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
“Dickens fans—if you ever yearned for Nancy to kick Bill Sykes to the curb and go off thieving with Bet and the Dodger, this is your new favorite book. Vibrant with the authentic sights and sounds of Victorian London, An Artful Dodge is the riveting tale of a gang of female thieves and what one clever dodge artist must do to survive when the gang's old boss returns seeking power—and revenge. A crime novel that centers the power of family bonds both natural and chosen, this thrilling adventure will have you frantically turning the pages."
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.
No one does Victorian England like Karen Odden. Here she puts her own spin on a serial killer loose in London in a rich, twisty tale where a wealth of historical detail ingeniously serves the central mystery. Set against the dark lure of the Thames, this is a story of secret engagements and salacious clubs, false accusations and justice denied, culminating in a reveal that is both shocking and humane. Fans of Anne Perry and Charles Finch will welcome Inspector Michael Corravan—brooding, complicated, and compelling—as well as his witty, erudite companion, Belinda Gale. A Bold Twist on Dickens
Gritty, Compelling and Vividly Written
No one does Victorian England like Karen Odden.
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)”