The Alienist

By: Caleb Carr

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 20 hrs

Publisher's summary

The year is 1896, the place, New York City. On a cold March night New York Times reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned to the East River by his friend and former Harvard classmate Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychologist, or "alienist." On the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge, they view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy, a prostitute from one of Manhattan's infamous brothels.

The newly appointed police commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt, in a highly unorthodox move, enlists the two men in the murder investigation, counting on the reserved Kreizler's intellect and Moore's knowledge of New York's vast criminal underworld. They are joined by Sara Howard, a brave and determined woman who works as a secretary in the police department. Laboring in secret (for alienists, and the emerging discipline of psychology, are viewed by the public with skepticism at best), the unlikely team embarks on what is a revolutionary effort in criminology-- amassing a psychological profile of the man they're looking for based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest 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.

Fast-paced and gripping, infused with a historian's exactitude, The Alienist conjures up the Gilded Age and its untarnished underside: verminous tenements and opulent mansions, corrupt cops and flamboyant gangsters, shining opera houses and seamy gin mills. Here is a New York during an age when questioning society's belief that all killers are born, not made, could have unexpected and mortal consequences.

©1994 Caleb Carr (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Good story well told

George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators, and he does a magnificent job with this story. Victorian England is always a good backdrop for a thriller, and this is no exception.

An Amazing Criminal Profiling Team

This is a historical fiction, psychological thriller and journey into the criminal profiling process. The main characters' affable personalities create an eclectic group of investigators as they create their criminal's profile. While the subject matter is intense and certainly not for everyone, I thoroughly enjoy Carr's intricate tale and Guidall's reading thereof. The Alienist is a fantastic and engaging adventure.

terrific

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A fresh approach to mental health in the early 20th century . Very interesting characters and plot. A must read

Loved this book

I liked the series on TV, but as is usual, the book provided much more detail and was very interesting. I really enjoyed the development of modern profiling techniques developed by the group, and the various scientific methods they used to solve the case. Being a fan of the Victorian/ golden age, the descriptions of New York, it’s society and culture were also very interesting.

The Dawning of Forensic Psychiatry

Marvelous story with great depth of character, intelligent analysis, thrilling danger and valid setting in NYC at the turn of the last century. This book is excellent reading.

Action thriller edge of seat!

I really enjoyed this book it had my on the edge of my seat the whole time! It was really cool book using historical figures but a fictional story. I could see this as a good movie.

Holy Shyte!

This story is INCREDIBLE! I saw the TV show on TNT Channel before listening to this audio book, so this story is a bit more "fleshed out".

But HOLY SHYTE! What an incredible story.
I highly recommend this audio book.

Outstanding classic revisited

Awesome book...one of my favorite works of fiction. Top notch story telling. Big time suspense.

A great psychological mystery

I recently listened to The Alienist written by Caleb Carr and narrated by George Guidall.

An alienist, at the turn of the 19th century at least, is what we might think of as a psychologist today. Dr Kreizler, a well known Alienist, and Mr Moore, both friends of Theodore Roosevelt, are secretly commissioned by Roosevelt to form a secret police unit that will be the first to engage in forensic psychology in order to capture a disturbed individual that's been murdering children, mostly male children who are prostitutes dressed as girls, throughout New York city.

Narration: George Guidall does an excellent job with the text, however, I think it helps that the text is written from the perspective of Mr. Moore who is a bit of the so called 'everyman' in the story. He pairs nicely George Guidall's down to earth narration style.

Conclusion: This is a really interesting historical mystery with strong psychological undertones. The book is both well researched and well written and really captures the emotions of the characters as well as the tenor of New York city at that time. It's an excellent choice for those who want a period crime novel in the city that never sleeps.

Great book.

Truly one of the best books I’ve listen to in a very long time. Keeps you on The edge of your seat always wanting to know what’s gonna happen next.