Personally, I could not get thru this book. As much as I loved The Alienist, I absolutely abhorred this book. If you want a great read by Caleb Carr, read The Alienist. Don't bother with this one.

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Gutwrenching and real. Almost too much suspense and tension for me. Afraid of the ending.

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I think that you would like this book if you enjoy historical fiction (particularly about turn of the century NYC) and psychology. I don't think it was as suspenseful early on as The Alienist was, but it keeps you wanting to know more. And the characters were just as charming the second time around.

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A suspensful historical mystery set in 1897 New York. The story centers on a serial killer and on the kidnapping of a baby daughter of a Spanish diplomat. An absorbing read!

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The Alienist, by Caleb Carr was a fantastic book. While not quite the caliber of his other novel, this was a good, well-paced read.

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A compelling novel with unique and engaging characters and the ever present sights sounds and smells of 1890's New York as its stage.
550 pages into the book, I decided I couldn't read the whole book and I jumped to the last 10 pages. Then a curious thing happened. Bit by bit, I went back to find out what happened and ended up eventually reading all 200 pages I'd skipped. A light dawned.
I couldn't finish, I realized, because of the overwhelming feeling of dread, of impending doom that hung over the earnest, well-meaning players in the tale. I couldn't take the tense suspense! Once I knew the outcome, I had to go back and read how and why and fill in the gaps to the story.
That's one heck of a book, don't you think?
philomene

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The Alienist was definitely better. The characters in The Angel of Darkness are interesting enough, but they are rather flat. None of them have real dimension and stereotypes (as well as anti-stereotypes) rear their ugly heads. Additionally, the plot has serious credibility issues. Finally, the author's attempt at period dialect is awkward and inconsistent. That said, I finished it and was mildly entertained.

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I read the first book, The Alienist, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Thus, when I saw there was a sequel, this book, The Angel of Darkness, I was excited to read that as well. I was not disappointed. Both books are engaging. Mr. Carr does have a talent for these early century historical, crime thriller type stories.

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