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A Spy in the House (The Agency #1)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 5,261 ratings · 843 reviews

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...more

Hardcover, 335 pages

Published March 9th 2010 by Candlewick (first published April 6th 2009)

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May 23, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: costume-fiction, mystery-traditional, read-2011, victorian, young-adult, canadian, historical-fiction, asian

I really, really wanted to like this book. I'm a fan of novels set during the Victorian era, as I've always been very interested in how thinking, reasoning people-especially women--manage to survive in such a repressive society. It's the same reason I like Jane Austen novels, because the yearning for connection with other human beings is so often at odds with the strict customs of the day.

There's a tendency now in books for authors to just ignore those rules and just barrel forward with whatever...more I really, really wanted to like this book. I'm a fan of novels set during the Victorian era, as I've always been very interested in how thinking, reasoning people-especially women--manage to survive in such a repressive society. It's the same reason I like Jane Austen novels, because the yearning for connection with other human beings is so often at odds with the strict customs of the day.

There's a tendency now in books for authors to just ignore those rules and just barrel forward with whatever story or agenda they may want to promote. I know that it's difficult from a modern standpoint to write about a spirited heroine without bending some rules here and there, but it's annoying that so many authors go ahead and just plain break them. Don't get me wrong--the author clearly has done a lot of research into the time period, and I believe it was also her educational specialty. But I find it tiresome that girls in historical novels keep getting put into breeches or constantly talk back at their superiors or go out and linger unattended on the streets. I know, I know, Mary is supposed to be a detective and whatnot, but girls of this time and in her position would never dream of behaving in this way. Showing courage and spirit and passion when extraordinary circumstances call for it is one thing, but to blithely move about everyday life as if expressing your wishes and opinions is commonplace is just plain wrong for this time period. If this is something an author wants to do, he/she is better off writing a steampunk novel or a story set in an alternate universe. I would argue that there must be a way for a gifted writer to make the book more true to the period of the time while keeping the spirit of adventure alive.

The writing itself is something that bothered me, too. The language of the time is fairly formal and specific, with a distinct wording and rhythm of its own. I just didn't feel convinced by the tone that was struck here, nor were the plotting or the mystery or the characters particularly unique. I happened to have the follow-up book from the library and I skimmed through that one as well to see if it was any more engaging, but for me, unfortunately, these books just don't work.

Readers who want a great Victorian mystery that holds true to the customs of the time would do better to try out The Poisoned House, The Case of the Baker Street Irregular (young readers) or The Cater Street Hangman.(less)

47 likes · like · see review

Jun 06, 2011 Krystle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dude, this book rocked my world in all sorts of ways. Asian-American (Woops sorry, she's Asian-Canadian actually) author? Bingo! Asian-ish character? Double bingo! Feisty main character with an even crackalicious chemistry between the two leads? JACKPOT.

My favorite part of the book has to be the interactions between James and Mary. I must’ve cracked up tons of times from their hilarious banter. They just sizzle in their scenes together. After all, if she meets him in a closet there is bound to...more Dude, this book rocked my world in all sorts of ways. Asian-American (Woops sorry, she's Asian-Canadian actually) author? Bingo! Asian-ish character? Double bingo! Feisty main character with an even crackalicious chemistry between the two leads? JACKPOT.

My favorite part of the book has to be the interactions between James and Mary. I must’ve cracked up tons of times from their hilarious banter. They just sizzle in their scenes together. After all, if she meets him in a closet there is bound to be some sparkage going on there. You just want them to have some hot make out scenes to, you know, seal the deal. Ahahaha. Don’t mind me, that’s just my dirty mind talking.

The plot was fast paced and the mystery yanked me along without letting me take a breather. I just could not stop reading. I loved how she carefully built up aspects of Victorian Era society, because that time period is so intriguing with its inner contradictions and hypocrisy. There’s a bit of a feminist pro-attitude tone in the book and it might throw off some people but not me. I’ve read a lot, lot of essays, stories, and plays written from famous authors/advocates from that time period which is filled with dense language and vocabulary that forced me to grab the dictionary quite a few times, heinously long and complex sentences, and opinions and beliefs forcibly stated and shoved down my throat, so I didn’t really have any problem with it whatsoever.

There’s a bit of suspending belief circumstances; such as there being a secret spy society of females set out to correct the wrongs and bring justice to the underprivileged, and the fact that Mary gets away with things a bit too easily, but I think it just gives the book a lot more character. Real Victorian society is gritty, depressing, and downright bleak at times, though it was a monumental time of changes and had a huge effect on the conflict of belief. (Don't get me wrong, a lot of good things happened at this time too.) I think by doing these things the author is able to introduce us to Victorian society while also trying to give us the hope that not everything is so horrible, that there’s a certain light at the edge of things.

Mostly because in a lot of ways, Victorian society is almost a near reflection of our current society where we can find a lot of common aspects in both, but anyway, the main point is: THIS BOOK ROCKS!

I love it! Totally recommended.(less)

16 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 David Green rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, dashing-heroines, good-girls-are-also-awesome, 2013-reads

Mary Quinn displays plenty of charm and wit while working as A Spy In The House. Sadly, tiresome cliches and one-dimensional supporting characters prevent this good read from becoming a great one!

