Под скорбной луной. Расследование инспектора Корравана

Inspector Corravan #2

by Karen Odden, Карен Одден

Лондон, 1878 год. Новое расследование сталкивает прославленного инспектора Майкла Корравана, родившегося в Ирландии, со своими соотечественниками, Ирландским республиканским братством. Все указывает на то, что именно эта организация причастна к самой страшной морской катастрофе, которую когда-либо видел Лондон, — крушению парохода «Принцесса Алиса».Корравану необходимо добиться правды, которая, возможно, поколеблет его веру в родину, закон и самого себя.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Crime

528 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2022

About the author

Karen received her Ph.D. in English literature from New York University and subsequently taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her first novel, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller, and A Dangerous Duet and A Trace of Deceit have won awards for historical mystery and historical fiction. Her fourth mystery, Down a Dark River, introduces readers to Michael Corravan, a former thief and bare-knuckles boxer from Whitechapel who has become a Scotland Yard inspector in 1878 London. The sequel, Under a Veiled Moon, is available now in hardback, e-book, and audiobook.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was September 1878 when Inspector Michael Corravan was called to the Thames where a shocking disaster had occurred. The Princess Alice, a pleasure boat with hundreds of passengers, had collided with the Bywell Castle, an iron-hulled collier of huge proportions. The outcome was shattering as the Princess sank to the bottom immediately, with much loss of life. Survivors were being dragged ashore as many small boats came to the aid of the stricken vessel. It was a night Corravan would never forget - it also began his search for the evil that would cause these deaths.

With the newspapers pointing fingers at the Irish Republican Brotherhood as the culprits, Corravan knew he would fight an uphill battle. Irish himself, and taken in as a youngster by the Doyle family, politicians and the Home Office accused Corravan of prejudice. But he continued, with help from Stiles and Trent, plus his boss, Vincent, being updated daily. On the sidelines, but very much in the front of Corravan's mind, was the issue of Colin Doyle, mixing with the wrong people. Could Corravan discover who was to blame for the dreadful catastrophe on the Thames, as well as point Colin toward the straight and narrow?

Under a Veiled Moon is the 2nd in the Inspector Corravan series by Karen Odden, and it was breathtaking! I couldn't put it down, needing to know what was coming. We saw less of young Harry (who lives with Corravan) and Belinda Gale (Corravan's significant other) but they were there when it was important. The characters play intriguing, important roles, and play them well, while Corravan is a caring, compassionate policeman, with steel in his backbone. The author's notes at the end are interesting, telling of the true events which inspired this story. I hope Ms Odden continues this series well into the future. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to the next book in this series and was not disappointed, Karen Odden has taken me on another fabulous journey back in time with Michael Corravan and his remarkable sleuthing to uncover the truth when hundreds are people are killed in a major boating accident.

September 1878 and the pleasure boat The Princess Alice is making her way along the Thames with hundreds of passengers when she collides with a huge iron hulled collier The Bywell Castle over five hundred passengers and some crew are killed this night, a huge maritime disaster and the fingers are starting to point towards the Irish Republican Brotherhood as the perpetrators as they fight for restoring Irish Home Rule.

The newspapers are running stories with blame on the IRB stirring up trouble and Inspector Corravan must sort through the facts that he finds to find the true answers, this is not always made easy seeing as how he is Irish himself, add to that the trouble that is growing in his old home town of Whitechapel where there are now guns on the ground and people being killed, it is like the Irish against the Irish as the gangs fight for control. Corravan is pulled into this as well with his closeness to The Doyle family mostly young Colin who is linked to the gangs and Corravan must do his best to keep Colin safe and uncover the truth about the guns and the Princess Alice disaster, are they linked?

Corravan is working harder than ever when he uncovers links to members of parliament, with the help of his other officers Styles and Trent as well as his girlfriend Belinda who discovers a link to the newspaper accounts and accusations Corravan soon puts everything together and discovers the truth.

This is compelling reading, MS Oden has bought all of these characters to life on the pages and pulled me into this fabulous story that had me turning the pages, I love the way Corravan works through the clues and puts it all together he is an awesome inspector and I can’t highly recommend this story and series enough, bring on the next one I say I can’t wait for it. A must read,

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the series that was every bit as good as the first. The politics of being Irish is an important part of the plot and has many threads that are woven together to make the story an interesting read. Regret and what ifs can play such an important part in life. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.Great plot,with different strands that come together seamlessly,and one of the best main characters to come across in the last few years (the rest of the cast are very well drawn too). Looking forward to the next one.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in Karen Odden’s Inspector Corravan mystery series. I had little to no problems reading it as a standalone, but starting with the first book would be beneficial. It is 1878 and Corravan is assigned by Scotland Yard to investigate the collision of The Princess Alice with The Bywell Castle in the Thames River. Over 400 lives are lost. Corravan, who was adopted by an Irish family, the Doyles, tries to conduct an impartial investigation as the newspapers and Scotland Yard seem to be convinced that the Irish Republican Brotherhood is to blame. Corravan tries to maintain calm as anti-Irish sentiment abounds. The details of the crash and the personalization woven into the investigation are impressive. The author’s research is obviously meticulous as she takes us throughout London at that time, both while investigating the crash and while Corravan deals with Irish gangs. 

This is a very detailed book as we follow every facet of the investigation. Karen Odden’s ability to bring to life an investigation of a real-life shipwreck that happened over 140 years ago is impressive. Inspector Corravan is also thrust into the aftermath of the crash, rescue, and recovery in a realistic way, and we see all the horrors as he experiences them. The inside look at the Irish gangs and politics is intriguing, and the overall treatment of the Irish at that time is heartwrenching. The soft side of Corravan really doesn’t come out until we meet his love, Belinda, about 30 percent into the book, but those who have read the first book in the series would already have known her and seen this side of the Inspector. Their romance is compelling but does not take over the book. The Doyle family dynamics and the tension caused by decisions made years ago also become a significant part of the story.

