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Victorian Mystery #1
A Dangerous Duet
This dazzling new Victorian mystery from USA Today bestselling author Karen Odden introduces readers to Nell Hallam, a determined young pianist who stumbles upon the operations of a notorious—and deadly—crime ring while illicitly working as the piano player in a Soho music hall. Perfect for readers of Tasha Alexander, Anne Perry, and Deanna Raybourn.
Nineteen-year-old Nell Hallam lives in a modest corner of Mayfair with her brother Matthew, an inspector at Scotland Yard. An exceptionally talented pianist, she aspires to attend the Royal Academy; but with tuition beyond their means, Nell sets out to earn the money herself—by playing piano in a popular Soho music hall. And the fact that she will have to disguise herself as a man and slip out at night to do it doesn’t deter her.
Spending evenings at the Octavian is like entering an alternate world, one of lively energy, fascinating performers, raucous patrons—and dark secrets. And when Nell stumbles upon the operations of an infamous crime ring working in the shadows of the music hall, she is drawn into a conspiracy that stretches the length of London. To further complicate matters, she has begun to fall for the hall owner's charismatic son, Jack, who has secrets of his own.
The more Nell becomes a part of the Octavian’s world, the more she risks the relationships with the people she loves. And when another performer is left for dead in an alley as a warning, she realizes her future could be in jeopardy in more ways than one.
Nineteen-year-old Nell Hallam lives in a modest corner of Mayfair with her brother Matthew, an inspector at Scotland Yard. An exceptionally talented pianist, she aspires to attend the Royal Academy; but with tuition beyond their means, Nell sets out to earn the money herself—by playing piano in a popular Soho music hall. And the fact that she will have to disguise herself as a man and slip out at night to do it doesn’t deter her.
Spending evenings at the Octavian is like entering an alternate world, one of lively energy, fascinating performers, raucous patrons—and dark secrets. And when Nell stumbles upon the operations of an infamous crime ring working in the shadows of the music hall, she is drawn into a conspiracy that stretches the length of London. To further complicate matters, she has begun to fall for the hall owner's charismatic son, Jack, who has secrets of his own.
The more Nell becomes a part of the Octavian’s world, the more she risks the relationships with the people she loves. And when another performer is left for dead in an alley as a warning, she realizes her future could be in jeopardy in more ways than one.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2018
201 people are currently reading
4379 people want to read
About the author
Karen Odden
10 books429 followersKaren 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
January 14, 2022
This book is proof that you can really enjoy a book while still acknowledging its weaknesses.
The strength of this wonderfully written HF mystery is its collection of characters, scene setting, and vivid images. Taken together, the author paints a vivid tale of London in the late 19th century.
Unfortunately, there are places in the novel when an editor should have questioned the credibility of some story lines and featured characters. As well as the time-period appropriate reactions. In real world London, our heroine would not have had the freedom she enjoys in the book.
Not to mention the overly complicated main mystery with extraneous scenes and explanations. Or populating the story with way too many unneeded characters. Less is more!!
Despite my criticisms (hey, after reading hundreds of mysteries, I’ve learned a thing or two), I freely admit I still enjoyed reading this book. I especially loved the setting!! If there’s a stage, I’m ready to go!!
Making connections between characters and the occasional surprises — although slightly anachronistic— created a solid good read for me.
So, only 3-stars but I look forward to reading more written by this author.
The strength of this wonderfully written HF mystery is its collection of characters, scene setting, and vivid images. Taken together, the author paints a vivid tale of London in the late 19th century.
Unfortunately, there are places in the novel when an editor should have questioned the credibility of some story lines and featured characters. As well as the time-period appropriate reactions. In real world London, our heroine would not have had the freedom she enjoys in the book.
Not to mention the overly complicated main mystery with extraneous scenes and explanations. Or populating the story with way too many unneeded characters. Less is more!!
Despite my criticisms (hey, after reading hundreds of mysteries, I’ve learned a thing or two), I freely admit I still enjoyed reading this book. I especially loved the setting!! If there’s a stage, I’m ready to go!!
Making connections between characters and the occasional surprises — although slightly anachronistic— created a solid good read for me.
So, only 3-stars but I look forward to reading more written by this author.
November 27, 2018
I received this book for free free as part of an Instagram tour (TLC Book Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.
This was a very intriguing historical fiction mystery.
The book’s strongest point was that it was very atmospheric. It nailed that grimy Victorian England vibe perfectly. The author did a tremendous job bringing that world to life and evoking an air of mystery.
I liked how the book focused on the unsavory parts of Victorian England. From the life of orphans to brothels, this book showcased it all. It was really interesting to see that mixed in with the musical element. It all worked really well together.
As for the mystery, I thought it was good up until the end. It was a fairly straight forward mystery so I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it. It was pretty much solved about 75% of the way through. The rest of the book was just the resolution and aftermath of it all. That being said, it was a very action packed last quarter.
There was a little bit of romance in this as well, but I could have done without it. It felt a little forced. The book would have been just as strong had it not been there.
Overall, this was a compelling historical mystery that will make you feel like you are actually in Victorian England.
This was a very intriguing historical fiction mystery.
The book’s strongest point was that it was very atmospheric. It nailed that grimy Victorian England vibe perfectly. The author did a tremendous job bringing that world to life and evoking an air of mystery.
I liked how the book focused on the unsavory parts of Victorian England. From the life of orphans to brothels, this book showcased it all. It was really interesting to see that mixed in with the musical element. It all worked really well together.
As for the mystery, I thought it was good up until the end. It was a fairly straight forward mystery so I wasn’t necessarily wowed by it. It was pretty much solved about 75% of the way through. The rest of the book was just the resolution and aftermath of it all. That being said, it was a very action packed last quarter.