It's 1853 in London, England, and 12-year old Mary Quinn has just been sentenced to die! Convicted for thievery, Mary is saved from the gallows pole at the last moment by a mysterious stranger and brought to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. But much like Mary herself, the Academy is full of secrets....more

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Mar 19, 2012 Jaclyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, teen-fiction, victorian, mythology

A Spy in the House follows reformed thief, Mary Quinn, when she starts her first assignment for the mysterious women's detective agency run by her school headmistresses. Mary is placed in the Thorold household as a paid companion for the family's daughter, Angelica. Mary's mission is to use her position to investigate the suspicious shipping company that Mr. Thorold runs. Mary ends up becoming more embroiled than she was intended, eventually unraveling the mystery. However, she also learns about...more

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Jul 24, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

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....more

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Jun 20, 2012 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: guilty-pleasures

The premise of this first book in The Agency series follows sixteen year old half-Irish, half-Chinese Mary Lang/Quinn, a female espionage working for the mysterious Agency. A Spy in the House is full of witty banters and a charming male lead with an acerbic sense of humor. I will admit that occasionally the banter stretches to the point of being unnecessary that I forget about the plot. I’d be enjoying the fighting so much that after Mary and James finally do stop fighting, I remember, OH. RIGHT...more The premise of this first book in The Agency series follows sixteen year old half-Irish, half-Chinese Mary Lang/Quinn, a female espionage working for the mysterious Agency. A Spy in the House is full of witty banters and a charming male lead with an acerbic sense of humor. I will admit that occasionally the banter stretches to the point of being unnecessary that I forget about the plot. I’d be enjoying the fighting so much that after Mary and James finally do stop fighting, I remember, OH. RIGHT. PLOT. Generally speaking, if we were to assume that, on the Romance-O-Meter of Witty Banters and Tingling Unresolved Sexual Chemistry, Hermione and Ron go under the red label under “Annoyingly Endearing”, Mary Quinn and James Easton will make the entire contraption explode. They are just that fantastic.

Sadly, the narration was too dry and straightforward for me; I was disappointed with the lack of attention to detail and imagery, especially since Y.S. Lee sets up the story from the beginning to show Mary Quinn's ability to scrutinize her surroundings with detail and care (this girl knows the dimensions of a room and the diameter of a table, for crying out loud, so show me more of that!). Being the main character of the story, I really expected to be able to connect with Mary’s character on some personal level. I could see that she was independent, tenacious, and clever by nature, but I felt strangely detached from her thoughts, her emotions, and at times, her dialogue. Although the book makes several emphases on her “half-caste” mixed heritage, Mary seems oddly disconnected from this issue. If it weren’t for the fact that another character other than Mary had pointed out that she was half-Chinese, I wouldn’t have suspected that heritage even played a significant role in the book. By the end of the story, all I could get from Mary is that aside from being an excellent lock picker, she’s a hell of a nose breaker.

It was difficult for me to immerse myself into the world of Mary Quinn and fictional gritty Victorian London. The only thing I found to be Victorian about this book was the description of the Thames River, a beautifully and elaborately written scene about unsanitary sewers to the strewn of rotting corpses that line the river, thus infesting the air with its permanent stench. I could visualize the effect the river has on the residents. I really wished Y.S. Lee had invested more time in portraying the rest of London as she had of the river. It could have made all the difference because as of now, aside from the river, I can only deduce that Victorian London was overpopulated by hansoms (seriously, count the number of times the word hansom comes up- it’s extraordinary). In addition, the mysterious Agency served as a weak catalyst for the series; nothing much about this institution is offered other than its adamancy towards women being independent.

I thought the mystery plot was thinly written. As a whole, it came off as just silly, especially when the revelation was finally made. By the last couple of chapters, it becomes so obvious who the culprit is because almost every other potential suspect in the book vanishes by then. That and the evidences leading to the culmination of the mystery were either too convenient or incidental. Like the appearance of George Easton- the poor guy shows up only for one chapter and then pretty much just goes away into his sad little corner to play his sad little accordion for the rest of the book after having introduced his more important younger brother, James into the story. And then there’s the advent of Mary’s “secret” and the entire Lascars warehouse. I swear- the Lascars warehouse must have a giant billboard tacked to the roof with the words “CLUES. I AM HERE,” printed all across it in colourful letters because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE seems to be always running towards it.

There were so many ways the narration could have worked to the advantage of the plot and characters to create a stronger, plausible mystery, like cohesive red herrings or clues that allow for the reader to visualize the surroundings and determine what sticks out as odd, but the details were so limited in A Spy in the House that all you had to help you uncover the mystery was the dialogues between the characters. Speaking of which, the characters in the story must not be familiar with the art of being covert. I don’t blame Mary at all. People just shout out clues left and right that it’s no wonder she solved the mystery so effortlessly.

