A novel for anyone and everyone

Author's Rating:

Pros: The characters are fascinating, the story is gripping, and the themes are well explored

Cons: The descriptions of New York, while beautiful, are a little lengthy

The Bottom Line: 
Read this novel just to say you've read the best suspense novel on earth.

Author's Review
Why did this book do so well? Why has it been so critically acclaimed? Because it has something for everyone.

Like mystery and suspense? It's got plenty of that. The story is fast paced and Caleb Carr uses his foreshadowing so effectively that you can't help but read on, even as the clock chimes 3 a.m. Don't like suspense novels? Don't worry. I don't either. But this is still my favourite novel; Mr. Carr makes sure that his novel doesn't simply revolve around a racy plot.

Like history? This novel is filled to the brim with beautiful descriptions of New York circa 1896; it is quite obvious that Caleb Carr spent a lot of time researching for this thing. The descriptions are so precise that you can practically see 19th century New York before you. Theodore Roosevelt is one of the main characters, and while the idea of using real-life historical figures as main characters in a work of fiction usually doesn't materialize very well, it's done right in The Alienist. He's not just a cardboard character. He's a person. Not into history? Well, you will be. You will be.

Like psychology? The Alienist is an exploration of psychology at a time when it was still in its youth, and still very much frowned upon. The novel essentially revolves around psychology; the psychology of the murderer, the psychology of Dr. Kreizler's patients as well as his own psychology, the psychology of the other main characters, and so on. Not into psychology? Don't worry, Caleb Carr won't bore you with endless psychological profiling. He's got a story to tell.

Like character-driven novels? Well, this isn't quite that, but for a plot-driven novel, its characters are pretty damn well-developed. I couldn't believe how much depth he went into with his characters... it's been my experience that thrillers tell you their name and profession and you're set to go. But every single one of them, especially the complex Dr. Kreizler (whom I just wanted to hug and tell him not to despair, that everything's alright, that he really is a good person), are fully developed individuals that you care deeply for (as illustrated above). Don't like too much character description? Don't worry. He doesn't go overboard.

Like beautiful prose? The prose of this novel is part of what makes the experience so enjoyable. It's always nice to have an author who can write. Don't like complicated prose? Well, he doesn't use a lot of the figurative language that gets some readers frustrated (not myself included but the lack of figurative language didn't bother me because he's such a good writer anyway). He gets right to the point. Just in a nice way.

Like a little melodrama? Oh, there are some pretty sad, touching, and emotional parts. Like romance? We've even got some of that. Like horror and gore? It's in there, here and there. Everything is in there somewhere. You just have to look.

I read this book over two years ago, and I still find myself thinking about it. And I'm not alone. Everyone I ask who has read this book can't get it out of their head. There are very few books that can do that. Take advantage of this chance to read one.