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    A Dangerous Duet: A Novel
    A Dangerous Duet: A Novel
    A Dangerous Duet: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    A Dangerous Duet: A Novel

    Written by Karen Odden

    Narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateNov 6, 2018
    ISBN9780062867667
    A Dangerous Duet: A Novel
    Author

    Karen Odden

    KAREN ODDEN received her PhD in English literature from New York University and has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. She currently serves as an assistant editor for the academic journal Victorian Literature and Culture. Her debut novel, A Lady in the Smoke, was a USA Today bestseller.

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    Reviews for A Dangerous Duet

    4/5

    68 ratings16 reviews

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    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      Nineteen-year-old Nell Hallam has has been working at the Octavian music hall for some months to raise money so the she can attend the Royal Academy and study piano. Of course to do so, she needs to disguise herself as a man and not let her older brother Matthew know what she is doing. Matthew is newly an inspector at Scotland Yard. He has been quite busy lately trying to track down a ring of thieves.Nell has some interesting times and meets some interesting people. While she tries to avoid Mr. Williams who does the hiring and firing, she gets to like spending time with Jack Drummond who is the son of the owner. A new violinist is hired and makes a play for her. But he is constantly trying to make her dislike Jack by telling lies about him. Nell also meets Jack's uncle who sells and repairs musical instruments and a number of his other friends. Learning more about him makes her fall in love with him more.When Nell comes early to rehearse one day, she stumbles onto information that leads her to believe that the music hall is part of the crime ring. Worst of all, it looks like Jack is one of the criminals. This was an exciting story filled with adventure as Nell tries to save Jack and avoid any number of bad guys.Nell's mother was an excellent pianist too. She abandoned the family when Nell was only one year old. Nell's mother suffered from a mental illness and her doctor is afraid that Nell might have inherited the same disease. Nell has has an unusual education with an emphasis on the logical and the rational and her music teacher taught her to keep her emotions out of her playing. Both of those things were done to try to stave off any chance of Nell inheriting her mother's mental illness.This was an engaging story that was part thriller and part romance firmly set in the Victorian Era. I recommend it.
    • 3/5
      "A Dangerous Duet" was an entertaining historical mystery. It was the front cover that caught my attention and then the blurb sounded intriguing, so I decided to give it a go. I loved Nell's passion for the piano and the mystery was good, but I think the author tried too hard and so the novel didn't reach its truest potential.There were times when the plot dragged but at others it was fast-paced and exciting. Some characters, like Nell and Jack, were well-written but I wanted to know more about Matthew, Nell's older brother. Considering that the novel focused on a crime and Matthew was a police officer, I would have thought that he would have had a bigger role than he actually did. Also, Nell's decision at the end didn't make much sense.However, I did enjoy the setting and the atmosphere, the darkness and historical details held my attention, making "A Dangerous Duet" quite an enjoyable read but not a memorable one.
    • 4/5
      I finally got to read this win from Early Reviewers, and while I got to it as quickly as I could, I wish I could have read it sooner. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, and thought the book overall was well written. However, the pseudo-psychiatry bothered me. I’m sure it wasn’t totally out of place in the historical context, but the doctor really grated on my nerves, which took away some of my enjoyment. It also wrapped up a little too neatly, rather like being handed a package with a tidy bow on top. But, I liked the MC and her brother and many of the secondary characters, so I would certainly be willing to read another of Odden’s books.
    • 4/5
      Nell's an accomplished pianist, but since this is Victorian London and Nell is a respectable woman, can't really do anything with it. But to earn money to study at the Royal Academy, she takes a job disguised as a man at a music hall where maybe more than show business is going on. And Nell's brother, a Scotland Yard inspector investigating a city-wide plague of burglaries, may be digging into the place as well. A Dangerous Duet is a decent, but not great depiction of Victoria London, and a decent, but not great, mystery/suspense story with a little romance thrown in. It's a pleasant diversion, but the general feel is more modern than Victorian, and the mystery itself isn't very mysterious. Should work well if you need a diversion though!
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      This book tells the story of a young woman (Nell) who desires to be admitted to the Academy of Music. As an accomplished pianist, she earns her tuition by playing at a music hall to accompany the acts. However, she disguises herself as a man (Mr. Nell) so as to earn more money and keep her job. While employed there, she becomes aware of criminal activity with which theater associates are involved. In addition, she becomes quite attracted to a young man who works at the theater. Family secrets are revealed and all wrapped up by the end of the novel. This in turn leads to other intriguing twists and turns of the plot. I liked the theater setting and the dark London atmosphere. I felt as if I was there with Nell during her exploits. I received this book from Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
    • 3/5
      Nell wants to become a pianist and to earn money for her schooling takes a job at the Octavian music hall playing piano several nights a week, disguised as a man. As she becomes acquainted with the other performers and their secrets she becomes involved in a conspiracy that endangers her and her relationships. Set in Victorian London. I got drawn into the plot as things became more dangerous, but on the whole I had trouble getting involved in this novel. Too many familiar elements that somehow didn't come together as a whole.
    • 3/5
      A mystery set in 19th century London: I found some of the situations and dialogue in the book were not compatible with 19th century London; which immediately took me out of the story. I wasn’t convinced the main character could have gotten away with her disguise as a boy. Also, I didn’t understand the doctor’s connection to Nell; explanations were given but I thought it left some unanswered questions. The mystery was good and the research on piano tuning and repairs was interesting and thorough. It took me a few weeks to finish the book because I just wasn’t interested in the characters. A clean mystery with a little romance that any age could read. I will read more by this author because I liked her first novel The Lady in Smoke.
