Karen Odden is an American author who has made a name for herself in the historical mystery genre. She earned her Ph.D. in English literature from New York University and went on to teach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Odden's passion for Victorian literature is evident in her writing, as all of her novels are set in 1870s London, a place and time she feels very much at home in.
Odden's first novel, "A Lady in the Smoke," was a USA Today bestseller and won a New Mexico-Arizona 2017 Book Award. This was followed by "A Dangerous Duet" and "A Trace of Deceit," which have also received critical acclaim. Her fourth mystery, "Down a Dark River," introduces readers to Michael Corravan, a former thief and bare-knuckles boxer from Whitechapel who has become a Scotland Yard inspector in 1878 London. The sequel, "Under a Veiled Moon," is already available for readers to enjoy. Odden's novels are known for their sparkling prose, vivid descriptions, and unique and compelling sleuths, making them a must-read for fans of any genre of crime fiction.
In addition to her work as a novelist, Odden has contributed essays and chapters to many academic books and journals. She has also written introductions to novels by Dickens and Trollope for the Barnes and Noble Classics Series and served as an Assistant Editor for the journal Victorian Literature and Culture. Despite her expertise in all things Victorian, Odden admits that she might be more at home in nineteenth-century London than in the modern world, especially when it comes to using her iPhone.
Odden currently resides in Arizona with her husband, two teenage children, and a beagle named Rosy. Readers can connect with her on her website karenodden.com, and on Facebook and Instagram.