My only slight criticism at all is that the first 10 to 15 percent of the book before the shipwreck happens moves a little slowly. The pace picks up significantly after that.

This is a well-thought-out, meticulously researched historical mystery with compelling characters. I highly recommend you check out this series, starting with the first book, Down A Dark River.

I received a free copy of this book via Austenprose Book Tours. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

"There are times when I wonder how we all boody well live with the fool things we've done."

Overall, a good story and well written. Unfortunately, it didn't captivate me in the same way as book one. The storyline was too focused on polictics and I really missed the characters from the previous novel. That being said, I hope the series continues and I look forward to reading the next book.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second book featuring Inspector Corravan.
Corravan's Irish background comes to the forefront in this story, as the English/Irish politics take center stage. Odden weaves a very plausible (though fictitious) conspiracy around a very real disaster (the sinking of the pleasure steamboat Princess Alice, with a death toll between 600-700 people).
Corravan is torn between investigating the sinking and dealing with young Colin Doyle, son of his foster mother, who has fallen in with very bad company.
It was nice to see young Inspector Stiles again, efficient as always. And we learn a little more about Superintendent Vincent of Scotland Yard. (I am really warming up to him.)
I am really looking forward to the next book, whenever it shows up.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After already having read this author before, I was excited when I came across this latest historical mystery set in Victorian Era London with a lower class Irish police detective up against his shadowed past and investigating a horrific disaster on the Thames. Blending real history and clever fiction and mystery, Karen Odden has released another winner.

Under a Veiled Moon is second of the Inspector Corravan series of historical mysteries that worked fine out of order, but I loved it so much that I will definitely be going back to the beginning.

After a scandal of corrupt police are exposed, Inspector Michael Corravan is temporarily promoted to head the police station on the river. Many don’t think a barely polished working class Irishman should be in this position. He’s looking into the body of an unknown man found on the embankment when he is interrupted by the news that a full pleasure boat, Princess Alice and an iron hauler have rammed and the Princess Alice has gone down with five hundred victims and a few survivors. It doesn’t take long for the papers to whip up a frenzy of anti-Irish sentiment especially after the train derailment just before which may or may not have been an accident and recent horrific bombing claimed to be done by Irish extremists.
If that weren’t enough, an Irish gang leader makes Corravan aware that someone is picking off his men and smashing up businesses in White Chapel and his past comes calling when he realizes the last living son in his adopted family is getting into trouble with the Irish criminal element. Corravan has the case and must get to the truth before another disaster and London’s East End erupts into worse violence.

Under a Veiled Moon balances an authentic and interesting colorful, historical backdrop with a clever mystery and an engaging detective figure. All the elements in the story organically mesh and it is a wonderfully layered whole. It had so much going for it that I simply want to gush.

I loved Michael Corravan of a main character and getting to know him and the world of this series. I like that he came from nothing and both earned his way and met good people along the way that helped. He gets knocked about and gets little respect outside a few colleagues and friends. He’s got a love interest and that too was something out of the ordinary as he has a genteel lady author from English London society who loves him as he is and her cleverness helps him with the case even as she is a support when he feels very low.

Yes, the horrific boating disaster was thrilling as was the London gangs and the anti-Irish suspense happening, but it was the way the author made it all Corravan’s story and how it all fit together with him at the center engaging emotions and tension so I was riveted. Okay and the mystery set against it all turned out to be enthralling and had to be tracked all the way to get to the solution.

All in all, I can’t praise it enough and have a definite book date for the first in series and will impatiently await the next book. Historical mystery fans who like the grittier, shadowy London backdrop, historical events and social issues present alongside complex characters and plot need to add this to the stack.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at Books of My Heart on 10.12.22.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

1878 River disaster!

Michael Corravan, acting superintendent of the Wapping River Police is drawn into the murky flow of truth and lies as a disaster of devastating magnitude rips across London. A pleasure boat, The Princess Alice, filled with over 600 people is rammed by a steel-hulled collier on the River Thames.
As the death toll soars the newspapers are out for blood, and it’s the Irish Republican Brotherhood that they’re ire has focused on.
Corrovan is tasked with leading the enquiry. The mayhem and loss of life is shocking. He’s also puzzled by a dead man at the East Lane Stairs, Southwark along the riverbank.
Closer to home, Colin Doyle, a younger son of the family he grew up with, is in a spot of bother with moneylenders. This necessitates a visit to James McCabe of the Cobbwaller gang in Whitechapel. Corrovan has his hands full as one investigation bleeds into the next. Along with his fears for his adoptive mother Ma Doyle and the rest of the family, watching for patterns, and making sense of things, finding the threads is a close run thing.
Belinda Gale, novelist and playwright, with whom he has a discrete and loving relationship, shares Corravan’s worries.
A fabulous addition to the series. Odden has written a searing Victorian investigation that gives enough information to make the next leap, but not too much to have it solved quickly. Rather we’re hanging on by our fingertips until the last moment. Beware of gifts unlooked for is all I can say.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first novel in this series last year and it was a pleasure to be in Corrovan's company once again in this, the second novel in the series.

Set in London in 1878, this book brought a tragic historical event to life. It also showcased the staunch opposition to Irish Home Rule, which was prevalent at the time. The author's meticulous research is evident in her writing.

The protagonist, police inspector Michael Corravan, was a likeable chap with a strong sense of moral ethics. Of humble background, he laments his lack of formal education, but he is very intelligent and tenacious in his quest for justice.

One thing that was really brought home to me while reading this.... We think of 'fake' news, urban gang violence, and political corruption as modern societal problems, yet these same problems have been around for centuries. I also learned just how far back the Irish/English antagonisms have been around as the Irish Republican Brotherhood (precursor to the IRA) was very much in evidence during the time this book was set.

"Under A Veiled Moon" combined subjects of political corruption, journalistic ethics, and anti-Irish sentiment. It elaborately showed some of the historical aspects of policing which I found fascinating. It added a personal and very human slant to the dire disaster when two ships collided on the Thames in September 1878. With age-old themes of revenge and regret, this novel should have a wide appeal.

