An Artful Dodge

Praise for An Artful Dodge “A triumph! The story of one whip-smart young thief’s audacious battle for her freedom, integrity, and true love.” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series and Mother Daughter Traitor Spy “Dickens fans—if you ever yearned for Nancy to kick Bill Sykes to the curb and go off thieving with Bet and the Dodger, this is your new favorite book. Vibrant with the authentic sights and sounds of Victorian London, An Artful Dodge is the riveting tale of a gang of female thieves and what one clever dodge artist must do to survive when the gang's old boss returns seeking power—and revenge. A crime novel that centers the power of family bonds both natural and chosen, this thrilling adventure will have you frantically turning the pages.” —Mariah Fredericks, author of The Girl in the Green Dress “Engaging characters, unusual story, and impeccable research make An Artful Dodge a thoroughly engaging novel. The icing on this cake is Odden’s beautiful prose. Here’s a writer who cares about her craft. Brava.” —Sara Paretsky “Brilliant . . . Odden matches vivid details of the hard-knock life in Victorian London with complex backstories for her large cast. Readers will be rapt.” —Publishers Weekly Praise for Karen Odden “Period and place are exceptionally well-drawn.” —Oprah Daily “Enter a world of teeming and dangerous cities portrayed in vitality and amazing detail. Meet characters with tremendous courage and appetite for life, and be glad you can return at will to the present.” —Anne Perry, New York Times bestselling author “Pulls the reader into the place and time as Karen Odden weaves this complex and compelling mystery! A must read for mystery fans!” –Charles Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Rutledge mysteries “A captivating tale of mystery, history, and a dash of romance—with an ahead-of-her-time heroine who not only plays the piano with aplomb, but defies Victorian conventions, courts danger, and solves mysteries.” —Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series “This riveting historical debut is chock-full of details about Victorian England, spun into a masterful tale of romance, railroads, and mystery. Propelled by an engaging heroine and a deftly plotted conspiracy, it’s a great read!” —Stefanie Pintoff, Edgar Award–winning author of Hostage Taker “Odden never strikes a false note, and she combines a sympathetic lead with a twisty plot grounded in the British politics of the day and peopled with fully fleshed-out characters. Fans of Lyndsay Faye’s Gods of Gotham trilogy will be enthralled.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “A lyrical tune whose words demand equality and justice.” —Washington Independent Review of Books “Impossible to put down.” —Historical Novel Society