There was a little bit of romance in this as well, but I could have done without it. It felt a little forced. The book would have been just as strong had it not been there.
Overall, this was a compelling historical mystery that will make you feel like you are actually in Victorian England.
November 6, 2018
What else could be happening behind the scenes at The Octavian except piano playing and entertaining of every sort?
Nell played there to earn money for tuition to the Royal Academy even though her policeman brother didn’t know about it and wouldn’t approve. Too many shady characters in that building and not safe to be walking back alone at night.
Nell was definitely getting herself into something dangerous, and she didn’t know it. Nell heard so many different stories about what each person was like and what was going on that it was difficult to know who was telling the truth.
One thing that did happen was that one of the actresses was badly beaten and her partner was no where to be found. Other incidents occurred too to make Nell and her brother wonder what was going on.
With the beating of the actress, the missing actor, and the death of a policeman, Nell’s brother had his doubts about one of his fellow policemen. He believes there is a snitch at Scotland Yard.
Meanwhile, Nell is learning things aren’t as “clean” as they appear at The Octavian. Was she getting herself into danger she didn’t know about? Nell was taking chances being dressed as a man in a place that wasn’t as safe as she thought.
A DANGEROUS DUET was part learning about the lifestyle of folks in the Victorian era as well as learning that people actually haven’t changed behaviors that much over the years.
Living in the Victorian era actually wasn't safe in many respects, and the lack of today's conveniences such as cars and sanitation makes you happy you live today.
The suspense was enough to keep you guessing and doing some detective work of your own. Nell’s involvement was not the best decision on her part. She was dealing with a dangerous group of thieves.
I enjoyed the characters, and Ms. Ogden’s writing style was detailed and interesting.
If you enjoy mystery, secrets, and the Victorian era, A DANGEROUS DUET will be an appealing read. 4/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 6, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed "A Dangerous Duet", a Victorian mystery, by Karen Odden.
Nineteen year old Nell Hallam has a dream. She wants to study piano at the Royal Academy and will do anything to make her dream come true.
In order to be able to pay her tuition she must dress as a man and work as the piano player in a Soho music hall. There she stumbles upon the operations of a prominent and deadly crime ring. She is drawn into a conspiracy and falls for the hall owner's charming son, Jack. Is Jack involved in this criminal activity?
When a performer is left for dead Nell realizes her future could be in jeopardy in more ways than one.
I highly recommend this engaging and fast-paced historical mystery.
Nineteen year old Nell Hallam has a dream. She wants to study piano at the Royal Academy and will do anything to make her dream come true.
In order to be able to pay her tuition she must dress as a man and work as the piano player in a Soho music hall. There she stumbles upon the operations of a prominent and deadly crime ring. She is drawn into a conspiracy and falls for the hall owner's charming son, Jack. Is Jack involved in this criminal activity?
When a performer is left for dead Nell realizes her future could be in jeopardy in more ways than one.
I highly recommend this engaging and fast-paced historical mystery.
September 29, 2019
First off, let me say that I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. And I am sooo glad I did! It got me thinking - So far, out of all the books that I have won via giveaways, I haven’t disliked any of them. AND even better is the fact that most of the books are slightly out of my genre comfort zone too. Yet I still thoroughly enjoyed all of them...so far at least...hopefully I’m not setting myself up for failure by saying so.
Anyways, my thoughts on the book....
Holy cow! What a great read! The author was so descriptive I literally watched the story unfold in my mind with near-perfect clarity! The plot was extremely well thought out and the detail throughout the book was spot on! I didn’t come across even one grammar/spelling error either!
I think this is only my second novel taking place in the 1800s (1875), as I am not a huge historical fiction fan. HOWEVER, this book had me wanting more! By the end of the book I just felt good. It was such a fresh read, if that makes sense.. anyways, I highly recommend this book if you haven’t read it already, and I am super-duper hoping someone will make this into a 🎥 movie, like asap. Hahaha. But seriously. 👍🏻
Anyways, my thoughts on the book....
Holy cow! What a great read! The author was so descriptive I literally watched the story unfold in my mind with near-perfect clarity! The plot was extremely well thought out and the detail throughout the book was spot on! I didn’t come across even one grammar/spelling error either!
I think this is only my second novel taking place in the 1800s (1875), as I am not a huge historical fiction fan. HOWEVER, this book had me wanting more! By the end of the book I just felt good. It was such a fresh read, if that makes sense.. anyways, I highly recommend this book if you haven’t read it already, and I am super-duper hoping someone will make this into a 🎥 movie, like asap. Hahaha. But seriously. 👍🏻
April 26, 2025
I was out of town when I read this one. Just note to self - liked piano player lead in this story, a female who had to dress as a male in order to do her job, who also has a talent for finding difficulties and danger.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
October 21, 2022
Very enjoyable mystery, set in 1875 London.
The blurb sets up the plot nicely--give it a read.
I really liked our heroine, Nell Hallam. She had grit and determination, without being too self-confident and worldly-wise for a gently-raised 19-year-old.
A few thoughts:
Huzzah! We were not hobnobbing with the aristocracy in this one. It was nice to be among the merchants, doctors, music hall owners, and lower-rank policemen.
An unexpected thread involved the treatment of mental illnesses. Nell's mother had what we now call bi-polar disorder. One of the main supporting characters is Dr. Everett, who treated the mother and is worried the Nell may develop the same. It was interesting to read a sensitive look at what knowledge was available at that time, as well as encountering a hospital that was not a hellhole.
I enjoyed the suspense plot and thought the romance was sweet and believable. I've added the author's name to my 'read all their books' list. I already have Matthew Hallam's story (A Trace of Deceit) in hand.
