Why do we do what we do? Seriously readers, why do some of us live lives in which we will never take another human life, a life which perhaps would seem dull dare I say even boring compared to our historic counterparts, and yet we the people of today at times romanticize murder. So, why is it that some of us in the world of today (And by some I mean quite a few) find it simple enough to snuff out the life of others? Caleb Carr once again tries to tackle that question, but not in the time of today no, Carr decides to once more take us to the time of yesterday precisely to an era which is indeed romanticized by the world of today even though it was a hard time in America's history. Carr transports us and transplants us to 1897 in New York City a city filled with unparalleled corruption and a city filled with well to do's and grand splendor...funny it hasn't really changed then has it? Oh, but the world has indeed changed readers, where the people of today particularly those who are not well read or have their heads so far up their asses and find themselves in denial say America was so much simpler back in the world of yesterday. I would ask those same people, politicians, relatives, friends, etc... to really read just what America was like a little over a hundred years ago. Carr weaves history, psychology, murder, forensics, fact, and fiction all into one suspenseful tale daring to expose us to the secret sins of American society. Even today readers, as I have said before it is much easier to call a person a "monster" "Not right" "abnormal" rather than face the fact that America or any modern society would birth such a person whom would take the life or lives of so many whom we dared claim to be someone we considered normal and one of "us." But, Carr won't let that slide now will he? A sequel so to speak to Carr's previous book The Alienist Carr has gathered his previous books core group of characters. Dr. Kriezler tough still a bit battered from the first book and under investigation due to a patients suicide is what the group needs in order to tackle this current case which it seems is more horrifying that the first book, because readers this particular tale of murder according to the world of Miss Howard, Mr. Moore, Stevie, The Isaacson brothers, and of course Cyrus. This tale is told by not Moore this time, but the grown Stevie, and he tells such a tale that it will cause you great anger, horror, and a whole slew of other emotions and give you such thoughts that perhaps you have to ask yourselves, are you ready for such a tale my fellow readers? Are you ready to question the "American family, and their home?" There is a child, a little girl, whom has been kidnapped....and though all children are precious this little girl it seems is a bit special as she is the daughter of a Spanish dignitary. During this time there is tension between Spain and the United States, and a war in Cuba seems inevitable. So, no official investigation will be opened concerning this missing child, but the mother of little Ana Linares is desperate and turns to Sara Howard, and so we're back to the investigation. This investigation forces the team to ask and face many ethical questions... could the acts of a woman murdering her own child be seen as her trying to gain control over her life and her world? What happens readers, when someone is told their entire life that they are alive for one purpose and only one purpose and then are told they are no good at their purpose, and worse prove they are no good? What happens to that person? We live in a world much more advanced no? Then again, even today women are told they can have it "all" but what is it "all" readers? Why in today's world is a woman still defined by so many aspects? Why must we define a woman at all? Why can a woman simply like a man, just be? Why do the titles virgin, wife, spinster, whore, crone, and mother still an acceptable way to define a woman? This question and so many more arise in this tale readers. I had to read this book slowly and found myself growing angry, anxious, and fully absorbed in this penetrating tale. I will close with this concerning this book "It is not ahving been in the dark house, but having left it, that count." Theodore Roosevelt.
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