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The Agency #3
The Traitor in the Tunnel
Get steeped in suspense, romance, and high Victorian intrigue as Mary goes undercover at Buckingham Palace - and learns a startling secret at the Tower of London.
384 pages, ebook
First published February 28, 2012
192 people are currently reading
4997 people want to read
About the author
Y.S. Lee
11books967followersY S Lee was born in Singapore, raised in Vancouver and Toronto, and lived for a spell in England. As she completed her PhD in Victorian literature and culture, she began to research a story about a girl detective in 1850s London. The result was her debut novel, The Agency: A Spy in the House. This won the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s inaugural John Spray Mystery Award in 2011.
The Agency quartet continues with The Body at the Tower and The Traitor and the Tunnel, both of which were nominated for awards. Ying’s most recent novel, Rivals in the City, is the final book in the Agency series. All four books are published by Candlewick Press (US/Canada) and Walker Books (UK/Australia). The novels have also been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean and Turkish.
On ŷ, she rates only books she really liked or loved.
The Agency quartet continues with The Body at the Tower and The Traitor and the Tunnel, both of which were nominated for awards. Ying’s most recent novel, Rivals in the City, is the final book in the Agency series. All four books are published by Candlewick Press (US/Canada) and Walker Books (UK/Australia). The novels have also been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Korean and Turkish.
On ŷ, she rates only books she really liked or loved.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
February 27, 2012
Okay, this is going to be short because really there are only a few things I want to say about this novel.
1. I loved it. Really, really loved it.
Mary confronts the skeletons in her closet . The book takes a somber look at the people who sire us and how their mortality and morality affect us. This gives Mary new depths and she evolves much more as a character.
2. The kisses are smoking hot. My toes curled multiple times. It’s quite a feat since I wasn’t even the one being kissed.
3. Lee’s portrayal of Victorian (I believe it is Victorian, I could be totally wrong) is so spot on. Her wordsmithery remains impressive and I believe her plotting has actually improved.
4. James is awesomesauce and that’s all I am going to say about it. Actually no, as hot as he is, it is his humanity and his flaws that make him irresistible. His vulnerability where Mary is concerned is also endearing.
5. You need to read this series because if you don’t, you are losing out. I don’t want you to lose out.
And that is all.
1. I loved it. Really, really loved it.
Mary confronts the skeletons in her closet . The book takes a somber look at the people who sire us and how their mortality and morality affect us. This gives Mary new depths and she evolves much more as a character.
2. The kisses are smoking hot. My toes curled multiple times. It’s quite a feat since I wasn’t even the one being kissed.
3. Lee’s portrayal of Victorian (I believe it is Victorian, I could be totally wrong) is so spot on. Her wordsmithery remains impressive and I believe her plotting has actually improved.
4. James is awesomesauce and that’s all I am going to say about it. Actually no, as hot as he is, it is his humanity and his flaws that make him irresistible. His vulnerability where Mary is concerned is also endearing.
5. You need to read this series because if you don’t, you are losing out. I don’t want you to lose out.
And that is all.
December 14, 2016
This is a rare event for me but I have accidentally started a series in the middle and now have to go back and read from the start! This turned out to be a really good book.
It is set in Victorian London, in Buckingham Palace no less, and it follows the adventures of a young lady who is acting as a kind of private detective. The story is good, the romantic interest is very entertaining and, although I am absolutely certain the author has taken great liberties with the behaviour of Queen Victoria, she comes across as a delightful character.
If you like historical mysteries with a good, strong, feisty female main character then try this one. But maybe start with book one which is where I am going now:)
It is set in Victorian London, in Buckingham Palace no less, and it follows the adventures of a young lady who is acting as a kind of private detective. The story is good, the romantic interest is very entertaining and, although I am absolutely certain the author has taken great liberties with the behaviour of Queen Victoria, she comes across as a delightful character.
If you like historical mysteries with a good, strong, feisty female main character then try this one. But maybe start with book one which is where I am going now:)
July 21, 2012
I have, honestly, never come across a couple in a book more adorable and perfect together than Mary and James.
Y.S. Lee, THANK YOU, for giving us these two, especially James!
P.S - Queen Victoria is SUCH a badass in this book! :D
Y.S. Lee, THANK YOU, for giving us these two, especially James!
P.S - Queen Victoria is SUCH a badass in this book! :D
January 1, 2012
This book was absolutely wonderful! There was sooo much you didn't expect. Leave it up to Y.S. Lee to make it a suspenceful yet funny Victorian novel. She put it the right amount of detail in the book. Enough to let you get the main idea of where the characters are and what they are doing, but not so much to bore you to death. It was so good I couldn't put it down until 2:43 am (I could have stayed up longer- but unfortunatly, I had school in a few hours). Something that I enjoy in all of Y.S. Lee's books is Mary. She is such an perfectly imperfect character (if that even makes sense). And she is so brave and strong and nothing like Bella Swan (sorry Twilight fans, I had to say it). And James!!! Don't get me started! He is so arrogant and sweet at the same time and probably the best male character in the whole world- sorry Harry, but it's true (kinda) ;). And the romance in the book is also fantastic! It is sooooo much more than the other two books and it's sooo exciting and just makes you want to grin like an imp all day long. Ahh James, you always make my day. But my only problem was that it took waaaay too long to arrive! I can't really blame the book, so I'm blaming Amazon because they made me wait TWO WHOLE WEEKS before it came to my house. I mean, what kind of evil person does that!!!! Anyways, I recommend this book to EVERYONE!!! (except hairy green ogres who want to eat me face off- because seriously- can they actaully read?)
February 20, 2015
This is a young adult novel I was granted access to through Netgalley � with thanks to them. It is the third book in a series, but the only problem with that is that I want very much to read the first books and don't have them yet. (This also appears to be called The Traitor and the Tunnel - for the original Canadian edition, perhaps?)
Mary Quinn is undercover. She is twenty years old, and a part of an extraordinary intelligence agency, and posing as a maid in Queen Victoria's household. And I must say that the first glimpse we're given of Queen Victoria is a hilarious eye-opener that won my heart completely, for both her and this book. One of the best first lines I think I've ever seen:
Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, had a lamp shade on her head. Again.
There's something about that "Again" which just tickles me deeply.
I love that Mary's ethnicity � born of an Irish mother and a Chinese father � is simultaneously so easy to pass off as something else and so dangerous. I love that she has this mixed ethnicity � in a whitebread universe of fiction, she is unique and engaging. Another of her many distinctions is an almost unapologetic criminal past: Mary has as a child done what she needed to do to survive, having at an early age seen her father disappear and her mother die, and while she is far less than proud of it all, it is what it is. If only it didn't all exist as a wall between her and the fascinating young man she met in her prior investigations, James Easton � And if only her current investigation into small thefts at Buckingham Palace � which is rapidly turning into something else � didn't look like it was going to throw the two of them together again.
The writing is rather spare, with an inflection of the 19th century which makes me think of the writing axiom that a hint of dialect is far better and easier and more enjoyable to read than a constant stream. The sense of humor � often very dry � that runs throughout, from that very first memorable line, makes this a joy to read, and short chapters seem to make it fly by.