All told, this was a well researched, well-executed historical mystery and a fine addition to a series which I plan to avidly follow.

4.5 stars rounded up

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under a Veiled Moon is the second in Karen Odden’s Inspector Michael Corravan historical mystery series, the follow-up to Down a Dark River, a book I very much enjoyed. In fact, I ended my review of that book by saying I hoped it was the first of many cases for Corravan so it was a pleasure to be reunited with him, as well as other characters from the first book such as his former partner, the resourceful and diligent Gordon Stiles, his just a little bit more than a friend, novelist Belinda Gale, and the Doyle family who took him in many years before. Belinda is one of my favourite characters. She’s an independent woman who has made her own way in the world and who now has connections with influential figures in London society. Perhaps her greatest gift though is her understanding of Corravan’s needs – and not just his physical ones either. As he remarks at one point, ‘It certainly wasn’t the first time she had presented me with an insight that steered an entire investigation into a channel I hadn’t explored’.  (Notice the river-related metaphors by the way?)

Once again, the reader gets a clear sense of Corravan the policeman – determined, resilient and with a strong sense of justice. As he says himself, ‘My persistance usually yielded results.’  But we also get an insight into the man he has been, which includes pickpocket, prize-fighter and dockhand. His past life has not been without tragedy and he has regrets about things he has done, or failed to do. All this makes him a satisfyingly well-rounded character. Corravan’s Irish heritage also forms an important part of the story given that the political situation relating to Ireland is a key element of the book’s plot.

The real life collision of the Princess Alice pleasure boat with the collier Bywell Castle, which resulted in many fatalities, forms one strand of a story into which the author weaves political intrigue, racial prejudice, gang warfare and acts of breathtaking wickedness carried out as a result of a perverted philosophy.

As before, the River Thames plays a key role in the book, its filthy, murky waters providing an apt metaphor for the seedy goings on in the sprawling city through which it flows. It plays an instrumental role as well, with knowledge of its tidal ebbs and flows proving crucial to events. One memorable and rather moving scene sees Corravan take to the river to perform a particularly tragic homecoming. The vivid descriptions of the thoroughfares and alleyways of London – in particular Whitechapel – and of the sights, sounds and smells (ugh) of the city all help to create a great sense of place.  You wouldn’t necessarily want to have lived there yourself but you can definitely imagine what it would have been like for those who did.

If you love historical mysteries with an intricate plot and authentic period atmosphere, then I have no hesitation in recommending Under a Veiled Moon. Actually, I do; read Down a Dark River first.  To my delight, the book’s last line suggests more cases – and challenges- lie ahead for Corravan, and possibly an answer to a question that has haunted him.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with most of my books, this one came together as a combination of (1) a bizarre historical factoid I discovered about Victorian England and (2) a personal preoccupation, something I am wrestling with in my own mind and heart, in the present day.

I was a good way through writing the book -- with the plot arc that begins with the bizarre sinking of the Princess Alice steamer in 1878 -- before I had clarified in my mind what Corravan's central dilemma is -- his character arc, as opposed to the plot arc. One night, my husband and I were sitting around talking, and he laughed ruefully and said, "Sometimes I wonder how we all live with the stupid sh*t we've done." It was like a bell going off in my head -- with his knack for stating things forthrightly, my husband had handed me Corravan's core concern. Corravan had REGRET ... over something he'd done unintentionally, years ago, perhaps too long ago to make amends for it.

I'd been thinking, piecemeal, about regret -- what we do with it, how the attendant shame can lock us in place, but also how to face it with some grace and forgiveness for our younger selves, so we can make changes going forward. And, as I started the revision of my first draft, I found (in that strange, alchemic way it often happens) the theme of regret had seeped into almost every chapter without me knowing.

If we reflect upon our life at all, most of us have regrets -- over moves we've made that are small and large, mundane and left-altering -- but I believe that regret can be of use. By the end, Michael Corravan understands that regret may weigh heavy in his heart, but it is like the ballast in a ship that keeps it upright, makes it easier to steer forward. As many of you know, he's a boat guy, so that's where his head goes.

This book came together in a way that felt almost organic. It was less "work" than my others, and I think it's because I knew my characters already, down to their bones, before page 1. From the first scene, when Harry Lish and Corravan are together having their morning beverages, and Harry is skipping tea at the Doyles' house so he can go to watch a surgery, many of the scenes just played themselves out before me, like a movie someone else had directed, and I just wrote down what the characters were doing and saying.

I've been told by readers that this book can be read as a standalone, that you don't have to read the first in the series (DOWN A DARK RIVER) to understand this one. I hope you'll give it a try, and please let me know what you think of it.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

1878

Inspector Michael Corravan, a senior officer at Scotland Yard now finds himself as acting superintendent at Wapping River Police for the past three months. As a man born in Ireland, orphaned at an early age and raised by the Irish Doyle family, it’s a tough time for him. He’s caught in the middle, working for the English crown while fighting down his disgust at the very active prejudice he sees against his own people across England.

But Corravan is nothing if not dogged in his police duties so when a body is discovered near the docks and found to be likely something more than an accident, he sets out to investigate. But soon his work is overwhelmed by a catastrophe upon the Thames. The pleasure steamer named the Princess Alice is struck by the massive Bywell Castle, an iron-hulled collier, resulting in the loss of most of the 600 passengers. All police are sucked into the effort to search for survivors and handle relief efforts. Local newspapers start reporting rumors and innuendos about the Irish Republican Brotherhood being responsible. A single case of possible murder appears to have turned into a complex case of mass murder for political purposes.

