Here is the first title in the author’s series. The second published title is f Under a Veiled Moon. These books feature Inspector Corravan.

This historical mystery set in Britain will be enjoyed by fans of authors like Anne Perry. It is atmospheric and involving. Inspector Corravan is an interesting character with a backstory.

A young girl’s body is found floating down the river of the title. She is the daughter of a judge. Who has murdered her and why? Is it to do with her prominent father? How does a Mrs. Beckford fit in? Additional victims add to the complexity of the case.

This book is just the type that I enjoy when reading an historical mystery. I look forward to the next in the series. It will be out soon.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Why did I just read this book! I should have read it months ago...

Dark, edgy, and un-put-down-able... this was the first in a series about Inspector Corravan of Scotland Yard. This book is a Victorian Police Procedural, and it was very well written...

I am definitely going to try and find the rest of this series.

Karen Odden plunges the reader into the past with historically accurate descriptive narration, colourful characters, an independent heroine, and a suspenseful mystery. The plot moves at a good pace with a few twists I didn’t see coming.

It made a nice change to go back in time as it has been a while since I've read a historical novel.

Set in London in 1878, this book reminded me of the many aspects, both good and bad, of the 19th century. Good in that it seemed a simpler time, with a slower pace - before technology took over the world and travel from one place to another took forever. Bad in that the women of that time period were considered to be possessions of either their fathers or their husbands and were completely disenfranchised. Also, social classes were much more sharply defined - not a good thing. The chasm between wealthy and poverty stricken people was vast with the poor being utterly at the mercy of the rich as there were no social services as we have today. Even the policemen in this novel was treated with disrespect. Police then were often viewed with suspicions of being untrustworthy, inept, and corrupt. They were made to use servant's entrances of the homes of the well-to-do. Also brought home in this novel, was the deplorable and inhumane way the mentally ill were treated back then.

The protagonist, police inspector Michael Corravan, was a likeable chap with a strong sense of moral ethics. Of humble background, he was not well educated, but he was very intelligent and tenacious in his quest for justice.

The plotting of this historical mystery was complicated yet understandable. The author's meticulous research shows in her writing.

I very much enjoyed reading of the evolving relationships between Corravan and his fellow policemen, as well as his newfound relationship with his young lodger, Harry.

"Down A Dark River" combined themes of revenge, collusion, and crimes against women. It elaborately showed some of the historical aspects of policing which I found fascinating. It explored the disparate notions of mercy and justice.

All told, this was a well-executed mystery which marks the beginning of what I'm sure will be a successful series.

4.5 stars rounded up

The excellent start of a new historical mystery series: dark, twisty and gripping.
The plot is full of twists and turns and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I liked the characters and think they are fleshed out and well written.
The historical background is vivid and well researched.
Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Down A Dark River is a historical mystery that had me wrapped up from the beginning. Author Karen Odden transports her readers back in time to Victorian England in 1878. I felt as though I was there and had a lot of trouble setting this down to do anything else.

This is such an original mystery. I’m not sure I’ve read anything quite like it before. The mystery mixed in with the Victorian times made for a vivid, beautifully written story.

Twists and turns, in depth characters that drive the story forward, and a mystery that is not easily guessed, Down A Dark River is honestly a must read for historical mystery fans. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

This is the first book by this author that I have read and I really enjoyed it. I love historical mysteries and this one had me guessing till the end although there were hints of other happenings along the way. The characters were well written and you could connect with them. It wasn’t full of fillers but a good storyline and the plot was well thought out. There were a lot of characters and for this old mine, I found I got lost some of the time but I still give it a 5* because it was just a good read. I would like to read more of her books. I also enjoyed the small amount of romance that helped keep the characters approachable. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

This was a fantastic historical mystery! It is the first in a new historical mystery series, set in 1870 London. The main character, Michael Corravan is an inspector at the newly created Scotland Yard. He is such a likable man with deep understanding, compassion and striving for justice. I will look forward to his return in the next book.

This is an awesome historical mystery, the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last, this book is set in London in 1878, just after the corruption trials that changed the way Scotland Yard was working and the trust from the people of London was not high, when the body of a young woman is found floating in a boat on the Thames and Senior Inspector Michael Corravan one of the last inspectors left standing is given the case to find her killer, this causes him to put aside another case he is working on, that of a missing wife which he hands over to his young colleague Mr. Stiles and here starts a fabulous mystery that has lots of twists as Michael works hard to uncover the truth.

I really like Michael Corravan he is a man that really thinks things through he has had a hard life but always puts people first although he is known to go at things like a bull at a gate sometimes it is only to get to the truth of things he cares so much about the victims, his boss Vincent has been getting on his back about the way he goes about things and the woman he loves Belinda Gale an author also does her best to help him but getting to the bottom of the deaths is a be all and end all for Michael.

There are more deaths and Michael is working non-stop and with Stiles working on the other case it seems that his mind is going all the time can there be a link between the woman in the boats and a poem about King Arthur? Discovering more about the missing wife brings out some very nasty characters has him re-thinking lots of things.

This is a brilliantly written story that was a compelling read, I could barely put it down until I got to the end, it has everything revenge, retribution a detective who goes out to find the truth and doesn’t stop until he gets there and what’s more considering it is the 1870’s he cares about the women, the victims, he is a fabulous character and MS Odden has bought the era, the characters and the setting to life with her words, I can’t wait to read more about Inspector Michael Corravan. If you love a good historical mystery then this is one that I highly recommend.

My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review

Set in late 19th Century London, Down a Dark River features Michael Corravan, an orphan from Whitechapel and a former bare-knuckles boxer, Corravan has worked his way up from River Police to Scotland Yard. Now Corravan is faced with a complex case that takes him back to the Thames, where the bodies of young women have begun turning up, floating downriver in boats strewn with flowers.

Corravan is joined by a number of strong supporting characters: Sills, his partner at the Yard; Vincent, the yard's recently appointed director; Ma Doyle, who took him in after the deaths of his parents; and Belinda, a novelist and free thinker and very independent-minded love interest. Corravan takes neither assistance nor direction well, but with the help of this small community, he's learning.

This is the first novel in what I hope will become a series. I appreciate that Karen Odden has given the characters interesting backstories that she integrates adeptly, so all the central players are distinct individuals. The mystery itself is "beyond cozy," but not blood-soaked, and offers enough twists to keep readers on their toes. The particular historical moment in which Odden places her characters is an interesting one, immediately following investigations of corruption and the purging of a number of officers from Scotland Yard and with a public hostility to what we tend to think of as a universally appreciated organization.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, Down a Dark River will offer you a delightful read—and leave you hoping you'll see more of Corravan in the future.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Karen Odden's previous Victorian mystery featured a gentlemanly detective ably assisted by a young woman. In Down a Dark River Odden changes direction and brings to the page a grittier storyline and a rougher, street-wise, male protagonist, raised in the slums of Whitechapel.

Michael Corravan, orphaned at a young age, owes much to kindhearted Ma Doyle, who took him in, recognised his potential, and forced him to seek a life beyond the poverty and crime of London's East End. Working his way up through the ranks, Corravan is now one of the only senior Scotland Yard inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal decimated the division.

When a well-to-do young woman's body is discovered in a boat floating on the Thames, Corravan hands his current case concerning the missing wife of a shipping magnate to his young colleague, Stiles. Pressured by his superiors, the newspapers, and unfavourable public opinion to solve the murder quickly, Corravan is hampered by the lack of leads. With more women's bodies found in similar circumstances, Corravan's worst fear is that Le Loup, a serial killer the police failed to apprehend, has resurfaced.

Having weathered the corruption scandal together and developed a good working relationship at that time, Corravan and Stiles appear to be ideal partners. While Corravan's hard-nosed policing style gets results, he is the first to acknowledge that Stiles's amiability is often required to gain a victim's or witness's trust and cooperation.

As they continue to work their separate cases which takes them to asylums and the homes of the upper classes, they discover a link between the two. The race is then on to find the murderer before he can strike again. With Stiles unable to help and witnesses reluctant to make their evidence official, Corravan faces a dilemma in bringing the murderer to justice and also ensuring that the perpetrators of another horrendous crime he and Stiles have uncovered are held accountable.

The story unfolds at a steady pace, gaining momentum towards the end and the confrontation between Corravan and the murderer. The outcome is a surprise that reveals more of Corravan's nature, in particular his sense of justice and compassion.

Interwoven with the criminal investigation is Corravan's personal life: his gratitude to Ma Doyle, the young man of sixteen he takes into his home at her request, his unusual relationship with novelist Belinda Gale, and his friendship with Dr. James Everett.

Down a Dark River is another exciting mystery from an author I've recently discovered. Darker and more atmospheric than her previous novels, it showcases her knowledge of Victorian London, its political and societal mores, and an ability to capture the reader's imagination and instill the horror of the crimes without being too graphic.

Down a Dark River is a great introduction to a new series. It will appeal to fans of historical mysteries and tempt those unfamiliar with the genre. I'm looking forward to the next case involving Corravan and Stiles.

1878 London. Overworked Inspector Michael Corravan is called in to investigate the murder of judge’s daughter Rose Albert. Her body has been discovered in a boat on the Thames. One of his other cases involves the disappearance of wife Madeline Beckford. As the families live near each other is there a link between them. Then the body of another young girl is found.
An entertaining and interesting, well-written historical mystery, with its cast of likeable and varied characters. A good start to this new series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Historical mysteries, especially those set in England, are a favorite of mine. This series is off to a great start landing it a spot on my must read list. 1878 London is a city of extremes. Scotland Yard is having major growing pains and a major bribery scandal has reduced its ranks to just a couple of detectives and they fear their time may be running out. Michael Corrovan is a senior detective and is very good at his job. He started working as a lighterman, ferrying goods from ships on the Thames to the docks. He's working the case of a missing wife of a wealthy shipper until the body of a young woman is found dead in a lighter on the Thames. Corrovan spent four years with the River Police before Scotland Yard and he is removed from the missing person case and put on the Thames case. The dead woman may have been found in a rough setting but she is equal in station to the other woman. This young woman is the daughter of a well positioned judge. Mr. Stiles, Corrovan's young partner takes over their other case so both cases are covered. Then more women are found dead in similar situations. People hiding dark secrets, themes of mental illness and domestic abuse, there is a lot to be dealt with in this well crafted mystery.
I enjoyed this debut mystery from the first page, beyond the time and place. The writing flows smoothly, the characters are vivid and the mystery is excellent. It's so good that I hope there will be many more mysteries featuring Michael Corrovan.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

1878, Riveting Victorian murder mystery!

A sturdy new character in the shape of the rough-edged Yard man, Corravan bursts onto the Victorian Mystery stage as a welcomed addition. Chief Inspector Michael Corravan of Scotland Yard has grown up under hard circumstances in a harsh part of London—Whitechapel. This background gives Corravan insight into the struggles of the poor and the true value of kindliness. He knows the River and the people. He used to be part of the River Police but he moved on. That part of his story is shrouded in hurt. Fascinating though is his relationship with the very interesting author Belinda Gale.
Ma Doyle, the woman who saved Corravan as a youngster in Whitechapel asks him to take care of her nephew Harry Lish for a bit. He’s unsuited for the area and Ma’s worried about him.
A young woman’s body is found floating down the Thames in a lighter boat (used for transferring cargo short distances) arranged somewhat like the Lady of Shallot. When the bodies of other young women are found in the same way, Corravan struggles to find the connecting thread.
One memorable moment is when Corravan, Belinda and Harry are discussing things, Harry comments that he finds the Thames ugly, and refers to “a Middle English word, temese, that means ‘dark,’ and that’s from a Celtic name for the river Tamesas.” To which Belinda adds, “And the word tamas means ‘darkness’ in Sanskrit…Sometimes tamas is translated as ‘indifference,’ which feels appropriate to me. I find the Thames cold and impervious to human suffering.”
Ugly, dark and indifferent. Yes these three words throw up imagery that seems appropriate in the context of how the bodies are found; the idea of the murdered women floating out to the sea—lost to all, if they’d not been spotted.
A further mystery, a missing wife, who is found in a rather insalubrious hospital in state of anxiety and shock is highlighted.
Corravan has a few cases on the go but the dead women take official precedence. The missing wife is disturbing, but relegated to the background although Corravan can’t let this investigation go as he’s been instructed. He hands that off to another wonderful character, young Inspector Stiles.
Over his head hangs the displeasure of the new Head of the Yard, Howard Vincent, and political threats from the dreaded Parliamentary Review Commission.
A richly woven story with some intriguing characters whom I’m sure we’ll see develop and grow as new episodes are born.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

The publisher provided me a copy of this title; all opinions expressed are my own. Down a Dark River is a fantastic start to new series set during the Victorian era; 4.75 stars rounded up to 5. Odden creates a strong and memorable main character in Inspector Corravan; he's got an interesting background and differs from many others in historical mysteries with a lack of real connections to the titled/aristocracy. Left orphaned young in one of the toughest areas of London, he is taken under the wing of Ma Doyle and eventually joins the River Patrol before becoming an Inspector with Scotland Yard. He is immersed in the case of a missing wife when called to investigate a death of a young woman found in a boat on the Thames. Soon it appears that there may be a killer on the lose targeting well-off young women, but what is the connection between the victims? Can Corravan find the missing wife and if so, why did she disappear? All this while contending with pressure from his superiors while attempting to rebuild public trust in Scotland Yard following a recent scandal and balancing events in his personal life.

The mystery was very well done and kept me guessing. I also appreciated the look at the grittier side of London than is often feature in historical mysteries; inequalities experienced between the wealthy and average Londoner are very well illustrated and still feel relevant in today's world. I also enjoyed secondary characters such as Harry, Stiles, James, and of course Belinda. This books is a very wonderful start to a new series that I hope includes many stories to come.

London, 1878 and Scotland Yard is still reeling from a corruption scandal involving three of its inspectors, all found guilty of taking bribes to allow criminals to evade capture. A Parliamentary Review Commission has appointed a new Director, public school educated, son of a baronet Howard Vincent who is determined to build the Yard into a force to be respected and trusted.

Senior Inspector Michael Corravan is now one of only two remaining detectives, with consequently more cases than he can deal with, including the disappearance of the wife of a high-profile Mayfair gentleman and partner in a large shipping company. Born in London’s East End Corravan lived on the streets for a while after his mother died. Eventually taken in by an Irish family, he became a dock worker and bare-knuckle fighter before joining the River Police and then transferring to Scotland Yard. Although respectable now, he has never forgotten his origins or the Irish woman who took him in.

When a well-dressed, young woman is found dead in a boat, her body posed and scattered with flower petals, in a manner that reminds him of Tennyson’s ‘Lady of Shallot’, Corravan realises he has an unusual murderer on his hands. Later identified as the daughter of a prominent judge, he finds it hard to find any reason for her death. He is even more puzzled when a second dead woman is found a week later, similarly posed in a boat, especially since there seems to be no connection between the two victims.

Corravan is a conflicted character, with a strong sense of justice but a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. His tendency to run roughshod over anyone in his way has Vincent telling him he has ‘all the finesse of a rabid bear barging through the woods’. However, he has a keen detective’s nose when it comes to unearthing clues and intuitively knows when someone has something to hide. Although, not married he has a discreet relationship with an author, Belinda Gale, who unlike most women of the time is not in a hurry to wed. he manages to spend one night per week with her, where is able to relax, and learn something of poetry and literature. He is also well respected by his new police partner, young Inspector Stiles, who is a good counterbalance to Corravan’s brusqueness, with his kindness and open manner that puts witnesses at ease.

