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4.0 out of 5 stars
Rough and tumble late nineteenth century New York, Jul 4 2007
In "The Angel of Darkness", Caleb Carr returns his readers to the atmospheric, intriguing, rough and tumble world of late nineteenth century New York. The story is told through the eyes of Stevie Taggert, a former young thug rescued from a miserable life and almost certain early death as a street kid already up to his eyes in street crime and drugs by his guardian, Dr Laszlo Kreizler, the famous psychiatrist first introduced to us in "The Alienist".
During the politically troubled era preceding the onset of the Spanish-American War, the wife of a Spanish diplomat, whose baby has been kidnapped, frantically appeals to Sara Howard, a private detective and proud feminist who specializes in helping troubled women, for help to rescue the child before it is murdered. Sara in turn appeals to her friend, Dr Kreizler and their colleagues for their assistance in this most puzzling case - Stevie Taggert, Cyrus Montrose, Kreizler's faithful man-servant, Jonathan Moore, crime reporter for the New York Times, and Lucius and Marcus Isaacson, the brilliant yet comedic Jewish twin brothers hired as NYPD detectives by Teddy Roosevelt when he was chief of the force. When the kidnapper's identity is discovered relatively early, the tale changes from a whodunit into that more modern complicated breed of thriller that explores the "why" of the crime!
As the story is told completely through Stevie's eyes, the reader is treated to a wonderfully smooth, linear narration that is both complete and straightforward to follow from the plotting point of view. But that simple statement belies the scope and depth of this wonderful story that includes discussions of the birth of modern feminism, the ravages of cocaine and drug addiction, the growing use of modern crime-fighting tools - forensics, psychological profiling, fingerprinting, ballistics, microscopic matching of hair and fiber samples - and the psychology of that most puzzling and disturbing of criminals, the female serial killer!
For good measure, Carr also treats his readers to appearances of real-life historical figures that are substantially more than tossed off cameos - Theodore Roosevelt as pro tem head of the US Navy prior to his election as president leads a group of feisty sailors in a brawl against a brutal street gang; Clarence Darrow is observed in a thrilling courtroom drama establishing his reputation as one of the most brilliant defense lawyers that the US has ever seen and Elizabeth Cady Stanton whose early musings formed a substantial part of the basis of modern feminism is called upon as a critical witness for the defense.
Four stars and two thumbs up. Lovers of historical fiction will thoroughly enjoy "The Angel of Darkness" and cross their fingers that Carr will deliver on the rumour that there are more "alienist" novels in the works to be narrated by some of the other members of the team.
Paul Weiss
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Now you're reading!, April 30 2004
A much better book than the first (The Alienist), this sequel is well worth checking out! Narrated by Stevie Taggart, Dr. Kreizler's servant and now on his own, owner of a tobacco shop, this story details the kidnap of the daughter of a Spanish diplomat, just as the diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Spain are imploding, leading to the Spanish-American War. The major characters are fully-blown here, oddly human and very real - each has his or her own limitations which are very well explored in the novel. The minor characters could use a little more fleshing out - but the murderer is very well explored and there is a great deal more plot to this book than the previous one.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Carr's inimitable style strikes again... Suspenseful & more, Feb 29 2004
A Mesmerizing Tome, ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a sequel to Carr's "The Alienist". This reader, as am sure there are others, appreciate continuity in writings that carry forward some of the same characters, even though the narrator is a different person -- the street youth whom Dr. Kriezler "adopted", and rescued from a life of crime -- Stevie Taggart. After all, proteges are developed by other narrators, and in other fields as well - this slant in THE ANGEL OF DARKNESS is no exception. I have an appreciation for authors who bring in true-to-history participants -- e.g., Clarence Darrow; Theodore Roosevelt; & Mrs. Cady Stanton. -- after all, didn't they play a part in history?
Author Carr is a master storyteller, with hard-to-put-down books, very engaging trade dialogue with a style of 'teller to listener'. Added are the glimpses with a clear visual field from a window on life during the early 20th century New York City time period.
ANGEL OF DARKNESS is a riveting tale of a tormented murderess, facing crime & punishment for actions applicable to latter 19th century. Albeit an evil, cunning female would be difficult to believe in that era of history, with the "feminine" roles women were assigned then - more so than today.
Libby Hatch compares in stature with villain John Beecham. Added spice is a first-rate mind that is always calculating the next move; Mr. Carr enfolds readers with examples of dark society, with excellent, poignant, & some humorous dramatization. The author raises this story to a plateau of the black underside of human psyche, including madness, frailty of the human mind & development of socio-political forensic science methods, combining criminology & psychology with deepening nooks and crannies creating a suspenseful read.
As with any book of this nature, plot, scope and length there are bound to be a few flaws... however, the reader becomes entranced with the story's path that flaws matter none. The narrative style contains some inconsistencies in which no single character nor sub-plot is given the in-depth development it could have been assigned, but perhaps readers can then expand their imaginations?!
This reader boasts proudly of having met Caleb Carr at his signing at the famous NY theme -- "NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY" -- Annual Book Fair, 5th Avenue... Biblioholic heave! This review is based on hardcover first edition 1997. Be sure to read author Carr's KILLING TIME.)
(This reader also recommends a same century read: CITY OF LIGHT by Louise Balfour, set in burgeoning Buffalo, NY and Niagara Falls with Pan Am Expo & other historical events, cast of note.)
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