Karen Odden has once again written a wonderful, historically accurate novel of murder, intrigue, and deadly peril. For the first few chapters I wondered what she might have in mind for us readers as we get to peel the proverbial onion back on a society prone to prejudice and political activism. Sure, there was a what appeared to be a murder case and surely Inspector Corravan would investigate and uncover the truth of the matter. But then the whole plot took a deep turn into unexpected territory. The sinking of the Princess Alice is a historical event and many of the characters involved with her destiny and that we read about here are actual historical characters. This incident remains the greatest loss of life of any British inland waterway shipping accident in history. The author uses this tragedy and creates a masterful story of political intrigue around it, forcing Inspector Corravan to solve what amounts to one of the very first incidents of terrorism ever, even when it means working with sordid figures of the seedy London underbelly. And to think I thought this would be just a simple murder mystery.

I’ve read a couple of other novels by Karen Odden and have always come away impressed. She has a knack for creating complex plots and yet keeping them entirely readable. The settings, society, and true-to-life history reflect her in depth research. But, as in all good stories, the characters make the novel and here, Karen Odden has pulled out all the stops. Inspector Corravan is a superb character, filled with human foibles to balance out his honorable intentions. We get to see a lot of his adopted family and their destinies, heavily influenced by a decision he made long ago. Indeed, one of the central themes of the novel is how one learns to live with prior regretful choices.

This is the second of the Inspector Corravan novels and I will add that I have yet to read the first one. However, at no time did I feel like I was missing anything. The author provides any backstory needed so I was quite comfortable throughout. Of course, I do feel the need to go back now and read that first one (“Down a Dark River”), not to fill in anything about this one but simply to revel in the experience of reading a Karen Odden novel.

[Edwin Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this novel, which takes a real-life, mostly forgotten historical event (the sinking of a passenger ship in the Thames in the late 19th century) and spins an engaging, heart-pounding, and relevant mystery out of it. The story builds on much of what we learned in the first in the series, DOWN A DARK RIVER, but could also easily be read as a standalone. Don't miss this terrific novel (and series!)

[Areex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just a plain old excellent book. I have read many murder mysteries by New York Times Bestsellers, and this should be one of them. For a change of pace, I read crime novels written by authors from Europe, UK and other countries because the have a way of writing that is different from USA authors. I don't know how she does it, but it seems that Karen Odden was born and raise in England during the mid-1800's. The picture she paints in her story regarding the plot, characters and setting is perfect. The problem now is, how long do we have to wait for book #3.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens Under a Veiled Moon is a series of real, historical tragedies. Well, the tragedies themselves, including the Sinking of the SS Princess Alice and the Abercarn mine explosion. But the causes of those disasters were thoroughly investigated at the time. While there was plenty of blame to go around – and did it ever go around – the plots that Inspector Corravan eventually ferrets out are not among them.

But it does blend those real disasters with a fascinating story about the power of the press – its use and particularly its misuse – to change minds and inflame emotions.

Corravan, Acting Superintendent of the Wapping River Police, opens the book by rushing to the scene of an explosion on the river. The SS Princess Alice, a passenger steamer, was rammed by the coal barge SS Bywell Castle near the south bank of the river. The Castle emerged from the collision with minimal damage, but the Alice broke in three and sank almost instantly. (It sounds like it would be the equivalent of an automobile accident with a double-semi crashing into a Smart Car only with more passengers in the tiny car.)

Between 600 and 700 people died in the wreck, and it is still the greatest loss of life of any British inland waterway shipping accident ever recorded.

It takes days to recover everything that can be recovered, including the bodies. The city is reeling from the shock, and everyone official is looking for someone to pin the responsibility on. And that’s where things get interesting, as well as downright confusing, for a whole lot of people – especially Inspector Michael Corravan.

Someone – actually a whole lot of rich and influential someones – seems determined to blame the disaster on the pilot of the Bywell Castle. A man who can’t seem to be found in the wake of the tragedy. And who just so happens to be Irish. Which shouldn’t matter. But is made to matter very much in the press – and is linked, step by painstaking step in those newspapers – to a recent railway disaster, to a mining disaster that occurs in the aftermath of the wreck, and finally to gang warfare in Irish immigrant districts and a three-year’s past terrorist bombing claimed by the Irish Republican Brotherhood.

It starts to look like an organized effort to blame the Irish for everything currently wrong with the state of Britain – for reasons that do not seem apparent on the surface. Until Corravan, with his roots in the Irish community, his position in the police and his relationships with a surprising number of very helpful and intelligent people – begins to see a pattern.

An insidious pattern that began in a shared tragedy but seems determined to end in a shared explosion of one kind or another – even if the conspirators have to engineer it for themselves.

Escape Rating A+: I think that Under a Veiled Moon is an even better story, both as historical fiction and as mystery, than the first book in the series, Down a Dark River. And I loved that one. This one is so compelling because what happens under that veiled moon takes place at the intersection of power corrupts, the ends justify the means, and there is nothing new under the sun. And it’s absolutely riveting from beginning to end.

We get to know Corravan a bit better in this one. We learn a lot more about where he came from and how he got to be who he is now that he’s in his 30s. The underpinnings of this one, the involvement with the Irish community in London and the various hopes and fears about the possibility of Irish Home Rule set alongside the prejudice and resentment of Irish immigrants really exposes some of what he keeps hidden in his heart.

And he’s just old enough to see his own past and resent his own errors of youth and judgment – and we like him the better for it.

At the same time, the mystery plot is deep and dark and downright frightening. Not just because it’s so easy to see how it might have happened then, but because we can all too clearly how its happened before – for real – and very much how it’s happening again.

It’s also a very smart puzzle with a whole lot of moving parts, most of which don’t seem to fit in the same jigsaw because honestly they don’t. Watching the way that the square peg red herrings are retrofitted to slot into the available round holes makes the mystery that much harder to solve.

I did recognize that the long arm of coincidence couldn’t possibly be as long as it was being made to appear, but the how and why of it is so steeped in the history of the time that it made the revelation and resolution that much more riveting.

This is a series that I seriously hope continues. It combines elements of C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr series with Anne Perry’s Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series along with her William Monk series. It deals with the issues of its day and the influences of the wider world on its London microcosm with the same depth as St. Cyr while focusing on a character who works for his living as a “copper” as do both Pitt and Monk, at a time period where the world is changing at an ever increasing pace to the one we know. There’s also a bit of an irony there, as Corravan is an Irish police inspector while Pitt ended up being Head of Special Branch, an office whose remit was to deal with terrorism – particularly that sponsored and/or perpetrated by those agitating for Irish Home Rule.

