Excellent mystery involving young women of good families found dead on small boats floating down the Thames. The darkly atmospheric depiction of 1870s London feels real and Inspector Mickey Corravan is a facinating character.

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. ( )

London, 1878. If you love Victorian England, and enjoy mystery and suspense, this is certainly a must-read book for you! Author Karen Odden grabbed my attention from the very first paragraphs, sharing the thoughts of Inspector Michael Corravan after he is called into an investigation of a murdered woman's body that has been found floating down the Thames River. This seasoned inspector with Scotland Yard is launched into an investigation of a series of gruesome murders involving the daughters of prominent men, and it's up to him and his young co-worker to stop the killing. Who is targeting these women, and why?

Odden has created some memorable characters to showcase this story of corruption and revenge. I loved the working relationship and friendship that evolves between a veteran inspector and a much younger Inspector, and there's even a romance to add to the story's appeal. Down a Dark River has an engaging plot with intriguing historical details, and I was especially drawn to the focus on women and the legal system. Women in 1878 were afraid to testify in court, and this is still true in today's society. Women who have been victims of terrible crimes are often victimized by judges, lawyers, and the courts! This is an exciting and thought-provoking tale, and I look forward to reading more of Inspector Corravan's adventures!

I received a copy of this book from the author and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. There was no obligation for a positive review and I am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion. ( )

Senior Inspector Micheal Corravan has been handed a case of a murdered woman found floating in a boat on the Thames river. This case is to take priority and Michael will surely be under scrutiny during the whole investigation. Having to hand off his case of a missing wife, Michael heads the Yard in hopes of a quick solve- which quickly diminishes out of sight when a second and then third woman is found the same way, week after week. He knows these are all connected and yet the clues are eluding him with each woman that is found but he knows he must stop the culprit before another one is murdered.

Corravan has his work cut out for him, not only does he have a serial murderer running around murdering women from prominent families, he has the press hounding his back and constantly dredging up the faults and wrongs of years ago. He needs to solve this to prove they aren’t imbeciles and know what they are doing. Just because one might be a bad apple, doesn’t mean the whole bunch is.

I really enjoyed this novel, and will look to read more by Karen. I enjoyed Inspector Corravan’s character as well as his background the author laid out. He came from nothing and has learned to not judge a book by its cover and does his best to give everyone justice no matter their standing in town. He knows what it is to have nothing and that some days you do everything you can just to make it another day. Thank you to Cooked Lane Publishing and the author for the free book, and the HFVBT for the tour invite! ( )

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 the 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 ( )