Praise for An Artful Dodge
“A brilliant historical mystery . . . Odden matches vivid details of the hard-knock life in Victorian London with complex backstories for her large cast. Readers will be rapt.”
–Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
EXCLUSIVE: Read the opening chapters of An Artful Dodge
Praise for Karen’s Books
Odden’s third effort injects a refreshing level of complexity, both in character development and plotting, into what one typically expects to find in historical cozies. This will appeal to fans of Victorian mysteries, as well as those interested in art history.
Gritty, compelling and vividly written, Karen Odden’s Down a Dark River offers an evocative portrayal of 1870s London. Narrated by the intriguing Inspector Corravon, dark secrets—and their consequences—are ruthlessly revealed. Like Anne Perry, Odden demonstrates a commanding grasp of authentic period detail, including the complexities of policework and social hierarchies of the Victorian era. Well-paced and well-plotted, Odden’s newest historical mystery is a wonderful start to an exciting new series.
Under a Veiled Moon, 2023 Lefty Award Nominee, Best Historical Mystery Novel A Refreshing Level of Complexity
Gritty, Compelling and Vividly Written
2023 Lefty Award Nominee
Karen’s Previous Novels
About Karen
Karen Odden received her Ph.D. in English from New York University in 2001, writing her dissertation on Victorian literature. Subsequently, she taught at UW-Milwaukee and edited for the academic journal Victorian Literature and Culture. When she finally turned to writing fiction, she set all her novels in her beloved 1870s London. Her first mystery, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller. Her fourth, Down a Dark River, was an Oprah Daily pick; and the sequel, Under a Veiled Moon was nominated for the Lefty, Agatha, and Anthony Awards for Best Historical Mystery. Her sixth novel, An Artful Dodge, about an all-women thieving gang in 1879 London, is forthcoming from Soho Crime in June 2026.
Since 2019, Karen has offered over 40 writing workshops for libraries, professional groups, and conferences, and she has received awards and grants for her work to promote literacy and support the writing community. Karen serves on the national board of Sisters in Crime, reviews books for Publishers Weekly, and divides her time between Arizona and Utah, where she loves to hike while plotting crimes. Read More
December 2026
Tuesday December 15
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am
- Anasazi Bookclub: AN ARTFUL DODGE (Phoenix, private event)
January 2027
Thursday January 14
- 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Lit Cleveland Workshop (Unfolding the Bud) on Zoom
Friday January 22
- 10:30 am – 11:30 am
- Cynthia bookclub for An Artful Dodge (private)
March 2027
Friday March 5
- 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Zoom Panel: Bringing Unsung Historical Heroines to Life (Read for Pixels Fundraiser
Wednesday March 31 – Sunday April 4
- Left Coast Crime Conference, Santa Fe
April 2027
Thursday April 8 – Saturday April 10
- Malice Domestic Conference, Bethesda
Thursday April 8
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Bookclub for Anne Perry's book
June 2027
Saturday June 5
- 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Sacramento Book Festival
Thursday June 24
- 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
- Park City Senior Center Book Club for An Artful Dodge (in person, private)
August 2027
Saturday August 21
- 10:00 am – 11:00 am
- Webinar for all Arizona Authors Association: Grand Openings, The All-Important First Page
September 2027
Wednesday September 1 – Sunday September 5
- Bouchercon Mystery Conference, Washington DC
October 2027
Wednesday October 27 – Thursday October 28
- Carmel Clay Public Library Event, Carmel, IN for A THIEVING SEASON
Latest Blog
- Chasing the Rabbit: My favorite research methodsFor my panel at Bouchercon, in Calgary Canada, I was asked to speak on archival research. At first, I thought … hm, I haven’t done true … Continue reading “Chasing the Rabbit: My favorite research methods”