By Caleb Carr: The Alienist

By Caleb Carr: The Alienist

The entertaining, suspenseful novel is set in New York City during the 1890s. Author Carr creates a great scene of the period with well-drawn characters and a killer plot (sorry for the pun). The newly appointed police commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt joins with a brave, determined policewoman, Sara Howard, and a reserved intellect alienist (19th word for a psychologist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a Freud- Holmeish character and crime reporter John Schuyler Moore, to stop a serial killer preying on young children. Non-stop suspense and a book you can't put down as the brave comrades try to figure out the Jack-the-ripper-like killer's next move. Carr recreates 19th Century New York City to a tee, and his characters & plot are so believable, a terrific read.