As critical as I am about the major imperfections of A Spy in the House, I really did enjoy the chemistry between Mary and James once I got over the very modern vernacular. For all my two cents’ worth of ranting, I had a difficult time putting this book down because it still had its moments of wit and charm. I’ve only read the first in the series so far, but I do believe that The Agency series holds a lot of potential to be better and I’m really looking forward to seeing what new plots and techniques Y.S. Lee has in store for Mary Quinn. I would like to see the Agency play a larger role in the story, I would like to see some more intricate plot twists, and I would like to see Mary’s ethnicity expanded upon. But let’s face it, I’m really in it for more Mary and James moments and Y.S. Lee was so generous on the bantering that I’m not going to complain about that.
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Oct 18, 2010 Nancy O'Toole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, library, young-adult, favorites

Twelve-year-old Mary has been sentenced to death by hanging due to her crimes as a thief. Before she can meet her fate, she is rescued by a representative of Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, a school dedicated to giving women independence in a world where their options are very limited. Mary accepts, and later becomes a teacher for the school. But at seventeen, Mary finds herself yearning for a more fulfilling career. It's then that she learns that the school is actually a cover for The Agency, an...more Twelve-year-old Mary has been sentenced to death by hanging due to her crimes as a thief. Before she can meet her fate, she is rescued by a representative of Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, a school dedicated to giving women independence in a world where their options are very limited. Mary accepts, and later becomes a teacher for the school. But at seventeen, Mary finds herself yearning for a more fulfilling career. It's then that she learns that the school is actually a cover for The Agency, an organization of all-female spies. They invite Mary to become a member, and send her out on her first case, to play paid companion to a rich daughter in a family where everyone seems to have a secret.

Although my first love has always been fantasy, historical fiction was more or less my second love when I was in my late teens. Since then, I've backed away for historical fiction in favor of paranormal/urban fantasy, but every now and then a novel comes out to remind me why I loved this genre so much in the first place. A Spy in the House is one of those novels. Much like Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart Trilogy (a favorite of mine during high school), A Spy in the House tells about an independent young woman living in Victorian England who finds herself caught up in a mystery. One of the main reasons I enjoyed this book was because Mary was such an likable protagonist. Intelligent, and assertive, Mary also has the habit of being a little too impulsive and rash. Beyond being a historical mystery, A Spy in the House also has a satisfying romantic side plot. Those who appreciate romance centered around quick banter, will find the relationship between Mary and James to be a lot of fun.

The book's main focus, even more so than the mystery plot, appears to be showing the reader what it was like to be a woman living in England during the mid-1800s, and those who struggle against these restrictions. As a result, the book has feminist leanings, which I really enjoyed. Although I cannot really comment on the accuracy of the book (my knowledge of Victorian England is pretty basic), I feel as if the author did a great job of transporting us to Mary's London from her descriptions of everything from the sights to smells. One thing that surprised me about this book was the fact that the mystery plot did not revolve around Mary investigating a murder, and is instead focused more on gathering intelligence. Given that Mary is on her first job for the agency, this seemingly less life threatening position made sense. At the same time, I couldn't help but be impressed by the fact that Lee made gathering information so exciting. A Spy in the House is very fast paced. I flew through the book over just two days.

A Spy in the House is a well-written, fast paced novel filled with great characters and suspenseful situations. Easily the best historical fiction novel I've read all year, I look forward to reading the second novel in the series, The Body in the Tower, once my library gets a copy.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 28, 2010 Tara Chevrestt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, england, ya, mystery

A must read for fans of historical fiction, mystery, and strong heroines. Picture Nancy Drew living in Victorian England and you have the new spunky Mary Lang aka Mary Quinn.

An orphan destined for the gallows, Mary is rescued by a school for girls that is an agency on the side. Her first assignment: Pose as a lady's companion and extract as much information as she can about stolen goods from India. We meet an interesting cast of characters as Mary becomes embroiled in more than the bargained for...more A must read for fans of historical fiction, mystery, and strong heroines. Picture Nancy Drew living in Victorian England and you have the new spunky Mary Lang aka Mary Quinn.

An orphan destined for the gallows, Mary is rescued by a school for girls that is an agency on the side. Her first assignment: Pose as a lady's companion and extract as much information as she can about stolen goods from India. We meet an interesting cast of characters as Mary becomes embroiled in more than the bargained for. The ladies of the house have mysterious comings and goings. Perhaps an illicit love affair or two is in the works? The sexy yet frustratingly arrogant, James Easton, keeps popping up at the worst moments, in wardrobes and broken into warehouses. Also Mary suspects a young boy is following her about, spying on the spy.

While all these goings on are occuring, Mary's own family history begins to come to light and may even have some bearing on the present case. Either way, Mary must come to terms with who she is.

A fun read and it's staying on my shelf, eagerly awaiting the rest of the series.

For those that are interested, the author has a great contest going on her blog. Finish this sentence and be entered for a prize. "If I were a spy..." See my entry below if interested and join yourself for the fun of it!

