The Alienist - Caleb Carr

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Mass Market Paperback

ISBN: 9780553572995

Pages: 597

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Well, I have finally finished it. I took me pretty much a whole month to read. Not only because it was a large book, but I had a rough couple of weeks and I am working on my thesis, so time really isn't on my side but with that aside I really did enjoy the book. Maybe it would have gotten a higher rating have I not been so exhausted reading (or not reading it for that matter) but this is what it is.

This story is gruesome and mind bending. It is about a crazy killer who does some horrible mutilations it his victim's and brings together many different types of people into a secret investigation to find it's killer. There's a reporter, 2 detective's (who are highly educated and are the first to do fingerprinting), a female cop (which really didn't exist back then), an amazing psychologist (who was very eager and willing to do anything to find out why people are the way they are) and of course Teddy (who was in the police force at the time). There are many other characters in the book that brought their own great personalities and I think it was perfect. Everything in the book needed to be there and it did for a great read.

I love to read about old New York and to feel what it is like to live in the 1800's. Carr did a great job bringing in the characters and historical aspects. I really did like how Carr incorporated so many great things into his book.

The Poacher's Son - Paul Doiron

I used to love mysteries then I fell out of love with them and just recently I have decided to give it another go. So after Shutter Island, I got a chance to get an ARC from Barnes and Noble's First Look Book Club of The Poacher's son. I felt that it was not like a typical mystery. There were times that I was a little freaked out or nauseated about the animals but I really think Doiron created a nice picture. I am a city girl so it was hard for me to relate to certain things but I found a lot of it very interesting and I began to understand all those small town country elements. Doiron really creates a clear view of the towns as well as the people. He really allows the reader to picture everything in their heads.

I really think I would pick up another one of Paul's books. He is a very good writer and artist. I gave the book a total of 4/5 stars.