An issue that I expect Corravan to get caught in the middle of, again and again, through the hopefully many future books in this compelling series.

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I read the second book in the Inspector Corravan series, I was able to get the first book, Down a Dark River, from my library as an audiobook.

I am so glad that I did, as I was able to really familiarize myself with Inspector Michael Corravan. Both books, including Under a Veiled Moon, that I have for review, were easily both five star reads for me.

For this second book, Corravan works exceptionally hard on his newest case. A pleasure boat called The Princess Alice had a huge disaster resulting from a collision, and with 600 passengers, there were only 130 survivors. He is determined to prove that the devastating loss was due to sabotage and that the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) was not responsible.

Corravan’s superiors do not agree with his assessment, so he has to work even harder to bring those responsible to justice. This disaster, and the conspiracy, could have far-reaching effects. Meanwhile, Corravan finds himself distracted and with good reason. When Corravan was younger he was taken in by the Doyle family and was treated as if he was one of their own. The youngest Doyle, Colin, has joined a dangerous gang. Loyalty and love move Corravan to do whatever he can to get Colin out of the gang no matter what it takes.

So Corravan truly has his hands full. Not only is Colin fervently resisting any help from Corravan, the IRB might be doing more harm, and Corravan must find a way to stop them if that is the case.

What an intense read! As I read both books back-to-back, I really felt that I was pulled into Corravan‘s world. His adopted family. His relationship with Belinda. His job at Scotland Yard. Corravan is a very rounded character, one whose values stand out. As mentioned, loyalty was a strong suit of Corravan’s, and this drew me to him even more. I really hope there are more books in this series as Karen Odden is a remarkable author that I am glad to have had a chance to read her stunning work.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to AustenProse for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/79MCark42RI

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My hand crept up to land on my chest, as if the ballast were a physical thing that I could hold in place. Let me not lose this, I thought, and my plea was as desperate as any I’d ever made. For I have earned it honestly, and it is mine.”

Enjoyed this second book in the Inspector Corravan series. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to going back and reading the first book in the series. I’d compare her writing style to Anne Perry. It’s a Victorian mystery based on actual events that drew me in from the beginning.

Meet Inspector Michael Corravan or Mickey as his adopted family calls him. He’s a reformed street urchin/thief who was taken in by the Doyle family after his mother went missing. As an Irishman, he’s constantly aware in Victorian England of the prejudice harbored against him as the debate over Irish Home Rule intensifies.

When a collision between The Princess Alice passenger boat and the coal carrier Bywell Castle results in hundreds of people dead, Inspector Corravan is called in to head up the investigation. Is it an accidental tragedy or sabotage? As the clues keep piling up, it’s looking like it could be a plot by the IRB or Irish Republican Brotherhood as the newspapers are insinuating, but Michael has his doubts. His investigation will lead him to the highest rungs of society and with so much at stake, he can’t afford to get this wrong.

There’s also his adopted brother Colin who seems to have fallen in with the wrong people and whose resentment of him is palpable. As violence in Whitechapel increases with various Irish gangs warring for control, Michael is torn between helping the people he loves and solving the boating accident. But could they be related?

This story really kept me turning the pages as the mystery unraveled. Just when you think you may have figured it out, new motives and clues emerge which change the whole direction. Michael is a likable character who’s passionate about uncovering the truth. He’s a savvy investigator but also a caring man haunted by regrets and his past. His love interest Belinda helps him in his investigation as well as Inspector Stiles, Sgt. Hammond and Director Vincent. The side characters were as interesting as Michael and I look forward to getting to know them better in future books.

Though this is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Having not read the first book, I felt like the author did a fantastic job giving enough backstory so I could dive right into the story and understand what’s going on. Highly recommend to historical mystery fans! There is some mild swearing including taking God’s name in vain, though it’s infrequent. There are also descriptions of the explosion and dead bodies sensitive readers may want to be aware of. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through AustenProse PR. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intricately woven mystery set in Victorian London and if you are a fan of historical mysteries, you won’t want to miss it. It’s told in first person by Scotland Yard Detective Michael Corravan, an Irish born immigrant who worked his way up from dock worker and thief to Inspector and acting Superintendent. He has street smarts, experience on the River Thames, and connections in the Irish community that become useful in solving this mystery. I thought this story was extremely well written and well researched, with complex characters. It is book two but it is a complete standalone story and I had no trouble following the characters and their relationships.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars.

Thank you to the author and Austenprose PR for the review copy. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series and the second one had me with the Princess Alice crash because yes, I watched Poseidon Adventure and Titanic way too many times. This time around, the attractively brooding and complex Inspector Corravan returns, but the stakes are more personal as the repercussions of the crash and a murder investigation affect his adoptive family. Odden makes a lot of strong dramatic decisions in this book; there's some real heartbreak in this book, which I love. And she knows Victorian England so well, her world building skills are just phenomenal. You feel like you're wandering with her along the Thames, through the alleys, up and down the stairs of Scotland Yard and inside Whitechapel homes, not to mention many other less well trod areas. Highly, highly recommend.

