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

Review by Keris

Something strange that you may not know about me - why would you? - I'm fascinated by a particular aspect of Victorian London: the Great Stink. In case you've never heard of it, it was the effect caused by the disgusting state of the River Thames. Dead bodies (animal and human), sewage and trash were all thrown in there and the summer heat served up a stink so heinous that people actually died from it. (Did you know a smell can kill you? Well it can.)

Y S Lee's debut novel is set in 1858 at the height of the Great Stink. Orphaned Mary Quinn, a convicted thief, was rescued from the gallows and taken in by two women running a school. Now she's 17 and bored, but her benefactors have a new career in mind as a spy for their secret Agency.

Posting as companion to spoiled Angelica Thorold, she is simply supposed to listen out for any evidence that my incriminate Thorold's merchant father, who is suspected of smuggling Indian artefacts. But once installed in the house, Mary isn't satisfied with simply listening and begins an investigation of her own, which leads to her discovering secrets about every member of the household and coming close to revealing one of her own.

I really enjoyed this book. Mary is a feisty and engaging heroine and, as I've intimated above I loved the setting. A Spy in the House is the first in a trilogy and I'm really looking forward to the next two books.

Review by Keris

Comments

[Jenny]

Great review! I enjoyed this one too, and will definitely read the sequels. :)

[Sophie]

I'm really looking forward to reading the sequels, too.

[iwanttoreadthat.blogspot.com]

I really need to read this - it sounds great! Thanks for the review!