Here you can find a full list of characters that appear within The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness. A brief description of that character and their role in the book(s) they appear in is also included. If you believe that a character is missing from this list then you are welcome to get in contact.
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Major Characters | Supporting Characters | Minor Characters
John Beecham is the serial killer who the investigative team are chasing in The Alienist. His original name was Japheth Dury but he went by the alias of John Beecham in adulthood.
The ex-Inspector Byrnes is one of the "old guard" at Police Headquarters. He appears within The Alienist as an opposer of the investigation into Beecham.
Comstock is the censor of the United States Post Office and is a stern moralist. He is against the investigation into the Beecham case within The Alienist and tries to put a stop to it.
Detective Sergeant Connor is from the Police Headquarters at Mulberry Street. He plays a moderate sized role within The Alienist as being opposed to the Beecham investigation.
Archbishop Corrigan is of the Catholic Church and worked with Bishop Potter of the Episcopal Church to try to put a stop to the investigation into the Beecham case within The Alienist.
Clarence Darrow is a famous attorney who the team come up against in The Angel of Darkness when he defends Libby Hatch during the murder trial at Ballston Spa.
Kat is a close friend and love interest of Stevie Taggert. She was originally a country girl who came into the city with her father. In order to make ends meet, she began working in New York as a prostitute in Frankie's dive where she subsequently became addicted to cocaine (burny). Within The Angel of Darkness she is working for Ding Dong, who is with a gang known as the Hudson Dusters. She helps out the team but tragically is murdered by Libby Hatch toward the end of the investigation.
A Filipino aborigine pygmy who, prior to the investigation within The Angel of Darkness, worked for the Linares family as a servant for many years. However, when he finds out Ana has been abducted and Señora Linares has gone behind her husband's back to find her daughter, he joins the team in the hunt for Libby Hatch.
Biff runs Paresis Hall and is a member of the Five Pointers gang. Like the other members of the Five Pointers, he plays a moderate sized role within The Alienist.
Clara is the only living child of Libby Hatch. She survived her mother's attempt at murder and after this traumatic experience, in which she got shot through the chest, Clara was fostered by the Westons who have given her a loving home. Despite this, she has never completely recovered and by the events of The Angel of Darkness, she is no longer able to speak. Dr Kreizler works extensively with her and amazingly she begins to speak again, finally able to tell her story.
Libby Hatch is the child abductor and murderer that the investigative team are chasing in The Angel of Darkness. She was born Elspeth Franklin but through different marriages has also had the surnames Fraser, Hunter, and Hatch.
Kelly is a famous gangster whose gang, the Five Pointers, has the territory "between Broadway and the Bowrey and from Fourteenth Street to City Hall". He also runs the New Brighton Dance Hall on Great Jones Street. He is quite influential during the investigation within The Alienist.
Member of the Five Pointers gang who looks after Paul Kelly's New Brighton Dance Hall. Plays a moderate sized role within The Alienist and comes to Dr Kreizler's aid when he and John confront John Beecham.
J. P. Morgan is one of the greatest financial powers of the late 1800s. Within The Alienist he backs Bishop Potter, Archbishop Corrigan, ex-Inspector Byrnes, and Anthony Comstock's group opposition to the investigation into John Beecham. After a private meeting with Dr Kreizler and John Moore, however, he decides allow the investigation to continue provided that a quick conclusion is able to be reached.
Mary is Dr Kreizler's maid and housekeeper. She suffers from Production Aphasia and is unable to speak or write, although she comprehends speech fully. After years of emotional abuse from her parents as a child, she ended up murdering her father when he started to sexually abuse her. She met Dr Kreizler after being imprisoned and he was able to develop a way to communicate with her. After several weeks he was able to piece together her story, thus enabling Mary to be released from jail. We also find out in The Alienist that he and Mary are in love (she is "the only woman he ever loved") and are planning to persue a relationship. Unfortunately, Mary is killed before any romantic relationship is able to form properly.
Mr Picton is an old friend of John Moore and a lawyer in the town of Ballston Spa. He suffers from a condition known as pressured speech but despite this, he is still able to perform well as the investigative team's lawyer in the court case against Libby Hatch. Tragically, he is murdered by Libby at the conclusion of the trial.
Bishop Potter is of the Episcopal Church. He is works with Archbishop Corrigan of the Catholic Church to try and put a stop to the investigation into the Beecham case within The Alienist.
One of Biff Ellison's men who uses a knife to do his killing (hence the nickname "Razor"). He plays a small role within The Alienist.
Theodore is a major character in The Alienist as the New York City Police Commissioner. He also plays a minor role in The Angel of Darkness as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He is a friend of both Dr Kreizler and John Moore.
Colonel Strong is the major of New York City during the events of The Alienist and is against the involvement of Dr Kreizler in any investigation into the Beecham murders.