[Tina Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Victorian mysteries so Karen Odden is a natural pick (and an auto-buy) for me. She is a high quality author, whose books remind me of some of my other favourite authors, such as Anne Perry. I can only hope Odden continues to write as extensively and for long as Perry has.
Some of Karen Odden’s strengths as an author are; her ability to make the reader feel as if they are right there within the story, the descriptions and analogies she uses, the way she words phrases so elegantly, the weight she gives to certain themes and how she conveys them within the text plus those small everyday details/actions she includes in the book all combine to make her stories compelling reading. I believe this book is more complicated than her very first book (A Lady in Smoke) so it seems to me she is really maturing as a writer. I find her current books even more interesting than her early ones (which I absolutely loved).
Odden has done a lot of research and it is used to good effect in the book. The plot is robust with enough twists to keep the reader interested, the characters are multi-faceted and layered and the mystery is intriguing. Add in a dash of romance and you've got the perfect book IMO.
I saw Corravan as being more mature and self-aware in this book than he was in DADR, book 1. Over the course of this book, he continued to grow significantly – the revelation about how Colin saw him was huge for his character development. We saw a deepening of the trust between Vincent and Corravan. Corravan's relationship with Belinda seems to have reached a good place, she understands him and accepts him as he is and he is aware that he is a very lucky man to have her love and companionship.
Well worth the cost to buy.
I am looking forward to the continued adventures of Corravan and Belinda.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a complete, inspiring reading experience! I have loved every novel of Karen Odden’s and this one is now grafted to my heart leaving me with incredible reading memories. 'Under A Veiled Moon' (such a poetic title that conjures up so many feelings and images) is extra special. It truly captured my imagination on so many levels. It is another shining accomplishment that caught my attention from the first line and had me racing through the pages, pausing only to wipe tears from my eyes and to push down some of the lumps welling up in my throat. There are some incredible heart-choking scenes, to say the least, that kept me pinned to the plot. It reminded me why I love Karen’s writing so much. Exceptional story-telling, intelligent mystery weaving, moving scenes and memorable characters. It is so finely crafted, that you can see every detail, smell the action and taste the danger.

Instalment two of the Inspector Corravan historical mystery series, takes us inside the heart and mind of the Irish born inspector where we learn more of his roots and the family that took him in when he was younger. We get to know him at a much more intimate level: to feel the cloth from which his life has been fashioned. The depth and complexity of these revelations make him even more intriguing. It is easy to sympathise with his emotional upheavals while each painful drama unfolds externally and internally. His family traumas and difficult history only prove to shed light on his skills as an insightful, resourceful inspector. Getting a broader picture of this man, helps us to understand his influence on those around him and his drive for justice and his passion to correct wrongs and set the world right. With all that swirls around him, he proves that everything isn’t as it seems and prejudice is a dangerous path.

His latest mystery is solving the Princess Alice pleasure craft collision with the Bywell Castle bulk cargo ship (collier) on the Thames. We get a personal inside view and account of the survivors’ experience (including crewmen) and a frightening picture of those who lost their lives in the worst maritime disaster London had ever experienced. Was it an accident or sabotage? If an accident, what went wrong with the crew in charge allowing such an event to happen? If sabotage, who would aim such a vicious attack on innocent lives? There are lots of questions that need answers and our Inspector Corravan skilfully and tirelessly scrutinises every morsel he can grasp and follows every clue imaginable. He travels down various paths in front of him, some obvious and others hidden, for he is determined to get to the root of this disaster (and others that may be connected to it); especially since there may be personal connections that could cause his own family harm. The past is never very far from his present life and even though he has escaped a dire background and the wrath of many, there are still quivering wakes across the sea of his life. These ill effects are often whisperings and sinister shadows in the background that could leap out and hurt those he loves and holds dear.

The subject of Irish Home Rule takes centre stage in this novel. Are the IRB behind the collision and other attacks happening? Could there also be other groups involved? This is a story (as in life) where things may not always be as they seem. In this case, the Irish are blamed for every ill event. We are well reminded of the ongoing war between the Irish and English. It has often been a smouldering coal throughout history, that at times, bursts into angry flames. Did this uncontrolled fire try to gain a voice for freedom with this maritime disaster? The Inspector tries to figure this out and, of course, hopes this is not the case. But truth is what he seeks above all. And that not every Irishman is trouble. An entire culture/country of people should not be tarred with the same brush because of a few bad apples. This story shows how wrong this thinking is: for innocent people will inevitably and unfairly be labelled guilty when they are not.

This story covers so many things: prejudice, jealousy, hatred, pride, power, revenge, anger, bitterness, soul-wrenching grief but also unfathomable, unconditional love, priceless forgiveness, spiritual reconciliation, blood-ties reimagined, reshaping of family, and so on… I loved this novel from start to finish. It will stay with me forever, especially one heart-breaking scene that was handled with great respect and creative rightness. I felt the ending was appropriate and it left me at peace with the outcomes. It also made me look forward to the next leg of the Inspector’s journey where there will be more criminals to catch and more cases to solve and even more personal revelations to come. Under A Veiled Moon was masterfully executed. I highly recommend this 5 Star triumph.

Many thanks to Karen Odden, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for a review copy.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Under a Veiled Moon" is Book 2 in Karen Odden’s Victorian-era detective series, “An Inspector Corravan Mystery.” When the Princess Alice, a pleasure ship carrying over 600 passengers, is struck by a steel-hulled barge on the Thames, engulfing London in calamity, Michael Corravan, the temporary head of the Wapping River Police, is forced to wade through a torrent of deception. As the fatalities rise, newspapers direct their anger at the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Corravan, former criminal-turned-London police inspector—and Irishman in Victorian society—is given the mission of leading the investigation.

"I still remember the conclusion of one letter because it seemed so preposterous: “The Irish are the dregs in the barrel, the lowest of the low. They kill their fathers, rape their sisters, and eat their children, stuffing their maws with blood and potatoes indifferently, like wild beasts.” Well, that wasn’t true of any of the Irish I knew. Indeed, as I laid my hand on the doorknob of the Goose and Gander, I was reasonably certain that inside I’d find Irish folks sitting, eating normal food, and playing cards." –Chapter 4.

Colin Doyle, a buddy of Corravan’s since their days as kids, has gotten himself in hot water with some shady creditors. To help his friend, Corravan meets with some dangerous yet powerful criminals to learn what maneuvers are happening behind the scenes. Aside from his worries for Ma Doyle and the others who had taken him in as a child, he searches for clues to help him link all of the strange occurrences, including a dead body found along the Southwark riverbank.

