with a very vivid depiction of historical Manhattan.
27 reviews6 followers
June 6, 2008
Five stars for the pure candy corn delight of a read that is "The Alienist". Can't say the same for the sequel which is also part of the set, "Angel of Darkness". However, if you ever felt like you were a member of the Blood Hound Gang then The Alienist is the book for you.
1 review
April 29, 2008
The Alienist is probably my favorite book of all time!!
4 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2008
This is actually two books. I read The Alienist and loved it. I am currently reading Angel of Darkness and can't put it down!
Profile Image for Eric.
167 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2008
The Alienist is an awesome historical fiction detective novel set in turn of the century New York. The sequel, Angel of Darkness, proved he was a one-hit-wonder...
Profile Image for Lauren Arbolino.
40 reviews3 followers
June 4, 2008
The Alienist is one of my favorite reads and rereads. If you like a mystery and a psychological thriller, this is historical fiction at its best.
Profile Image for Guy.
383 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2008
Loved these 1800's era CSI books.
Profile Image for Shari.
165 reviews1 follower
Read
December 4, 2008
The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr (1998)
10 reviews
November 4, 2010
Not as good as the Alienist but it was satisfying.
Profile Image for Karen.
10 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2012
Not as good as the alienist
Profile Image for Lynn Mclaughlin.
48 reviews
August 30, 2012
Loved this one too! Haven't read anything else by him that even approached these first two. ( The Alienist & The Angel of Darkness)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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