The Alienist - Simply a Great Read

Author's Rating:

Pros: Good detail of the time period, great murder mystery, great characters

Cons: none really

The Bottom Line: 
I recommend this to everyone because it really is a good book.

Author's Review
I have read this book about a year ago and believe this is a great novel for everyone to enjoy. I absolutely share my love for historical fiction and this is one that I think everyone should read. Not only is it entertaining but it is also educational. It really portrays and brings to life the New York Society in the late 19th century during the Gilded Age. This was a rough time for a lot of people and I think Carr vividly depicts the lives of the people of New York during that time.

He also brings into life real characters such as Theodore Roosevelt, whom he depicts very accurately. He also takes us into the world of crime fighting at the turn of the century when intricate investigations was a new concept. Also, he brings us into the psychological realm and aspect of the crime fighting. Besides, Carr wasn’t a history major for nothing. The novel is rich in detail, which some people may think is excessive but I think this is great because it really makes you empathize with the society. You almost feel as if you’re right there with them. His choice of detail is quite plausible and I think this is one of the main reasons why I really enjoyed this book.

He cooks up a great murder mystery. He also has created a great group of characters that evolve throughout the book and by the end, you feel attached to these characters. There were some sad moments, some funny moments, some serious moments, you name it. It was a complete novel and I learned a lot from it.

Here, in our century we take for granted the decent lifestyle that were not available to many of the population of New Yorkers during the Gilded Age. Having lice, being dirty, having very little, etc. was the way of life back then. Now, everyone has a car, PC, money, hygiene, etc. Life was hard back then and this is one thing you can learn from the novel. Overall, though the book is highly entertaining.