Welcome to my first book review of 2012! *throws leftover confetti from New Years*
The Book...
by Y. S. Lee
"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." (via Goodreads.com)
My Thoughts...
A Spy in the House is a YA historical fiction mystery that revolves around a strong female lead and her escapades throughout Victorian London. When the book first popped up on my Goodreads recommendations, I thought it sounded intriguing. I love historical fiction books (especially those set in the Victorian era) and I do enjoy a good mystery adventure. I was pleased to find the book at my local library and started reading it that evening...and promptly finished it about 7 hours later. (Who needs sleep anyways?) I was so absorbed with the story and its characters that I didn't even notice what time it was until I was nearly done with the book. And by then, it was too late to stop reading since the mystery was finally unraveling and the book's climax was approaching.
1) Characters: Mary (Lang) Quinn is feisty young woman full of character and personal problems. She has her flaws, namely being impatient, but she has a good heart, is quick-witted, and you really feel for her as you learn about her struggles and past. She wants to prove herself to the agency so much that she often takes matters into her own hands, even when warned against it. But it she didn't, she wouldn't meet the charming yet oh-so-arrogant James Easton. The tension between the two characters is just enough to spark the element of romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. And James isn't without his own flaws and quirky nature. They make a good team as they work to solve the story's mystery.
2) Plot: The story's central plot revolves around the mystery of missing cargo and possible shady business dealing of a London merchant, but the book has several other mystery subplots. Each character has something to hide, something to be uncovered, making each chapter full of suspense and wonder. There were moments where I thought something was going to happen and was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. It kept me guessing throughout the story, especially as the end drew closer. I will add that along with being suspenseful and having several action-adventure moments, there were also hints of romance and some rather heart-wrenching moments.
3) Setting:The characters travel all over the city of London, making references to real historical places often found in literature from the actual time period. The descriptions were gritty or eloquent, but never distracting.
4) History: While several parts of the story are clearly fiction, the descriptions of the city, clothing, attitudes/manners, and social etiquette were very fitting within the mid-19th century. The author threw in several real historical aspects into the story such as The Great Stink in London during the heatwave summer of 1858. (Click on the link for a daily history lesson.) I enjoyed the attention to historical detail given by the author and I understood when things had to deviate for the story's sake.
Definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun read with a quirky heroine and taste of history.
1) Characters: Mary (Lang) Quinn is feisty young woman full of character and personal problems. She has her flaws, namely being impatient, but she has a good heart, is quick-witted, and you really feel for her as you learn about her struggles and past. She wants to prove herself to the agency so much that she often takes matters into her own hands, even when warned against it. But it she didn't, she wouldn't meet the charming yet oh-so-arrogant James Easton. The tension between the two characters is just enough to spark the element of romance, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. And James isn't without his own flaws and quirky nature. They make a good team as they work to solve the story's mystery.
2) Plot: The story's central plot revolves around the mystery of missing cargo and possible shady business dealing of a London merchant, but the book has several other mystery subplots. Each character has something to hide, something to be uncovered, making each chapter full of suspense and wonder. There were moments where I thought something was going to happen and was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong. It kept me guessing throughout the story, especially as the end drew closer. I will add that along with being suspenseful and having several action-adventure moments, there were also hints of romance and some rather heart-wrenching moments.
3) Setting:The characters travel all over the city of London, making references to real historical places often found in literature from the actual time period. The descriptions were gritty or eloquent, but never distracting.
4) History: While several parts of the story are clearly fiction, the descriptions of the city, clothing, attitudes/manners, and social etiquette were very fitting within the mid-19th century. The author threw in several real historical aspects into the story such as The Great Stink in London during the heatwave summer of 1858. (Click on the link for a daily history lesson.) I enjoyed the attention to historical detail given by the author and I understood when things had to deviate for the story's sake.
Definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a fun read with a quirky heroine and taste of history.
Meet the Author...
"Y S Lee was born in Singapore and raised in Vancouver and Toronto. In 2004, she completed her PhD in Victorian literature and culture. This research, combined with her time living in London, triggered an idea for a story about a women’s detective agency. The result was the Agency novels, featuring the intrepid Mary Quinn. Ying is also the author of Masculinity and the English Working Class (Routledge). She now lives in Kingston, Ontario with her family." (official bio)
~Namárië
(Elvish Farewell)
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