Karen Odden

Karen Odden received her Ph.D. in English literature from New York University and subsequently taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her first novel, "A Lady in the Smoke," was a USA Today bestseller and "A Dangerous Duet" and "A Trace of Deceit" have won awards for historical mystery and historical fiction. Down a Dark River (2021) introduces readers to Michael Corravan, a former thief and bare-knuckles boxer from Whitechapel, now a Scotland Yard Inspector in 1878 London. The sequel, Under a Veiled Moon (2022) has been nominated for a Lefty Award. 

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Awards: New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards for Historical Fiction and Mystery, and winner of 2021 Grant from Arizona Commission on the Arts

Communities: Arizona Author

History Mystery

Books by Cara Black, John Copenhaver and Karen Odden take us back -- way back -- and give us a glimpse at murder and mayhem through the ages. How much historical research must they do? How are history mysteries different? So many questions!

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  
Sat, Mar 4, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: Cara Black, John Copenhaver, Karen Odden
Moderator: Holly Rosen

Haunting Stories

The world we may not see is often scarier than the one we know. Just ask Ramona Emerson, Charlaine Harris and Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Each comes to the festival with a book that visits a world beyond. Come join in! We promise to leave the lights on.

Student Union North Ballroom (Seats 560)  
Sat, Mar 4, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Rincon Room (following presentation)  

Panelists: Ramona Emerson, Charlaine Harris, Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Moderator: Karen Odden

A Sense of Place

Novelists learned long ago that the right setting is critical in the telling of a tale. This is particularly true in mysteries. Today, in fact, authors Cara Black, Karen Odden and Stacy Willingham will describe stories that use setting as an important character.

Student Union Santa Rita (Seats 110)  
Sun, Mar 5, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: Cara Black, Karen Odden, Stacy Willingham
Moderator: Cayce Blanchard

Books:

Under a Veiled Moon

Mystery / Thrillers
Crooked Lane Books
October 2022
ISBN 9781639101191
336 pages

In the tradition of C. S. Harris and Anne Perry, a fatal disaster on the Thames and a roiling political conflict set the stage for Karen Odden’s second Inspector Corravan historical mystery. September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat the Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600 passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish Home Rule. For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion, and berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever. Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way. But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns his help. As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself. More/less