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The Alienist Audiobook
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(4.00) - 53,174 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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.
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"A truly excellent book written by a brilliant author. This is a perfect example of a cerebral nook that is well written so many facets....history, medical treatments in that era, learning the why's & how's when Teddy Roosevelt was Police Commissioner in NYC.... and the ultimate...evidence of the existence of a serial killer. Unheard of & not accepted theory at that time. Learn what an alienist too!!"
— Betty (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A first-rate tale of crime and punishment.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Gripping, atmospheric, intelligent, and entertaining.”
— USA Today -
“A fascinating discussion of a city poised on the edge of modernity, expertly narrated by George Guidall. Besides creating numerous characters, Guidall builds excitement with masterful pacing, effective pauses, and an omnipresent understanding of the text. Guidall uses his voice both to smooth out Carr’s narrative wrinkles and to capture a city about to emerge as a major force in the twentieth century.”
— AudioFile -
“This story boasts a veracious historical feel and a tight plot that keeps open the murderer's identity to the end. An original that fits no established mystery niche, Carr’s fictional debut could be the start of something big.”
— Booklist -
“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.”
— Detroit News -
“A high-spirited, charged-up, and unfailingly smart thriller.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“The new sciences of fingerprinting and handwriting analysis are combined with Kreizler’s psychological research into the criminal mind to create a portrait of the unknown assassin. The reader is drawn into the frustrating complexity of criminal investigation before DNA and modern technologies were even dreamed of, and the descriptive details of time and setting are captivating and convincing.”
— Crime Reads
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
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A Crime Reads Pick of Best Historical Crime Novels Set during the Gilded Age
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Winner of the Anthony Award for Best First Novel
The Alienist Listener Reviews
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Rhonda, 5/3/2016
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" A Deliciously gory mystery that bring 1896 NYC and forensics to life. "
— Denise, 2/19/2014 -
" Just the kind of historical fiction I love. Sherlock like character in 19th century America. "
— Russell, 2/19/2014 -
" Good Book. Thought provoking. The First CSI team, basically. "
— Gordon, 2/10/2014 -
" instead of a psychological whodunit, this is a whydunit. explores how events in the murderer's life made him who he is. I can't in good conscience recommend the book because of unsavory subject matter and very ugly murders, but i enjoyed the detective team's use of burgeoning methods and applications of Henry James' principles of psychology. set in new york 1896 against T Roosevelt's efforts to clean up police corruption. I learned a lot. "
— Heather, 2/9/2014 -
" I should have given it two stars because the story was pretty weak, in my opinion, but the historical detail was so rich that I've bumped it up to three. This is a genre-type mystery novel about a search for a serial killer in late 19th Century New York City, and I can easily say that it comes nowhere close to comparing to with Alan Moore's Jack the Ripper masterpiece: From Hell. Carr has a decent voice, but he leaves questions unanswered, and his red herrings are so obvious that I consider them laughable. Kudos on the details of the city, poo-poo on the story and the flat characters. This is what I get for buying a book simply because I liked the dude's name... Caleb Carr. I still like his name. "
— Jamie, 2/7/2014 -
" This is one of my favorite books of all time. If you love historical fiction and thrillers it is a must read "
— Melva, 2/3/2014 -
" I very much enjoyed this book the first time I read it. When I tried to read it again I couldn't get into it. "
— Amy, 1/17/2014 -
" Very slow in places. Would have liked a faster pace. "
— Rose, 12/24/2013 -
" Historical fiction story of a serial killer in 1890s NYC. "
— Mike, 12/22/2013 -
" This book was like a Olde Tymey Law & Order: SVU episode. So of course I liked it! It was a little "look how much research I did about NYC history" at times, but still definitely a fun read. "
— Malia, 11/9/2013 -
" Fascinating description of turn of the century criminology. Lots of attention to historical detail but the characters were a little flat. "
— Taryn, 11/7/2013 -
" This was a big, authentic, first novel that totally captures the reader and take them back in time to olden NYC. I am a history nut and the historical facts are all on point. The characters are all flushed out beautifully and the storytelling is strong and honest. "
— Vfields, 10/29/2013 -
" If you like historical fiction, you will like this book. "
— Cindy, 10/28/2013 -
" Loved this thriller set in 1896 NY with Teddy Roosevelt as the head of police. "
— Natasha, 10/27/2013 -
" Read this so many years ago that I don't remember much about it other than that I enjoyed it. :-) "
— Sherill, 10/12/2013 -
" I loved how I could relate the locations in the book to locales in NYC and marvel at how much the city has changed "
— Sunita, 9/27/2013 -
" i liked it...looking forward to snagging the sequel "
— Raequel, 8/21/2013 -
" Spectacular thriller! Murder. Fast paced. Some parts are extremely graphic sexually, and not for the faint of heart. Good read. "
— Vicki, 8/17/2013 -
" Just didn't get into this one. Too dense and slow moving for me. It had some promise and maybe I gave up too soon, but I gave it up after realizing I would choose anything else to read first. "
— Widdershins, 6/20/2013 -
" I really need to read this again. It's been a long time. "
— Brady, 5/30/2013 -
" Tale of crime and punishment that will keep readers adrenaline rushing. "
— Quincess, 5/4/2013 -
" Felt like I was living in the 19th century. Great story. "
— Gloria, 4/6/2013 -
" Loved this book. It ended with scenes at the Metropolitan Opera and the Croton Reservoir, which is now where the NY Public Library was built. Enjoyed all the descriptions and the characters. Will read the second book in this series. Most enjoyable! "
— Annmbray, 12/15/2012
About Caleb Carr
Caleb Carr is the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of The Alienist, The Angel of Darkness, The Lessons of Terror, and Surrender, New York, among numerous other novels. His journalism has been published in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. He holds a degree in military and diplomatic history and has taught at Bard College.
About George Guidall
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.