A Spy in the House

What a delightfully unique book! I was engrossed from the moment I met Mary Quinn. The idea is so very different from anything else I’ve read. It was like a historical Nancy Drew novel. In the prologue we meet 12 year old Mary. She is found guilty of theft, and sentenced to hang for her crime. I was so relieved to see her given a second chance in the form of Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. Chapter one jumps ahead several years and we meet older Mary. While most girls raised in this time period want to be mothers and wives, Mary is all about the Victorian Girl Power! She’s an empowering character, and an excellent role model. Just a young woman striving to make a mark in the world while keeping secrets from her past buried. show more What secrets? You’ll have to read and see.

A Spy in the House is a book I had trouble putting down. It is beautifully written, contains inventive characters, and hosts an intricate plot. A first-rate start to a new young adult trilogy. I can’t wait to read the next installment, A Body at the Tower. show less

3.5/5, rounded up.

This was fun. As mentioned on another 2019 review, I adore historical fiction, though I also agree with the author's own assessment on the backflap that, "The Agency is a totally unrealistic, completely fictitious antidote to the fate that would otherwise swallow a girl like Mary Quinn." The other books seem to be checked out from my library at the moment but I kind of want to binge the rest of the books now.

The author did her PhD work on Victorian literature and culture, so the setting/worldbuilding is decent. I can see where other readers have quibbles that Mary is too modern, headstrong, but, if given the fantasy option of working for a spy agency I'm sure there'd be women in the era who'd be up for it.

I hadn't show more heard of the Lascars before, and I anticipate them being relevant in future books. I am also quite pleased to see a historical hapa lead character, though for assimilation/survivability she leans hard on being white-passing. Still, minority folks in historical gear I can cosplay as (but never will because costumes take an awful lot of planning) are always a good thing in my book.

Even though I've read quite a bit of YA this year, I haven't developed more sophisticated thoughts on the tropes like a love interest, etc. I thought James Easton's character fit in well, but was startled when the perspective shifted to him early on. show less

This is the first in a series featuring Mary Quinn (nee Lang), a Chinese-English young woman rescued from the gallows by some formidable women who have founded a school for young woman at risk. Having raised and educated her, so that she might become a teacher and be able to support herself, the headmistress now asks Mary is she’d like a more advanced position. The school, it seems, is but a front for The Agency – an organization of women detectives providing undercover investigations. No one, it seems, takes notice of women, so they are perfectly placed to observe and collect vital information.

Mary’s first assignment is to be the companion of a spoiled teen daughter of a wealthy merchant who, it seems, is committing insurance show more fraud. Placed in the Therold household, Mary is told to observe and report, but she should not be taking action. Her eagerness to impress cannot be suppressed for long, however.

Mary is intelligent, inquisitive, observant and compassionate. She is also self-possessed, resilient and quite capable of getting herself out of a jam, though Victorian gentlemen are prone to coming to her rescue regardless of her own abilities.

I had previously read book two in the series and enjoyed it, but wanted to start from the beginning to get more of Mary’s background. I look forward to reading more books in this series, and more from this author. show less

Once a student, orphan Mary Quinn is now a teacher herself at Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls in London, 1858. When one of the head teachers offers her a mysterious post in a spy agency, Mary jumps at the opportunity to take on a role with much excitement potential. Her first assignment is ostensibly tame: to become a paid companion to a Miss Angelica Thorold, a teenager whose wealthy family is suspected of having ties to international smuggling, in hopes that Mary will overhear important business conversations.

I was wholly charmed by this first in a historical mystery series, and have already requested the second book. In a time where even intelligent women are expected to be acquiescent and simpering, Mary is capable, smart and show more spirited in her investigative efforts. show less

Promising and unfulfilled. The idea is attractive, the message of feminism often-- but not always-- too visible, and the exchanges between the two main characters are cleverly worded and often demand a chuckle. She has talent but doesn't play to her strengths. Also, the book should begin with the second or third chapter. Much more thrilling. Yet, I am ready and even willing to give her a second chance. And I will.

Am I becoming a stuck-up, opinionated pseudo-editor? Yeah.

If, like me, the Sally Lockhart books by Philip Pullman are amongst your favourites, pick up The Agency #1: A Spy in the House right now, and I do mean RIGHT now. I'm so glad this is the first in a trilogy. So so so so glad.
The Agency focuses on Mary Quinn, who's a seventeen-year-old spy in Victorian London. That alone, pretty damn cool. Add to that that the Agency she works for is kind of my dream NGO, a place where they give young women the education they need to be able to make choices in life other than throwing themselves into marriage and parenthood. It's a strongly feminist organization and for that I say thank you. Let me tell you all the ways this book was amazing:

- Mary Quinn, the main character. She's a wonderful heroine show more you'll want to be friends with. Besides, I can't think of any other Victorian-era book that has as its main protagonist a young woman who's not white. It was very nice to see the author explore how the Other was treated in Victorian London.

- The great sense of the period. You know how Victorian London feels like and smells like. I was absolutely transported into the story. The author did her PhD on the Victorian era and it really shows. It was wonderful, and every detail serves the story, they're not here for embellishment or because the author fetichizes the period.

- The cast of secondary characters. I don't want to spoil here but the female characters especially were really well fleshed-out. I loved Angelica's story & growth.

- The feminist point of view. It's there, nobody shys away from it and it's written so you understand its importance. I thought it was brilliantly brought up. From the existence of the Agency itself to how much Mary believes in real equality and the author showed just how some aspects of misogyny truly haven't changed one bit.

- The romance was believable, and I truly loved the end. I didn't fall for the male interest and I was very pleasantly surprised with the end which I thought was very sensible. You realize the author knows what she's doing - she sometimes does mock stereotypical settings and has the heroine dismiss them as too cliché within the story. I like metatextuality, seemed to me Y.S. Lee was making fun of stories that are a little too conventional and I thought that was brilliant.

This book is a refreshing, exciting read. I had many questions after closing it but I'll keep them to myself for now. What I can do in the meantime is order the second book (The Body at the Tower, which is already out) and stalk the author on her journal and Twitter. I feel like such a fool squeeing alone over this wonderful novel but this is why I value the Internet so much - I already know that lots of people loved this book as much as I did and I can't wait to see what everybody has to say! show less

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Mary Quinn used to be a thief. In fact, she was rescued from certain death by hanging and brought secretly to a special school for girls. Here, she worked hard to change her station in life. Now, she's a young lady without a job and doesn't know where to turn next.

Fortunately, her advisers at the school let her in on a secret. They have a spy agency where she'd be a perfect fit. They help out Scotland Yard and gather information. With her former skills, Mary would be perfect for the agency. Plus, they have a position in mind for her, after she undergoes training.

Mary emerges and makes her way as a paid ladies companion to Angelica Thorold, a spoiled girl. Mary's duty, besides her job, will show more be to gather any intelligence on Angelica's father and his business in regards to smuggling items.

Miss Thorold doesn't take to Mary. The two of them attempt to work out their differences in a variety of ways while Mary snoops about the house. When she finds nothing, she goes investigating at Mr. Thorold's business when she's caught, not by security, but by a man with similar concerns. He offers up a partnership where they share information each uncovers. Mary reluctantly agrees, but with time running out, will she risk too much and find her identity discovered?

I read this mostly in one sitting and then wanted the next book immediately. I love both spy novels and the Victorian England era, and combining the two equals pure magical entertainment. A great feisty heroine, lots of danger, plenty of mysteries to untangle, and a little romance creates a wonderfully perfect first edition to a new series. show less