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The Alienist

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The Alienist

By: Caleb Carr
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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About this listen
A new breed of evil in Old New York

New York, 1986: 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.©1994 Caleb Carr, All Rights Reserved; (P)1994 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved; Audioworks is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc. Genre Fiction Historical Horror Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Mystery Psychological Thriller & Suspense Scary Fiction New York Suspense

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All stars
Most relevant
This was an amazing story! Caleb Carr wrote a great story and the much missed Edward Herrmann was the best possible narrator.

Awesome

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Detailed and dark
Having watched the series this gave a less personal feel than on TV, more focused on the more than the individuals.
Highly recommend

Awesome!!!

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An old fashioned detective mystery that is well written and engrossing. The story transports you straight back in time, giving a truly atmospheric feeling. I loved the characters who are well rounded. Can't wait to read the next one.

Brilliantly done!

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I really enjoyed the TV adaptation so I thought I'd give the book a go and wasn't disappointed. The book is different enough to the series to be interesting whilst giving a different take on some of the characters. The narrator did a good job of giving different characters voices and accents.

Enjoyed the TV adaptation and loved the book

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Held my attention from start to finish. Fabulous read, amazing imaginative story. Much sympathy for characters.

Gripping novel

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