An absorbing if overlong sequel to Carr's popular 1994 thriller, The Alienist. As in that novel, the figures of ``alienist'' (i.e., psychologist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, investigative journalist John Schuyler Moore, and Kreizler's assistant Stevie ``Stevepipe'' Taggert (who tells the story) figure prominently in the investigation of a peculiarly dastardly crime. The year is 1897, and Carr's plot is initiated by the kidnapping of a Spanish diplomat's baby--then thickens, quite pleasurably, as suspicion falls on Elspeth Hunter, a malevolent nurse who is actually Libby Hatch, a malevolent gang moll and the suspected murderess of her own children. The pursuit, capture, and attempted conviction of Libby involve such notable historical figures as painter Albert Pinkham Ryder, women's-rights crusader Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Libby's defense attorney Clarence Darrow (who dominates a fascinating extended courtroom scene), and (back also from The Alienist) New York City Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who commandeers the US Navy to aid in the story's climactic pursuit. Carr overloads his tale with digressive comments on ever-worsening political relations between the US and Cuba (though one can argue such passages' relevance to the novel's initial mystery), and disastrously slows down the otherwise absorbing courtroom scenes by including needless detailed summaries of cases of child murder offered as precedents. But these are minor blemishes. Carr has learned to plot since The Alienist, and this novel usually moves at a satisfyingly rapid pace. The ambiance is convincingly thick and period-flavorful, the murderous details satisfyingly gruesome, and even the somewhat shaky central ethical question--whether ``a woman's murdering her own kids . . . could actually be looked at as her trying to gain control over her life and her world''--is quite convincingly presented. As for the nefarious Libby--presented, with perfect appropriateness, only as others see and hear her--she rivals Lydia Gwilt of Wilkie Collins's Armadale as the pluperfect villainess, and the centerpiece of an enormously entertaining and satisfying reading experience. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP.

I know how you must feel about the postage rates going up in Austria.
We didn't have different categories to start with , only

Europe : (all countries) for books that fit letterboxes , then it is +/- 6 euro for a book upto 350 grams, and +/- 10 euro for a book till 650 kg.
That is within Europe, it's even more for outside Europe.

I live very close to the Dutch border (some 20 kms) and I work in the last township before the border, so I cross it, especially if I have packages (like in trades/exchanges and rabcks etc.) because the Dutch have more rational prices. It's still expensive, but they have Europe 1/2/3 -zones and they weigh between each 100 grs with different postage costs.

Only letterboxfitting books for very exotic destinations are cheaper in Belgium that way. Because they go with these outside-Europe stamps no matter were they have to travel.

And we have some silly agreement with the US. For letters that doesn't matter, but packages there cost lot less than to anywere else outside Europe.

You have to have a master in postage philosophy to get a package out without ruining yourself this way :-)

I see it as a hobby :) Going to the pub costs money too. I simply read a lot and share the thought :))) brightens everyones day right ? ;)
And no hangovers afterwards....
Well, only small ones if I drink too many a glass of wine on the sofa while reading, which ocasionally happens too : LOL

Anyway, thanks for sending me the angel of darkness. I 'll love it.

I finally got around to reading this. What a nice book. Sorry I stalled it for so long. It's free to travel now.

I finally got around to reading this. What a nice book. Sorry I stalled it for so long. It's free to travel now.

Goeie reis !

Accidentally taken home from Castricum by Ingeisreading, but as she didn't realise it's a sequel and she doesn't have the first book, it is now available again.

Enjoy!