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
Historical fiction with a sinister twist and an engaging heroine.
A darkly thrilling story filled with suspense and secrets, a courageous heroine, an edgy climax, and an atmospheric setting that perfectly captures the underbelly of London’s art world in the Victorian era. A Trace of Deceit is an absolute winner!
The tragic crash of the Princess Alice makes for a thrilling set piece in the triumphant return of Inspector Michael Corravan. When the disaster is dubbed an act of terrorism, the Irish-born Corravan goes back to his old neighborhood of Whitechapel to investigate. He finds "the Chapel" much changed by gangs, prejudice, and violence which threatens to engulf the people he loves and the city of London itself. Rich in emotion and historical detail, Under a Veiled Moon is a brilliant tale of the dark, thorny places where the personal and the political intertwine.
Sinister Twist and Engaging Heroine!
Perfectly Captures London’s Underbelly
Rich in emotion and historical detail
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
July 2026
Wednesday July 22
- 5:45 am – 6:45 am
- NEWSLETTER: guest Jen Collins Moore
Friday July 24
- 8:00 am – 9:00 am
- Guest appearance on A MIGHTY BLAZE, discussing An Artful Dodge with Jenna Blum (virtual)
Monday July 27
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Cathy's Bookclub for AN ARTFUL DODGE (private)
October 2026
Friday October 16 – Saturday October 17
- Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference
Friday October 16
- 9:00 am – 10:15 am
- Grand Openings: Writing the All-Important First Page, at DNRS Conference
Sunday October 18
- 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Intrerview with Tim Schooley, author of *Circus of the Vanishing Elephant* at the Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale (in person)
Wednesday October 21 – Sunday October 25
- Bouchercon, Calgary
November 2026
Thursday November 5
- 7:00 pm – 8:55 pm
- PCDS Bookclub AN ARTFUL DODGE (private)
Thursday November 12
- 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Scribbled Hollow Bookstore Event
April 2027
Thursday April 1 – Sunday April 4
- Left Coast Crime, Santa Fe
Friday April 9 – Sunday April 11
- Malice Domestic Conference, Bethesda
Latest Blog
- Why Writers Shouldn’t Look at Goodreads Reviews (for very long)One thing I didn’t know until I published my first book is that Goodreads, like Netgalley and Edelweiss, will post reviews prior to pub day; the … Continue reading “Why Writers Shouldn’t Look at Goodreads Reviews (for very long)”