"If I were a spy… I certainly wouldn’t be a “Bond” girl, that’s for sure. No “Octopussy” or “Holly Goodhead” name for me.. I would have a code name like “The Ball Collector.” I would wear all black and take my dog, Lola, a black peckingnese with me everywhere I went. She is a an excellent judge of character. She is also quite fierce despite her size (14 pounds) and she would detain the bad guys by holding on to their pant legs and growling in the brief amount of time it takes me to grab my 9mm (or my pruning shears, whatever the job requires…gotta earn that code name!). When not spying and nabbing bad guys, Lola and I would be cruising around in our Aston Martin. Oh and every now and then I would enlist some “aide” from Paul Walker."

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Jun 01, 2012 ala rated it 2 of 5 stars

Disappointing execution of an interesting idea. I might have enjoyed this book at the age of 13 or 14, but now I found the characters flat and the mystery unsophisticated. As other reviewers have noted, the characters' actions and dialogue often seemed anachronistic to the time period. Not that I don't love a strong female lead, but she must be plausible in her world.

In general I found Mary, the lead, annoying and besides doing stupid things she was told not to and arguing with her romantic cou...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Prangon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, victorian, i-own, forever-fav, cupcake-worthy-books

First, LOVE, EPIC LOVE FOR THIS BOOK FROM NOW ON!

I guess that explains just how much I enjoyed it. I have had A Spy In The House for a while now, but I never got around reading it till now. I mainly started this for Bout Of Books read-a-thon which failed due to my midterms. So after finishing my mids on Wednesday when I picked up the book again it was impossible to let go. I don't know if it was the era writer projected in her story or the characters she created, but I felt so connected!

In 1850...more

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Jul 09, 2010 Sara Grochowski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I sometimes find that novels with historical settings can be a bit dry, but Y.S. Lee has rekindled my love affair with Victorian England. A SPY IN THE HOUSE is a fast paced read, narrated by a feisty heroine, bursting with mystery, lies, greed, secret alliances, and, of course, romance.

With her quick wit and adventuresome spirit, Mary Quinn has quickly become one of my favorite main characters! A SPY IN THE HOUSE is set in Victorian London, where Mary’s secret life as a spy is one of the many tr...more I sometimes find that novels with historical settings can be a bit dry, but Y.S. Lee has rekindled my love affair with Victorian England. A SPY IN THE HOUSE is a fast paced read, narrated by a feisty heroine, bursting with mystery, lies, greed, secret alliances, and, of course, romance.

With her quick wit and adventuresome spirit, Mary Quinn has quickly become one of my favorite main characters! A SPY IN THE HOUSE is set in Victorian London, where Mary’s secret life as a spy is one of the many traits that sets her apart from her peers. Even with her schooling and fine manners, she doesn’t fit the mold of a typical Victorian woman. Her history is a bit blurry, her origins are unknown, and she’s bursting with opinions. Mary definitely stands out in Victorian London, but her character is so vibrant that I believe she’d have a difficult time blending into any setting.

I admire Lee’s ability to use just the right amount of foreshadowing: too much and a novel will lose much of its mysteriousness, too little and the reader will become frustrated and completely confused. There were enough clues present that I could determine some of the lies and secrets, but the biggest aspect of the mystery remained a riddle for most of the novel. I was also impressed with Lee’s ability to weave seemingly independent plot lines into a complex and compelling mystery, while still keeping the mystery intact.

I was thrilled to discover that there was a romantic plot line in A SPY IN THE HOUSE. Mary is forced to hide in a wardrobe when she is nearly discovered poking through an off-limits office, only to find the wardrobe is already occupied. One can assume that if you meet a man in a wardrobe, he probably isn’t the boring sort. Mary has met her match in James Easton, who, against his better judgment, is intrigued by “Miss Closet.” The conversations between James and Mary were humorous and tension-filled; the chemistry between the two is evident from the moment they tumble out of the wardrobe.

James is one of my favorite male characters/romantic leads. Not only is he funny, smart, and mysterious, I always end up picturing him as James McAvoy. This definitely enhances my reading experience.

I like mystery and historical novels, but I don't usually love them. Somehow, I have come to love the Mary Quinn mysteries. I've read the next novel, A BODY AT THE TOWER, which will be released in August, already and it is just as good, if not better, than the first installment. If you have any interest in mysteries, James McAvoy, or kickass girl spies, you need to read this book!

Grade: A+ (less)

6 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 10-eltemplo, reseñas

"Acaba de llegar a las librerías una novela detectivesca fuera de lo común con la que los jóvenes amantes del género disfrutarán de lo lindo. La Agencia nos cuenta la historia de Mary Lang, una muchacha de origen asiático que vive en los suburbios de Londres durante el siglo XIX hasta que un día es arrestada y condenada a la horca por robar. Sin embargo, poco antes de su ejecución, dos misteriosas mujeres de alta alcurnia la rescatan y le ofrecen una vida muy diferente en su Academia para señori...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Dorothy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Dorothy by: Scene of the Crime author's event

Shelves: mystery, ya, female-protagonist, historical-setting

This is the debut novel in the Mary Quinn mystery series aimed at a YA audience. Written in an accessible style, it is a nice fast read with enjoyable insights into London of the time.

