Rating: 
Summary: Another eye-roller from Caleb Carr - bleah
Review: SPOILER: Admittedly, I did not care from "The Alienist" either, so put off "Angel" for several years, until I ran out of everything else. I find Carr's period characterizations anachronistic, terribly inconsistent, but in "Angel" his portrayal of a child-killing female is stomach-wrenchingly awful. What a hodgepodge of ideas he frantically jumbles together! Who is this woman? We are at first to believe that she is a childless woman who has kidnapped an attractive infant and is hiding it to fulfill maternal instinct. As her history unfolds we are told she systematically killed her first child at birth and buried it (along with a dog she'd poisoned), then married, bore and shot her three preschoolers a few years down the line - ah but *this time* in a fury - her surviving child, conveniently mute for 3 years until Dr. Krietzler lays hands on her, is able to tell us that. But ow-my-head comes in the succession of Nanny Jobs this woman, who in her final scene states how she detests kids, takes for apparently no other reason that to axe the kids -poison, fire, guns - you name it! Her last couple of crimes (at least) are kidnap/murders - yeah, right. Please Caleb, show me the case histories you based this montage upon. It's like Charles Manson meets Stalin meets O.J. And the scene where she escapes from prison using her "womanly wiles" - PLEASE!! Okay, I shouldn't read books by authors I don't like, but the lovefest of previous reviews left me wondering "what's wrong with me?" (Or words to that effect!)
Rating: 
Summary: soonerfan
Review: A fan of Caleb Carr's after 'The Alienist', I was unable to put this one down as well. Carr's unique method of entwining the characters' unique traits into the turn-of-the-century time period is excellent. This novel is definitely a page turner. Carr has once again delivered a refreshing read!
Rating:
Summary: Another good story
Review: Carr once again does a great job at transporting the reader to a very believable depiction of New York around the turn of the century. While I don't think this was quite as good as The Alienist, it is still very good. The characters and dialogue are both interesting and well written. The biggest problem that I had with this book was Stevie using "what" in place of "that". If you liked The Alienist, I'm sure you'll enojoy this as well.
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Summary: Nowhere near as good as 'The Alienist'
Review: After loving 'The Alienist,' I was very disappointed in 'The Angel of Darkness.' It was completely implausible, especially the 'Angel' being on good terms with a street gang. And the midget was just too much. A big disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read
Review: "The Angel of Darkness" is an excellent follow-up to "The Alienist," also a great book. Despite what some say, the characters' actions make sense in the context (as Kreizler would say) of their situations and lives. It is well-written and will keep you fascinated for hours. Don't start it if you're going to have to get up and do something else (you won't want to) and don't read the latter parts when you're alone in the house at night. It does get a big spooky.
Rating: 
Summary: Plot flaws, but a page-turner
Review: I'd have to agree with an earlier reviewers comment that this novel contains some rather annoying plot flaws that defy belief; however, the novels characters are a compelling hodgepodge that make the novel a real page-turner. I could also do without the heavy dose of social moralizing that the author beats us over the head with. And sometimes the rhythm of Carr's style becomes rather distracting, especially when any narrative voice is involved. The dialogue between the characters is lively and full of wit. Lots of gallows humor, which is needed for such a dreadful tale of murder. Perhaps the plot flaws are a result of the novel being over 700 pages as it seems that Carr is paid by the word like Dickens,an author whom he clearly likes to imitate. If you can overlook the flaws, which is easy, you'll enjoy this thriller.
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Summary: Gender roles, crime and psychology from an 1870s perspective
Review: This book, through an attempt to solve a kidnapping case, takes the reader through an examination of gender roles, criminology, psychology, and forensics within the socio-political culture of NY and america of the time. Unlike its prequal, The Alienist, the crime and the forensics of the crime are less of a focus than the tale itself. The tale is told from the perspective of an older Stevie, reflecting on the experiences of his younger self and his particiaption in the events of the book. The book itself is quite remarkable. It involves some of the major cultural figures of the time in their younger days, including Clarence Darrow. This book also involves the characters of the investigators more. They each come to have a personal stake in solving the crime of little Ana's kidnapping. Unlike the previous book as well, there is less of a focus on the elements of NY City culture of the time. This books definitely brings the characters more to life than the previous work. I would recommend this book for those who like strong characterizations and complex plots. If it has any shortcomiings, it is that the narrative style has some inconsistencies and that perhaps no single character or sub-plot is given much of a showcase or developed to the depth that it/they deserve.