"How did O’Hagan know that piece of information, that I’d been a star-glazer? It was years before I’d met him. I’d been barely thirteen. I was one of a hundred boys who worked under a brutal man named Simms. Then again, London’s underworld was a web of connections. It wasn’t unlikely Simms knew O’Hagan. More important to me was the reason McCabe laid down this shard of knowledge. He wanted to demonstrate his long reach—both onto Whitechapel, where I’d been a thief, and into my past." –Chapter 14.

Once Odden introduced the novelist and playwright Belinda Gale, Corravan’s love interest, I became totally invested in the story. Though they are of different social spheres, they are compatible and a match in every other sense—such a lovely, intimate parallel story.

"A lit lamp hung from a heavy iron hook to the side of Belinda’s back door.
Beckoning me.
Despite all my worry, my heart lifted as I turned the key in the lock and pulled the door open to find a second lamp, illuminating the hallway.
There is nothing like knowing someone longs to see you, I thought, to banish the wretched images of the last two days." –Chapter 11.

Impeccably composed and outstanding world-building, this spectacular historical mystery had me cheering for Michael Corravan from the first pages till the last as he connected the dots—and came to understand the consequences of his own past. If you’re like me and haven’t experienced the genius of Karen Odden before, "Under a Veiled Moon" is a sweeping, gripping, and intimate start. How exciting to discover I've missed Book 1 and can read Down a Dark Rivernext!

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dedicated and compassionate police inspector unravels a deadly politically-motivated case of historical terrorism.

Under A Veiled Moon is the second book in author Karen Odden's Inspector Corravan Mystery series, and it is a complex and compelling tale. Incorporating fascinating actual incidents from the time period, it is historical mystery fiction at its best and eerily reflects similarities in our current time and society.

The story unfolds from the viewpoint of Michael Corravan, now the acting superintendent of the Wapping River Police. Corravan, an Irishman, diligently sets aside his biases for his culture and people yet still must suffer through society's prejudices, including those of his own supervisors and others working the same case. Thankfully, he has the support of his love interest, novelist Belinda Gale, and his former partner at Scotland Yard, Gorgon Stiles. He and Stiles remain a formidable pair working in tandem on the complicated case. While Belinda doesn't feature heavily in this book, she still has a significant role, with her outsider's perspective, in helping Corravan view his investigation through a different pair of eyes.

The author breathes life into the time period and the London setting, so much so that I could almost smell the odors wafting off the river. I got a fascinatingly distinct impression of what life must have been like for someone like Corravan and his adopted family, the Doyles, and some of it was downright horrifying. Brief glimpses into Belinda's life accentuate the discrepancies in living conditions, treatment, and prospects for the future between the classes, especially for the immigrants.

The plot is complex and absorbing, especially when it appears to be headed in one direction only to veer off into another. Some surprising twists and turns really upped the tension and the feeling of urgency to solve the case. Besides the eye-opening political machinations that Corravan must untangle, there is an utterly personal aspect to this case for him that was heartbreaking and absolutely riveting.

With its dedicated and conflicted police investigator, vivid historical setting, and complex plot, I recommend UNDER A VEILED MOON to mystery readers who enjoy historical mystery fiction with a political basis and tense terroristic threats and readers who enjoyed the first book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

[Susan Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under a Veiled Moon is the continuation of a series starring Michael Corravan, Irish Scotland Yard inspector. Odden keeps the reader enthralled by the way she weaves history, mystery, the Victorian period, politics, and the pervasive influence of the media in this wonderful story. With many parallels to the present day, she thoughtfully plots the continuing story of Michael Corravan, whose early history includes his adoption by the Doyle family in White Chapel.

Corravan is placed in the middle of a terrible dilemma when a tragedy based on London's history challenges his Irish roots. He finds himself in the middle of prejudice against the Irish, and the government and media's push to blame the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) for the tragedy. The Princess Alice, a pleasure boat that sailed the Thames River each day, is hit by the Bywell Castle, an iron-hulled collier, resulting in the deaths of 130 out of 600 people. Odden does a masterful job of describing the chaos and attempts to save or recover those passengers.

Who is responsible? The media, as well as the Home Office, wants to blame this on the IRB, a group that could be connected to a recent train bombing. Irish Home Rule is on the table in negotiations at the time, and this could be yet another attempt to push Parliament toward letting Ireland go.

In a perfect subplot, Corravan's adopted family is feeling the violence of guns being brought into White Chapel, a situation that results in a tragedy for his family. The inspector's own history and decisions play a role in this tragic subplot, and the reader delves deeply into Corravan's thoughts about his past and his part in what happens to the Doyles.

Who is responsible for all this chaos? The media? The IRB? The street gangs? Or some insidious mastermind of crime? Corravan must wind around all the politics and assertions to bring justice to his world. As always, Karen Odden does a masterful job of researching real events, Victorian society, and politics to create an intriguing story that has connections to the world we inhabit today. I had to read every last word and reluctantly close the book. Loved this story. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read it. All opinions are my own.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Corravan is called to a dead body whom no one can identify. Meanwhile, a huge collier ship on the Thames collides with a pleasure craft full of passengers. Days are spent recovering bodies after a meagre number of passengers are saved.

Corravan and Stiles devote themselves primarily to the disaster investigation, while newspapers are inflaming already high tensions against Irish immigrants. Some of Corravan's superiors want him to simply charge an Irish seaman with the ship disaster, but Corravan senses that things are much more complicated than Irish terrorists creating fear and chaos. This despite a recent bombing of a train, by a well known organized Irish group, and various other violent acts, all to show the British Parliament that Ireland is serious about wanting power back to rule itself.

Meanwhile, there's trouble in the Doyle family, as one of the twins, Colin, has gotten involved with the same criminals Corravan had years earlier, and Corravan tries hard to convince Colin to choose a different path.

So this was terrific. I loved how well Karen Odden laid out some of the complicated political sentiments at play in 1878 London, and how England's long history of conquest is bearing violent results on its soil. Also, there is much bigotry against the Irish, who arrived in droves in England, fleeing famine, but many English have no sympathy for the reasons behind the influx of immigrants.

