Originally published October 23, 2006.

The Alienist is set in the captivating world of New York in the year 1896. Boy prostitutes are being viciously murdered. Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (yes!) assembles a group of intelligent, unorthodox characters to ferret out the killer. Led by the infamous "alienist" (one who studies and treats the mentally ill) Dr. Lazlo Kreizler, the team desparately tries to find out the identity of the murderer before any more children are brutalized.

Why hasn't someone made a movie of this book? It is richly populated with characters both real and imaginary, the pre-1900's setting is historically interesting, and the main theme of how childhood shapes the adult mind is fascinating. Carr has constructed a wonderful historical thriller that comes alive in the mind's eye as you read it. This book is simply superb. Hello, any directors out there? Instead of remaking every horror movie from the 1970's, how about this story???

Here, I will help out by putting together a partial cast list, just to save you time and effort-

Dr. Kreizler- Daniel Day Lewis (dark, handsome, mysterious, brilliant, foreign)

John Moore- Colin Farrell (cad-ish, wealthy, jaded, likes to mix it up with undesirable types, smart)

Sara Hamilton- Claire Danes (shrewd, independent, fearless, carries pistols, beautiful)

Cyrus- Djimon Honounsou (cultured, menacing/intimidating air, fearfully well-built)

The Isaacson Brothers- David Schwimmer & Jonathan Silverman (quirky genius ahead-of-it's-time)

Stevie Taggert- Jamie Bell (tough, streetwise)

Now, that gives a good head start.