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
Filled with all sorts of twists and turns and all sorts of secret, and not-so-secret, relationships . . . Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy this excellent mystery and romance.
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.
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. Twists, Turns, and Secrets
Gritty, Compelling and Vividly Written
A Refreshing Level of Complexity
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
Latest Blog
- My Secrets to Publishing Six BooksInspired by Andre Louw & Brendan Flaherty Karen Odden (Originally published on Substack/Murder is Everywhere on May 28, 2026) Last week, Michael Sears invited Andre Louw … Continue reading “My Secrets to Publishing Six Books”