The Alienist

For good and ill, what role does the New York City police department play in the story?

Based on the novel, and without focusing on the fact that all the murder victims in the fictional story are children, how would you describe the experiences of New York City’s immigrant children near the end of the 19th century?

Explain Kreizler’s theory of individual psychological context. How does this theory guide Kreizler’s team of investigators? Does the story’s resolution confirm the validity of this theory?

How does Sara Howard contribute to the investigation? What does her character represent about the prevailing social order?

Authenticity aside, what does real-life gangster Paul Kelly bring to the story? How does Kelly serve as Kreizler’s political conscience?

How do Kreizler’s theories and methods challenge the social order of his era? Why do so many establishment figures regard him as a threat?

What is the significance of Jacob “Jake” Riis, a real-life photojournalist and social reformer, as a character in The Alienist? How does he influence the novel’s setting?

Theodore Roosevelt is an enormously famous historical figure, and it can be difficult to separate fact from legend in assessing his historical significance. What does the novel gain from creating a fictional version of this real-life person? What challenges does it bring?