Down a Dark River

An Inspector Corravan Mystery, Book 1

By: Karen Odden

Narrated by: Joshua Manning

London, 1878. One April morning, a small boat bearing a young woman’s corpse floats down the murky waters of the Thames. When the victim is identified as Rose Albert, daughter of a prominent judge, the Scotland Yard director gives the case to Michael Corravan, one of the only senior inspectors remaining after a corruption scandal the previous autumn left the division in ruins. Reluctantly, Corravan abandons his ongoing case, a search for the missing wife of a shipping magnate, handing it over to his young colleague, Mr. Stiles.

An Irish former bare-knuckles boxer and dockworker from London’s seedy East End, Corravan has good street sense and an inspector’s knack for digging up clues. But he’s confounded when, a week later, a second woman is found dead in a rowboat, and then a third. The dead women seem to have no connection whatsoever. Meanwhile, Mr. Stiles makes an alarming discovery: The shipping magnate’s missing wife, Mrs. Beckford, may not have fled her house because she was insane, as her husband claims, and Mr. Beckford may not be the successful man of business that he appears to be.

Slowly, it becomes clear that the river murders and the case of Mrs. Beckford may be linked through some terrible act of injustice in the past - for which someone has vowed a brutal vengeance. Now, with the newspapers once again trumpeting the Yard’s failures, Corravan must dredge up the truth - before London devolves into a state of panic and before the killer claims another innocent victim.

©2021 Karen Odden (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Wonderful story

This is a wonderfully crafted story that paints a clear picture of life in the 1800rds. The characters are multidimensional- flawed and redeemable. I could not stop listening, staying up much too late. I’m so glad this is a series! I will look forward to when the next book comes out in October.

good read

it's another good story by Karen Odden. Joshua Manning has a nice voice and narration that's easy to listen to.

A Pleasant Surprise!

I listen incessantly to books on Audible. “Down a Dark River” was one I enjoyed the most! Interesting, exciting, twisty plot and a real pleasure.

Enjoyable AND informative

I admit - I try to find books that will help me enjoy continuing long walks. This one was so well-written, with an arresting plot, great pace, and an obviously well-informed author, that I found I wanted to make another round of the walk to learn the next twist of the plot. Thanks.

Recommend Down a Dark River

Author Karen Odden does it again. An enthralling murder mystery set in Victorian London when Scotland Yard is trying to fix its reputation into a trusted institution with the public. Inspector Michael Corravan is up to the task but is not without his own past to confront in order to move forward and enable him to not only make progress on the case but save his own job. As usual, Ms. Odden fills the story with rich descriptions of the setting, laws and mindset of the time with historical accuracy. I am learn some not only about the period but also human nature.