    • 4/5
      After reading so many historical novels where proprietary was the utmost concern, it took me a bit to adjust to the more laid back attitude in A Dangerous Duet. Given the situation, however, it made sense that Nell would have more wriggle room, even if she wasn’t always the smartest with it. I really liked that she was determined enough in her desire to be a pianist that she came up with her plan and pulled it off. I also liked that the plot wasn’t completely predictable, although I was suspicious of Stephen pretty quickly because he had a grudge against everyone. Marceline and Sebastian were interesting characters, and I enjoyed their story. Jack is a very complex and interesting character, I think he’s the most interesting one in the book. He has a lot of layers and is really torn between lives. The whole mystery aspect is really intriguing without seeming overdone—it seems like a feasible thing that could happen. I was unsure of the ending, but Matthew , while being a protective older brother, may have gone for such a scenario? It just seemed like since Jack had a male relative he was on good terms with it would have made more sense for Jack to stay with him. As it stands, the end pushes proprietary a bit much for my suspension of disbelief. All in all, though, I really enjoyed this novel, and would recommend it as it is interesting and not your run of the mill romance. It may take some stretching of society standards to get into it, but they’re not really a typical brother and sister as it stands.This book was received as an ARC through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program. My opinions are entirely my own.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      Delighted to receive this book through Early Readers!Nell Hallam and her brother Matthew share a nice home in Mayfair. He and inspector at Scotland Yard, she an aspiring concert pianist of high talent.For Nell, acceptance into the Royal Academy is her goal, but it is out of their means. To earn money she has taken to playing piano at the Octavian, a Soho music hall. To do this she must dress as a man and sneak out of the house at night. Victorian society would frown on her doing this side job in the open. With her brother working nights she is able to do it and be back before he gets home.Working at the Octavian gives Nell a view of a world opposite to hers. Raucousness, unusual people and many dark secrets. It is discovering some of these dark secrets and how people around her are involved that put her in a perilous position. Falling for Jack, the owner's son, makes it that more complicated and personal. Finding one of the performers brutally beaten and then a couple of others dead, brings out the danger that is part of this alternate world.I enjoyed reading the book, plot and characters. I have read other mysteries set in Victorian London, which have had more darker and grimmer themes, but this does get the atmosphere across. The tempo is pretty steady and when it comes to the crecendo of the plot and the climax it kept me reading and moved at a good pace. I did find myself holding my breath in spots!I see that she has another book out and that this could be the first in a series. I will add her name to my KAEO (Keep An Eye Out) list of authors.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      To earn the tuition for the Royal Academy, Nell disguises herself as a man to play piano in a Soho music hall. She is drawn into a conspiracy far bigger than she suspects when a friend is left for dead. Her heart is also not safe from Jack, who may be more involved in criminal activities than she realizes.Nell is a lovely protagonist. I admired her determination to follow her ambition, even if it meant unconventional means. Her struggles to overcome the concerns of her past, and the shadow of her mother's actions, made her sympathetic. Her uncertainty about who to trust was realistic.Once she begins to unravel the mystery, the plot begins to move at a quick pace. (I was amused at how many people saw through Mell's disguise.) The details of the period and or music were spot on. The only thing that was out of place was Nell's reaction to her doctor's secret. It did not seem appropriate for the time and era.For readers looking for a Victorian mystery with a dash of romance, they won't go wrong with this one.I received am ARC from the publisher for reviewing purposes.
    • 4/5
      As a musician, I'm drawn to novels in which music and/or musicians are featured. This book includes both of those elements. Nell Hallam is a young pianist who hides her identity as a woman to get a job playing in a London music hall, in order to earn tuition money to attend the Royal Academy of Music. At the music hall, she meets a number of unusual characters, and learning about the true nature of two men attracted to her (who have discovered her secret), is a crucial element of the story. Who should she believe? Do a character's positives outweigh his negatives? When Nell stumbles upon criminal activity being run out of the music hall, the intensity of the book ratchets up and the suspense races to a twisting climax.I enjoyed this book very much, although I felt the beginning was a bit slow. Like the author's previous work, Lady in the Smoke, it is well written and very readable. She clearly has put in a lot of research in terms of music and piano literature; it probably was more enjoyable because of my music background. I would definitely recommend this book.Thanks to LibraryThing and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review A Dangerous Duet.
    • 3/5
      It took me a long time to get into this story. I just didn't feel enough background information was given and because of that I really just didn't care. Finally about half way through the book it got interesting for me. The story is about 19year old Nell who lives in Mayfair with her brother Matthew, an inspector at Scotland Yard. Nell's mother ran off when Nell was very young and supposedly she had mental issues.Nell's father is dead. Nell loves playing the piano (her mother was a pianist or thought she could be) anyway...Nell has been dressing as a young man and leaving the house 3 nights a week to work at a music hall playing piano to earn money in case she gets accepted at the Royal Academy. While working there she hears things about a crime ring spread out all through London. She also starts to have feelings for Jack, the music hall owners son. In the meantime we have Matthew working on trying to catch the crime ring while dealing with "who can you trust" in Scotland Yard...yes we have dirty coppers. Throw into the mix a Dr. who has been a life long friend of the family, the kindly piano shop owner who happens to be Jack's uncle, members of the crime ring and street urchins. Not a bad read but I just wanted more.