A delightful read. March review: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee

If you are a parent/adult who loves regency/historical era books, this YA is for you. Mary Quinn is a poor child miscreant, rescued from the gallows and taken to an upscale academy for girls, where she will learn to become a lady. At seventeen, Mary learns the school is only a cover for an organization known as the Agency. She is recruited by the Agency to become a spy and her first assignment, a lady’s companion at a wealthy merchant’s home, becomes far more dangerous than anyone expected, full of dark secrets, international intrigue, and even murder. There is, of course, a rather handsome rascal to reckon with as well. In the craziness of her assignment, Mary also learns a dark secret from her own past—one, that if exposed, could jeopardize her position in the Agency.

What I liked: The setting is amazing. Lee does a tremendous job of putting us in 19th century smelly London. The characters are all believable and wonderfully flawed. The story flows smoothly and keeps you turning page after page.

What I did not like: Not much. Perhaps my one critique would be that there was not enough information about the Agency. But, as this is only the first book, I expect the rest in the series give more insight.

A delightful read.

5 out of 5 stars