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
This captivating start to a new series offers up a thrilling mystery while also diving deep into questions of justice, mercy, and personal culpability. Odden’s latest is intricately plotted and filled with a cast of wonderful characters, including a worthy and relatable hero. I’m already looking forward to the next installment.
“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."
A densely imagined anatomy of Victorian skulduggery with a heaping side of Irish troubles. I’m Already Looking Forward to the Next!
A Bold Twist on Dickens
A densely imagined anatomy of Victorian skulduggery
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
- Clever Women, Crafty Thieves:The Real Women behind Kit Jimeson Originally published on SUBSTACK/Murder is Everywhere (April 2026) Kit Jimeson is the heroine of my new book, An Artful Dodge (coming June … Continue reading “Clever Women, Crafty Thieves:”