Caleb Carr's The Alienist garners praise for its gripping plot, rich historical detail, and well-developed characters. Critics appreciate its blend of psychological and crime thriller elements, though some find the pacing uneven and certain subplots underwhelming. Overall, it is lauded as a compelling read for fans of historical fiction and crime mysteries.

Readers who revel in historical mysteries with psychological depth will be captivated by Caleb Carr's The Alienist. Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series or Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City will appreciate its rich depiction of 1896 New York City and complex criminal investigations.

Set in 1896 New York City, Caleb Carr's historical thriller The Alienist follows Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychologist, as he leads a covert investigation into the brutal murders of commercially sexually exploited children. Assisted by New York Times reporter John Schuyler Moore, aspiring detective Sara Howard, and the forensic-minded Isaacson brothers, Kreizler builds a psychological profile of the killer amidst opposition from the city's powerful elite, supported clandestinely by Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt. The book includes graphic depictions of violence and discussions of the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

Mysterious / Dark / Suspenseful / Gritty / Melancholic

- The Alienist was adapted into a television series by TNT, which premiered in 2018 and starred Daniel Brühl, Luke Evans, and Dakota Fanning.
- The book's title, The Alienist, is derived from the historical use of the term "alienist," which referred to psychiatrists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who studied patients considered "alienated" from their normal selves.
- Caleb Carr, the author of The Alienist, is not only a novelist but also a military historian, which influences his detailed historical settings and characters in the book.

Caleb Carr

Adult

Novel

Dr. Laszlo Kreizler

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore The Alienist and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Alienist Summary

Background

The Alienist Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Perception”

Part 1, Chapters 1-13

The Alienist Part 1, Chapters 1-13 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Association”

Part 2, Chapters 14-29

The Alienist Part 2, Chapters 14-29 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Will”

Part 3, Chapters 30-47

The Alienist Part 3, Chapters 30-47 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Alienist Character Analysis

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Themes

The Alienist Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Alienist Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

The Alienist Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

The Alienist Essay Topics

The Alienist

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Alienist?

Reading Age

Book Details