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

A Must Read!

Down a Dark River pulls the reader into the place and time as Karen Odden weaves this complex and compelling mystery! A must read for mystery fans!

Charles Todd
New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Rutledge mysteries

Vivid Literary Brushstrokes

Odden’s literary brushstrokes vividly portray the misogyny and gender bias experienced by women in Victorian society, especially a woman battling to exercise her artistic talent.

Washington Independent Review of Books

Riveting Historical Debut

This riveting historical debut is chock-full of details about Victorian England, spun into a masterful tale of romance, railroads, and mystery. Propelled by an engaging heroine and a deftly plotted conspiracy, it’s a great read!

Stefanie Pintoff
Edgar Award–winning author of Hostage Taker

Karen’s Previous Novels

About Karen

Karen Odden, USA Today Bestselling Author

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

 

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