I loved the look at Victoria, her family, and the Palace as their home and that of their servants � the bits of the place you're not as likely to see on a tour. I loved the tone of the story � Mary is a literary cousin to Indiana Jones, James Bond, and The Three Investigators, only female and twenty and half Chinese and the daughter of a sailor, and perhaps a murderer � a wonderful point of view. I loved the romance � quite passionate for what I persist in thinking a young adult novel ought to be, but PG-rated and very well-written and satisfying. I appreciated that the matter-of-fact tone with which Mary considers her past is echoed in the outlook on the duties and necessities and hazards of the job in the palace: it is a fact of life that maids must turn and face the wall and pretend they aren't there whenever one of the Family comes upon them in the midst of their work, and however silly it is there is no fighting it and no questioning it. It is a fact of life that a young man in the family, be he "gentleman" or be he Prince, is a constant hazard to girls serving in the house, be it Eaton Place or Buckingham Palace. It's horrible, but again it is what it is and it can only be avoided until avoidance becomes impossible, and faced once it happens: there is no recourse.
It is this latter looming possibility along with the cold, hard facts of what it is to be Chinese in England in the 19th century that keep this grounded in reality, giving the fantasy of the Girl Spy a solid foundation. I didn't expect the depth of emotion in the story, nor the extent to which I'd become involved in it. Very well done indeed.
.
Mary Quinn is undercover. She is twenty years old, and a part of an extraordinary intelligence agency, and posing as a maid in Queen Victoria's household. And I must say that the first glimpse we're given of Queen Victoria is a hilarious eye-opener that won my heart completely, for both her and this book. One of the best first lines I think I've ever seen:
Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, had a lamp shade on her head. Again.
There's something about that "Again" which just tickles me deeply.
I love that Mary's ethnicity � born of an Irish mother and a Chinese father � is simultaneously so easy to pass off as something else and so dangerous. I love that she has this mixed ethnicity � in a whitebread universe of fiction, she is unique and engaging. Another of her many distinctions is an almost unapologetic criminal past: Mary has as a child done what she needed to do to survive, having at an early age seen her father disappear and her mother die, and while she is far less than proud of it all, it is what it is. If only it didn't all exist as a wall between her and the fascinating young man she met in her prior investigations, James Easton � And if only her current investigation into small thefts at Buckingham Palace � which is rapidly turning into something else � didn't look like it was going to throw the two of them together again.
The writing is rather spare, with an inflection of the 19th century which makes me think of the writing axiom that a hint of dialect is far better and easier and more enjoyable to read than a constant stream. The sense of humor � often very dry � that runs throughout, from that very first memorable line, makes this a joy to read, and short chapters seem to make it fly by.
I loved the look at Victoria, her family, and the Palace as their home and that of their servants � the bits of the place you're not as likely to see on a tour. I loved the tone of the story � Mary is a literary cousin to Indiana Jones, James Bond, and The Three Investigators, only female and twenty and half Chinese and the daughter of a sailor, and perhaps a murderer � a wonderful point of view. I loved the romance � quite passionate for what I persist in thinking a young adult novel ought to be, but PG-rated and very well-written and satisfying. I appreciated that the matter-of-fact tone with which Mary considers her past is echoed in the outlook on the duties and necessities and hazards of the job in the palace: it is a fact of life that maids must turn and face the wall and pretend they aren't there whenever one of the Family comes upon them in the midst of their work, and however silly it is there is no fighting it and no questioning it. It is a fact of life that a young man in the family, be he "gentleman" or be he Prince, is a constant hazard to girls serving in the house, be it Eaton Place or Buckingham Palace. It's horrible, but again it is what it is and it can only be avoided until avoidance becomes impossible, and faced once it happens: there is no recourse.
It is this latter looming possibility along with the cold, hard facts of what it is to be Chinese in England in the 19th century that keep this grounded in reality, giving the fantasy of the Girl Spy a solid foundation. I didn't expect the depth of emotion in the story, nor the extent to which I'd become involved in it. Very well done indeed.
.
October 21, 2018
Ugh. I kept reading this series because I did like the basic idea of it and hoped it would improve. It did the opposite of that. The very, very opposite of that.
I’m going to lead, though, with what is good about the series. The central idea is fun, if anachronistic: the main character, sentenced to death for theft at the age of 12, is brought instead to a girls� school founded on the revolutionary principle that women are capable of independent thought, life, and work. In time, she’s introduced to the secret within that school: a detective agency, run and staffed solely by women. It’s a fun way of circumventing the hideous trap that being a woman was in those days, in service of some light mystery fiction.
The main character, Mary Quinn, is
Okay, so that’s the good part. The bad part is � literally everything else. But the thing that frustrated me most was that this series was built on the idea of creating space for women to exist independent of men in the Victorian world. And yet the entire series revolves around a man. Mary’s on again, off again romance with James Easton is many things (insipid, annoying, anachronistic), but it is centered in the series. So this series, and every major reoccuring character in it, is focused not on the story of women, or the independence of women, or sisters doing it for themselves, but rather on a man, and the importance of men, and the absolute centrality of men in women’s lives.
Finally, in this book, Lee realizes she doesn’t want to write about an agency of female detectives working independently, beholden to no man.
There were other problems with this series, starting with book one, and there were definitely many other problems with this entry in it. But the fundamental dishonesty of the whole thing, the grossness of the central message, is what left me gagging, and what will leave me avoiding Lee’s writing in the future. Ugh.
I’m going to lead, though, with what is good about the series. The central idea is fun, if anachronistic: the main character, sentenced to death for theft at the age of 12, is brought instead to a girls� school founded on the revolutionary principle that women are capable of independent thought, life, and work. In time, she’s introduced to the secret within that school: a detective agency, run and staffed solely by women. It’s a fun way of circumventing the hideous trap that being a woman was in those days, in service of some light mystery fiction.
The main character, Mary Quinn, is
Okay, so that’s the good part. The bad part is � literally everything else. But the thing that frustrated me most was that this series was built on the idea of creating space for women to exist independent of men in the Victorian world. And yet the entire series revolves around a man. Mary’s on again, off again romance with James Easton is many things (insipid, annoying, anachronistic), but it is centered in the series. So this series, and every major reoccuring character in it, is focused not on the story of women, or the independence of women, or sisters doing it for themselves, but rather on a man, and the importance of men, and the absolute centrality of men in women’s lives.
Finally, in this book, Lee realizes she doesn’t want to write about an agency of female detectives working independently, beholden to no man.
There were other problems with this series, starting with book one, and there were definitely many other problems with this entry in it. But the fundamental dishonesty of the whole thing, the grossness of the central message, is what left me gagging, and what will leave me avoiding Lee’s writing in the future. Ugh.
February 28, 2012
Three and a half stars: A book with a little something for everyone: mystery, romance, history and thrills.
Mary Quinn is working undercover on her first real assignment. She is posing as a parlor maid in Buckingham Palace. Mary in actuality is a secret agent working for an agency that employs all women spies/ detectives. Mary is sent to the palace to try and track down a thief. Someone is stealing small artifacts from the palace. While performing her daily duties, Mary unwittingly stumbles across the sticky circumstances surrounding the Prince of Wales elicit nighttime activities. During a Saturday night foray with a friend, he stumbles into an opium den in London's underbelly. An altercation breaks out and his prestigious friend is stabbed to death by an opium addicted, Chinese sailor. Mary, while eavesdropping, learns the name of the murderer. Is it possible that her absent, Chinese father, who was supposedly lost at sea, is the perpetrator? While Mary is busy investigating the thefts and now the possibility of her father being involved in the killing, she receives a summons from the agency to abandon her post. She learns from the head mistresses of the agency she is being recalled due to the fact that the sewers running under Buckingham Palace are set to be renovated by a company that employs none other than, James Easton. Could the plot thicken anymore? Yes, in fact it can. Head to nineteenth century London and follow Mary as she unravels the case.
What I Liked:
*I enjoyed Mary's character. In an era where women are still struggling to overcome prejudice, Mary strides on scene, unafraid to tackle a tough case. During her investigation there are numerous occasions where Mary shines. She has backbone and is unafraid to do what it takes to get the job done. She sneaks out of the Palace under the watchful eyes of the guards, investigates the sewers in the middle of the night and takes a stand to help those dealt an unjust hand. Mary is an admirable character.