This is a superbly written Victorian mystery. Dark and atmospheric, with the inscrutable Thames playing a major role at the centre of the crimes. It’s a tale of revenge and retribution, rich in historical detail with a cast of fascinating characters. The mystery is intricate and complex, unfolding slowly at first but culminating in fast paced suspense as the twists and revelations emerge and rapidly coalesce to identify the murderer and motive. It’s great to see this listed as the first in a series by the author as I can’t wait to see where she takes Corravan next.

In Karen Odden's newest historical mystery, Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan must discover the murderer of a young woman who is placed in a small rowboat on the Thames. Overworked, Corravan gives the case of a missing woman to his colleague Stiles. But as more women are murdered the men discover that the missing woman and the dead girls have more in common than meets the eye. And it may be that secrets hidden in the posh Mayfair residences instead of seedy riverside docks hide the clues to solve the cases and save other innocent lives.

Unlike Odden's other books (A Trace of Deceit, A Dangerous Duet, A Lady in the Smoke) Down a Dark River features not a young woman trying to solve a mystery, but a Scotland Yard inspector. Michael Corravan is hampered by the fact that he's Irish at a time when the English don't like the Irish, he's from Whitechapel when he's investigating the murder of upperclass women, and still prominent in the public mind is the trial of four Scotland Yard detectives for taking bribes, the Yard has been reorganized and its credit with the public is at an all-time low. Corravan wants to find the killer but his stubborn push for answers isn't getting him anything but enemies and political red tape from higher ups at the Yard.

I loved Corravan even when I was frustrated with him. He is a complex, flawed, but basically decent man, wrestling with how to best solve cases and help others. He values his small circle of friends and family, although he doesn't always know how to show it. As his lover, author Belinda Gale puts it, Michael likes being the knight solving everyone's problems, but he doesn't like being seen as human, with all the messy emotions that come with it. He's as prickly as a porcupine, never wants to ask help of anyone, and is slow to trust. As Dark River progresses we see Corravan try to change his approach to life and maybe that's what leads to the questions he (and the reader) have to ask themselves at the end. What is justice? How are justice and revenge different? Can it be found through the law courts and police procedures or only on the streets? Are there some people so self-centered (or evil) that they can't be touched by either? Are there some crimes that can never be balanced?

In Dark River Corravan's view of himself and the secondary characters evolves over the course of the book and the reader gets a more nuanced view of people as the book progresses. His relations with others develops over the course of the book too- I especially liked how his relationship with his supervisor Vincent and junior Stiles changed over the course of the book. One character the reader sees clearly from the beginning is London- and the Thames. Karen Odden has a special talent for making her locations as much of a living, breathing character as any flesh and blood character in her books and from the slimy docks at the Thames to the glittery streets of Mayfair, she succeeds brilliantly again here.

Down a Dark River is timely in many ways, without seeming to preach to the reader or put modern views into Victorian character's mouths. Corravan has to struggle with power throughout the book: who has it, who uses it, and what do they use it for. It appears in different places and different ways, asking Corravan and the reader to look at ever situation and person through multiple angles before reaching conclusions. Powerful men he meets try to prevent him from pursuing his investigations, while he meets women with no formal political or social power trying to do incredible acts of kindness and life changing work. In many ways this is Corravan's wake up call to see that the people he thinks of as powerless are not the only ones without a voice, and makes him wonder how that lack of power would effect him, as well as those around him. Hopefully we will get to see more of Michael Corravan in the future, and he will hang on to the lessons he learned the hard way here, as they certainly make him a better, more compassionate detective and man. Something Victorian England needed every bit as much as we do today.

Down a Dark River is a very promising start to a new historical series featuring Inspector Michael Corravan, the type of multi-faceted character that readers will love to sink their teeth into. An orphan, Corravan was raised by a foster mother in the East End of London. He's been a dockworker, a bare-knuckle boxer, a river cop, and a Metropolitan police officer. His life seems to have taught him that there are two ways to deal with people: fight them or rescue them, and this attitude has caused him many problems. Even his mistress, wealthy author Belinda Gale, is finding it difficult to put up with a man who's been described more than once as a rabid bear barreling through the woods. Corravan is the type of character that can exhaust and annoy a reader-- at least he did me-- except for one thing: he does show a willingness to change the personality traits that are causing him so many personal and work-related problems. This is just the sort of rich characterization that I love.

