Down a Dark River- Book Review

Down a Dark River by Karen Odden

Inspector Corravan Series, Book 1

Publication Date: 9th Nov 2021
Genre: Historical Crime Fiction, Scotland Yard 

3.8 Stars 

Inspector Corravan, an Irish former bare-knuckle boxer and dockworker from the East End of London, is drowning under a large pile of files, pending reports, and cases. The latest mess up in the (Scotland) Yard has led to changes in the department and distrust in people. 

The Inspector manages to track down a missing woman, Mrs. Beckford, when he gets called to supervise a crime scene near the Thames. The new case takes prominence as bodies accumulate every week. 

With leads going nowhere and families unwilling to help (they’ve got to protect their secrets, after all), Corravan starts to feel the pressure. His straightforward methods seem to be doing more harm than good. 

As his young colleague Stiles discovers a few links, Corravan realizes that both his cases could very well be connected. But where do the leads take him, and who is the killer? And most importantly, what kinds of crimes have been buried, and will the victims ever get the justice they deserve? 

As someone who has a soft spot for historical crime fiction, I was eager to read this book. Since I already know that this is the first book in the series, I  could be better prepared for gaps in the backstories. 

However, the first half of the book seemed too slow and took forever to establish the plotline. Things kept hitting a dead block, much to the Inspector’s and my frustration. Luckily, the second half made up for it. 

The book picked up pace after 55%. There was enough action and information to keep me guessing and intrigued. The recurring characters are promising, and I’m looking forward to knowing more about them. 

The Inspector’s arc shifted gears at the right time. He’s not an entitled rich guy with contacts. He’s a hardworking man with strengths and flaws that make him likable and not-so likable at the same time. 

The writing is engaging, though I wished things would proceed faster at times. However, I do understand the need to go slow in the first book (let me tell you that knowing that a book is the first in the series in advance and knowing it at the end can really impact the reading process). 

The not-so-perfect side of Victorian society was portrayed accurately. The climax seemed a little less dramatic but suited the overall tone of the book. I’m satisfied with the way things went and must admit that Inspector Corravn is turning out to be an interesting character. 

To sum up, Down a Dark River is a decent historical thriller with people and incidents from real life. I’m curious enough to pick up the next in the series whenever the author has it ready for us. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Land Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

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