*I loved the historical setting of nineteenth century London. This book takes you into the heart of London, Buckingham Palace is the main setting. As an American, who is not well read on the history of Great Britain, I enjoyed taking a trip back in time and learning more about London during the period when the U.S. was caught in the Civil War. The author does a great job in depicting London and some of its famous landmarks.
*The plot is rich and complex. This book has several plot lines to follow from the initial case of solving the thefts, to tracking down her father, discovering who the traitor in the tunnel is, determining the role of the Prince in the murder and finally rectifying her feelings for James. Ms. Lee skillfully weaves all these divergent story threads into a cohesive plot.
*I enjoyed the depiction of Queen Victoria. She comes across as a capable, strong and fair ruler. I especially loved her appearance at the end of the book. She shows no fear. My one regret was again, that I am not well informed on the British monarchy, so I don't know how accurate the portrayal is of the Queen.
*I was happy that all the threads tied off neatly at the end. No dreaded cliffhanger, but the author presents some intriguing snippets to follow in upcoming books.
And The Not So Much:
*One of the biggest problems during my read was my fault, I have not read the preceding books in this series. I usually don't start a series in the middle, this is a rare exception. While I was perfectly fine reading this book without having read the others, there were numerous references to events that occurred in past. If I had read the other two books, I am sure I would have enjoyed this read even more. I was especially handicapped in not knowing the complete history between Mary and James.
*I was not completely satisfied with the final explanation of the lady in waiting's involvement in the plot. Why was she trying to seduce the prince? Why did she have such a devotion to her step father? I felt this point needed a bit more clarification.
*I was unclear of the role of Octavius Jones, what exactly was he after? I am still unsure of his intentions.
The Traitor in the Tunnel is a book for those who seek a book that is different. This book has plenty of aspects to keep readers engaged. It has thick plot with mystery, romance, twists and turns, danger and history all rolled into one. This is an enjoyable stand alone novel, however, it would be enhanced by reading the two preceding books in the series. Nevertheless, this was an exciting and fun read.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher Candlewick Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite Quotations:
“Trouble snapped at her heels from all directions.�
“Memory was an unreliable guide.�
“And the eyes themselves--Mary repressed a shudder. They were defeat made human, a world of pain entire.�
“In an opium dream, there is no reason.�
--”why wouldn’t I like a woman who ranks me higher than God?�
“That man also used to say that is character is destiny.�
“Together, they were a world entire, and instead of being terrified, she found the thought exhilarating.�
“She lost herself in a haze of textures, of flesh against flesh, of silk on skin, of breath caressing lips and lashes.�
Originally posted @
Mary Quinn is working undercover on her first real assignment. She is posing as a parlor maid in Buckingham Palace. Mary in actuality is a secret agent working for an agency that employs all women spies/ detectives. Mary is sent to the palace to try and track down a thief. Someone is stealing small artifacts from the palace. While performing her daily duties, Mary unwittingly stumbles across the sticky circumstances surrounding the Prince of Wales elicit nighttime activities. During a Saturday night foray with a friend, he stumbles into an opium den in London's underbelly. An altercation breaks out and his prestigious friend is stabbed to death by an opium addicted, Chinese sailor. Mary, while eavesdropping, learns the name of the murderer. Is it possible that her absent, Chinese father, who was supposedly lost at sea, is the perpetrator? While Mary is busy investigating the thefts and now the possibility of her father being involved in the killing, she receives a summons from the agency to abandon her post. She learns from the head mistresses of the agency she is being recalled due to the fact that the sewers running under Buckingham Palace are set to be renovated by a company that employs none other than, James Easton. Could the plot thicken anymore? Yes, in fact it can. Head to nineteenth century London and follow Mary as she unravels the case.
What I Liked:
*I enjoyed Mary's character. In an era where women are still struggling to overcome prejudice, Mary strides on scene, unafraid to tackle a tough case. During her investigation there are numerous occasions where Mary shines. She has backbone and is unafraid to do what it takes to get the job done. She sneaks out of the Palace under the watchful eyes of the guards, investigates the sewers in the middle of the night and takes a stand to help those dealt an unjust hand. Mary is an admirable character.
*I loved the historical setting of nineteenth century London. This book takes you into the heart of London, Buckingham Palace is the main setting. As an American, who is not well read on the history of Great Britain, I enjoyed taking a trip back in time and learning more about London during the period when the U.S. was caught in the Civil War. The author does a great job in depicting London and some of its famous landmarks.
*The plot is rich and complex. This book has several plot lines to follow from the initial case of solving the thefts, to tracking down her father, discovering who the traitor in the tunnel is, determining the role of the Prince in the murder and finally rectifying her feelings for James. Ms. Lee skillfully weaves all these divergent story threads into a cohesive plot.
*I enjoyed the depiction of Queen Victoria. She comes across as a capable, strong and fair ruler. I especially loved her appearance at the end of the book. She shows no fear. My one regret was again, that I am not well informed on the British monarchy, so I don't know how accurate the portrayal is of the Queen.
*I was happy that all the threads tied off neatly at the end. No dreaded cliffhanger, but the author presents some intriguing snippets to follow in upcoming books.
And The Not So Much:
*One of the biggest problems during my read was my fault, I have not read the preceding books in this series. I usually don't start a series in the middle, this is a rare exception. While I was perfectly fine reading this book without having read the others, there were numerous references to events that occurred in past. If I had read the other two books, I am sure I would have enjoyed this read even more. I was especially handicapped in not knowing the complete history between Mary and James.
*I was not completely satisfied with the final explanation of the lady in waiting's involvement in the plot. Why was she trying to seduce the prince? Why did she have such a devotion to her step father? I felt this point needed a bit more clarification.
*I was unclear of the role of Octavius Jones, what exactly was he after? I am still unsure of his intentions.
The Traitor in the Tunnel is a book for those who seek a book that is different. This book has plenty of aspects to keep readers engaged. It has thick plot with mystery, romance, twists and turns, danger and history all rolled into one. This is an enjoyable stand alone novel, however, it would be enhanced by reading the two preceding books in the series. Nevertheless, this was an exciting and fun read.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher Candlewick Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite Quotations:
“Trouble snapped at her heels from all directions.�
“Memory was an unreliable guide.�
“And the eyes themselves--Mary repressed a shudder. They were defeat made human, a world of pain entire.�
“In an opium dream, there is no reason.�
--”why wouldn’t I like a woman who ranks me higher than God?�
“That man also used to say that is character is destiny.�
“Together, they were a world entire, and instead of being terrified, she found the thought exhilarating.�
“She lost herself in a haze of textures, of flesh against flesh, of silk on skin, of breath caressing lips and lashes.�
Originally posted @
February 13, 2018
3.5 stars.
“If you ever need to poison someone, do it with a bacon sandwich�
You do not know how much at ease I am when I read . For me, The Agency series turned out to be full of humor, family, friendship and James Easton. Even though the first book was slow to build a steady pace, they were so freaking relaxing. Especially after clawing through the endless chapters of by .
And what I love most about these epic quick-reads is that the romace is never, ever over-the-top. It's not frustration or all-consuming to read about James and Mary. Their romace is slow-building and sweet, but isn't all that is circuling their heads every minute of every hour. I was glad to know I was reading an espionage and not romace.
And god, don't get me started on James Easton...
