Welcome to my tour stop! Check out this recently released mystery and my review below...
Under a Veiled Moon
(An Inspector Corravan Myster #2)
By Karen Odden
Historical Mystery, Detective Mystery, Victorian Myster
Hardcover, Audiobook & eBook, 336 Pages
October 11, 2022 by Crooked Lane Books
Summary
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.
Corravan’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.
Advance Praise
“[An] exceptional sequel . . . Fans of Lyndsay Faye’s Gods of Gotham trilogy will be enthralled.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Victorian skulduggery with a heaping side of Irish troubles.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Charismatic police superintendent Michael Corravan is back in a gripping sequel about the mysterious sinking of the Princess Alice. Odden deftly weaves together English and Irish history, along with her detective's own story, in a way that will keep readers flipping pages long into the night.” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of Mother Daughter Traitor Spy and the Maggie Hope series.
My Review
UNDER A VEILED MOON is about a disaster that brings more questions than answers as the main character tries to find the truth. With an endearing main character and a well-written story, readers are sure to enjoy immersing themselves in this Victorian world of police work amidst political tension, family complexities, and Irish gangs as the mystery unfolds.
This was a story that easily held my attention. It starts off with a death that turns out to be a mysterious murder and then more tragedy ensues as the plot thickens. The pace is steady with touches of family kinship and drama, slight romance, and political maneuvering. Plus the way Inspector Corravan thought and went about investigating I found to be intriguing. I enjoyed the author's writing style immensely and the ease it allowed in connecting with the main character as well as feeling immersed in his world. There was plenty of complexity and unknowns as the investigation proceeds, with the pieces slowly fitting together until a somewhat heartbreaking, climatic and satisfying end.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. Definitely a series worth following for mystery fans!
Content: References to violence, but mostly off page, and some non-descriptive references to marital affairs, as well as some swearing.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Author Interview
Read an exclusive interview with author Karen Odden HERE.
About the Author
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