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esdeecarlson's review
5.0
**This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.**
5 stars
Gripping! This novel sweeps you away into the Victorian-era investigation of a serial killer targeting well-to-do young woman. I could not put the book down, and finished it in record time.
What is particularly impressive about the book, particularly in its genre (‘hard’ mystery following a lawman protagonist) is how real all of the characters are. Not only our protagonist, but also the side characters—friends, witnesses, colleagues, family—all appear on the page as fully-formed human beings with realized backstories and full inner lives. No one is a mere stock character. It’s difficult to believe that all of these characters sprung up purely from one author’s imagination.
The actual mystery was suitably twisty and turny; I enjoyed tagging along as Inspector Corravan tracked down leads and pieced together the puzzle. From start to finish, the story was interesting, well-grounded, and highly satisfying.
5 stars
Gripping! This novel sweeps you away into the Victorian-era investigation of a serial killer targeting well-to-do young woman. I could not put the book down, and finished it in record time.
What is particularly impressive about the book, particularly in its genre (‘hard’ mystery following a lawman protagonist) is how real all of the characters are. Not only our protagonist, but also the side characters—friends, witnesses, colleagues, family—all appear on the page as fully-formed human beings with realized backstories and full inner lives. No one is a mere stock character. It’s difficult to believe that all of these characters sprung up purely from one author’s imagination.
The actual mystery was suitably twisty and turny; I enjoyed tagging along as Inspector Corravan tracked down leads and pieced together the puzzle. From start to finish, the story was interesting, well-grounded, and highly satisfying.
rebleejen's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I like this Victorian detective. I want to read more about him.
kansas_girl's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Down a Dark River by Karen Odden is a stunningly absorbing novel of murder, revenge, betrayal, and love. This is the first of Odden’s mysteries with Inspector Michael Corravan of Scotland Yard, who seeks a murderer in the dark streets of 1878 London. The culprit is on a killing spree, murdering young women, and setting them afloat in boats on the Thames, but even Corravan’s experience as a lighterman on the river in his youth is not helping him to find the perplexing links among the victims. Corravan is a wonderful creation: an orphan out of Whitechapel, a former bare-knuckles fighter, who struggles with authority, and with his own sense of self-worth. But he is street-smart and intuitive and commands the loyalty of those for whom he has done any good turn. Odden’s prose is atmospheric and compelling, and this slice of 19th-century London feels as real as the stench of the mighty river at its heart.
yellowchevron's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
rapunzeluk's review
3.0
I’m struggling to find an apt description for this book, but I want to go with something like… ‘this was a perfectly serviceable period mystery novel’. And it was! But that said, it did lack a spark of something original for me. It had all the pieces, for the most part, that you’d expect - just not much beyond that.
It also, I’m guessing, is intended to be a lengthy series because for a single book it is CHOCK-A-BLOCK with little hooks for future novels. Every chapter was like ‘she had a red ribbon in her hair like my aunt that fell down a well unexpectedly when I was seven’ or ‘I got up from the chair and my knee throbbed - it had never been the same since I chased that man nearly off a cliff. Funny how they never found his body in the ravine…’
It also, I’m guessing, is intended to be a lengthy series because for a single book it is CHOCK-A-BLOCK with little hooks for future novels. Every chapter was like ‘she had a red ribbon in her hair like my aunt that fell down a well unexpectedly when I was seven’ or ‘I got up from the chair and my knee throbbed - it had never been the same since I chased that man nearly off a cliff. Funny how they never found his body in the ravine…’
msmoodyreader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
estelessa's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
kbranfield's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
Set in 1878, Down a Dark River by Karen Odden is a fascinating historical mystery.
Chief Inspector Michael Corravan does not have a good feeling following the discovery the body of Rose Albert in a lighter on the Thames River. She is a young woman from a good family and there are few clues to follow. When another young woman is found murdered in the same manner, Corravan’s worst fears are realized. With the reputation of Scotland Yard already battered from a recent scandal, his boss, Director Howard Vincent, implores Corravan to tread lightly with the victims’ families. Will Michael be able to contain his frustration and concerns over his lack of progress in catching the killer?
Just as the first victim is found, Michael makes progress in another case involving a missing woman, Mrs. Madeline Beckford. After locating her, his attempt to drop her off at her home leads to a shock response. Concerned about her safety, Corravan instead takes her the hospital where his friend Dr. James Everett works. Michael puts his young partner Inspector Stiles in charge of remaining by Madeline’s side in an effort to discover what drove her from her husband’s side.
Meanwhile, more murdered young women are found in lighters and Corravan’s vexation with his inability to find the murderer results in impetus decisions that threaten the case. He is rough around the edges and works hard to contain his impatience. Corravan can be brusque and his irritation with some of the victim’s family members is difficult to contain. After angering a person with unexpected connections in high places, Director Vincent puts Stiles in charge of the investigation. Will Michael heed his boss’s warning to stay away from the case?
Down a Dark River is a compelling mystery with an outstanding cast of characters. Corravan is multi-layered with a temper sometimes gets the best of him. Inspector Stiles patience and compassion perfectly complement Michael’s bull in the china shop tendencies. The storyline is quite engaging with a very perplexing mystery to solve. With brilliant twists and cunning turns, Karen Odden brings this clever mystery to an unpredictable yet satisfying conclusion. An Inspector Corravan Mystery series is off to a strong beginning and fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Set in 1878, Down a Dark River by Karen Odden is a fascinating historical mystery.
Chief Inspector Michael Corravan does not have a good feeling following the discovery the body of Rose Albert in a lighter on the Thames River. She is a young woman from a good family and there are few clues to follow. When another young woman is found murdered in the same manner, Corravan’s worst fears are realized. With the reputation of Scotland Yard already battered from a recent scandal, his boss, Director Howard Vincent, implores Corravan to tread lightly with the victims’ families. Will Michael be able to contain his frustration and concerns over his lack of progress in catching the killer?
Just as the first victim is found, Michael makes progress in another case involving a missing woman, Mrs. Madeline Beckford. After locating her, his attempt to drop her off at her home leads to a shock response. Concerned about her safety, Corravan instead takes her the hospital where his friend Dr. James Everett works. Michael puts his young partner Inspector Stiles in charge of remaining by Madeline’s side in an effort to discover what drove her from her husband’s side.
Meanwhile, more murdered young women are found in lighters and Corravan’s vexation with his inability to find the murderer results in impetus decisions that threaten the case. He is rough around the edges and works hard to contain his impatience. Corravan can be brusque and his irritation with some of the victim’s family members is difficult to contain. After angering a person with unexpected connections in high places, Director Vincent puts Stiles in charge of the investigation. Will Michael heed his boss’s warning to stay away from the case?
Down a Dark River is a compelling mystery with an outstanding cast of characters. Corravan is multi-layered with a temper sometimes gets the best of him. Inspector Stiles patience and compassion perfectly complement Michael’s bull in the china shop tendencies. The storyline is quite engaging with a very perplexing mystery to solve. With brilliant twists and cunning turns, Karen Odden brings this clever mystery to an unpredictable yet satisfying conclusion. An Inspector Corravan Mystery series is off to a strong beginning and fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.