Odden also brings back characters introduced in book one, such as Stiles, Belinda, and Harry, as well as the Doyle family. We see the events from the different perspectives offered by each of these characters (based on their economic classes) and feel empathy for Corraven's difficult situation as a former thief and Irishman, getting squeezed between his Irish-loathing superiors, and his former Irish criminal associates, who are worried about the actions of the British Parliament.

The murder and disaster cases are intriguing, complicated, and really show how dedicated and caring Corravan is about justice and about doing the right thing, which are not always the same thing.

I greatly enjoyed this installment, and hope Karen Odden writes more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Syrie James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under a Veiled Moon, book 2 in Karen Odden’s Inspector Michael Corravan historical mystery series, is an enthralling, page-turning, politically relevant mystery inspired by a real-life historical event, the sinking of a passenger ship in the Thames in 1978 London.

I enjoyed book 1 in the series, Down a Dark River, and was pleased to spend more time with Inspector Corravan, a smart, hard-working, devoted policeman with a strong sense of justice. He’s a complex, sympathetic and well-rounded character whose Irish heritage is integrally tied into the plot. It was also a pleasure to be reunited with several characters from the first book including his former partner, Gordon Stiles, and his love interest, the independent, insightful, and savvy Belinda Gale, who understands Corravan better than anyone.

The historical event in question is the collision on the Thames of a pleasure boat, the Princess Alice, with the collier Bywell Castle, a tragic accident that resulted in numerous fatalities. Or … was it an accident? Karen Odden cleverly interweaves the political climate of the day, corruption, depraved philosophies, and gang conflicts to imagine a whodunnit that makes us desperate to discover what really happened.

As with Down a Dark River, the River Thames is an important character in Under A Veiled Moon. Descriptions of the sights and smells of the river and of parts of London itself, although often dark and grim, create an authentic period atmosphere that sets just the right tone for this story. Highly recommended for those who enjoy historical mysteries with fully realized characters and a great, intricate plot.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES, buy this book for yourself, or as a gift for someone who appreciates meticulously researched writing, captivating Victorian intrigue, and characters drawn so carefully you’ll feel you walk alongside them, down dark alleys and dockside on the Thames, searching with Inspector Corravan for the meaning behind a series of sudden, horrific acts of terrorism upon innocent Londoners.

The cast of characters in this novel is kaleidoscopic, and the action builds at the pace of a locomotive destined for derailment. Central to the novel is beloved and conflicted Inspector Corrravan, a man who wishes to reconcile the shame and pride of his Irish heritage, as well as make amends for his personal past (one that left his family desperate and vulnerable). And that is precisely the kicker: though driven by mystery and epic catastrophes of the era (trainwrecks, shipwrecks, bombings), the undercurrent of Karen Odden’s novel is family, and those familial themes resonate as both authentic to the period and ever relevant today.

Here’s to Under A Veiled Moon – I highly recommend this novel, and genuinely can’t wait to read the next in this series ... also would LOVE to see this novel made into a movie!

[Gintautas Ivanickas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirmasis serijos romanas buvo visai pusė velnio, tai surizikavau ir neapsirikau. Antrasis – dar tvirtesnis.
1878 m. rugsėjo 3-sios naktį įvyko bene didžiausia laivybos Temzėje katastrofa. Pramoginis laivas „Princess Alice“ susidūrė su sunkiasvoriu krovininiu „Bywell Castle“. „Princess Alice“ neturėjo jokių šansų – nuo smūgio skilo į kelias dalis ir virš 600 keleivių atsidūrė upėje; išgyveno tik 130 žmonių.
Michaelui Corravanui, gimusiam Airijoje ir augintam airių šeimoje, ši byla tampa iššūkiu. Pirmieji įkalčiai rodo, kad katastrofą organizavo Airijos respublikonų brolija, tikinti, kad smurtu galima atkurti Airijos vidaus valdžią. Vidaus reikalų ministerija spaudžia Corravaną griebtis šitos versijos, bet jis mato, kad ne visi galai sueina.
Negana to, prisideda ir asmeninės bėdos – jauniausias šeimos, priglaudusios Corravaną vaikystėje sūnus, Colinas, prisijungė prie Whitechapelį iš esmės valdančios Jameso McCabe‘o gaujos. Norėdamas jį ištraukti, Corravanas priverstas sudaryti sandėrį su McCabe‘u – juolab, kad judviejų tikslai iš dalies sutampa.
Na, o laikraščiai tuo metu vis labiau kaitina anti-airišką isteriją. Ir panašu, kad kažkas tai koordinuoja.
Žodžiu, geras istorinis fonas (ok, realiai „Princess Alice“ nuskendo be planuoto įsikišimo, bet Odden sugeba sudėlioti gana priimtiną versiją), įtikinami charakteriai, šiek tiek veiksmo ir neblogai sukalta detektyvinė linija. O ir pagrindinės išryškinamos problemos, deja, gyvos ir šiandien. Ko dar norėti iš istorinio detektyvo?
Penki iš penkių. Ne tokie jau visai tvirti ir plieniniai. Bet šiandien aš geras, tai tegul bus penki.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Karen Odden's first Inspector Corravan novel, Down a Dark River, with such extreme fervor that I was actually a bit afraid to read the second. I've been in such a funk about pretty much everything the past few weeks that I was afraid it would tarnish the story for me somehow. I even attempted to break the funk with an escape to Xanth and that only kind of worked. 

Note to Self: grab Odden's other books and hope that they have the same effect because holyomigoodness. I may actually have been more entranced with this book than I was the first (and that one goes onto the "big puffy heart" list for how much I loved it).  Now, I'm hoping that the funk stays away for a good long time (I would be okay with it never coming back), but at least now I know who to turn to if it doesn't.  

I said in August that "Corravan may easily become one of my favorite characters, and Odden one of my favorite historical authors, if the second book in the series (which is currently sitting on my NetGalley shelf calling to me like a Siren) is even half as excellent as this one." 

Mission most definitely accomplished.