The State of the Sequels

As I reported on the third Alienist book page, in April of 2016 it was announced that Mulholland Books would be publishing two new Alienist novels that will act as ‘bookends’ for the two current novels in the series, The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness. It has since been announced that the first of the two new novels will be titled The Alienist at Armageddon and the blurb for the book can be found on the novel’s Amazon page:

When The Alienist was first published in 1994, it became a literary phenomenon, sold millions of copies and was a worldwide sensation. It became a modern classic, and a cornerstone of the historical suspense genre.

After more than twenty years, the Alienist is back! The Alienist at Armageddon begins in the winter of 1915, soon after the start of the First World War. Reuniting the original’s beloved characters, the story is told from the perspective of Dr. Laszlo Kreizler–the famous psychologist, or “alienist,” and his friend and comrade, John Moore, crime reporter for the New York Times. A massive explosive detonates mere feet from Kreizler’s home, marking the fourth in New York City in as many months.

With his friends at his heels, Kreizler takes up his own case, and the cases of the other explosions. Amid the turmoil in New York City, they receive a news report: the RMS Luisitania, a British passenger ship bound for Liverpool from New York with Americans on board, has sunk mysteriously just eleven miles off the Irish coast. With international tensions high at the onset of the Great War, and many in Europe clamoring for American intervention, Kreizler’s case threatens to embroil not only his own life, but the lives of his countrymen, in the greatest and most deadly conflict modern civilization had ever seen.

According to the Mulholland Books website, the novel is scheduled for release on September 1st, 2019 — this year! I, for one, am very excited to see Mr. Carr move the series forward after a long break (over 20 years) by moving the time period during the novels forward in a similar way; we last saw Kreizler and the team in their 30s and 40s in 1897, and we will now be meeting them again 18 years later. It will be wonderful to reacquaint ourselves with the team and to learn what has transpired in their lives during the intervening time. Taking our characters into the murky waters (pun very much intended) of international tensions surrounding the First World War will be a fascinating way to return to the series.

According to the original book deal announcement, a second novel, The Strange Case of Miss Sara X, will also be published by Mulholland Books. This one, however, will take us back in time again, presumably to the late 1870s or early 1880s, assuming the events in the summary from the publisher’s press release matches the timeline already established in the series so far. In this novel, “a youthful Kreizler, after finishing his psychology training at Harvard, falls under the spell of William James, has his first run-in with Roosevelt, and delves into the secret life of Sara Howard, heroine of the first books.”

18 thoughts on “The State of the Sequels”

  1. Fab says:

    « The Strange Case of Miss Sara X », hmm… quel petit cachotier ce Kreizler ! (sorry i don’t know how to say it in english lol)

  2. Anne-sophie says:

    The alienist at armageddon seems to be postponed to 17th of october, as I’ve just seen it on amazon.But maybe I’m wrong

  3. Ronald McNutt says:

    I am anxiously awaiting the Sept 1, 2019 release. Any news on the tentative date of the final book ?

  4. Linda Farabaugh says:

    I would like to see the front cover of the new book. Can’t find it anywhere. Leaving it a secret till it’s published?

  5. Michele Dipasquale says:

    I have a “comment,” alright: I ordered THE ALIENIST AT ARMAGEDDON a while back, to be released on September 1, 2019 (like, 4 days from today) and I just got an email saying it won’t be out until 2022!!!
    I am so p.o.’d and hugely disappointed.

  6. Mike says:

    Both the Mulholland and Amazon links for “The Alienist at Armageddon” are now dead. Was publication canceled or delayed?

  7. Chris Cornett says:

    So….it appears that The Alienist at Armageddon has been canceled suddenly. Does anyone have any info on this?

  8. Brianne says:

    Any updates on the books? Muholland doesn’t list them. Amazon says it will be released in 2022!

  9. Paul Gambone says:

    Whatever happened to the new novel? I heard the publishing date is now 2022?

    Any news

  10. Anne-So says:

    Is the release date for sure? I checked many shops and none of them have the book in their list, and WH Smith even told me that the release is due for 2021 (and it was not sure). The only one retailer I found is Amazon. That’s why I’m quite sad of not finding it

  11. Allison Welsh says:

    Has there been any update on the expected release date? Amazon canceled my pre-order.

  12. Jana Moore says:

    I am very frustrated. Obviously the new Alienist book was not published in September as advertised. Are there any new estimates as to when the book will be released? I couldn’t put the first 2 books down, and can’t wait for the next. After surviving brain cancer, followed by losing my career as a physical therapist, I have little to look forward to! These two books will light up my life!

  13. Jana Moore says:

    Well obviously the next Alienist book was not released in September of 2019. Is there any estimate of when it will come out? All of us fans are like children anxiously awaiting Santa Claus. Mommy please tell me when!!!

  14. Jana Moore says:

    Like the millions of Alienist fans I’m starving for info on the next book. It’s been quite a while since the previous release date of September 2019. I am in my 60’s and I hope the book comes out before I get too old to be able to read without drooling! It’s kinda selfish but MOMMY I WANT MY
    BOOK NOW! I guess it’s not so easy…..but a long complicated process, but we’re all waiting anxiously.

  15. Bonnie Fisher says:

    Can’t wait!!

  16. Shannon Ronette says:

    I just came across a date of 2030 for the release of Alienist at Armageddon! Seven more years?!?!? And I can’t find anything at all pertaining to the prequel, The Strange Case of Miss Sarah X…I guess I’ll have to reread The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness again…

    1. Kim says:

      Gosh, hopefully 2023 is just a placeholder date. I haven’t seen any recent news regarding the book, unfortunately.

      1. Debby says:

        His new book, My Beloved Monster, should be available in April of 2024.

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