The blurb sets up the plot nicely--give it a read.
I really liked our heroine, Nell Hallam. She had grit and determination, without being too self-confident and worldly-wise for a gently-raised 19-year-old.
A few thoughts:
Huzzah! We were not hobnobbing with the aristocracy in this one. It was nice to be among the merchants, doctors, music hall owners, and lower-rank policemen.
An unexpected thread involved the treatment of mental illnesses. Nell's mother had what we now call bi-polar disorder. One of the main supporting characters is Dr. Everett, who treated the mother and is worried the Nell may develop the same. It was interesting to read a sensitive look at what knowledge was available at that time, as well as encountering a hospital that was not a hellhole.
I enjoyed the suspense plot and thought the romance was sweet and believable. I've added the author's name to my 'read all their books' list. I already have Matthew Hallam's story (A Trace of Deceit) in hand.
Read
September 17, 2020People often ask where I find my ideas for books. This novel had multiple sources--the most important one being my father, who, before he died, was a talented pianist and an organist for churches in our town in upstate New York. So I spent my childhood listening to him play the baby grand in our living room, and sitting in church choir lofts, and taking piano lessons that I didn't appreciate at the time. I also had the opportunity to travel to London and visit the Royal Academy of Music, where Fanny Dickens (Charles's older sister) studied with one of Beethoven's prodigies but had to leave because she lacked tuition money. (Fanny's history informed Nell's story a good deal.) I also visited the last remaining Victorian music hall, Wilton's, in Graces Lane, Whitechapel, not too far from the Jack the Ripper murders. Now Wilton's is a delightful place, often used in movies or videos, with a full slate of plays. It still smells of hops and has a bendy staircase down to a musty basement with uneven floors. The music hall itself is lovely, a U-shaped room painted blue and gold; and as I stood at the back, I could see Nell in her piano alcove to the right of the raised stage. I love writing about 1870s London because there are still pieces of it, like raisins in a scone, evident in present-day London. For all those who have read this book, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it.
August 20, 2018
A proper clean read that is in tune and musically written.
October 19, 2019
I’m a little bit new to reading historical mysteries, but I’m really loving them right now. When given the opportunity to read A Dangerous Duet by Karen Odden, I jumped on it because I liked the synopsis plus I also saw that it was being described as “perfect” for fans of Anne Perry. And I did enjoy this story so much. I love pretty much anything Victorian London, and I think the story’s leading lady Nell Hallam is just fiery and fun.
Nell Hallam loves to play piano more than anything. She’s incredibly gifted already, but her dream is to attend the Royal Academy for further instruction, and she has an audition coming up. To save money for the Academy’s tuition, Nell has been secretly playing piano three nights a week at a music hall called the Octavian. She does this by dressing up as a boy (because male pianists make more money, boo!) and playing the accompaniments for the music hall’s main performers. Then she gets herself back home before anyone knows that she has been out. Nell lives along with her brother Matthew, an investigator with Scotland Yard, and he definitely would not approve if he knew what she was doing. Also, the Octavian isn’t the nicest establishment out there, and its location isn’t the best and safest. Nell isn’t treated the best and she is aware of the danger, but she is committed to making her dream come true.
Nell learns that her brother is investigating a series of missing persons and murders that have been occurring not too far from the Octavian. YES, she knows the risk and the danger of walking there and back late at night, but the tuition money is important to her and she is extra careful. Because Nell starts paying a little more attention to her surroundings, she learns that the people around her at work may be involved with the missing people and murders. The more she learns, the more it starts to look like a very large, complex gang-like set-up.
To complicate everything – because the heart always does – Nell has taken a liking to the owner’s son, Jack Drummond. And Jack likes her too. So of course, she must find out if Jack is involved in anything sinister which makes her have more secrets, makes her more deeply involved, and makes the danger to her far greater.
This book was F-U-N, fun. There were so many things that I liked about it. It seems like the past historical mysteries that I have read (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt by Anne Perry) limit the female characters with what they’re allowed to do. Propriety and all. But Nell comes across as much more of a firecracker, and I loved that.
Nell is a girl that wants things. She’s had a tough start, losing both of her parents – I’ll let you all figure out how that happens when you read the story, because it really ties into so much of her decision-making. Nell is very close to her brother, Matthew, which I love. There is so much mutual admiration and respect there. He gives her the space to be herself and he admires her intellect and desire for more. But what I love most about Nell is this determination to figure out things for herself and make things happen on her own. She wants to go to school? Sure, she’ll get the tuition on her own, even if she has to dress like a guy and keep secrets to make it happen. The guy that she likes may have some shady connections? Okay, that’s not so great, so she’ll figure out more about him on her own. I have to admit that some of her actions put her in danger. And there were a few things that she did that made me think “What are you doing, Nell!? This could SO backfire on you, girl!” But she really made this a fun read for me and I think that the circle of people that she kept around her were fantastic.
Speaking of her circle, the characters in here are great. This cast ranges from terrible people to great people, and I loved that there were several of both kinds. Some of these characters were questionable to me until closer toward the end, and some were very clearly good/bad right away. The thing that I loved most about them all was that I could very distinctly and easily visualize them, and they were all very different.
I also loved this setting. I feel like it helped the characters stand out to me. I love the dirty, gritty, foggy feel of 1875 London, and I love the shady and dark backdrop of the Octavian music hall. Both were vivid in my mind as I read, which made it easy for the cast to move around and create what felt like a movie in my head. I loved it.
I was excited to see how everything would play out for Nell, but also for a few other characters. I wanted to see what happens with Nell’s audition, what happens with the crime ring that operates within the Octavian and would this also implicate Nell since she is employed there, what would happen when Matthew finds out Nell is secretly employed there, and WHAT ABOUT JACK and his possible involvement and their potential romance? I had so many questions.