(full review to come)
(translation: I'm never going to find time to finish this review)
“If you ever need to poison someone, do it with a bacon sandwich�
You do not know how much at ease I am when I read . For me, The Agency series turned out to be full of humor, family, friendship and James Easton. Even though the first book was slow to build a steady pace, they were so freaking relaxing. Especially after clawing through the endless chapters of by .
And what I love most about these epic quick-reads is that the romace is never, ever over-the-top. It's not frustration or all-consuming to read about James and Mary. Their romace is slow-building and sweet, but isn't all that is circuling their heads every minute of every hour. I was glad to know I was reading an espionage and not romace.
And god, don't get me started on James Easton...
(full review to come)
April 4, 2012
Originally Reviewed on The Book Smugglers:
**WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE AGENCY SERIES. If you have not read books 1 & 2, and you wish to stay unspoiled, look away now! You have been warned.**
After the events of The Body at the Tower, Mary Quinn finds herself a full graduate of the Academy and an official operative of The Agency. Her first official assignment, however, is the somewhat disappointing mission to discover the identity of a petty thief, responsible for nicking a number of trinkets in the residence of Queen Victoria and her family at Buckingham Palace. Undercover as a parlor maid, Mary dutifully dives into her official role and is set on discovering the identity of the thief. Her investigation, however, leads her to an even more intriguing mystery when the police turn up at the palace, unannounced, bearing with them the shell-shocked heir prince Bertie. During a typical night of drinking and entertainment with the less than reputable Sir Ralph Beaulieu-Buckworth, the prince and his friend made an ill-advised trip to a seedy opium den � a trip that would end with the murder of Beaulieu-Buckworth at the hands of an opium-crazed Chinese sailor, Jin Hai Lang. Mary’s long lost father, presumed dead at sea.
Reeling from this dramatic news, Mary is determined to figure out the truth of her father’s incarceration, but her path is anything but clear. With tensions brewing at Agency headquarters and the infuriating James Easton reappearing in her life, complicating matters even more, Mary also knows that something secret and sinister is happening at Buckingham Palace. With a suspected traitor in the midst, Mary’s first job is anything but simple.
Building on characters and plot threads introduced in A Spy in the House and The Body at the Tower, The Traitor in the Tunnel picks up the intrepid Mary Quinn’s story and throws a slew of new complications in the mix. From a pure storytelling and plotting perspective, this third entry is somewhat uneven. The mystery aspects of the novel � that of Mary’s father’s imprisonment, that of the petty thief in the palace, and that of the larger treasonous plot afoot � feel scattered, with many stops and starts that don’t quite gel together in a cohesive whole. The eponymous Traitor in the Tunnel, truly the overarching mystery of the book, is sort of haphazardly thrown together and comes to a dissatisfying conclusion.1 Criticism concerning the logic of the plot aside, however, The Traitor in the Tunnel is an incredibly readable book and as engaging as ever, fraught with action and danger and steeped in mystery. I couldn’t put the book down, even while my brain cataloged some of the less-appealing aspects of the plot.
The reason why The Traitor in the Tunnel succeeds is not because of the strength of its plotting, but rather because of the strength of its heroine. As always, I love the premise of this series, taking the Victorian time period and adding a group of women who refuse to accept society’s imposed roles and amass their own power and agency � literally. As with the prior two books, The Traitor in the Tunnel explores these societal expectations and the women that both embrace and defy it (including the figure of Queen Victoria herself). Mary’s story in this third book is the most cathartic of all her adventures to date as she comes face to face with her lost father and is forced to reconcile her memories of Lang Jin Hai with reality. I love that Mary’s reunion with her father is not glamorized, and that Jin Hai is not exonerated for his crime or his addiction. More importantly, I LOVE the exploration of Mary’s heritage and sense of self-perception and identity in this novel (I have been waiting for this to be addressed in the series with more scrutiny!), as she has to make a choice about revealing her heritage in a London where “Asiatics� (and half-breeds like Mary) are seen as hated, inferior foreigners.
Mary’s soul-searching especially comes into play with her relationship with the infuriating/loveable James Easton. I won’t say much about anything that happens, except that their romantic relationship is FINALLY played through to resolution � but you’ll have to see for yourself if that is a good or a bad resolution. In any case, as always, I love the chemistry between James and Mary, with the both of them as incredibly stubborn and strong-willed as they are. Other familiar faces also make appearances in this installment � Felicity, Anne, the irritatingly charming Octavius Jones.
Overall, the series� overarching plot is advanced with dramatic news at the close of the book with the future of the Agency at risk, some wonderful romantic developments, and plenty of loose ends to be explored. In short, while The Traitor in the Tunnel is not a perfect book, it is a very good one, and I cannot wait for the next Mary Quinn mystery.
**WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE AGENCY SERIES. If you have not read books 1 & 2, and you wish to stay unspoiled, look away now! You have been warned.**
After the events of The Body at the Tower, Mary Quinn finds herself a full graduate of the Academy and an official operative of The Agency. Her first official assignment, however, is the somewhat disappointing mission to discover the identity of a petty thief, responsible for nicking a number of trinkets in the residence of Queen Victoria and her family at Buckingham Palace. Undercover as a parlor maid, Mary dutifully dives into her official role and is set on discovering the identity of the thief. Her investigation, however, leads her to an even more intriguing mystery when the police turn up at the palace, unannounced, bearing with them the shell-shocked heir prince Bertie. During a typical night of drinking and entertainment with the less than reputable Sir Ralph Beaulieu-Buckworth, the prince and his friend made an ill-advised trip to a seedy opium den � a trip that would end with the murder of Beaulieu-Buckworth at the hands of an opium-crazed Chinese sailor, Jin Hai Lang. Mary’s long lost father, presumed dead at sea.
Reeling from this dramatic news, Mary is determined to figure out the truth of her father’s incarceration, but her path is anything but clear. With tensions brewing at Agency headquarters and the infuriating James Easton reappearing in her life, complicating matters even more, Mary also knows that something secret and sinister is happening at Buckingham Palace. With a suspected traitor in the midst, Mary’s first job is anything but simple.
Building on characters and plot threads introduced in A Spy in the House and The Body at the Tower, The Traitor in the Tunnel picks up the intrepid Mary Quinn’s story and throws a slew of new complications in the mix. From a pure storytelling and plotting perspective, this third entry is somewhat uneven. The mystery aspects of the novel � that of Mary’s father’s imprisonment, that of the petty thief in the palace, and that of the larger treasonous plot afoot � feel scattered, with many stops and starts that don’t quite gel together in a cohesive whole. The eponymous Traitor in the Tunnel, truly the overarching mystery of the book, is sort of haphazardly thrown together and comes to a dissatisfying conclusion.1 Criticism concerning the logic of the plot aside, however, The Traitor in the Tunnel is an incredibly readable book and as engaging as ever, fraught with action and danger and steeped in mystery. I couldn’t put the book down, even while my brain cataloged some of the less-appealing aspects of the plot.
The reason why The Traitor in the Tunnel succeeds is not because of the strength of its plotting, but rather because of the strength of its heroine. As always, I love the premise of this series, taking the Victorian time period and adding a group of women who refuse to accept society’s imposed roles and amass their own power and agency � literally. As with the prior two books, The Traitor in the Tunnel explores these societal expectations and the women that both embrace and defy it (including the figure of Queen Victoria herself). Mary’s story in this third book is the most cathartic of all her adventures to date as she comes face to face with her lost father and is forced to reconcile her memories of Lang Jin Hai with reality. I love that Mary’s reunion with her father is not glamorized, and that Jin Hai is not exonerated for his crime or his addiction. More importantly, I LOVE the exploration of Mary’s heritage and sense of self-perception and identity in this novel (I have been waiting for this to be addressed in the series with more scrutiny!), as she has to make a choice about revealing her heritage in a London where “Asiatics� (and half-breeds like Mary) are seen as hated, inferior foreigners.