Set in 1850s Victorian England, this is the on-going story of a teenaged girl rescued from certain death (for thievery) by a secret organization that believes women have more to offer the world than being maids or teachers. Mary Quinn is clever, fierce, and ambitious. These qualities are honed and channelled at Mis...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Micaela Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 13-25

A Spy in the House is a book about a young girl named Mary. At a very young age, she was to be hanged for stealing, which was the action for all theft in that time. Unexpectantly, someone saves her and brings her to a school for young women. After a few years, Mary becomes a teacher. She is not satisfied with her job, so they give her a new one... she is to be a spy.
She then became a companion (lacking a better word) to the young, rich, snobby, Miss Thorold. Her mission is to find out the things...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Millie Shumway rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-12

A Spy in the House is the story of Mary Quinn who is orphan turned spy when she is saved from a hanging sentence for theft and admitted to an academy for young women which turns out to be an agency that trains and sends out young detective girls. After her training at The Agency, she becomes the governess of Anjelica, daughter of wealthy Mr. Thorold and anything but angelic. As Mary comes up against the deadline to figure out who, if anyone in the Thorold household, is smuggling goods from India...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, mystery, ya

"A Spy in the House" is a young adult historical mystery novel. It's set in 1858 in London. The historical details about the manners and activities of the time were woven into the story and didn't slow the pacing down. The mystery was about illegal business activities rather than a murder whodunit, which was a nice change. It seemed like everyone had something secret going on. I was kept guessing about who was involved in exactly what until about the same time as the heroine put the facts togeth...more "A Spy in the House" is a young adult historical mystery novel. It's set in 1858 in London. The historical details about the manners and activities of the time were woven into the story and didn't slow the pacing down. The mystery was about illegal business activities rather than a murder whodunit, which was a nice change. It seemed like everyone had something secret going on. I was kept guessing about who was involved in exactly what until about the same time as the heroine put the facts together.

The characters had depth to them and were interesting, and yet I didn't really sympathize or deeply care about any of them. So it was an interesting story but lacked an emotional connection for me. There were plenty of places were there should have been suspense from danger of the heroine being discovered or even harmed, but the heroine was not particularly scared about getting caught or hurt. That made the story lack suspense for me.

There was some explicit bad language. There was no sex though affairs were mentioned. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable and interesting novel.

Update 8/13/12: I got this book out of the library, so I had also checked out the sequel at the same time and started reading it last night. The premise of the series was what interested me. The idea was that women would never be suspected of being spies and undercover detectives, so these women took assignments to discover things "from the inside" that men wouldn't be able to.

Part of my disappointment with "A Spy in the House" was that her assignment was to listen and watch the family from inside, but she kept putting on breeches and breaking into warehouses and such (and learning no information while doing so) which men could do just fine. I liked the idea of women using the culture of the time to their advantage. And most of the important things the heroine learned were, indeed, as a lady's companion. So I'd hoped that the second book would more closely stick to the premise as the heroine has now learned her lesson. But, sadly, no: an 18 or 19 year old girl is going to spend the whole book trying to pass herself off as a 12-year-old boy. Not interested, thanks.(less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: x-series-bk-1, ya-baby-ya, x-2009s, reviewed, did-not-finish-or-skimmed

A Spy in the House has a good premise, but it isn't very well executed. Mary Lang is a half-Asian, half-white girl in Victorian England, about to be executed for petty theft . But her stoicism and derring-do attitude has captured the attention of an all-female school of espionage . Naturally, Mary is The Best They Have Seen, put into an accelerated program, and placed as governess in the house of a suspect drug lord/jewel thief faster than you can say, "I spy with my little eye . . ."

There were...more A Spy in the House has a good premise, but it isn't very well executed. Mary Lang is a half-Asian, half-white girl in Victorian England, about to be executed for petty theft . But her stoicism and derring-do attitude has captured the attention of an all-female school of espionage . Naturally, Mary is The Best They Have Seen, put into an accelerated program, and placed as governess in the house of a suspect drug lord/jewel thief faster than you can say, "I spy with my little eye . . ."

There were many good things going on here. I like that authors are trying to write strong female protagonists. But strong isn't about being the best or perfect - in a way, that's as damaging as the books that romanticize the female as the weak, hapless damsel in distress. Female strength is about having weaknesses and learning to overcome them or live with them over time. It's about fulfilling your own healthy realistic goals and relationships and living your dreams to the best of your ability.

I found fault with Mary because she was just too much, you know? She dresses up as a boy and goes out into the streets because it makes her feel more powerful than being a weak silly girl. She flaunts proper conventions of the time. She's cold and logical, but not a very good person. Does our male protagonist fall in love with her immediately, and subsequently get jealous at every one of her subsequent interactions with the opposite sex? Of course. Is this person also the love interest of her rival? Of course.

Actually, that's another problem. Angelica, the girl for whom Mary acts as governess, is super girly and feminine and oh-so-charming with the men, but she's a total raving blonde-haired blue-eyed bitch, who draws blood with her fingernails and plays her mother against her father. It's so obvious that "girly" = "bitchy" in this book, and that's really not true. You can be feminine, and still be, you know, feminist. Lord knows, I am. The two are not mutually exclusive things.

