Review: A Spy in the House (The Agency, #1) by Y.S. Lee

Publisher: Candlewick

Released: March 9, 2010

Hardcover: 352 pages



My Rating: 4 / 5

My Thoughts:
Mary is caught stealing & sentenced to death...but someone notices that Mary just might have more to offer. She is rescued and given the opportunity to receive an education - only to discover that the school is really a cover for a spy operation. Mary's first mission is to act as a companion for a rich merchant's daughter in order to discover what is causing his ships to sink.

Set in 1850's, this story surprisingly had a much more modern feel to it. What I loved so much about A Spy in the House was Y.S. Lee's ability to take her Victorian background and make something brand new. This isn't a historical novel, but given her PhD in Victorian literature and culture, historical details are found throughout (i.e. the Great Stink, child labour, class structures etc).

I absolutely loved the main character Mary! She was feisty & so not what I expected for a woman in the Victorian era. Add in James, their banter, the tension between the too plus the twists & turns as Mary discovers the cause of ship wrecks and you have the perfect ingredients for a fun historical mystery.

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Today at Book Lovers Inc you will find an interview with the amazing Y.S. Lee so go check it out here!

Teaser Tuesday - March 23, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

A Spy in the House (The Agency, #1)by Y.S. Lee

"We do not discuss our operatives with our clients. They are attracted by our reputation, but we disclose to them very little beyond the information they seek. We find that to be in the best interests of all involved." (pg 21 of ARC)

(I cheated & added a 3rd line, but it was too good to leave out!)