For me, the best thing about this book is the cast. They are so, so fun and fantastic. I enjoyed reading them so much, even the bad guys. I think fans of historical mystery stories would love this, especially those that may have a particular interest in music. I would love to read more from Ms. Odden. This is exactly the type of story that I’m looking for when I get that itch for a good historical mystery.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Nell Hallam loves to play piano more than anything. She’s incredibly gifted already, but her dream is to attend the Royal Academy for further instruction, and she has an audition coming up. To save money for the Academy’s tuition, Nell has been secretly playing piano three nights a week at a music hall called the Octavian. She does this by dressing up as a boy (because male pianists make more money, boo!) and playing the accompaniments for the music hall’s main performers. Then she gets herself back home before anyone knows that she has been out. Nell lives along with her brother Matthew, an investigator with Scotland Yard, and he definitely would not approve if he knew what she was doing. Also, the Octavian isn’t the nicest establishment out there, and its location isn’t the best and safest. Nell isn’t treated the best and she is aware of the danger, but she is committed to making her dream come true.
Nell learns that her brother is investigating a series of missing persons and murders that have been occurring not too far from the Octavian. YES, she knows the risk and the danger of walking there and back late at night, but the tuition money is important to her and she is extra careful. Because Nell starts paying a little more attention to her surroundings, she learns that the people around her at work may be involved with the missing people and murders. The more she learns, the more it starts to look like a very large, complex gang-like set-up.
To complicate everything – because the heart always does – Nell has taken a liking to the owner’s son, Jack Drummond. And Jack likes her too. So of course, she must find out if Jack is involved in anything sinister which makes her have more secrets, makes her more deeply involved, and makes the danger to her far greater.
This book was F-U-N, fun. There were so many things that I liked about it. It seems like the past historical mysteries that I have read (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt by Anne Perry) limit the female characters with what they’re allowed to do. Propriety and all. But Nell comes across as much more of a firecracker, and I loved that.
Nell is a girl that wants things. She’s had a tough start, losing both of her parents – I’ll let you all figure out how that happens when you read the story, because it really ties into so much of her decision-making. Nell is very close to her brother, Matthew, which I love. There is so much mutual admiration and respect there. He gives her the space to be herself and he admires her intellect and desire for more. But what I love most about Nell is this determination to figure out things for herself and make things happen on her own. She wants to go to school? Sure, she’ll get the tuition on her own, even if she has to dress like a guy and keep secrets to make it happen. The guy that she likes may have some shady connections? Okay, that’s not so great, so she’ll figure out more about him on her own. I have to admit that some of her actions put her in danger. And there were a few things that she did that made me think “What are you doing, Nell!? This could SO backfire on you, girl!” But she really made this a fun read for me and I think that the circle of people that she kept around her were fantastic.
Speaking of her circle, the characters in here are great. This cast ranges from terrible people to great people, and I loved that there were several of both kinds. Some of these characters were questionable to me until closer toward the end, and some were very clearly good/bad right away. The thing that I loved most about them all was that I could very distinctly and easily visualize them, and they were all very different.
I also loved this setting. I feel like it helped the characters stand out to me. I love the dirty, gritty, foggy feel of 1875 London, and I love the shady and dark backdrop of the Octavian music hall. Both were vivid in my mind as I read, which made it easy for the cast to move around and create what felt like a movie in my head. I loved it.
I was excited to see how everything would play out for Nell, but also for a few other characters. I wanted to see what happens with Nell’s audition, what happens with the crime ring that operates within the Octavian and would this also implicate Nell since she is employed there, what would happen when Matthew finds out Nell is secretly employed there, and WHAT ABOUT JACK and his possible involvement and their potential romance? I had so many questions.
For me, the best thing about this book is the cast. They are so, so fun and fantastic. I enjoyed reading them so much, even the bad guys. I think fans of historical mystery stories would love this, especially those that may have a particular interest in music. I would love to read more from Ms. Odden. This is exactly the type of story that I’m looking for when I get that itch for a good historical mystery.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
November 25, 2018
A historical mystery will always win over a modern one. It's darker, and harder to catch bad guys.
Nell is a pianist and she needs to earn money. What else to do than to dress up like a guy and play at a music hall. She is careful, and she wouldn't have gotten away with it if her brother had not been coming home late every night. Music is her passion and she wants to study and learn more.
I must say I was quite fascinated by her Scotland Yard detective brother. I would love to learn more about him and see him solve a crime, and hey maybe find that special someone. Now he is busy solving murder and thefts.
As for the story. Nell works hard. She finds that the owner's son seems nice. And then she learns something dangerous. Foul deeds at the music hall. Then the clock starts ticking. Will her brother solve the case in time for her to be safe.
I enjoyed the story, and I do hope she writes one about the brother!
Narrator
I liked her narration. Everyone had a distinct voice and she kept the drama coming
Nell is a pianist and she needs to earn money. What else to do than to dress up like a guy and play at a music hall. She is careful, and she wouldn't have gotten away with it if her brother had not been coming home late every night. Music is her passion and she wants to study and learn more.
I must say I was quite fascinated by her Scotland Yard detective brother. I would love to learn more about him and see him solve a crime, and hey maybe find that special someone. Now he is busy solving murder and thefts.
As for the story. Nell works hard. She finds that the owner's son seems nice. And then she learns something dangerous. Foul deeds at the music hall. Then the clock starts ticking. Will her brother solve the case in time for her to be safe.
I enjoyed the story, and I do hope she writes one about the brother!
Narrator
I liked her narration. Everyone had a distinct voice and she kept the drama coming
November 19, 2018
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A young woman during the Victorian era pays for tuition to music school by playing for plebian dance halls. Her brother is a Bobby. Of course, she gets involved in a Jack the Ripper type case.
