The Alienist

May 29, 1995
Set in 1896, Carr's novel about a serial killer lose in New York City was a 25-week PW bestseller.

It is 1896, and a serial murderer is on the loose in New York City. The twist here is that the unofficial investigation (sanctioned by Chief of Police Theodore Roosevelt) uses a doctor specializing in the new science of psychology to help solve the crimes. The result is a fascinating discussion of a city poised on the edge of modernity, expertly narrated by George Guidall. Besides creating numerous characters, Guidall builds excitement with masterful pacing, effective pauses, and an omnipresent understanding of the text. Guidall uses his voice both to smooth out Carr's narrative wrinkles and to capture a city about to emerge as a major force in the twentieth century. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine