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.

Michael Corravan has temporarily taken over as superintendent of the Wapping River Police. When a body is discovered on one of the Thames stairs, the police assume it is payback for an unpaid gambling debt. Before Corravan can become too involved in this case a disaster happens on the river, a collision between the collier Castle B and the pleasure boat the Princess Alice, with horrendous loss of life. Corravan hands the murder case to Scotland Yard and focuses on the collision which is being blamed on the Irish, as the contentious issue of Home Rule for Ireland is once again being debated. Eventually, the two cases cross.

As the story unfolds, more details emerge of Corravan's past, especially the years he spent growing up in Whitechapel with the Doyles and the reason Ma Doyle urged him to flee, not knowing or considering the effect his departure would have on the family and the strain it has now placed on his relationship with Colin, the youngest and only living son of Ma Doyle. Corravan regrets his actions back then and, after some soul searching, realises there were some things he could have done better, but as he was only nineteen years old at the time, cites his youth as the reason for his insensitivity. When he learns that Colin may be mixed up with an Irish gang, he wants to make amends but his intervention only alienates him further from Colin.

Anti-Irish sentiment is rife and the unfairness of it touches Corravan deeply. Although his personal life becomes entangled with his investigation, he remains level-headed and objective throughout.

Harry, the young medical student and another Coyle relation, is absent from most of this novel, as is Belinda , the novelist who is Corravan's love interest. However, both return from their various travels when Corravan needs them most.

Once again Corravan is pressured to bring a swift closure to a case even if it means blaming the wrong people. The Government, his superiors and biased newspaper stories make his investigation more difficult. His attempt to rescue Colin from his reckless decisions draws him back into Whitchapel and his past.

Under a Veiled Moon is another exciting case involving Michael Corravan. What begins with a murder becomes a complex plot involving corruption, anti-Irish sentiment and a real life disaster, with underlying themes of regret and revenge. I'm hoping Corrvan's next case is just as exciting!

Outstanding. I absolutely loved this book.

I enjoyed it as much as I did the first entry in this series and I really hope there are more forthcoming. The plot was captivating and so smartly crafted. The stakes were so, so high (the boat accident and the aftermath were so horribly tragic). Inspector Michael Corravan is an intelligent and tenacious hero who is also personally has quite a lot at stake, both with regards to his own reputation as well as his adoptive family, and I adored him. I learned a lot about Irish home rule and other historical events I had never known anything about, which I greatly enjoyed. I really like the surrounding cast. They are all unique and interesting (I'd love to know more about Stiles, what's the story there?). The author is terrifically descriptive, which I appreciate. I still remember the descriptions of the nun with the mole from the first book, and the man that looked like a walrus... they are so acutely rendered, even when brief, that it makes everything so vivid and dynamic in the reading of it.

Nits: I thought something might come of the fact that Corravan identified someone unknown to him based on purely circumstantial evidence (crest on a carriage) but that turned out to be a nothing. Also, Corravan told Stiles to go interview a potential suspect. In the next scene, Corravan's boss told him make sure he doesn't talk to the suspect and Corravan agreed but then he never relayed the message to Stiles. And then later on it turned out to be a nothing-burger, because Stiles didn't end up talking to the suspect anyway, and it felt like maybe this one just fell through the cracks. Also, Belinda was barely in this book but then turned up at the end and delivered the coup de grace, or one of them? That felt a little out of nowhere. I didn't mind, because Belinda is awesome, but it didn't feel as organic as other plot points.

Overall, loved the book and can't wait for more!!!!

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Under a Veiled Moon is the second book in Karen Odden's fabulous historical series Inspector Corravan Mysteries. I was introduced to Ms. Odden's work with this series, and I'm now a huge fan. I always worry that I'll be disappointed with a second book in a series when I LOVED the first book, but no worries here! The story stands alone, but you'll enjoy it more if you read book one.

In September 1878, the Princess Alice pleasure boat was on her daily trip on the Thames. Suddenly the Princess Alice is hit by the Bywell Castle, an iron-hulled collier, which shears the Alice apart, leaving more than 600 dead. Clues point the toward the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a terrorist group that believes that violence is the way to achieve Irish Home Rule. Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, now the acting Superintendent of the Wapping River Police, is investigating the disaster. Corravan was born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, and he's stuck between his Irish heritage and the horrible anti-Irish sentiment running rampant in London. If the IRB is connected to the disaster, that may end the possibility of Home Rule. If this wasn't enough of a worry for Corravan, Colin, the youngest Doyle, has joined an Irish gang. Corravan makes a deal with the gang leader to keep Colin safe. Corravan soon finds out, however, that Colin bears a long-standing grudge against him, Newspapers begin to link the IRB to other incidents, and London is poised to explode. Can Corravan, together with his woman Belinda Gale and his young colleague Mr. Stiles, discover the truth before that happens?