Mary’s soul-searching especially comes into play with her relationship with the infuriating/loveable James Easton. I won’t say much about anything that happens, except that their romantic relationship is FINALLY played through to resolution � but you’ll have to see for yourself if that is a good or a bad resolution. In any case, as always, I love the chemistry between James and Mary, with the both of them as incredibly stubborn and strong-willed as they are. Other familiar faces also make appearances in this installment � Felicity, Anne, the irritatingly charming Octavius Jones.
Overall, the series� overarching plot is advanced with dramatic news at the close of the book with the future of the Agency at risk, some wonderful romantic developments, and plenty of loose ends to be explored. In short, while The Traitor in the Tunnel is not a perfect book, it is a very good one, and I cannot wait for the next Mary Quinn mystery.
May 15, 2015
The Traitor in the Tunnel is by far the best installment of The Agency series; with the character introductions and early foundation cases out of the way, Mary finally (literally) moves onwards and upwards - in the world and as an agent of The Agency - faces her past and hitherto mysterious Chinese heritage and really makes some serious relationship progress with former beau (of sorts) James Easton. Hurrah.
Nothing could have prepared me for how much I enjoyed the change of scenery - we depart from the family house setting of The Spy in the House and the gritty conditions of the working poor in The Body at the Tower and dive into a case of serial thefts at BUCKINGHAM PALACE (something about a mystery in the palace always dials up the excitement - the whisperings of the servants, Queen Victoria herself making an appearance or two). With the change of setting also comes increased gravity of her assignment; although deceptively simple at the outset, Mary not only discovers that it is linked to a murder involving the Prince of Wales and a piece of her past that she'd long locked away, but also stumbles across a threat to the royal family hidden in secret tunnels running underneath the palace. The triple-layered mystery tying together a treasonous plot against Queen Victoria and Mary's long-lost Chinese father certainly makes The Traitor in the Tunnel a wildly more entertaining and suspenseful read than Book 2; I had admittedly thought the mystery in Books 1 & 2 often fell flat, but it certainly wasn't the case here.
But the greatest strengths of this book lay in two aspects. The first is the emotional exploration of Mary's heritage and racial identity - we knew little in previous books, aside from the fact that Mary is half-Chinese and keeps it hidden for her own safety in a country where Chinese and mixed-bloods are treated with hostility. But the return of her father as an opium addict and suspected murderer forces Mary to acknowledge and accept her mixed heritage as well as reconcile her memories of her father with the grim reality - and it IS grim. I loved that Y.S. Lee never tried to romanticize the "long-lost father" or his opium addiction, nor did she flinch from addressing Mary's Asian origins and what it entails in her historical period. It is exceedingly for a YA heroine to have Asian blood and for it to be treated not as something "exotic" and glamorous, but merely as a part of who Mary is and something which she has to deal with.
The second strength is the development of a more believably grounded relationship between Mary and James, both now considerably more mature and with the series of lies surrounding Mary's identity, their misunderstandings and prejudices out in the open. It would be unrealistic if their problems were so simply solved and they remain their stubborn, strong-willed selves, but they're both learning to trust and be upfront with their feelings rather than dancing around the issue. I had liked their romance in previous books but was admittedly never wholeheartedly invested in it; that has certainly changed with this book.
Most loose ends are wrapped up fairly neatly by the end and the romantic developments are wonderfully satisfying (a real contrast to the cliffhanger at the end of Book 2, that's for sure), but a threat to the future of the Agency itself promises enough intrigue for the final book.
Nothing could have prepared me for how much I enjoyed the change of scenery - we depart from the family house setting of The Spy in the House and the gritty conditions of the working poor in The Body at the Tower and dive into a case of serial thefts at BUCKINGHAM PALACE (something about a mystery in the palace always dials up the excitement - the whisperings of the servants, Queen Victoria herself making an appearance or two). With the change of setting also comes increased gravity of her assignment; although deceptively simple at the outset, Mary not only discovers that it is linked to a murder involving the Prince of Wales and a piece of her past that she'd long locked away, but also stumbles across a threat to the royal family hidden in secret tunnels running underneath the palace. The triple-layered mystery tying together a treasonous plot against Queen Victoria and Mary's long-lost Chinese father certainly makes The Traitor in the Tunnel a wildly more entertaining and suspenseful read than Book 2; I had admittedly thought the mystery in Books 1 & 2 often fell flat, but it certainly wasn't the case here.
But the greatest strengths of this book lay in two aspects. The first is the emotional exploration of Mary's heritage and racial identity - we knew little in previous books, aside from the fact that Mary is half-Chinese and keeps it hidden for her own safety in a country where Chinese and mixed-bloods are treated with hostility. But the return of her father as an opium addict and suspected murderer forces Mary to acknowledge and accept her mixed heritage as well as reconcile her memories of her father with the grim reality - and it IS grim. I loved that Y.S. Lee never tried to romanticize the "long-lost father" or his opium addiction, nor did she flinch from addressing Mary's Asian origins and what it entails in her historical period. It is exceedingly for a YA heroine to have Asian blood and for it to be treated not as something "exotic" and glamorous, but merely as a part of who Mary is and something which she has to deal with.
The second strength is the development of a more believably grounded relationship between Mary and James, both now considerably more mature and with the series of lies surrounding Mary's identity, their misunderstandings and prejudices out in the open. It would be unrealistic if their problems were so simply solved and they remain their stubborn, strong-willed selves, but they're both learning to trust and be upfront with their feelings rather than dancing around the issue. I had liked their romance in previous books but was admittedly never wholeheartedly invested in it; that has certainly changed with this book.
Most loose ends are wrapped up fairly neatly by the end and the romantic developments are wonderfully satisfying (a real contrast to the cliffhanger at the end of Book 2, that's for sure), but a threat to the future of the Agency itself promises enough intrigue for the final book.
January 2, 2013
Ugh.
Writing is fine. Story is okay. Nothing spectacular.
What annoys me to no end is Mary and James.
Their relationship appears to be all about the physical. They argue and bicker and then kiss passionately and get interrupted before they can do much more.
No meaningful conversations. Or, at the very least, not very many where they aren't yelling at each other. No signs that they really care for one another. It's all about how hot Mary gets underneath the petticoats whenever James is around and James seems to think, no joke, that their "animalistic passion" is a good thing and there's no problems there.
That's not love. It never will be, no matter how much you shove it in our face or tell us it is.
So that was mainly my problem with this one.
Also, did we really need the almost rape scene where it shows that Mary is quick-witted and smart by talking her way of it? Or when Mary almost lets Prince Albert take her in a manly fashion, all to gain information and not get sacked? To Mary's credit, she backed out, just in time, I might add, but it felt like it was thrown in there to make it gritter or something like that.
Or Mary helping Amy and Jones get it on, even though I'm pretty sure she knew that Jones had not the right intentions. But, it worked out with Mary's plan, so why not?
Personally, if Lee had focused completely on the mystery and characterization aspect, I would be one happy lady. But she didn't, so I'm not.
Pros:
But I did like Mary's father being in the story and her relationship with him. That was well done.
And the ending was perfectly satisfactory. There was no need for a 4th book. A perfectly fine and acceptable ending. But no.
*crosses Rivals in the City off TBR list*
February 14, 2019
Blergh. This one really didn't work for me. It was just too... much. In other words, nothing about this felt realistic.
