Review: A Spy in the House by Y.S.Lee

               Title: A Spy in the House

               Series Title: The Agency #1

               Author: Y. S. Lee

               Published by: Candlewick

               Published on: March 9th 2010

               Format: Paperback

               Rating: 2.5 Stars

Summary:

"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. "

This was in a way simple, elegant. I mean like reading these type of books. Historical fiction is after all one of my favorite genre but this was such a big disappointment. This is mystery. And mystery was the only reason I stuck with it, until the end to know who was the culprit. Which was also a big cliche considering who it turned out to be. I mean c'mon Mary Quinn, the Agency was telling you from the start to never underestimate Women. By the end of the book I wasn't sure who was the Main Character, Mary Quinn or James Easton. Because I felt he did more of the case solving than she did. But the summary of this clearly states that she is the MC. And the Time period in this books moves so fast. The story starts when Mary is 12 years old and in the 1st chapter you will find that 5 years has passed and by the end of the second chapter her one month training within the Agency is also finished. All the while reading the book, I felt I was leaping from one branch to another unsure whether I was going to fall asleep or toss the book aside. But I completed it. And now I am in turmoil if I should go for the other books in the series. Nah! I am gonna give it a rest. Its just too bland.