The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Release Date: March 9, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352
Overall:
Source: Publisher
Interest: Traveling to Teens Tour/Debut Author
Challenge: 2010 Debut Author Challenge

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.

(summary from Amazon.com)

For some reason, I was really apprehensive about reading this novel. I was intrigued by the summary, I loved the cover, but I was lax about picking it up. And even now, I'm not exactly sure why I was hesitant to start it. But I'm glad I finally read it because I was pleasantly surprised!

The setting itself was enthralling...  the cobblestone streets and smelly river of Victorian England, don't tell me that didn't get your attention! I even managed to learn a few things, that is always a positive. I wasn't just impressed with the setting, but with the characters as well. Especially Mary, she was the kick-butt heroine that I love reading about it.

This was easy novel to read, it wasn't  too complex. The main plot was overshadowed at times by smaller subplots, but that is often the case in the beginning of a series. It's necessary sometimes to build that relationship with the reader, to give them something to look forward to in the succeeding novels. But even with that, I'm sure readers will be flipping through the pages to solve the mystery along with Mary and James. I know that is what I did!

This is a great start to a series and I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Writing:

Cover:

View an in depth look into my Star Rating

• Tweet This!
• Share this on Facebook
• Digg this!
• Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
• Share this on del.icio.us
• Share this on Technorati
• Post this to MySpace
• Subscribe