-Mary and James' fight at the start felt contrived, and for dramatic purposes only
-The setting felt over the top (Mary is investigating shenanigans at Buckingham Palace of all things). I mean, sure, some of the stuff with Queen Victoria was a bit fun, but also, really over the top
-The whole sub-plot with the Prince of Whales was just ick. She's a sympathetic and attractive maid who's caught his eye (or she's pretending to be). Is she able to say no? It just, it was one too many things, and while probably a realistic conundrum for a maid, not one I enjoyed.
-I will say this, while it was certainly dramatic,
-Speaking of happily ever afters, I really enjoy James and Mary when they're working together on a case, but the romantic resolution...
-Really, the whole ending felt way too convenient.
I dunno, parts of it are fun - who doesn't enjoy a secret tunnel under a palace. But I'm annoyed enough at the ending that I'm debating finishing the series.
-Mary and James' fight at the start felt contrived, and for dramatic purposes only
-The setting felt over the top (Mary is investigating shenanigans at Buckingham Palace of all things). I mean, sure, some of the stuff with Queen Victoria was a bit fun, but also, really over the top
-The whole sub-plot with the Prince of Whales was just ick. She's a sympathetic and attractive maid who's caught his eye (or she's pretending to be). Is she able to say no? It just, it was one too many things, and while probably a realistic conundrum for a maid, not one I enjoyed.
-I will say this, while it was certainly dramatic,
-Speaking of happily ever afters, I really enjoy James and Mary when they're working together on a case, but the romantic resolution...
-Really, the whole ending felt way too convenient.
I dunno, parts of it are fun - who doesn't enjoy a secret tunnel under a palace. But I'm annoyed enough at the ending that I'm debating finishing the series.
June 1, 2015
Oh my god!! It is rare that I find a series that sucks me in the way that Y.S. Lee's Agency series has. It is even rarer when every book in a series gets a 5-Star ranking from me, but that is what happened with these historical mysteries.
For those of you who are unaware, The Agency is a young adult historical mystery series that tells of the adventures of Mary Quinn. Mary is a former street thief who was saved from execution/transportation and given the opportunity to be educated at a charity school. After graduating, she was offered a position in the Agency which is a group of female spies who go undercover in a variety of places to help out clients. In earlier installments of this series, readers have seen Mary as a lady's companion and as a twelve year old boy. Now, Mary has become a housemaid in Queen Victoria's household to discover the truth about possible thievery amongst the servants.
My favorite thing about this series is watching Mary grow into a confident spy and an independent young woman. Her past was tragic, but it has been a joy to see her overcome it to become successful in her chosen career. It is very clear that Mary is no longer a novice within the Agency. She has experience and confidence in her abilities that has been lacking in some of her earlier missions. Mary has become less reactive and impulsive to what goes on around her, but she still hasn't lost that innate curiousity that makes her so fun to read about. She has also grown mature and aware of her feelings about certain complex topics like her heritage (half-Asian) and her personal feelings for young architect, James Easton. Despite her flaws, Mary is definitely an admirable and realistic historical heroine that would be a great role model for many teenage girls.
And speaking of James, it wouldn't be an Agency novel without that clever and stoic young man popping up in the middle of Mary's investigation. James, like Mary, has grown up during the series. He has realized how judgmental he was about certain things and wants to pursue a different relationship with Mary. It is a sure sign of maturity when one evaluates one's earlier priorities and figures out where one is incorrect or hasty. Readers do not get as much of James's point of view as in earlier installments, but I found that to be a great way for the author to hide his true motives.
Mary and James continue to be a fascinating "couple" with their opposing social standings, but obvious chemistry. Both of them have difficulty trusting others, but have learned to let their guard down with each other. In The Traitor in the Tunnel, readers see Mary intentionally pursue James's assistance (which she avoided at all costs before) and James deal with his protective nature when it comes to Mary's independence. I look forward to the next book to see more of this potential romance especially after certain events occurred near the end.
The mystery in this book begins in a fairly simplistic manner, but any fan of Mary's knows that it can easily become complex. In her investigation of the thievery, Mary discovers a mysterious tunnel underneath the palace and she, and James, try to decipher its connection to the royals. It was entertaining to watch Mary deal with both mysteries at the same time while trying to maintain her cover as a housemaid.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of Queen Victoria and her family. I have always been fascinated by this lady and loved seeing how Y.S. Lee depicted her and her relationship with her husband and children. It was also fun to see the inner workings of a large English household...fans of Downton Abbey would definitely find the escapades of the servants fascinating.
This book does end with some lingering questions about the future of the Agency and Mary, and James's, role in it. Y.S. Lee is doing a fourth, and final, installment, and I personally cannot wait to see more of this interesting world of mystery, drama, and romance.
For those of you who are unaware, The Agency is a young adult historical mystery series that tells of the adventures of Mary Quinn. Mary is a former street thief who was saved from execution/transportation and given the opportunity to be educated at a charity school. After graduating, she was offered a position in the Agency which is a group of female spies who go undercover in a variety of places to help out clients. In earlier installments of this series, readers have seen Mary as a lady's companion and as a twelve year old boy. Now, Mary has become a housemaid in Queen Victoria's household to discover the truth about possible thievery amongst the servants.
My favorite thing about this series is watching Mary grow into a confident spy and an independent young woman. Her past was tragic, but it has been a joy to see her overcome it to become successful in her chosen career. It is very clear that Mary is no longer a novice within the Agency. She has experience and confidence in her abilities that has been lacking in some of her earlier missions. Mary has become less reactive and impulsive to what goes on around her, but she still hasn't lost that innate curiousity that makes her so fun to read about. She has also grown mature and aware of her feelings about certain complex topics like her heritage (half-Asian) and her personal feelings for young architect, James Easton. Despite her flaws, Mary is definitely an admirable and realistic historical heroine that would be a great role model for many teenage girls.
And speaking of James, it wouldn't be an Agency novel without that clever and stoic young man popping up in the middle of Mary's investigation. James, like Mary, has grown up during the series. He has realized how judgmental he was about certain things and wants to pursue a different relationship with Mary. It is a sure sign of maturity when one evaluates one's earlier priorities and figures out where one is incorrect or hasty. Readers do not get as much of James's point of view as in earlier installments, but I found that to be a great way for the author to hide his true motives.
Mary and James continue to be a fascinating "couple" with their opposing social standings, but obvious chemistry. Both of them have difficulty trusting others, but have learned to let their guard down with each other. In The Traitor in the Tunnel, readers see Mary intentionally pursue James's assistance (which she avoided at all costs before) and James deal with his protective nature when it comes to Mary's independence. I look forward to the next book to see more of this potential romance especially after certain events occurred near the end.
The mystery in this book begins in a fairly simplistic manner, but any fan of Mary's knows that it can easily become complex. In her investigation of the thievery, Mary discovers a mysterious tunnel underneath the palace and she, and James, try to decipher its connection to the royals. It was entertaining to watch Mary deal with both mysteries at the same time while trying to maintain her cover as a housemaid.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of Queen Victoria and her family. I have always been fascinated by this lady and loved seeing how Y.S. Lee depicted her and her relationship with her husband and children. It was also fun to see the inner workings of a large English household...fans of Downton Abbey would definitely find the escapades of the servants fascinating.
This book does end with some lingering questions about the future of the Agency and Mary, and James's, role in it. Y.S. Lee is doing a fourth, and final, installment, and I personally cannot wait to see more of this interesting world of mystery, drama, and romance.
September 20, 2011
You should have seen my face when this book came in the mail, it was probably Facebook worthy!!