I feel this attitude is especially unrealistic in a time when ladies were supposed to be seen and not heard. Pride and Prejudice is a perfect example of how strong young women can work the system, while still remaining true to the conventions of their times. Another good example is Anne of Green Gables (although even she gets the side-eye from a few of her villagers). People would definitely NOT be clapping their hands and saying, "Jolly good show!" to the types of things Mary did in this book (having incriminating liaisons in armoires! letting men see your . . . bosoms in public! fighting! dressing up in men's clothing! oh, dear me, I think I might faint).

So basically my point is that this novelist had the right idea, but she went about it in the wrong way. It's a shame, because I was really, really excited about the premise. For a similar but better executed concept, check out The Assassins of Tamurin by S.D. Tower. It's quite amazing.

1.5 stars.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, young-adult, favourites

4.5 stars. I had expected great things from this after reading so many good reviews and I'm happy to say A Spy in the House did not let me down. You know you like a book when you're at the cinema watching Snow White and the Huntsman and all you can think about is going home to finish reading!

Y. S. Lee presents a story that strikes the perfect balance between interesting, three-dimensional characters, a vivid Victorian England setting and a strong, well-paced mystery. So often these days I find t...more 4.5 stars. I had expected great things from this after reading so many good reviews and I'm happy to say A Spy in the House did not let me down. You know you like a book when you're at the cinema watching Snow White and the Huntsman and all you can think about is going home to finish reading!

Y. S. Lee presents a story that strikes the perfect balance between interesting, three-dimensional characters, a vivid Victorian England setting and a strong, well-paced mystery. So often these days I find that authors either present great characters at the expense of good narrative and world-building or vice versa. I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse at the seedy, gritty underside of London - the heavily-polluted Thames, the docks and the foreign immigrants housed there as well as the bleak lives of poverty-stricken citizens. The mystery was solid and the task that Mary is set is believable; she is charged to report any clues that might reveal Thorold's fishy cargo-shipping business, which is linked to false insurance claims and smuggling. I think I would have had a much harder time buying the story if Mary had to investigate something of "national importance," as spies so often do. That's not to say that the book's short of danger and action, however; Mary's rough and tumble past helps her to stay just a step ahead of dangerous scrapes that keeps the plot fast-paced and exciting.

Mary Lang/Quinn and James Easton, our two protagonists, virtually jump off the page. Individually, Mary is short-tempered and impatient, but intelligent, resourceful and strong-willed - although not without a vulnerability that makes her sympathetic. The baggage that came with her past as a thief sentenced to the gallows and her dual-identity really fleshes out her character. James, on the other hand, was born privileged and can be insufferably arrogant, but I adored him all the same; he's as smart as Mary and has a sense of humour to boot! I love a hero with a sense of humour. Despite some of his chauvinistic ideas, I appreciate that he never coddles Mary and really treats her as an equal in their investigative partnership. Together, Mary and James makes a formidable team, complete with wonderful bickering banter and explosive romantic tension. I mean, the two met in a closet! What's not to love?

I'm looking forward to picking up The Body at the Tower and finding more about Mary's past as well as her reunion with James!(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 readknitread rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school-reads, middle-school-reads, historical-fiction, diversity-character, world-locations

Great historical fiction with strong female characters!

At age 12 Mary is sentenced to hang for burglary and theft. The orphaned daughter of a dead seamstress and sailor lost at sea, no one will notice if she goes missing. The day the sentence is delivered the wardress breaks Mary out of jail and hands her over to Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. The school is really a front for a secret female spy agency. The Agency is successful in Victorian London because after all no one would ever expect...more

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May 16, 2012 03JuliaC added it

Recently my aunt decided to get rid of some books. She called me and Alex into her room, and told us to have at it. This was one of those books, only I wasn't the one to pick it out. Alex saw something in it that she liked, which is odd because she usually hates 19th century centered books.
I liked this book, but it wasn't the best spy book or even the best 19th century book I've ever read. It was more so-so, an interesting blend of teenage trouble and values we never really see anymore. An aspec...more Recently my aunt decided to get rid of some books. She called me and Alex into her room, and told us to have at it. This was one of those books, only I wasn't the one to pick it out. Alex saw something in it that she liked, which is odd because she usually hates 19th century centered books.
I liked this book, but it wasn't the best spy book or even the best 19th century book I've ever read. It was more so-so, an interesting blend of teenage trouble and values we never really see anymore. An aspect I admired was that Mary, the main character, never did anything that made people doubt her character. She was honest and good, never shying away from her duties. Even when she was sneaking about a warehouse, she showed her character by making friends with a guard dog.
It all starts when Mary Lee is orphaned, and starts providing for herself the only way a girl her age can: stealing. She's caught later on breaking and entering and sentenced to death by hanging. Nothing could make her happier. She is so fed up with the world at this time that she doesn't recognize an angel in disguise. The headmistress at a sort of charity school sneaks her out (unconscious, of course) and gives her the opportunity to do something with her life by setting her up in the school. It isn't until Mary is seventeen years old that she joins 'The Agency', an agency where girls are employed as informants and spies for Scotland Yard and various other employers.
Her first mission is simple and straightforward: Gather information on wealthy merchant, Mr. Thorold. But Mary isn't quite happy with only part of the story. She soon sneaks off to find out more than just overheard conversations.
I'll leave it to you to pick up a book and find out exactly what she is going to do, and why Mr. Thorold is doubted by Scotland Yard and a Mr. James Easton.
The plot isn't as exciting as most modern day spy books, but it has a certain charm. There are no super awesome spy tools, and she doesn't do any extreme sports. But Mary is more than she seems; and that is essentialy why I like this book.
The characters are so developed and real, you might meet them in a coffee shop down the street. I was sad by the end of the book mostly because I had to say goodbye to this motley little collection of characters. I say motley purely because in no universe would they ever end up in a group, except maybe a book.

