The Alienist

By: Caleb Carr

Narrated by: George Guidall

A new breed of evil in Old New York

New York, 1886: Lower Manhattan's underworld is ruled by a new generation of cold-blooded criminals...Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt battles widespread corruption within the department's ranks...and a shockingly brutal murder sets off an investigation that could change crime-fighting forever.

In the middle of a wintry March night, New York Times reporter John Moore is summoned to the East River by his friend Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a brilliant pioneer in the new and much-maligned discipline of psychology, the emerging study of society's "alienated" mentally ill. There they view the horribly mutilated body of a young boy, a prostitute from one of Manhattan's infamous brothels. Supervised by Commissioner Roosevelt, the newsman and his "alienist" mentor embark on a revolutionary attempt to identify the killer by assembling his psychological profile -- a dangerous quest that takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who has killed before...and will kill again before the hunt is over.

As rich in vivid period ambience as Ragtime and Time and Again, and as relentlessly suspenseful as Red Dragon or The Silence of the Lambs, The Alienist will take you to a New York that no longer exists -- to confront an evil of timeless savagery.

Favorite Book of All Time

Mr. Carr can weave an amazing story. The fact that much of it is historically accurate is an added plus. Just wish he'd write Sarah's story. I'd buy it in a heart beat.

great listen

A great detective story taking place in late 19th century NYC with referances to actual people and places. good narration and a decent pace.

Excellent read

Wonderful historical mystery. Read this book in my 20’s and just finished the audio version 15 years later. If you like a good murder/serial killer mystery, you’ll love this one.

Psychological Thriller: prepare to be scared .

Caleb Carr brings us a capsule of mind sickness that an Alien is
must untangle. Before another youngster dies a horrible death.

Superb

A very well narrated book. Was hard to set it down. Enjoyed every minute of it.