This was quite the exciting story, partly based on a true disaster. There was an accident between the Princess Alice and the Bywell Castle, though it wasn't brought about by the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Over 600 souls lost their lives, including men, women and children; only a bit over 100 survived, and some died later due to the horrid condition of the Thames. Raw sewage had been dumped in the river, causing disease to take some of the survivors. It also made it hard to recover the bodies. The Irish Republican Brotherhood was a real terrorist group. The anti-Irish sentiment in London was also real, and was absolutely disgraceful. Being part Irish, I was disgusted by the opinions of those who considered the Irish on par with vermin. Some of the characters were, in part, based on actual people. The author crafted an amazing book using these true events. Michael Corravan is such an intriguing character, and one who's easy to cheer for. As an Inspector, he is caught between his Irish roots and the crimes he is investigating. I absolutely love the Doyle family, who adopted a homeless young Corravan. Ma Doyle is one of the strongest characters I've read about; I adore the stories she told her children as youngsters, all snuggled up in bed, and the strength she had when confronted with tragedy. Corravan didn't forget them when he left; he was still part of the Doyle family. Belinda and Mr. Stiles didn't appear that much in this story, but I enjoyed every time they made an entrance. There was heartache in this story that had me absolutely bawling like a baby. I was also on the edge of my seat as the investigators tried to find the true culprits behind the tragedy and murders. I don't like that I'll probably have to wait a year for the next tale in this series. I want to read more about Corravan and the gang NOW!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I really loved the first book in this series so I was happy to see the next one! This one is set in 1878 London and our protagonist is Inspector Michael Corravan again. He’s been promoted but it’s not a popular move since he’s considered inferior due to being Irish and not a member of the upper class. The boat, Princess Alice, has sunk with hundreds and victims (a real historical event) and Corravan is investigating. As if that isn’t enough, he also has to deal with London gangs and the growing unrest against the Irish. Add in his wonderful love interest, Belinda, who helps him solve his case, and we have a fantastic, well written, engrossing mystery.

I enjoyed this even more than the first book, and Corravan is a great protagonist who is imperfect but is actually a decent person who’s had to fight against prejudices his whole life. We get what appears to be a realistic look at 1870s London, not the sugarcoated version we often read about in historical fiction. I’m absolutely looking forward to the third book in the series!

SYNOPSIS:
In the tradition of C. S. Harris and Anne Perry, a fatal disaster on the Thames and a roiling political conflict set the stage for Karen Odden’s second Inspector Corravan historical mystery.

September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat the Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600 passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish Home Rule.

For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion, and berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever.

Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way. But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns his help.

As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself.

MY REVIEW:
Really enjoyable, well-written entry in this historical mystery series, really liking forward to the next one!

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.

This is a book I was looking forward to reading and it didn't disappoint me. Set in 1878 London, Karen Odden works her magic and takes the reader into the turbulent times concerning Irish home rule. 600 people are enjoying an outing on the pleasure boat The Princess Alice. As the day comes to an end only 130 people will be alive. While traveling the Thames she collides with a massive collier and sinks almost immediately. As the bodies and the survivors are gathered, the police have to decide if this was a tragic boating accident or was there an evil group in action known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Though Detective Michael Corravan knows the Thames very well, having served with the river police before joining Scotland Yard, he is Irish born and seen by some as prejudiced. Even though he is sidelined, he is determined to find the answers. In the process he has to struggle with his past and his family as well as those high up in Government. It's Irish vs Irish and brother vs brother as gangs battle each other in the streets with guns available to all.
Corravan begins to think there may be a connection between the sinking of the Princess Alice and the Irish gangs. Those connections move towards the Houses of Parliament and reveal some very dark secrets. I was completely engrossed with both cases and was helpless to set the book aside in order to go to bed. If you, like me, enjoy well crafted historical mysteries, you must add this series to your TBR list. It has it all - great setting, vivid descriptions, well researched, complex mystery and well developed characters.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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

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; 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 received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all thoughts & opinions are my own. Under a Veiled Moon is the second title to feature Acting Superintendent of the Wapping River Police Michael Corravan. Corravan is horrified when he is called to assist with the devastating accident involving the Princess Alice boat that sank after a collision with the Bywell Castle. Hundreds of people, many of them women and children, on their way back from a day spent outside of London died when they drowned following the collision. Even worse, there are suspicions that the sinking was no accident but instead was a deliberate event. Newspapers are quick to blame the Irish, putting the pressure on Corravan to not only solve this case as quickly as possible but avoid the appearance of bias. All this is occurring while he is trying to help out the Doyle family who adopted him when his mother disappeared leaving him an orphan as a child. One of the family, Colin appears to have gotten in deep with one of the local Irish gangs, but things go from bad to worse when Corravan fears that Colin is involved in a deadly turf war.