"Most people charged with capital crimes insist upon their innocence, whether they are truly innocent or not. But you didn't. Why not, Mary?"
I like this quote a lot. It shows how different Mary thinks from most people, how unique a spy character she is. She is quite an interesting character, both spicy and sweet. She can be whatever she needs to be: a lady or a nasty street urchin, a nun or a harlot. I admire this character greatly.
(less)

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Apr 26, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I completely forgot how much I love mysteries. I LOVE THEM A LOT.
There are many things I love in books: spies, mysteries, England (back in the day), hot guys, and disguises. And these are just some. I love EVERYTHING about this book.

I love Y.S. Lee’s writing style. I love the way she captures the time period, the amazingness of Mary, the total hotness and amazingness of James, the suspense and mystery of the plotline, and the way she had me guessing up until the very end. When describing everyth...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, kick-butt-chicks, mystery, young-adult

This book opens with Mary Lang on trial for theft. It's the mid-1800's England, and despite her young age and fairly minor crime, Mary is sentenced to hang. Instead of meeting that fate, though, she is rescued by a woman who runs a school for girls. This school provides an education for girls who wouldn't receive it otherwise, girls with no money and no hopes for a good future. They teach the girls skills that they'll need to provide for themselves in a world that treats women like property. Mar...more This book opens with Mary Lang on trial for theft. It's the mid-1800's England, and despite her young age and fairly minor crime, Mary is sentenced to hang. Instead of meeting that fate, though, she is rescued by a woman who runs a school for girls. This school provides an education for girls who wouldn't receive it otherwise, girls with no money and no hopes for a good future. They teach the girls skills that they'll need to provide for themselves in a world that treats women like property. Mary accepts this woman's offer to attend the school, and we jump several years into the future where she's now 17, has changed her last name to Quinn, and teaches at the school. However, she doesn't feel fulfilled by this role, she wants more, and the woman who saved her has a new offer. And this is where our story really begins.

Mary becomes a spy for The Agency, a sort of private-detective, under-cover operation run by women and employing women. Mary is hired as a lady's companion in the house of a suspected smuggler. She is supposed to keep an eye on things and make herself available to the real agent who has already been installed in the household, but of course, Mary can't keep from investigating. In the process, she meets a young man who's also investigating the family, and they decide to work together.

A Spy in the House is a great title for anyone (ok, any young woman - this isn't really a "guy book") who is looking for a historical mystery. I recently had a teen ask me that very question - this title would have been a perfect fit. However, we didn't have it in our collection; I borrowed this from my local library system to test it out and see if my library should get it. I'm seriously considering it - it was an interesting look at the time period and it had a good mystery, one I didn't figure out until the end, and meets a need in the collection.

I really enjoyed this book; it was a great palate cleanser for the heart-break of The Hunger Games, and I sped through it. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series: The Body at the Tower.(less)

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Mar 18, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, online-book-group, outside-u-s-a, ya-fiction

Why I picked it up: I was interested in the idea of a woman spy in 19th-century London. One of my online book groups chose it for their March read; I believe I nominated it.

When Mary is 12, she is sentenced to hanging because she broke into a house to steal. She is rescued by a woman who runs a school for girls. Fast forward 5 years. Mary has graduated from the school and is now teaching, but she doesn't care for teaching. She learns that the school also includes The Agency, a group of women spi...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Minli rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, historical

Oh, the Agency. I read you in hopes of reading a version of the Gallagher Girls (spy school!) in the Victorian period (petticoats!), but alas. Here are the ways in which you disappointed me:

1. You play Victorian dress-up, but really, you're a modern girl at heart who likes to swear and call boys by their first names. Also, being a "lady"--I do not think it means what you think it means.

2. I was teased completely by Mary being half-Chinese, but then Lee spoke very little to that experience. That...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Elameno rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun read--pretty much what it says on the box. It's a good romp through Victorian London. The mystery itself seemed a little convoluted to me, and I couldn't really find myself caring about who did it or why or how. Luckily the character and her escapades saved it for me, and I'm willing to give #2 in the series a go.

