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elarsonwhittaker's review against another edition
4.0
my gripe with this book is that the author tries so hard to make the female villain multidimensional that he ends up turning the only female protagonist into a feminist stereotype. while she makes really great points about sexism and gender roles, her only real role is to provide the woman’s perspective to the many white cis men she works with.
other than that, this book was really fun and gripping. even the middle section, which is mostly a trial, is still interesting and kept me entertained. it works well as an independent book, even though this is apparently the second in the series. it also is a great representation of new york city in the late nineteenth century, and it was very cool to recognize places that were mentioned.
other than that, this book was really fun and gripping. even the middle section, which is mostly a trial, is still interesting and kept me entertained. it works well as an independent book, even though this is apparently the second in the series. it also is a great representation of new york city in the late nineteenth century, and it was very cool to recognize places that were mentioned.
noonis's review
4.0
I enjoyed this almost as much as The Alienist. The narrator is a different one from the same group of characters from the first book, which is a nice change in point of view. If you watch any crime shows on TV and are interested in NYC history, check this out.
sandrinepal's review
3.0
This book takes itself quite seriously (and it is enjoyable!) but at the end of nearly 700 pages, and after many carefully-crafted plot twists and much foreshadowing, I expected a little more from the denouement. As it was, all I got was a whole lot of laborious tying of loose ends. Generally speaking, it was a fun ride, but it would have been just as good (if not better) without the many musings about the feminine condition and the not-so-sacred bond of motherhood.
Spoiler
a lengthy but inconclusive court case, a thoroughly improbable intervention from the US Navy, andldickol's review
4.0
Fun read, an attachment to the characters even if the villain just never seemed to captivate me.
carlylottsofbookz's review
4.0
After really enjoying the first book, [b:The Alienist|40024|The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1)|Caleb Carr|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169386132s/40024.jpg|2266643], when I came across a sequel, I was stoked!! And I wasn't disappointed. although there were a few shaky moments at the beginning. I read The Alienist long enough ago that I didn't quite remember all the details of the characters...I think that reading them back to back would be a little more beneficial for understanding some of the subplots. However, I still enjoyed the book.
As in the first book, this turn of the century novel set in New York is full of big time players--Vanderbilt, Teddy Roosevelt, and Clarence Darrow (who, if you need a refresher was a very well accomplished lawyer, and defended Scopes in the Scopes 'Monkey' Trial--the teacher who dared to teach evolution in his class!...and I had to look that up to remember it...).
One theme remains the same: trying to solve crimes with science like fingerprinting, and other forensics (which at 1900 were very much in their infancy). The other daring move of this novel? It challenges the notion that women can be just as cruel as men...but is this something that society will accept??
As in the first book, this turn of the century novel set in New York is full of big time players--Vanderbilt, Teddy Roosevelt, and Clarence Darrow (who, if you need a refresher was a very well accomplished lawyer, and defended Scopes in the Scopes 'Monkey' Trial--the teacher who dared to teach evolution in his class!...and I had to look that up to remember it...).
One theme remains the same: trying to solve crimes with science like fingerprinting, and other forensics (which at 1900 were very much in their infancy). The other daring move of this novel? It challenges the notion that women can be just as cruel as men...but is this something that society will accept??
rolstew's review against another edition
4.0
A really long, really good, really thought provoking book. I wouldn’t take it on lightly, so if you don’t like to think as you read, this is not for you. But I would love for him to continue with Kreizler.
mostlyreadingbooks's review
4.0
The sheer volume of the book can be daunting but if you are familiar with Carr you know that after a few pages you will be deeply invested in the characters and the setting of NYC of the old times.
I just love this series. This time Stevie tells this story which adds a somewhat innocent and at times emotional aspect to the story.
Can women in particular mothers harm children and commit evil crimes?
This felt like the best episode of Law and order with a huge dose of history thrown into it. I couldn’t put it down.
I just love this series. This time Stevie tells this story which adds a somewhat innocent and at times emotional aspect to the story.
Can women in particular mothers harm children and commit evil crimes?
This felt like the best episode of Law and order with a huge dose of history thrown into it. I couldn’t put it down.
tschonfeld's review
4.0
Very well done - just as good as The Alienist. I'm a bit sorry he ended the series with two.