I really appreciate that the author doesn't sugar coat things, but instead provides a gritty realistic look at London during the time period, but some readers may find several portions of the book to be graphic in descriptions of injuries caused by violence. The Princess Alice sinking is an event that I wasn't familiar with, and the description made me feel like I was there; I could feel the horror and despair of those impacted. I also found the Irish angle (I don't want to say more and risk giving away a very well done plot point) very interesting and the connections to current day events to be a little too close for comfort. There is a nice ending that sets up the next book that has me already counting down until fall of 2023 (when I assume the next book will be released). I look forward to learning more about secondary characters such as Bellinda and Harry who had very minor parts in this title.

This is 2nd in the Inspector Corravan series set in 1878 London.

Corravan is called upon to determine the cause of the horrific collision of the pleasure boat Princess Alice and the iron hulled Bywell Castle in the Thames, leaving 600 in the river with only 130 surviving. Is it Irish gang-related? The Irish Republican Brotherhood? Or a frame conspiracy? And the powers that be question if he can be unbiased as an Irishman in seeking the truth.

I really enjoyed this one, actually more than the series debut. The historical details were well-researched and very interesting, with descriptive writing and scenes on the water that were easily envisioned. I also enjoyed learning more about Corravan’s background including his adoptive family. I like that he’s presented as a boy who rose from humble beginnings and life on the street to a man who made something of himself, tenaciously striving for justice even when he has to go up against government corruption at times. He’s a flawed character but definitely one worth cheering for, and one I am eager to see more of in future adventures.

Very well done.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing the early arc of Under a Veiled Moon for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Inspector Corrovan of Scotland Yard, now acting superintendent at Wapping, is faced with a double problem in Under a Veiled Moon, Karen Odden's newest historical mystery. The crash of the Princess Alice and the Bywell Castle on the Thames is the largest maritime accident to happen in London's history. Rising anti-Irish public sentiment wants to find the Irish, specifically the Irish Republican Brotherhood, guilty of sabotaging the crafts. Corrovan, Irish himself, wants to find the guilty party whether they are Irish or English- a highly unpopular sentiment as newspapers whip the general populace into a frenzy with or without worrying about facts. Knowing that political chances for Irish Home Rule are slipping farther away the longer the anti-Irish sentiments continue, that his job is on the line the longer he takes on the case, and that more lives are placed in jeopardy as the case takes him even closer to home, make this Corrovan's most difficult case yet.

Under a Veiled Moon takes place several months after the events of Karen Odden's first Inspector Corrovan book, Down a Dark River, although you don't necessarily need to have read the first book in the series to read and enjoy this one. If you did read DADR (and you should!) you'll be please to see the growth in Corrovan- both personally and professionally. A Scotland Yard investigator, he has now been given the temporary charge of Wapping Yard, a station he began at and knows well. He's in charge of more men, writing reports, and taking on a variety of more responsibilities than as 'just' an inspector. Personally he has taken to heart the lessons he learned on the "river murders" as he calls them and is working hard to temper his natural inclinations to act like a bull in a china shop and charge forward with every thing. He works better with his superior, Howard Vincent and is more empathetic with witnesses and victims when interviewing them. He often has trouble bringing that empathy to his young adopted brother, Colin Doyle. He sees Colin taking wrong paths and not listening to sense and you can feel Michael's frustration radiating off the pages in each scene between them. It's obvious he's as frustrated with himself for not being able to magically fix whatever problems Colin has as he is with Colin for falling in with gangs and trying to seem more of "a man". Michael still has lessons to learn about his own self-awareness and impact on others, and I think he has begun to realize that.

Revenge, regret, and prejudice swirl together at the heart of Veiled Moon: who feels what and what do we do with those feelings. Can we move past something if we understand it is an accident vs knowing someone is responsible for it? What does it mean if someone is responsible for something terrible? The IRB blame England for everything terrible that has happened to the Irish people and have begun to use violence instead of words to demand Home Rule. The reader sees the reaction of the average Londoner, which is often hatred of the Irish for these revenge acts, lumping all the Irish together as 'guilty' just as the IRB have done with the English. Neither side seems willing to admit that they both share blame, and that most people are innocent of any wrong doing and should be left alone. Politics and terrorism have changed the world scene and Corrovan, the Princess Alice, the Bywell Castle, and the innocent people of London are now caught in the middle without realizing it.

