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
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.
You can smell the water of the Thames and hear the cries of the cormorants in Karen Odden’s newest, vividly set in Victorian London. This twisty-turn-y mystery introducing a new and charismatic detective will delight readers also looking for well-researched history.
“A triumph! The story of one whip-smart young thief’s audacious battle for her freedom, integrity, and true love.” No one does Victorian England like Karen Odden.
Well-researched History
A Triumph of Freedom and Love
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
Friday July 10 – Sunday July 12
- Columbus Book Festival
Monday July 13
- 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
- Book Event for AN ARTFUL DODGE, Chili Library, Rochester, NY
Thursday July 16
- 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Author event for AN ARTFUL DODGE at McArthur Library, Biddeford, ME
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
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