Reviews

Surrender, New York by Caleb Carr

hinesight's review against another edition

3.0

This is an odd book. I learned a lot about the fantasy of having a pet cheetah. I learned a lot about run-on sentences, and not in a good way. I learned a lot about wooden dialog, and particularly about jocular wooden dialog, a subspecies. I was reminded that foreshadowing must be used sparingly, if at all. Other than that, though ...

scribbler67's review against another edition

1.0

I really wanted to like this book but gave up after 150 pages. The main character comes across as an arrogant, pedantic ass with a penchant for speaking in a manner better suited to Carr's wonderful The Alienist. The story itself often gets buried in tangential detail--a lot of it. And the cheetah. Don't get me started about the cheetah. And if you're thinking, 'What does a cheetah have to do with this book?', then we're on the same page.

renfri_23's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

dale_in_va's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this book for many of the same reasons that I enjoyed the Alienist. The story was integral to the geographical setting and the geography and demography of upstate NY is a character in the novel. I also very much like the way the author develops all the main characters and gives them fully formed personalities with flaws and strengths. The investigaton in the novel was also equally satisfying insofar as the way the investigators come to their conclusions.

On the other hand, some of the novel was a bit corny and too referential of the alienist where it didn't need to be. I also find that there are a few unresolved aspects...mainly that I am left wondering what happened with Make's and LT's student team. They dissappeared after the aborted trip to NYC.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. And I liked that it takes one to places that and are unexpected and unconventional. And I loved the characters.

shoverter's review against another edition

2.0

I had huge hopes for this book - I loved the Alienist when I read it years ago. Sadly, I just couldn't get into this one. The narrative voice is too pedantic, the amount of detail on topics not core to the story is too high, and the dialogue is more stilted than I had expected. Because it's a mystery, I wanted to keep reading to find out who was behind the disappearances and murders, but I found myself picking up other books to read instead and only read about a third of it in the end.

jimmacsyr's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed the general story line, but did not understand why the throwaway requires more of a coverup than the foster/adoption system as described in the book. Author has a lot of soliloquies about investigative method, state of CSI shows and general CSI practice.

jmclincoln's review against another edition

2.0

An intriguing and clever mystery is embedded in this wandering, academically lecturing, and digressing novel. Thank heavens I listened to this book; otherwise, I would not have ever finished it. I could allow my attention to wander off during the heavily padded sections. Where were Mr. Carr's editors? I wish I could have given a higher rating for the very interesting mystery, but it wasn't worth the time involved to ferret it out.

Lots of product placement including a character using paper from Target!!

jsaw22's review against another edition

1.0

Bloated and political with one-dimensional characters, this novel was a far, far departure from another of his books (and one of my favorite books of all-time), The Alienist. Excruciating detail can work in historical novels (like the Alienist), but not so much in books set in the present day, like Surrender, New York.

Please Mr. Carr, Dr. Laszlo Kreizler as a character deserves more than as an obscure reference in a collegiate class syllabis.

This book was ridiculous, but I gave two stars as it was interesting enough to finish 596 pages, but only just barely.

kcopp's review against another edition

2.0

Too many words - definitely needed better editing. Plus felt talked down to throughout the book. Would NOT recommend this to anyone. Read the first 30% then skipped to the last 15%. Still too much time spent on this book.

mdfield's review against another edition

3.0

I’ve read most of Carr’s novels. This was a long read. Some really interesting stuff, but just too long.