The mystery is excellent, with plenty of misdirection. Readers have to make their way through the theft of a valuable necklace, a runaway wife, an insane asylum, the ongoing feud between the River Police and Scotland Yard, the deaths of young women who have no obvious connections to each other, and rich, entitled men who think it's beneath them to deal with the police.

I also liked the secondary characters of young Mr. Stiles and Belinda Gale. This series isn't going to be a mere one-man show, which means readers will reap even more benefits. There's also something for the poetically inclined: Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" is woven into the story, and since that's one of my favorite poems, it was the icing on the cake of this very well-done historical mystery. Down a Dark River is the first book by Karen Odden that I've read, but it won't be the last. I'm definitely looking forward to Inspector Corravan's next case.

Down a Dark RIver is the first book in Karen Odden's historical mystery series Inspector Corravan. This is my first book by Ms. Odden, and now I have a new favorite author, series and hero! Yay! I could not put this fascinating book down. Set in Victorian London in 1878, there was an artful intermingling of real people and compelling fictional characters.

One morning a small boat carrying a deceased woman's body is found floating down the Thames. The dead young woman is the daughter of a prominent judge. The case is assigned to Scotland Yard Senior Inspector Michael Corravan, one of the few remaining inspectors after a corruption scandal the year before ruined the reputation of the Yard. Corravan has to turn over his current case involving the missing wife of a shipping magnate to Mr. Stiles, his young colleague. Corravan is an Irishman, a former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London's East End. He's a good detective and also quite knowledgeable about the Thames, having been a member of the River Police at one time. Other dead women are also found in boats, but Corravan can't seem to make a connection between the victims. Mr. Stiles, in the meantime, is working on the case of the missing shipping magnate's wife, and she doesn't seem insane as her husband describes her; her husband also seems to be not quite the upstanding businessman he pretends to be. It soon appears that the murdered women are connected to the missing wife and a years-old case of injustice. Will Corravan find the killer before he strikes again?

I just loved everything about this book, from the characters to the seemingly unsolvable case! Michael Corravan is a great hero; he's smart, strong and has great instincts, but he also has very human flaws. He wants to save everyone on his own without any help. He had a terrible childhood after his mother died, but then he was taken in by Ma Doyle, a sort of surrogate mother, who really changed his life for the better. However, his painful past still shaped his actions. He also had a problem with whiskey when things got really difficult. He had a strong ally in his lover Belinda Gale, an authoress who supported him always, but didn't hesitate to explain to him when she thought he was wrong or being pigheaded. Mr. Stiles, Corravan's partner, seemed to be a good and intelligent man, but I definitely want to know more about him. He missed out on some action when he was in hospital with double pneumonia, so he wasn't quite fully fleshed out yet as a character. Dr. James Everett, a good friend of Corravan's, was a brilliant doctor who also didn't pull any punches when, like Belinda, he voiced his opinions as to Corravan's faults. Director Howard Vincent, Corravan's superior, was extremely interesting. At first he seemed quite unlikeable, but he really turned out to be a good boss. He was based on a real person, which I really found interesting. My favorite supporting character, however, was young Harry, a boy whom Ma Doyle asked Corravan to mentor; Harry reminded Ma of Corravan when he was a young boy, and thought he was the perfect role model. Harry wanted to be a doctor; I loved the time he spent with Dr. Everett learning the medical profession. I enjoyed seeing him blossom from a sullen boy to an intelligent young man. Of course, such great characters needed a fine mystery to investigate, and this particular mystery was thrilling. Two totally separate cases ended up being entwined; I just couldn't figure out how, and I was stunned when all was revealed. It was both horrific and heartbreaking. I hope Ms. Odden is busily scribbling away working on the next volume of this exciting new series!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Down A Dark River by Karen Ogden

I enjoyed this mystery thriller. It was a fast read. Many sinister characters and much bribery going on in the courts. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.