There was one thing about this book that rubbed me the wrong way a bit, though, and that was the attitude towards marriage. The book got my hackles up early, with the lin...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Mika rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm so glad someone in a Hex Hall discussion board recommended this book otherwise I might have never come across it. Why oh why some great series are not more popular? It makes me think that either the majority of readers have bad taste or they are just mere sheep who only read books that are shoved down their throats by publishers and media in general (and they are brain washed to think those books are actually good). I'm not saying that all popular books are bad, but at least half of them don...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Maren rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Teenage Girls, Women of all ages

Recommended to Maren by: Suzette Gee

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery

In A Spy in the House Mary Quinn is saved from the gallows and raised in a girl's school. When she is 17, she finds she is bored and kindly asks the two women who took her in what other work, besides teaching, there is for her. She discovers that her guardians/employers are really a part of a secret spy company that trained and employed women as spies, because women in 1850's England were some of the most inconspicuous people at that time.

She joins the ranks of these women spies and the book mai

...more

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Jan 27, 2012 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, kindle, arc, memoir, mystery

The Agency #1
high school & up

Mary is an orphan in 19th century London. At the age of 12 she was about to be hanged for the crime of thievery. Instead, she is taken to Miss Scrimshaw's School for Girls. After 5 years of education she is working as a teacher in the school and feeling completely bored. The headmistresses of the school offer Mary a chance: to join The Agency. This is a secret agency with a very revolutionary idea: that women make perfect spies. On her first assignment, Mary is s...more The Agency #1
high school & up

Mary is an orphan in 19th century London. At the age of 12 she was about to be hanged for the crime of thievery. Instead, she is taken to Miss Scrimshaw's School for Girls. After 5 years of education she is working as a teacher in the school and feeling completely bored. The headmistresses of the school offer Mary a chance: to join The Agency. This is a secret agency with a very revolutionary idea: that women make perfect spies. On her first assignment, Mary is sent to act as a lady's companion to help with the investigation into possible insurance fraud.

I like the premise quite a bit. Women refusing to conform strictly to society's requirements. In fact, it is probably getting a little repetitive. It seems that is all I'm reading these days. Not sure why. It just kinda happens sometimes.
Anyway, Mary is basically a modern girl. She is independent, outspoken and practical. This can be hard when society usually values women according to how well they married. The book skips right over the five years between her almost-hanging and her first assignment as a spy. It isn't really very spy-like though. Mary's mission is mostly just busy work. There is supposed to be another "agent" on the case. That part bothered me. We never find out who the other agent is and there don't seem to be any characters that could fit the bill. Mary does manage to find out a few things about the case, but very slowly and all the major revelations about the case seem to all bunch up together at the end.
I'm actually more intrigued by Mary's history. She is "half-caste"; which means that she is half Caucasian and half Chinese. In her time period, Chinese were looked down on so Mary is "passing" as a full English girl. There seems to be some mystery surrounding her father that I hope is part of the following books.

**I received an ARC of the 3rd book in the series which is due to be published on February 28, 2012. I purchased this book because of my series compulsion.**(less)

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Jan 04, 2012 Kristin Lundgren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-teen, historical

This is a fanciful tale of a spunky and mysterious young woman who is saved from the gallows in Crimean England, and brought to an innovative school for young girls where they were taught that marriage and/or governess wasn't all that was available to a young woman of breeding and that poorer girls needn't be condemned to a life of a maid that gets kicked around, raped, forced into prostitution, or taking on laundry or sewing piece work to make ends meet somehow. The women have formed a detectiv...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nothing is as it seems. That is the underlying theme to this magnificent Victorian mystery. Mary Lang was a 12-year-old orphan making her way by thievery. She is caught and sentenced to death by hanging when a group of women secretly whisks her away and grants her a new lease on life. She becomes Mary Quinn and gains an education normally reserved for wealthier children. As she approaches the mature age of eighteen she is feeling a little dissatisfied with her role as teacher's assistant at the...more

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About Y.S. Lee

Y. S. Lee was born in Singapore but brought up in Canada. She also lived briefly in the United Kingdom. An academic with a PhD in Victorian literature and culture, she wrote MASCULINITY AND THE ENGLISH WORKING CLASS IN VICTORIAN AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND FICTION. She lives in Ontario, Canada.

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The Traitor in the Tunnel (The Agency, #3)

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Quotes from A Spy in the House

“He laughed, then became serious once more. "Mary............"
The expression in his eyes set her heart pounding. "Yes?"
Twice he began to frame a sentence, and twice his voice seemed to fail him.
And she thought she understood. What could he possibly say to her now, when he was on the verge of leaving forever? Even something as simple as asking her to write to him carried a distinct sort of promis, the type of promise he was ten years and a half a world removed from being able to make.
She forced a polite smile and held out her hand. "Good luck, James."
Regret-and relief-flooded his eyes. he took her hand, cradling it for a long moment. "And to you."
It was foolish to linger. She slid her fingers from his grasp, turned, and began to walk away in the direction of the Academy. She'd gone about thirty paces when she heard his voice.
"Mary!"
She spun about. "What is it?"
"Stay out of wardrobes!"
She laughed, shook her head, and began to walk again. She was smiling this time.” — 39 people liked it

“It's terrifying, to be on the verge of finally getting what you want.” — 19 people liked it

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