Not too bad, but nothing out of the ordinary.
A young woman during the Victorian era pays for tuition to music school by playing for plebian dance halls. Her brother is a Bobby. Of course, she gets involved in a Jack the Ripper type case.
Not too bad, but nothing out of the ordinary.
February 6, 2022
Not for me.
December 5, 2022
England 1875. An historical fiction/ mystery. With a touch
of kisses-only romance.
Nell was a wonderful pianist, who hoped to qualify for the
Royal Academy of Music. She disguised herself as a man
"Mr. Nell," and worked 3 weeknights, weekly, playing the
piano, @ a music hall, to save funds for her dream. This
place attracted mostly working class men. She befriended
a bro and sis trapeze act.
Drummond the man in charge of the music hall, was often
bosky and seldom pleasant or satisfied. His standoffish son
Jack did odd jobs at the hall: keeping out the pick-pockets,
being the bartender etc. One day Nell observed Jack tuning
her work piano, and his demeanor softened a tad. He also
had a job helping at his uncle's music store. Nell felt a slight
attraction to Stephen, new violinist, for the hall. But what
was his real story? To add to the fun, her brother, Matt, a
Scotland Yard man, feared a rotter inside the organization.
The mystery kept my interest, but seemed gloomy in places.
Dr. Everett knew Nell's Mum, since MIA, became manic
when she played the piano passionately, so encouraged Nell
to do the opposite. The baddies overwhelmed the story at
times. Hands down, Jack's uncle was my fav character.
of kisses-only romance.
Nell was a wonderful pianist, who hoped to qualify for the
Royal Academy of Music. She disguised herself as a man
"Mr. Nell," and worked 3 weeknights, weekly, playing the
piano, @ a music hall, to save funds for her dream. This
place attracted mostly working class men. She befriended
a bro and sis trapeze act.
Drummond the man in charge of the music hall, was often
bosky and seldom pleasant or satisfied. His standoffish son
Jack did odd jobs at the hall: keeping out the pick-pockets,
being the bartender etc. One day Nell observed Jack tuning
her work piano, and his demeanor softened a tad. He also
had a job helping at his uncle's music store. Nell felt a slight
attraction to Stephen, new violinist, for the hall. But what
was his real story? To add to the fun, her brother, Matt, a
Scotland Yard man, feared a rotter inside the organization.
The mystery kept my interest, but seemed gloomy in places.
Dr. Everett knew Nell's Mum, since MIA, became manic
when she played the piano passionately, so encouraged Nell
to do the opposite. The baddies overwhelmed the story at
times. Hands down, Jack's uncle was my fav character.
December 3, 2020
3.5 stars, but rounding up because I liked a lot about this.
I especially liked the set-up. There aren't that many historicals set in London that don't focus on the upper classes. This is far more middle-lower (depending on who it is). Which is interesting, because it frees the narrative from some of the social strictures of the time (and stops me getting annoyed when they're just ignored as in some historicals).
I also loved Nell as pianist, and her relationship with her music. He relationship with her brother (an inspector at Scotland Yard) is also lovely, as is her relationship with their housekeeper, their doctor friend, and her colleagues at the music hall where she works dressed as a boy (although, parenthetically, hilariously that's not much of a thing because it's revealed fairly early on that almost everyone sees through the disguise.)
I also liked Jack. His life has been much harder than Nell's, along with the choices he's had to make. I also really enjoy his relationship with his uncle who owns a music store, and the subtle differences in his life, as seen by where he takes Nell when they go out. I also love his uncle's relationship with Nell.
Plus, I like Nell and Jack's dynamic.
I really like how this book does shades of grey and complex characters.
I really liked the tone of the start, it was a bit of a slow build, but one that really worked for me.
All of this is essentially established in the first half. I did wonder at about the midway point if there was one too many sources of drama.
- There's a massive gang of thieves terrorizing London and her brother's investigating
- Nell has to raise funds for a piano audition at a prestigious academy; hence the moonlighting
- Nell's worries that she's inherited her mother's mental illness which makes her hold back in her playing; which is particularly problematic because one of her audition pieces is Chopin (OBVIOUSLY), and she can't quite give herself to the music
- Something shady is going on at the music all - one of her friends is almost killed
- Is Jack involved?
-
Seriously, at about 2/3 of the way through the drama starts and it just doesn't stop. I wasn't really expecting it after the tone of the first two thirds. For a start, Nell gets personally involved in the crime solving, which felt odd (given her role up until that point). Then, as the last 10-ish chapters went on, the number of risky things Nell had to do started to feel a bit ridiculous. A few would have been fine.
Also, then in the epilogue,
I especially liked the set-up. There aren't that many historicals set in London that don't focus on the upper classes. This is far more middle-lower (depending on who it is). Which is interesting, because it frees the narrative from some of the social strictures of the time (and stops me getting annoyed when they're just ignored as in some historicals).
I also loved Nell as pianist, and her relationship with her music. He relationship with her brother (an inspector at Scotland Yard) is also lovely, as is her relationship with their housekeeper, their doctor friend, and her colleagues at the music hall where she works dressed as a boy (although, parenthetically, hilariously that's not much of a thing because it's revealed fairly early on that almost everyone sees through the disguise.)
I also liked Jack. His life has been much harder than Nell's, along with the choices he's had to make. I also really enjoy his relationship with his uncle who owns a music store, and the subtle differences in his life, as seen by where he takes Nell when they go out. I also love his uncle's relationship with Nell.
Plus, I like Nell and Jack's dynamic.
I really like how this book does shades of grey and complex characters.
