Random House Trade The Angel of Darkness: Book 2 of the Alienist

Una primera edición, pasta dura tipo libro antiguo, todo el diseño como si fuera libro de la época en la que se desarrolla la historia lo hace más hermoso. La narración genial, esta vez desde el punto de vista de Stevie el pupilo del Dr. Kreizler. Caleb Carr sabe transportarnos a la época y atraparnos en una historia de crimen, misterio y personajes extraordinarios.

Great purchase

This is the chilling and just-as-good sequel to Carr's "The Alienist".Refresher: Set in late 1890's New York City; Dr. Laszlo Kreizler is a well-known, but controversial Alienist (an early form of a Criminal Psychologist/CSI Investigator).This tale begins 1 year after the end of "The Alienist" and is told from the point of view of Stevie Taggart (one of Kreizler's students and a protégé of sorts). The team has returned to their "normal" lives and jobs until the distraught wife of a Spanish diplomat begs Sara's aid. She works to get the team to reunite to help her find the kidnapped infant daughter. What they uncover is a suspect who appears to the world to be a heroic nurse and a loving mother....but who may in reality be a ruthless murderer of children! This villain proves to be a most worthy and capable opponent of Kreizler and his team.....not all of whom survive to see whether or not justice is served or whether the kidnapped infant is returned to her mother.The most sobering line of the novel: "True to the Doctor's beliefs, the REAL MONSTERS continue to wander the streets unnoticed, going about their strange and desperate work with a fever what looks to the average citizen like nothing more than the ordinary effort required to ge through an ordinary day".This is a long read (625+ pages)...and the first 1/3 of the book is pretty slow in setting up the necessary back stories and character developments. The pace picks up about half-way in and the remainder of the book is a page-turning flurry of exciting and surprising events. As with "The Alienist" Carr again weaves into the story historical events and characters: The U.S./Spanish War; suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton; painter Albert Pinkham Ryder; Theodore Roosevelt; and famed attorney Clarence Darrow.

This novel is very, very good. I read a variety of genres [even romance novels!].The plot is very, very good. The characters are neither cliche nor annoying. The person narrating--as you read the book and learn more--is the perfect person to tell the story of Libby Hatcher. She is one of the best and most interesting murderers I have read. Perhaps it is because she is female. Everything has meaning. The language--it all flows. It's like butter. Finished it in 3 days [couldn't put it down].The novel weaves in the development of psychology and forensics in a way that feels normal and natural. I think one of the reasons that this novel is so compelling because it directly challenges a stereotype that prevails to this day--and that is all women are nurturers. Even in the present women who commit crimes are often given significantly less sentences compared to their male counterparts [even if the crime is equal]. The novel is not preachy and weaves an excellent story. There are referenes to the previous novel but it spoils little.The villain is just fascinating...and one of the most skillful manipulators I have ever read.I think you can read this novel without having read the first novel. The only plot spoiler I really picked up on was that it dropped the name of a character who died in the first novel.

Caleb Carr is an excellent writer, great details, pulls you in visually. Love all of the main characters, the part timers you Love or hate, even when you know what's happening or about to happen it holds its grip on you. Well read book, worth looking at his other works too imo! 😁Excellent Seller! Quick, packed well, New, very happy, Thanks!!!