Dr. Lazlo Kreizler is an Alienist – one who studies mental pathologies and the deviant behaviors of those who are alienated from themselves and society. In addition to providing expert testimony in court that determines whether a person is mentally fit to stand trial, he operates the Kreizler Institute, providing a haven for “damaged” children. His alienist profession, along with his obsessive intensity and controversial views, makes him a social pariah in some circles. In Angel of Darkness, Kreizler joins forces with newly minted detective Sara Howard to find and capture a terrifying individual who preys upon infant children. In probing the motivations for such horrific actions, he and Sara Howard seek to better understand society’s expectations for women and motherhood and the sometimes-dangerous consequences of not living up to those expectations.