Santorelli's mother and discover, for example, that there was discord in his family. Georgio's parents had learned of his being manipulated into performing sexual acts for older boys in school, and the father's response was to try to beat it out of the boy. Georgio eventually left home and lived on the streets as a male-for-male prostitute. They also read the emerging science of psychology, such as the works of William James. Another body is discovered, and the evidence suggests that the victim knew his attacker. The team also deduces that the killer's agility on rooftops suggests that he is familiar with mountain- or rock-climbing. Kreizler, Roosevelt, Moore, and detective Sara Howard must deal with various interest groups during their investigation who wish to maintain society's status quo, including a corrupt police force, which takes bribes from owners of the brothels whose prostitutes include poor immigrants; the Catholic Church, which is wary of the potential power of an organized immigrant population; the Episcopal Church; and J. P. Morgan. Characters John Moore a freelance reporter and the narrator of the novel; Dr. Laszlo Kreizler the titular alienist of the novel; Stevie Taggert Kreizler's teenage groom and carriage driver; Cyrus Montrose Kreizler's valet and bodyguard; Mary Palmer Kreizler's housemaid; Marcus and Lucius Isaacson brothers and Detective Sergeants with the NYPD Sara Howard rising female detective, friends with John Moore Historical figures Thomas F. Byrnes Anthony Comstock Michael Corrigan James "Biff" Ellison H. H. Holmes (mentioned only) William James Paul Kelly Jack McManus Adolf Meyer J. P. Morgan Jesse Pomeroy Henry C. Potter Jacob Riis Theodore Roosevelt Lincoln Steffens Franz Boas Composition and biographical background The Alienist is set in the neighborhood where Carr lives, and he has spent hours wandering around it. He also spent a lot of time researching his book at the J. P. Morgan Library. Carr pitched the book as non-fiction, because he was afraid his agent and editor would not accept a fiction book from a non-fiction author. Only when the publisher was on the verge of buying the book did he reveal the truth. The novel "allowed him to exorcise some of his demons, mostly centered on his relationship with his father, which was stormy and sometimes violent." Carr will not reveal specific details of his family history, but he has said, "It's safe to assume that I know something about family violence...." and he told New