17
Jun
2009
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
An alienist is a pyschiatrist, especially one who offers expert testimony on someone’s sanity at trial. It’s not used any more, but was popular in the late 1800’s, when this book took place, and when psychiatry was a relatively new field.
This book follows Dr. Lazslow Kreizler as he tries to track down the serial killer terrorizing New York City.
The killer has been concentrating on immigrant adolescent male prostitutes. And he gouges out their eyes.
The book isn’t too gruesome. It’s just gruesome enough for a thriller. There’s not all of the forensic gore that goes on in a lot of modern day thrillers, as that technology wasn’t available. The gruesome scenes (and there are quite a few) usually take about a page of description, which can easily be passed.
If modern technology wasn’t available, then what was available? Fingerprinting has just been discovered, which might be useful, though many people still doubt it. Other than that, Kreizler’s psychological instinct, and good ol’ fashioned sleuth work.
This is an absorbing read. The details of old NYC are lushly rendered, without glossing over the horrible conditions immigrants lived in in the poor districts. To me, that’s one of the most disturbing parts.
But their lives are in danger from more than one corner of the city.
If you like this book/author you might like:
The Angel of Darkness (F) by Caleb Carr
Agelica (F) by Arthur Phillips
The Devil in the White City (CNF ) by Erik Larson
The Meaning of Night: A Confession (F) by Michael Cox
The Somnambulist (F) by Jonathan Barnes
The Anatomy of Deception (F) by Lawrence Goldstone
Drood (F) by Dan Simmons
The Pale Blue Eye (F) by Louis Bayard
Murder in the Park (F) by Victoria Thompson
Dead Men Do Tell Tales (F) by William R. Maples, PhD, and Michael Browning
Other works by Caleb Carr:
The Angel of Darkness (F)
The Italian Secretary (F)
Killing Time (F)
The Devil Soldier (NF)
The Lessons of Terror: A History of Warfare Against Civilians (NF)
Casing the Promise Land (F)
Judy,
I have been reading your reviews and posts since you started following me on Twitter. Thanks for keeping in touch with me, it was good to see you again!
After I get a couple of recipes down would it be okay if I sent you a copy of what I have so far. I have never written a book before, and advice, recipes, drooling complements would be appreciated.
Good luck with you author interview with J.C. Hallman!
-Gordie
Sure, Gordie, I’d be happy to have a look!