A Spy in the House
88. Y. S. Lee, A Spy in the House
I keep trying to summarize this book and failing, so here’s what Goodreads has to say: “Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners - and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust - or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets - including those of her own past.”
I liked this book a lot - the premise may be wildly improbable, but that’s half the fun! I liked Mary as a heroine: she’s forward-thinking but not too modern, and her backstory makes her unique. There’s definitely a lot of room to develop her character in this series. I also loved James Easton’s snarky comments, and all his interactions with Mary were delightful - particularly the first occasion which takes place in a wardrobe! The mystery aspect of things wasn’t as strong as the characterization and dialogue, and I hope to see the Agency itself take a larger role in later books. Overall, though, I enjoyed this book a lot, and if you enjoy Victorian-era historical fiction with elements of mystery and romance, you’ll probably enjoy it too!