When I first started reading the book I was starting to feel a little let down, so I put it down and thought, what was missing? It was only then that I realized that my anticipation for this book had been building up for over a year, so I had envisioned some almighty holy grail-esque shining novel in which I would hear a choir singing whenever I turned a page. And that I shouldn't start the book thinking like that. Motivated by this thought, I picked it up again with a different mindset, non-expectant, I want Ying to surprise me like she always does. Then, with each page I started to realize...this book is amazing!!! The reason I mention this is that anybody who is preparing to read the book or has read it and was less than overjoyed, I am warning you, don't open the book expecting everything to happen at once...let the story come to you. you will not be disappointed I assure you.
The depth of emotion coming off of Mary is breath-taking, every character literally lifts off the page as though real. The mystery has so many details and connections to the characters, that the plot is on a whole other level then the other books. The relationship between James and Mary is so real and smoldering, and there is just the right amount of it. Not too little to make the whole thing pointless, not too much to turn it into a romance novel. I love how each character is imperfect, they are so human, everybody having their own strengths and weaknesses, and the author wasn't afraid of making some of her characters ugly, ignorant, or just unlikable. This story really is amazing I often go back to it to read passages of it again. I will certainly be reading this series again in the near future ( I own all of them) and I am impatiently awaiting the next edition in this completely singular and original series.
Out of 5 stars I give 5,000,000,000 :D
When I first started reading the book I was starting to feel a little let down, so I put it down and thought, what was missing? It was only then that I realized that my anticipation for this book had been building up for over a year, so I had envisioned some almighty holy grail-esque shining novel in which I would hear a choir singing whenever I turned a page. And that I shouldn't start the book thinking like that. Motivated by this thought, I picked it up again with a different mindset, non-expectant, I want Ying to surprise me like she always does. Then, with each page I started to realize...this book is amazing!!! The reason I mention this is that anybody who is preparing to read the book or has read it and was less than overjoyed, I am warning you, don't open the book expecting everything to happen at once...let the story come to you. you will not be disappointed I assure you.
The depth of emotion coming off of Mary is breath-taking, every character literally lifts off the page as though real. The mystery has so many details and connections to the characters, that the plot is on a whole other level then the other books. The relationship between James and Mary is so real and smoldering, and there is just the right amount of it. Not too little to make the whole thing pointless, not too much to turn it into a romance novel. I love how each character is imperfect, they are so human, everybody having their own strengths and weaknesses, and the author wasn't afraid of making some of her characters ugly, ignorant, or just unlikable. This story really is amazing I often go back to it to read passages of it again. I will certainly be reading this series again in the near future ( I own all of them) and I am impatiently awaiting the next edition in this completely singular and original series.
Out of 5 stars I give 5,000,000,000 :D
December 13, 2015
Mary is undercover posing as a maid in Buckingham Palace, trying to find a thief. Her assignment isn't going as well as she'd like and there is tension in the Agency complicating matters further.
To make matters worse, James Easton is back unexpectedly and Mary suspects that is her long lost father.
Conspiracies, an immature prince and not nearly enough support for Mary, who is struggling to complete her assignment, while at the same time dealing with her feelings for the men in her life.
Very enjoyable story where Mary gets closure for some issues in her past while she finds a direction forward. Next comes the last book in the series .
Previous book reviews:
� A Spy in the House (The Agency #1)
� The Body at the Tower (The Agency #2)
To make matters worse, James Easton is back unexpectedly and Mary suspects that is her long lost father.
Conspiracies, an immature prince and not nearly enough support for Mary, who is struggling to complete her assignment, while at the same time dealing with her feelings for the men in her life.
Very enjoyable story where Mary gets closure for some issues in her past while she finds a direction forward. Next comes the last book in the series .
Previous book reviews:
� A Spy in the House (The Agency #1)
� The Body at the Tower (The Agency #2)
April 2, 2016
Rating: 2.5/5
I think it's been too long since I picked up this series because although I literally inhaled this book since I borrowed it from the library yesterday, I didn't enjoy it as much. First, anything where royalty is involved just bores me; their generosity, their love for their people, ugh it chafes at me and I don't enjoy all the prostrations that it involves. Second, there wasn't much high tension in the story, for me at least. The resolution to the mystery kinda whimpered out at the end. And finally, whenever the previous two books were referenced or Mary had a flashback of them, they seemed more fun, and dangerous than what I was currently reading.
I think it's been too long since I picked up this series because although I literally inhaled this book since I borrowed it from the library yesterday, I didn't enjoy it as much. First, anything where royalty is involved just bores me; their generosity, their love for their people, ugh it chafes at me and I don't enjoy all the prostrations that it involves. Second, there wasn't much high tension in the story, for me at least. The resolution to the mystery kinda whimpered out at the end. And finally, whenever the previous two books were referenced or Mary had a flashback of them, they seemed more fun, and dangerous than what I was currently reading.
October 16, 2018
This was so good. It was a great conclusion to the trilogy, except I learned upon finishing it that there's a fourth book! *Immediately downloaded*
October 8, 2024
Best so far!! So good that I'm nervous for the last one since this ended so well!! Nervous but excited to see where the story goes from here.
September 28, 2012
Mary and James sitting in a study K.I.S.S.I.N.G. First comes animalistic passion, then comes serious makeout scene, then comes James with his hand up her skirt!
I skipped the second book in the series for the very dull reason that I couldn't find a copy easily at hand, and I figured this was the sort of series you could skip around in.
It appears I was right.
The Traitor in the Tunnel has all I dislike about the first book in the series...and then some. To its credit, its also "minus some." The extreme femenist bombardment is slightly less. . The romance is worse. The modern mindset glaringly obvious.
Again, the mystery itself is interesting and the historical context fun. Bringing in Queen Victoria and not completely ruining her domestic side was good. Yup, yup, all good.
EXCEPT:
There is that dang modern mindset. Whether it is Mary trying to convince the maid that marriage isn't the final answer of life to her daring to contradict Queen Victoria and declare a women can have an occupation AND a marriage.
She's completely and positively adamant that women don't need men...yet of course doesn’t mind when a super handsome one makes out with her all the time. Apparently, the otherwise useless chaps are good for a nice spine-tingley thrill. ^.-
I found the continuation of her 'OH MY GOODNESS I'M CHINESE IF ANYONE EVER FOUND OUT THEY'D BE HORRIFIED' obnoxious. Get over yourself girl. It doesn't fit with the way anyone has treated her so far. Maybe the general populance would be hostile, but Felicity and Anne? Uh-huh.
Frankly, it's Mary's relationship with men that drive me nuts about this book. And by that I mean...
Her nearly getting molested by the Prince's guard/chap
Her nearly getting raped/offering up her femenine dignity to the Prince of Wales because apparently sleeping with a guy means he'll confess to murdering someone
Her relationship with James.
All of it.
It is, frankly, soft, emotional porn. Now, I'm not calling it anywhere near Shades of Grey or any of those modern harder emotional porn. This is the soft stuff. It's the "respectable" kind. Nothing actually happens. Unfortunatley, nothing is described in way to much detail.
Like when she shows up at James's house out of the blue....he doesn't get her in his study two minutes and they are passionately making out, her hair has come undone, her blouse buttons conveniently unbuttoned....
Maybe, maybe in different circumstances that might be cute, but their entire relationship involves them kissing or pissing eachother off. There is no middle ground. And for heaven's sake, "animalistic" is an awful word. There is nothing in the least bit romantic about it. But then, there you have their relationship in eight words. Nothing in the least bit romantic about it.
So there....didn't like this book, found her dependency on men dumb, found her need to go and "save" James again cliche, found their entire relationship one longed "passionate" makeout tiring. Otherwise, the book had potential
I skipped the second book in the series for the very dull reason that I couldn't find a copy easily at hand, and I figured this was the sort of series you could skip around in.
It appears I was right.
