Publisher: Candlewick PressPublication Date: 09 Mar 10
ISBN: 0763640670
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Pages: 352
Websites:
Y.S. Lee - Official Site
Y.S. Lee - Twitter
Place(s) Traveled to: London, England (1858)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Women of Victorian England don't have a lot of options available to them. Children have even less. Mary, left an orphan at an early age ends up doing what she needs to in order to survive. In her case, it means burgling houses for food and items to sell. One day she gets caught and just as she's about to hang she finds herself whisked off to a special boarding school. Schrimshaw School for Girls takes in the wayward girls who show an apt for a quick thinking mind and trains them up to be governesses and companions. Well....some of them. Others are placed on a different path, one that involves spying and collecting information all while pretending to be just a governess or paid companion.
This is the life that Mary finds herself in at the age of 17 and its while starting her first assignment she somehow finds herself in a wardrobe and meeting James for the first time. Mary was placed as a paid companion in the Thorold house in order to investigate fraudulent shipping claims. James is search for information on the family in an attempt to find out if they will be scandal on his if his older brother marries Mary's charge. The two decide to team up to try and get to the bottom of the many secrets that abound in the Thorold household and they form an uneasy friendship. I really liked the interactions of James and Mary. They were both quick witted and fun. Mary is a strong character and while she does stray from her assignment she does it with the best of intentions.
A Spy in the House is a novel filled with secrets. Every character is hiding something from everyone else and trying to do all they can to prevent their secret from coming out. What results is a comedy of sorts and an intriguing mystery as you try to sort out all the threads in this tale. There were times when the scene plotting and dialogue seemed a little stilled and awkward but overall I enjoyed this book. I liked learning more about Mary and am curious to see how her secret forms who she becomes in later books. I am also curious to learn more about the school and the two mysterious heads who run the spy operation. This isn't a perfect novel but then so few are these days and there are several lose threads remaining at the end. Although that is to be expected as this is the first book in a series. A Spy in the House does keep the reader interested and engaged and while it did take me far longer to read than it should have (I was attacked by the distraction fairy) when I did pick up the book I found it hard to put down. If you like cozy mysteries then I suggest you pick up A Spy in the House.
This was a Traveling to Teens Blog Tour Stop. Here are the other blogs this tour stopped at:
Sun. 2/28 Bookworming in the 21st Century // review and interview
Mon. 3/1 GreenBeanTeenQueen // review and guest blog
Tues. 3/2 Steph Su Reads // review and interview
Thurs. 3/4 Books By Their Cover // review, guest blog, and giveaway info
Fri. 3/5 That Chick That Reads // review and interview
Sat. 3/6 Reading in Color // review and guest post
Mon. 3/8 The Epic Rat // review and guest post
Tues. 3/9 Chick Lit Teens // review and guest post
Thurs. 3/11 The Story Siren // review and guest post
Fri. 3/12 Rebecca's Book Blog // guest post
Sat. 3/13 Ticket to Anywhere // guest post
This is the life that Mary finds herself in at the age of 17 and its while starting her first assignment she somehow finds herself in a wardrobe and meeting James for the first time. Mary was placed as a paid companion in the Thorold house in order to investigate fraudulent shipping claims. James is search for information on the family in an attempt to find out if they will be scandal on his if his older brother marries Mary's charge. The two decide to team up to try and get to the bottom of the many secrets that abound in the Thorold household and they form an uneasy friendship. I really liked the interactions of James and Mary. They were both quick witted and fun. Mary is a strong character and while she does stray from her assignment she does it with the best of intentions.
A Spy in the House is a novel filled with secrets. Every character is hiding something from everyone else and trying to do all they can to prevent their secret from coming out. What results is a comedy of sorts and an intriguing mystery as you try to sort out all the threads in this tale. There were times when the scene plotting and dialogue seemed a little stilled and awkward but overall I enjoyed this book. I liked learning more about Mary and am curious to see how her secret forms who she becomes in later books. I am also curious to learn more about the school and the two mysterious heads who run the spy operation. This isn't a perfect novel but then so few are these days and there are several lose threads remaining at the end. Although that is to be expected as this is the first book in a series. A Spy in the House does keep the reader interested and engaged and while it did take me far longer to read than it should have (I was attacked by the distraction fairy) when I did pick up the book I found it hard to put down. If you like cozy mysteries then I suggest you pick up A Spy in the House.
This was a Traveling to Teens Blog Tour Stop. Here are the other blogs this tour stopped at:
Sun. 2/28 Bookworming in the 21st Century // review and interview
Mon. 3/1 GreenBeanTeenQueen // review and guest blog
Tues. 3/2 Steph Su Reads // review and interview
Thurs. 3/4 Books By Their Cover // review, guest blog, and giveaway info
Fri. 3/5 That Chick That Reads // review and interview
Sat. 3/6 Reading in Color // review and guest post
Mon. 3/8 The Epic Rat // review and guest post
Tues. 3/9 Chick Lit Teens // review and guest post
Thurs. 3/11 The Story Siren // review and guest post
Fri. 3/12 Rebecca's Book Blog // guest post
Sat. 3/13 Ticket to Anywhere // guest post
Posts
That sounds like something I might like. I enjoyed Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede and the sequel Magician's Ward, also about a lower class 19th century teen. I'll be sure to look for this one in the library.
ReplyDeleteI see your badge for Adriana Trigiani. My parents attended an Italian American Historical Society dinner where she was the guest speaker.
Robin - I think that you would like this story. It was a fun mystery with a bit of romance and I am looking forward to the sequel. Which will be out in August of this year. Yay!
ReplyDeleteRE: Adriana, I met her last year at BEA and she was so filled with awesome that when I was asked to be part of a tour and chance to win tea with her I had to do it. =)
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ReplyDeleteHi Irish
ReplyDeleteI can't find this book in the library or in store in Borders. I must learn to be patient and wait since it's so new. Waiting for books is not easy as you know.
My mom wants to read Adriana's books. She suggested them as a birthday gift so I have to go hit Borders next time I'm out and see if I can get my dad to buy them for her then I can borrow them.
~ Queen Pooh Bear
Hello，這裡真是百看不厭的部落格 .........................................
ReplyDeleteWahoo I finally got my hands on a copy of the book. I enjoyed it and a full review will be on my blog soon. I can't wait for the rest of the series. Thanks for recommending it.
ReplyDeleteQueen Pooh
QNPoohBear - Glad that you liked it. Book 2 will be out on 10 August - titled The Body in the Tower. I am looking forward to it as well!
ReplyDelete