The Agency: The Body at the Tower
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Candlewick
Mary’s second adventure as an undercover agent forces her to relive some harrowing childhood experiences as she seeks the identity of a murderer.
Mary Quinn’s new assignment sends her into the building site of the clock tower for the Houses of Parliament dressed as an impoverished young boy, evoking her own childhood memories of fear, hunger, and constant want. As she insinuates herself into the confidence of several persons of interest, she encounters others in desperate situations and struggles to make a difference without exposing — or losing — her identity. Mary’s second adventure offers a fictional window into the fascinating, if grimy, underbelly of Victorian London.
Creators
Y.S. Lee has a Ph.D. in Victorian literature and culture and says her research inspired her to write Book One of The Agency trilogy. "Women's choices were grim in those days, even for the clever," she says. "The Agency is a totally unrealistic, completely fictitious antidote to the fate that would otherwise swallow a girl like Mary Quinn." Y. S. Lee lives in Ontario, Canada.
Reviews
Through Mary, readers also get an up-close glimpse into the darker side of Victorian London, particularly through her relationship with fellow errand boy Jenkins, who is the sole breadwinner for his family. Mary proves that she is definitely a detective to keep an eye on.
School Library Journal
Lee does a wonderful job of continuing the adventures of this well-rounded, likable character and taking the reader deep into another time and place. This series lends itself to rich historical discussion.
VOYA
Featured/recommended in “The Season of Windblown Hair — Or, the Zeitgeist of Book Covers” entry
Shelftalker blog
Featured/recommended
"Book Bits" WTBF-AM/FM (Troy, AL)
With its Victorian London setting, smart heroine, and electrifying plot, this novel has much to offer to even the most discerning of readers.
Rutgers University
YS Lee guest blog post
The Book Smugglers blog
I’m crazy about debut author Y.S. Lee’s Mary Quinn Mysteries—The Agency: A Spy in the House and The Agency: A Body in the Tower. They’re smart, spirited, romantic, and full of action. The historical setting reads like a fantasy novel—lush, gritty, and oh-so evocative. It’s easy to step into her world. Truth is, I enjoy historical fiction, but it’s not the kind of book I reach for first. This series is converting me into an enthusiast
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Just as delightful as the first volume…Lee makes the sights and sounds of Victorian London come alive for the reader, and the banter between Mary and James is a delight to read
Historical Novels Review
Featured/Recommended
Lower Columbia Review Group e-newsletter
Featured/recommended
TeenReads.com Blog
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Reading to Know Blog
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21Pages.net Blog
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YAbookreads.com blog
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Rutgers University Website
Featured/recommended
Dazzling Reads
Featured/recommended
Bite My Books blog
Series featured as a “Swiss Army Holiday Recommendation”
Book Riot (blog)