I really liked the tone of the start, it was a bit of a slow build, but one that really worked for me.
All of this is essentially established in the first half. I did wonder at about the midway point if there was one too many sources of drama.
- There's a massive gang of thieves terrorizing London and her brother's investigating
- Nell has to raise funds for a piano audition at a prestigious academy; hence the moonlighting
- Nell's worries that she's inherited her mother's mental illness which makes her hold back in her playing; which is particularly problematic because one of her audition pieces is Chopin (OBVIOUSLY), and she can't quite give herself to the music
- Something shady is going on at the music all - one of her friends is almost killed
- Is Jack involved?
-
Seriously, at about 2/3 of the way through the drama starts and it just doesn't stop. I wasn't really expecting it after the tone of the first two thirds. For a start, Nell gets personally involved in the crime solving, which felt odd (given her role up until that point). Then, as the last 10-ish chapters went on, the number of risky things Nell had to do started to feel a bit ridiculous. A few would have been fine.
Also, then in the epilogue,
February 3, 2022
Nell Hallam, 19-years old and living with her brother, a Scotland Yard inspector in 1875 London, has one major goal in life. An exceptionally talented pianist, she dreams of attending the Royal Academy, but unfortunately, she can’t afford the tuition. So, she disguises herself as a man and sneaks out at night to perform at a music hall in Soho. Her plan is working…up until she discovers the music hall and her friends there are deeply involved in a well-organized city-wide crime ring.
As an upper middle-aged (OK…old) man, I’m pretty sure I’m not the target market for this novel, especially if one judges by the cover. But I stood in line at Bouchercon two years ago in order to get a free copy of this book, personally signed by the author, so the least I could do was read it. I’d not read Karen Odden’s work before but when I met her at the con, she seemed so down-to-earth and genuinely nice that I’d been looking forward to reading the book ever since. And, not for the first time, I’m very happy that I took the chance to read outside my normal stuff.
To be honest, this novel isn’t actually that far removed from what I like to read anyway. The main character, Nell, makes for a nice protagonist, fully rounded with her own doubts balanced out by courage and determination. I enjoyed the London setting, especially the “Octavian”, the music hall at the center of the story. Plenty of mystery and dangerous adventure and intrigue, and a little romance all mix together to form the story. In addition, the author tackles some important issues such as mental health and its treatment in the latter part of the 19th century.
Above all, this is a very readable book. When I read that the author had a Ph.D in English literature I was worried that the book might be one of those high-brow, look-how-well-I-can-write novels. But no, this novel was written to be read. It’s a well-crafted story that flows well and pulls you in to the setting. Happily, this is the first of a series. Hopefully there will be many more.
As an upper middle-aged (OK…old) man, I’m pretty sure I’m not the target market for this novel, especially if one judges by the cover. But I stood in line at Bouchercon two years ago in order to get a free copy of this book, personally signed by the author, so the least I could do was read it. I’d not read Karen Odden’s work before but when I met her at the con, she seemed so down-to-earth and genuinely nice that I’d been looking forward to reading the book ever since. And, not for the first time, I’m very happy that I took the chance to read outside my normal stuff.
To be honest, this novel isn’t actually that far removed from what I like to read anyway. The main character, Nell, makes for a nice protagonist, fully rounded with her own doubts balanced out by courage and determination. I enjoyed the London setting, especially the “Octavian”, the music hall at the center of the story. Plenty of mystery and dangerous adventure and intrigue, and a little romance all mix together to form the story. In addition, the author tackles some important issues such as mental health and its treatment in the latter part of the 19th century.
Above all, this is a very readable book. When I read that the author had a Ph.D in English literature I was worried that the book might be one of those high-brow, look-how-well-I-can-write novels. But no, this novel was written to be read. It’s a well-crafted story that flows well and pulls you in to the setting. Happily, this is the first of a series. Hopefully there will be many more.
October 8, 2018
Such a delightful and captivating read this was. Foggy streets of Victorian London, sinister forms lurking in shadow, poor urchins stealing riches in exchange for bread and a dry sleeping spot. Juxtapose that against the lovely yet modest home in Mayfair where nineteen year old Nell Hallam runs through her scales and arpeggios in preparation for her piano audition at the Royal Academy of Music. Of course there's no point in preparing for the audition if you have no money for tuition.
Nell has secretly taken on the position of pianist at the Octavian, a Soho music hall where the language is low brow and the audience a bit less refined than Nell's Mozart sonatas. In order to land the job, Nell dons a mans togs and passes herself off as the other gender in an effort to procure the necessary tuition funds. As long as she keeps a low profile, it could all work out. But Nell becomes suspicious when she overhears nefarious plans in the making. It certainly didn't help matters when she fell for the Octavian owner's son, Jack. Is he in on all the shenanigans too?
Nell's loyalties get caught between a rock and a hard place, she struggles in the choosing and in keeping her inspector at Scotland Yard brother, Matthew, in the dark about her nocturnal activities at the Octavian. But Matthew's like a dog with a bone and he's aimed his sites at busting the Fleet Ring of Thieves. Can Nell stay out of the cross hairs and protect those she loves. Time will tell.
If a charming atmospheric Victorian mystery with a minor touch of romance is your cup of tea, then this is the book for you! This book is scheduled to hit the bookstore shelves in November, 2018.
I am grateful to author Karen Odden, publisher William Morrow and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for having provided an uncorrected proof of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
Nell has secretly taken on the position of pianist at the Octavian, a Soho music hall where the language is low brow and the audience a bit less refined than Nell's Mozart sonatas. In order to land the job, Nell dons a mans togs and passes herself off as the other gender in an effort to procure the necessary tuition funds. As long as she keeps a low profile, it could all work out. But Nell becomes suspicious when she overhears nefarious plans in the making. It certainly didn't help matters when she fell for the Octavian owner's son, Jack. Is he in on all the shenanigans too?
