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jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is another atmospheric and horrifying look at the crimes of a woman at a time when it was impossible to think of women as anything other than nurturing. It brings back the beloved characters from The Alienist, but this is narrated by a different member of the team, Stevie, a young pickpocket turned detectives’ assistant. His outlook is more knowing and his language grittier than that of the highbrow NYT reporter who narrated the first book.
Caleb Carr is so deft with language and style that we clearly see the underside of turn of the (last) century NY through the eyes of someone all too familiar with its seediness. There are some funny bits here, especially with Mike the ferret (a literal ferret, not a criminal name) as he bonds with Stevie in preparation for a mission. All the characters are again fleshed out into real people; none is just background filler.
I first read this when it came out in 1997, but rereading it was eye opening. Having just finished Carr’s memoir of his lifelong love of cats, beginning in his horrible childhood, I was shocked to see he dedicated this book to his parents. However, I liked the jab under the dedication: Teddy Roosevelt’s “It is not having been in the dark house, but having left it, that counts.” As I moved through the book I was delighted to see that the whole thing is a F*** You to the alcoholic parents who abused him for so long. I just wish I knew their response to it.
Caleb Carr’s recent death is a huge loss for his readers. I’m now hoping to read or reread his books.
Caleb Carr is so deft with language and style that we clearly see the underside of turn of the (last) century NY through the eyes of someone all too familiar with its seediness. There are some funny bits here, especially with Mike the ferret (a literal ferret, not a criminal name) as he bonds with Stevie in preparation for a mission. All the characters are again fleshed out into real people; none is just background filler.
I first read this when it came out in 1997, but rereading it was eye opening. Having just finished Carr’s memoir of his lifelong love of cats, beginning in his horrible childhood, I was shocked to see he dedicated this book to his parents. However, I liked the jab under the dedication: Teddy Roosevelt’s “It is not having been in the dark house, but having left it, that counts.” As I moved through the book I was delighted to see that the whole thing is a F*** You to the alcoholic parents who abused him for so long. I just wish I knew their response to it.
Caleb Carr’s recent death is a huge loss for his readers. I’m now hoping to read or reread his books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lilifane's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder