Title: Some strengths, but a letdown overall
Product review: I had high hopes for this book, but there was nothing here to compare to the vivid descriptions of old Manhattan and the bloodcurdling suspense of "The Alienist" (and I'm not referring to the gore; the eeriest part of that book for me was the discovery of the killer's stint as a Federal employee). To the comments about Stevie's "what/that" confusion, I would add his constant use of "what you might call" every time he used an unlikely term. The character of El Nino was poorly developed, and the characters from the first book were largely drained of complexity (Moore whines, dines, and gambles; Sara draws her derringer or kicks someone in the shins every two seconds; the Isaacsons bicker; Montrose plays the piano; and the Doctor noises). The book's saving graces were the setting, the scenes involving Darrow, Clara's character, and the relationship between Stevie and Kat. I'll certainly look out for Carr's future efforts, but this was a disappointment.
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