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Summary: a woman's place in 1867 NYC
Review: Although this book is a bit of a laborious read at 750 pages, it is just as compelling as "The Alienist". The entire team of criminologists, led by Dr. Lazlo Kreitzler, is back. The atmospherics of 1867 New York City are back, as are the disreputable characters and gang members such as Stevepipe the narrator, the Hudson Dusters, the very poignant cocaine addict Kat (Stevepipe's girlfriend), the Filipino hitman El Nino, the civil war vet Micah Hunter, Hickie and his pet ferret, the more reputable prosecuting attorney Rupert Picton. The serial killer this time is a woman, Libby Hatch,with seductive eyes, every bit
as much of a mass murderer as John Beecham. In this case, she murders her own children, and also those she has cared for or kidnapped. Her problem is society's problem, namely that women are seen as nurturing mothers. Any other role is unacceptable,
as Dr. Kreitzler explains. But Libby is not a good mother. Failing to recognize this, she blames the children for their health problems, not realizing she is in fact poisoning them. She considers her role a selfless one and considers herself guiltless right up until her death, as does the Vanderbilt family. The wealthy, as in "The Alienist", want to ignore the crimes and keep the mass murders out of the newspapers. There
are mobs in upstate New York who recognize Libby as a killer but fear retribution from the Hudson Dusters, the New York street gang that protects her. We again have cameo appearances by famous individuals including women's rights activist Elizabeth Stanton, defense attorney Clarence Darrow, and Theodore Roosevelt. In this book, there is quite a bit of historical information regarding Spanish-American relations at the time of the Spanish-American War, but in the end, somewhat surprisingly, the initial kidnapping victim, Ana, daughter of the Spanish counsel, emerges unscathed from her ordeal. It's probably also worth noting that the Spanish counsel beats his wife, a common practice in 1897.
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Summary: women's role in 1896 New York society
Review: A somewhat laborious read at 750 pages, this novel still has a lot going for it. The principal difference is that in this case the serial killer is a woman; therefore we are dealing throughout with women's role in society, and its impact on the killer, Libby. In "The Alienist" we were dealing with racism and a lack of a nurturing environment for the killer as a root cause. Libby is not a very nurturing mother, which she is unwilling to admit to herself; but this is the role held in highest esteem for women in society. Libby, unwilling to admit to her own incompetence, instead blames the children, and has a blind spot to the fact that she poisons or shoots them, believing instead that she is helping them. Until the trial, most people believe the same thing, so that she has an excellent reputation as a nurse, convincing even the Vanderbilts. Many of the townspeople in upstate New York, however, fear her, as do many in New York City where she is "protected" by the Dusters street gang. As was true of its predecessor, "The Angel of Darkness" is strong on atmospherics of turn-of-the-century New York; in addition, it contains many interesting if repugnant characters, including Goo Goo Knox, Ding Dong, the very poignant Kat (Stevepipe, the narrator's,girlfriend, and a cocaine addict) and El Nino the Filipino hitman. Also, the Spanish ambassador's infant daughter, kidnapped in the book's opening pages, ends up alive and healthy, somewhat amazingly.The cast of criminologists is the same as in "The Alienist". We also again have cameos by famous people, the most interesting of whom, again, is Roosevelt, though he doesn't appear until near the end of the book. So if you can slog your way through the first 600 pages, you will be rewarded with a "bully" conclusion.
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Summary: It's not 'The Alienist'...but it remains entertaining
Review: Few books that have come across my way have been as thoroughly engrossing as Caleb Carr's 'The Alienist,' easily one of the premier fiction thrillers in recent history. The story's poignant characters, great atmosphere and exciting pacing made it a must-read from start to finish. 'The Angel of Darkness' (AOD) is not The Alienist. I found this second book akin to motion pictures with a solid premise that try to unsuccessfully stretch a good idea way too thin by means of a soft sequel. The result? An end-product that feels like proverbial skim milk when you started with a gallon of pure, whole milk upon first idea conception. The characters from The Alienist carry AOD, but do so without the zeitgeist and flair from the first effort. The ending is rushed, the antagonist non-believable, and the middle 1/3rd of the book akin to delving through literary molasses. Arguably the only character that truly advances in AOD is Cyrus Montrose, who ironically has the most minimal presence in the book of all the returning entities. John Moore, Lazslo Kreizler, Sara Howard, the Isaacsons, Theodore Roosevelt and the narrator, Stevie Taggert, all lack the enthusiasm and individual character nuances axpressed in The Alienist. Another reviewer noted this same point, likely attested to the change in narration from Moore to Taggert. I believe that a sound assessment. The book's most endearing character is a new entity, in District Attorney and Moore ally Rupert Picton. If you are reading this review you're likely a veteran of The Alienist curious if AOD is 'up to snuff' with a true fictional masterpiece. The answer is unfortunately, 'no.' However, the chance to revisit with Carr's lovable ensemble, even on a lesser level, is a must for any Alienist veteran. Thus, sometimes even skim milk is worth consuming--simply to taste the milk again.
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