Nell's loyalties get caught between a rock and a hard place, she struggles in the choosing and in keeping her inspector at Scotland Yard brother, Matthew, in the dark about her nocturnal activities at the Octavian. But Matthew's like a dog with a bone and he's aimed his sites at busting the Fleet Ring of Thieves. Can Nell stay out of the cross hairs and protect those she loves. Time will tell.
If a charming atmospheric Victorian mystery with a minor touch of romance is your cup of tea, then this is the book for you! This book is scheduled to hit the bookstore shelves in November, 2018.
I am grateful to author Karen Odden, publisher William Morrow and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for having provided an uncorrected proof of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.
September 30, 2018
This was a really great read and really kept my interest. The MC is a pianist so the story has a very heavy musical bent. Not being musical myself, sometimes I was a bit lost, but it did make for an interesting story line. The author does a great job building the characters and they each came alive while I was reading really easily and really well. Since the MC's brother is a police detective I am going to assume there may be more books in the future and that makes me happy. Thanks goes to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2019
Another unique, historical mystery from Odden. I've quickly become a fan of her writing. I especially appreciate a Scotland Yard detective who is a good guy and would read more about Matthew in a heartbeat.
January 19, 2019
Spunky, charming heroine. Immersive Dickensian settting. Talented Gothic storytelling. Great narration. Enjoyable!
March 18, 2019
Rating: 3.5/5
I didn't find it as exciting as Odden's debut, but it was a pleasurable read nonetheless. Nell was a great heroine and the narrator was really good to listen to.
I didn't find it as exciting as Odden's debut, but it was a pleasurable read nonetheless. Nell was a great heroine and the narrator was really good to listen to.
September 25, 2020
Karen Odden is an author I have had on my radar for a while but I just never seem to pick up any of her books.
Well that changed when I was asked to read the second book in the Victorian Mystery series. I thought I had better read the first book in the series before jumping into the second book, so I ordered this one and dove right in!
As many of you know, I never met a historical mystery that I didn’t like—ok well maybe there were a couple, but by and large, I love historical mysteries and I love discovering new heroines and heroes to admire.
I am writing this review as I am about half way through the second book, and I can say firmly that you do not need to read the first one in the series to enjoy the second book. I can also say that I actually liked the second book better than the first but more on that when I review the second book later this week.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like this book. I actually found it pretty fun and I liked the characters just fine but I felt like something was lacking or missing from the plot. I thought about this for a couple of days and ultimately decided that it wasn’t any one specific thing but rather a collection of small things that I think could have been elaborated one. I think the most obvious for me was Nell. While I enjoyed her and found her likable, there were times when I felt like she was a little bland. I wasn’t sure if she was meant to be a wealthy or middle class girl or if she was just meant to be somewhere in the middle. Her social status wasn’t necessarily the focus of the story but there was certainly a question in my mind as to the believability of her romance with Jack and how she was able to get away with little to no social confines beyond her disguise at the music gall.
Also when the book ended I felt like her story felt unfinished. At the time I thought it would carry over into the next book but I can tell you that isn’t necessarily the case. When the book came to an end it felt abrupt and like it left her character in the wind.
I had similar questions about Jack and his character in the story that I won’t go too much into detail here, but again they were similar to how I felt about Nell. I was interested in knowing more about Nell’s brother Matthew who was introduced but didn’t really get much attention in the story. Though I can say that his story is in the next book.
The other small thing was the mystery itself. I liked the twists and turns and some of the red herrings but I also found that the mystery was just ok rather than exciting. I will say that the second book features quite an exciting and sensation mystery!
So where did that leave me with this one? Like I said, it wasn’t bad, it kept me interested and reading, but it didn’t wow me. Now the second book did wow me and I found it exciting and fun, but this on was just ok for me. Would I read more by this author? Absolutely! There have been plenty of ‘ok’ historical mysteries that I’ve read and gone on to love other books in the series. I think this author has strong writing skills and I look forward to reading more by the author in the future!
See my full review here
Well that changed when I was asked to read the second book in the Victorian Mystery series. I thought I had better read the first book in the series before jumping into the second book, so I ordered this one and dove right in!
As many of you know, I never met a historical mystery that I didn’t like—ok well maybe there were a couple, but by and large, I love historical mysteries and I love discovering new heroines and heroes to admire.
I am writing this review as I am about half way through the second book, and I can say firmly that you do not need to read the first one in the series to enjoy the second book. I can also say that I actually liked the second book better than the first but more on that when I review the second book later this week.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like this book. I actually found it pretty fun and I liked the characters just fine but I felt like something was lacking or missing from the plot. I thought about this for a couple of days and ultimately decided that it wasn’t any one specific thing but rather a collection of small things that I think could have been elaborated one. I think the most obvious for me was Nell. While I enjoyed her and found her likable, there were times when I felt like she was a little bland. I wasn’t sure if she was meant to be a wealthy or middle class girl or if she was just meant to be somewhere in the middle. Her social status wasn’t necessarily the focus of the story but there was certainly a question in my mind as to the believability of her romance with Jack and how she was able to get away with little to no social confines beyond her disguise at the music gall.
Also when the book ended I felt like her story felt unfinished. At the time I thought it would carry over into the next book but I can tell you that isn’t necessarily the case. When the book came to an end it felt abrupt and like it left her character in the wind.
I had similar questions about Jack and his character in the story that I won’t go too much into detail here, but again they were similar to how I felt about Nell. I was interested in knowing more about Nell’s brother Matthew who was introduced but didn’t really get much attention in the story. Though I can say that his story is in the next book.
