Down a Dark River

An Inspector Corravan Mystery, Book 1

By: Karen Odden

Narrated by: Joshua Manning

Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

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

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

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

good read

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

A Pleasant Surprise!

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

Enjoyable AND informative

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

Great visit characters, loved reading about the Victorian England

Awesome and light fun reading. historic writing style spot on, love the idea and the metaphor of the Thames river.

Great Story.

I really liked the narrator's voice. The story and characters were interesting and well developed.

A good start

The characters created make me want to know more about them, in a good way. The mystery was twisty enough to keep my interest. I will be listening to the series as long as they are well done like this first volume.

Wonderful story

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

Horrible Narration

Quit listening half way through 3rd chapter. The narrator droned in a monotone. He mispronounced so many words! The story seemed like it could be interesting but the narration annoyed me so much I could not stick with it. I want a refund but it's too late. I must have purchased this a long time ago and abandoned it without asking.

Historical Mystery

Very interesting story and nice twists to figure out how the victims were connected. Over all, well done and I'd like to read more Corravan books.

A good mystery very well narrated

The author's vivid description of Victorian London really transports you and the mystery will really hook you. A very satisfying listen. The narration is excellent as well.

Breathless Victorian Fan Fiction.

If this had been set in New York or Boston, it would have been fine. I expect it's passable for a US listener or reader , but for a UK listener it is full of jarring errors.
The writer has been sloppy about research into speech patterns and this is peppered with americanisms that haven't seeped into British english in the 21st century, let alone the 19th.
The narrator is very confident in his delivery of a range of UK accents, not of which are appropriate for the time or the place. I would be interested to find out why he thinks that people from Whitechapel in East London speak with a Belfast, or a North of England accent.
Too irritating to finish.

Another enjoyable addition to the canon

Interesting main characters with suitably murky backstories. I look forward to the developing relationship between the detective and child lodger/protege.