There is a lot of emotion in this book, both for Corrovan and for the reader. Corrovan must deal with family stresses as well as having to swallow all the hate being thrown at him as he tries to do his job. The empathetic style of writing Odden has means that the reader feels Corrovan's pain, his frustration, his anger, his worry. He sees both London in general and Whitechapel in particular changing thanks to this new kind of terror and it frightens him, as it does us, since we know it will become the new normal instead of an outlier.
As for the mystery itself- it is a brilliant puzzle of red herrings, clues within clues, layers within layers, and plots within plots that come together in the end to create a shocking and tragic solution.

If you love historical mysteries, and if you read and loved Down a Dark River, then I have no doubt you will love Under a Veiled Moon as much as I did. Make this one a must read on your TBR pile!

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.

When his past catches up with his present investigation …

Wow two historical mysteries to read in a row, unable to choose which one I wanted to read first first, so I just picked the longest of the two, knowing this book would require more time than the second.
I just adore this series with its emblematic hero, a self made man with Irish roots, raised in the poorer part of the city working for the police forces. When being raised in the most destitute parts of London was synonym of wrenched life, early demise and tons of hardships, being Irish was like being foods for fodders, rumors and haters, being a policeman was having many questioning your integrity and thirst for justice. Corravan is a flawed fellow, yet he made himself the man he is now, despite every holes and dents put on his path, and he had many.

In this second tale, his past comes knocking at his door, as while he must unknit a much complex plot with lot of ramifications, he faces also his younger self’s past and one-sided view of it, understanding how he might have unwillingly and unknowingly altered his adoptive family’s path.
Harry and Belinda’s implications in his investigation are from afar, yet their presence is a balm to his wounded spirit, Stiles while no more his second is still his pugnace, organized and determined colleague.
I love how the author mixed historical facts with fiction, using prejudices and ire to map a very intricate scheme.
5 stars for this well crafted mystery and its imperfect but so captivating hero.

Now I am left hanging for a year, wondering about what new revelations about Corravan’s past will lead to.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses and behind closed door lovemaking.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Karen Odden makes Victorian London come alive!

It was September 1878 when the Princess Alice, a pleasure steamer, made her daily trip along the Thames and collided with the Bywell Castle, a cargo ship. Hundreds perished, mostly passengers on the Princess Alice. Karen Odden weaves this real-life tragic event into a tale of murder and corruption.

Inspector Michael Corravan is tasked with finding answers: was the collision deliberately caused? Was the Irish Republican Brotherhood responsible? Corravan’s investigation could derail discussions of granting Ireland home rule. Being Irish, his determination and drive for resolution is deeply personal. The author does not flinch in her portrayal of the often shocking anti-Irish sentiment prevalent in Victorian London, a sentiment amplified in the influential media. Readers will recognize many troubling issues that persist in today’s world and dominate our headlines.

With her meticulous historical research, Karen Odden has created a twisty, dark mystery with well-drawn and complex characters. Highly recommended.

I thank NetGalley for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely wonderful book, this book has it all, a bit of romance, bad guys, an accident (that wasn't) that resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives (based on a real incident), and our main character Michael Corravan a Scotland Yard Inspector currently acting as superintendent of the Wapping police station which covers a section of the Thames in September 1878. Michael is called to the river late one night after a collision between the Princess Alice a wooden pleasure boat and the Bywell Castle a much larger steel hulled boat. The collision breaks the Princess in half and she sinks nearly immediately plunging passengers into the depths of the Thames, which is cold and fast currents. Most of the passengers do not know how to swim and the females are trapped within their dresses dooming them from the start. The accident is blamed on the IRB or Irish Republican Brotherhood, who are fighting for home rule and resort to violence to gain attention. Michael is tasked with discovering if the IRB are responsible, a task that for him hits close to home since he is Irish and was adopted by an English family. The author really did a wonderful job of bringing the period to life, it felt like you could feel the cool breeze and the smell of wet rain. I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Inspector Michael Corravan has a problem on his hands. It's 1878 and, as an Irishman working for Scotland Yard, he's constantly aware of how he can be viewed by both Irish people and by English people. He's working a murder when two ships collide on the Thames, resulting in over 500 deaths. Is the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) responsible? Certainly the IRB has committed sabotage but this? Corravan's adopted family looms large here. Luckily, he's got the help of Stiles, who remains a stalwart in his life. No spoilers but know that this is more complex than many in the genre. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Will be fine as a standalone AND= don't miss the afterword.

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.

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.