The other small thing was the mystery itself. I liked the twists and turns and some of the red herrings but I also found that the mystery was just ok rather than exciting. I will say that the second book features quite an exciting and sensation mystery!
So where did that leave me with this one? Like I said, it wasn’t bad, it kept me interested and reading, but it didn’t wow me. Now the second book did wow me and I found it exciting and fun, but this on was just ok for me. Would I read more by this author? Absolutely! There have been plenty of ‘ok’ historical mysteries that I’ve read and gone on to love other books in the series. I think this author has strong writing skills and I look forward to reading more by the author in the future!
See my full review here
January 4, 2023
Hunting for a new mystery author, I picked up this volume at the bookstore.
Let's just say that reading this requires a substantial suspension of disbelief (SOD). I found it hard to believe a rather sheltered young, middle-class, Victorian, nineteen-year-old woman would venture to disguise herself as a man and land a job playing piano at a raunchy music hall, to earn money to pay for tuition at the Royal Academy of Music. And then involve herself in the nefarious doings of the music hall's denizens... all while being the sister of a Scotland Yard detective!
But, if you're willing to make the leap...
The characters are enjoyable, and you'll learn a bit about early music halls, pianos and piano tuning, if you enjoy such esoteric historical details (I do). The finale really stretched my SOD to the breaking point, sadly. Given that part of the plot revolves around the heroine's possibly inheriting bipolar disorder, I'm astonished that her involvement in a major crime ring investigation (including destroying evidence and shooting one of the criminals!) didn't land her in an insane asylum, in an era when many women were confined for far less. Just sayin'...
An ok read.
Let's just say that reading this requires a substantial suspension of disbelief (SOD). I found it hard to believe a rather sheltered young, middle-class, Victorian, nineteen-year-old woman would venture to disguise herself as a man and land a job playing piano at a raunchy music hall, to earn money to pay for tuition at the Royal Academy of Music. And then involve herself in the nefarious doings of the music hall's denizens... all while being the sister of a Scotland Yard detective!
But, if you're willing to make the leap...
The characters are enjoyable, and you'll learn a bit about early music halls, pianos and piano tuning, if you enjoy such esoteric historical details (I do). The finale really stretched my SOD to the breaking point, sadly. Given that part of the plot revolves around the heroine's possibly inheriting bipolar disorder, I'm astonished that her involvement in a major crime ring investigation (including destroying evidence and shooting one of the criminals!) didn't land her in an insane asylum, in an era when many women were confined for far less. Just sayin'...
An ok read.
July 20, 2019
This was a DNF at about the halfway point. It wasn't bad, I think it just wasn't for me.
I found that there was nothing I could really connect to in this book. The characters were . . . fine. The story was . . . okay. The presentation of foggy London was . . . adequate.
Everything about this was just . . . okay. There was nothing that set this apart for me from the many other books with similar setting, plot and characters. I've read lots of 1800s London mysteries, and many of them I loved. This just wasn't one of those.
I felt like I was skimming along the surface here. I hung in there hoping something really thrilling would come along a draw me in, but that never happened. So I'm moving on to the next.
I found that there was nothing I could really connect to in this book. The characters were . . . fine. The story was . . . okay. The presentation of foggy London was . . . adequate.
Everything about this was just . . . okay. There was nothing that set this apart for me from the many other books with similar setting, plot and characters. I've read lots of 1800s London mysteries, and many of them I loved. This just wasn't one of those.
I felt like I was skimming along the surface here. I hung in there hoping something really thrilling would come along a draw me in, but that never happened. So I'm moving on to the next.
September 10, 2020
Romance,danger,drama? YAS Please!
𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐥➔A headstrong protagonist. Nineteen years old. I like all my protagonists to be teenagers but if their young them I guess I don’t mind. Pianist by night,woman by day.
“I am sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s Stephen Gagnon. The violinist. “ He came out of the shadows,his pale hair gleaming in the dim light.
That sentence got me gaping.
The reason why I got A DANGEROUS DUET was because it was one of those adult/young adult fiction novels that seem to be simple and paced. This has everything I want in a good novel-a good plot,a badass heroine,and tons of drama.
It was nice for me.
𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐥➔A headstrong protagonist. Nineteen years old. I like all my protagonists to be teenagers but if their young them I guess I don’t mind. Pianist by night,woman by day.
“I am sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s Stephen Gagnon. The violinist. “ He came out of the shadows,his pale hair gleaming in the dim light.
That sentence got me gaping.
The reason why I got A DANGEROUS DUET was because it was one of those adult/young adult fiction novels that seem to be simple and paced. This has everything I want in a good novel-a good plot,a badass heroine,and tons of drama.
It was nice for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway! I really enjoyed it. The story flowed so smoothly, and I was engaged from page one. The characters are well developed and I was invested in them as I read. Once the main character begins to unravel a crime/mystery, it really goes fast, as you want to know what happened! More a fiction crime mystery than historical fiction, I enjoyed this story from start to finish.
November 2, 2018
I won this in a giveaway and so glad I did. I could have read it in one sitting had I not had to stop on occasion to engage in other facets of life like eating, sleeping and doing dishes. I like the author's writing style. Nell's character was vividly portrayed and there was just enough suspense to keep me interested.
December 23, 2018
Very VERY good. Victorian London, Scotland Yard, Fleet Street, the Thames...what more could you want? A SY Inspector and his piano playing sister. Great characters, wonderful descriptions of London and emerging feminism. READ IT.
June 24, 2019
I liked this story and how it all unfolded. I really liked how the main characters were not the story of the super rich/nobility or the really poor it was about working people. I look forward to the next in the series.
November 18, 2018
A delightful historical mystery set in Victorian London. Recommended!
My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
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