A Spy in the House
Ratings17
Average rating3.9
Introducing an exciting new series! Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this diverting mystery trails a feisty heroine as she takes on a precarious secret assignment.
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.
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5 primary books6 released books#1 in The Agency
The Agency is a 6-book series with 5 primary works first released in 2009 with contributions by Y.S. Lee, Ada Maria Soto, and Alexandra Ivy.
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This book is so good! I don't understand how I never heard of it. I just sort of stumbled on it today and decided to listen to it on a whim. It's a new favorite for me, a very sweet, slow, and quiet romance.
It takes place in the real world, but it has the feel of a fairy tale, with some details left unexplored. But it isn't lacking anything. The almost dreamlike tone of the book works very well.
The cover is nice, but it doesn't really fit the story. Although the characters work at a government agency, this isn't a political thriller at all. Arthur and Martin get to know each other very slowly, and then Arthur has to deal with a death in his family, with Martin at his side. mild spoiler They get separated near the end of the book, and then there is a reunion and some serious hurt/comfort.
Martin is asexual, and Arthur, the point-of-view character, decides that he is demisexual over the course of the story. I really believe in their happy ending, although this is a book that would've benefited from a short epilogue.
I loved this, and I'm excited to have discovered an author who is new to me.