The Traitor in the Tunnel has all I dislike about the first book in the series...and then some. To its credit, its also "minus some." The extreme femenist bombardment is slightly less. . The romance is worse. The modern mindset glaringly obvious.
Again, the mystery itself is interesting and the historical context fun. Bringing in Queen Victoria and not completely ruining her domestic side was good. Yup, yup, all good.
EXCEPT:
There is that dang modern mindset. Whether it is Mary trying to convince the maid that marriage isn't the final answer of life to her daring to contradict Queen Victoria and declare a women can have an occupation AND a marriage.
She's completely and positively adamant that women don't need men...yet of course doesn’t mind when a super handsome one makes out with her all the time. Apparently, the otherwise useless chaps are good for a nice spine-tingley thrill. ^.-
I found the continuation of her 'OH MY GOODNESS I'M CHINESE IF ANYONE EVER FOUND OUT THEY'D BE HORRIFIED' obnoxious. Get over yourself girl. It doesn't fit with the way anyone has treated her so far. Maybe the general populance would be hostile, but Felicity and Anne? Uh-huh.
Frankly, it's Mary's relationship with men that drive me nuts about this book. And by that I mean...
Her nearly getting molested by the Prince's guard/chap
Her nearly getting raped/offering up her femenine dignity to the Prince of Wales because apparently sleeping with a guy means he'll confess to murdering someone
Her relationship with James.
All of it.
It is, frankly, soft, emotional porn. Now, I'm not calling it anywhere near Shades of Grey or any of those modern harder emotional porn. This is the soft stuff. It's the "respectable" kind. Nothing actually happens. Unfortunatley, nothing is described in way to much detail.
Like when she shows up at James's house out of the blue....he doesn't get her in his study two minutes and they are passionately making out, her hair has come undone, her blouse buttons conveniently unbuttoned....
Maybe, maybe in different circumstances that might be cute, but their entire relationship involves them kissing or pissing eachother off. There is no middle ground. And for heaven's sake, "animalistic" is an awful word. There is nothing in the least bit romantic about it. But then, there you have their relationship in eight words. Nothing in the least bit romantic about it.
So there....didn't like this book, found her dependency on men dumb, found her need to go and "save" James again cliche, found their entire relationship one longed "passionate" makeout tiring. Otherwise, the book had potential
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2013
3.5
A lot is happening for Mary, both personally and professionally, in this latest installment. It opens with Mary on her first assignment as a fully trained Agent, even though the case - petty thefts at the palace - is a bit humdrum after the excitement of previous cases.
But then, while she's at the palace, this go awry for the Prince Bertie, and the case touches on Mary's on past. She also is left in a position of having to decide just how far she'll go to compromise herself to get information she needs.
And while all this is going on, there's another crossing of paths with James Easton, which causes both tempers and passions to flare.
All in all, I found it a page turner, and one of those ever rarer books, of late, where I found myself chomping at the bit to get back to the story while I was forced to be away from it. (Stupid work.)
There were moments of eye-rollingness in the romance department, as these sort of drawn out 'will they or won't they' kind of romances have, but also nice little moments of butterflies and frisson.
My only real complaint is that more time seemed to be spent on the personal side of things, and Mary often seemed so distracted by things that the case at hand often felt like it was on the back-burner, to the point where clues were almost stumbled upon accidentally as opposed to actually being investigated.
And, within the personal front, some of her reactions surprised me, namely
And I'm definitely glad some things went the way they did -
Anyway, as I said, some of the personal bits seemed a bit belabored at the cost of the mystery part, though, as I'm more a character-based reader, this bothered me less than it might bother those looking more for a juicy mystery.
But I did like the resolution of the case, particularly the role played by Vicky, Herself. Quite a plucky thing. ;)
The ending leaves things for the future looking interesting, and I look forward to the next installment of the series.
A lot is happening for Mary, both personally and professionally, in this latest installment. It opens with Mary on her first assignment as a fully trained Agent, even though the case - petty thefts at the palace - is a bit humdrum after the excitement of previous cases.
But then, while she's at the palace, this go awry for the Prince Bertie, and the case touches on Mary's on past. She also is left in a position of having to decide just how far she'll go to compromise herself to get information she needs.
And while all this is going on, there's another crossing of paths with James Easton, which causes both tempers and passions to flare.
All in all, I found it a page turner, and one of those ever rarer books, of late, where I found myself chomping at the bit to get back to the story while I was forced to be away from it. (Stupid work.)
There were moments of eye-rollingness in the romance department, as these sort of drawn out 'will they or won't they' kind of romances have, but also nice little moments of butterflies and frisson.
My only real complaint is that more time seemed to be spent on the personal side of things, and Mary often seemed so distracted by things that the case at hand often felt like it was on the back-burner, to the point where clues were almost stumbled upon accidentally as opposed to actually being investigated.
And, within the personal front, some of her reactions surprised me, namely
And I'm definitely glad some things went the way they did -
Anyway, as I said, some of the personal bits seemed a bit belabored at the cost of the mystery part, though, as I'm more a character-based reader, this bothered me less than it might bother those looking more for a juicy mystery.
But I did like the resolution of the case, particularly the role played by Vicky, Herself. Quite a plucky thing. ;)
The ending leaves things for the future looking interesting, and I look forward to the next installment of the series.
February 21, 2015
Ah, Ying…you are amazing. If I could give you a big hug right now, I would, I would also look like a crazy person/creepy stalker, but it would be worth it, because you just wrote the most PERFECT third book in a series of this kind, and I'm so happy I can finally give my beloved Mary Quinn a 5 star rating! SO HAPPY!
In this third book, Mary is working as a maid at the Buckingham Palace, undercover, of course, for the Agency. Some objects have gone missing, suggesting there's a thief among the staff, and Mary's job is to unravel this mystery. Meanwhile, Mr James Easton is commissioned to rebuild the sewer system of the Palace, which forces the couple to meet again � YAY! I was so nervous -and excited- to know how they were going to behave around each other after their oh-so-sad last encounter in . Really, James…you broke my heart, but I'm so happy I didn't lose my faith in you, because you may have broken it then, but you healed it now...
*pause to swoon all over James*
I don't want to say too much about the plot, because I would hate to spoil this GREAT book for potential readers, but I'll say this: this is a remarkably well written story, with just the perfect amounts of historical facts, spying, danger, romance, heartbreaking scenes, and will-bring-a-smile-to-your-face moments, and I highly recommend this series for everyone who is in need of a great read with a lovely -and yet so brave- heroine.
I want to thank the author once again for writing these books, and also say that I could barely believe my eyes when I found out this third installment was not going to be the last one in the Agency series, YES: THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOURTH BOOK! Thank you my lucky stars! :)
*PT*
In this third book, Mary is working as a maid at the Buckingham Palace, undercover, of course, for the Agency. Some objects have gone missing, suggesting there's a thief among the staff, and Mary's job is to unravel this mystery. Meanwhile, Mr James Easton is commissioned to rebuild the sewer system of the Palace, which forces the couple to meet again � YAY! I was so nervous -and excited- to know how they were going to behave around each other after their oh-so-sad last encounter in . Really, James…you broke my heart, but I'm so happy I didn't lose my faith in you, because you may have broken it then, but you healed it now...
*pause to swoon all over James*
I don't want to say too much about the plot, because I would hate to spoil this GREAT book for potential readers, but I'll say this: this is a remarkably well written story, with just the perfect amounts of historical facts, spying, danger, romance, heartbreaking scenes, and will-bring-a-smile-to-your-face moments, and I highly recommend this series for everyone who is in need of a great read with a lovely -and yet so brave- heroine.
I want to thank the author once again for writing these books, and also say that I could barely believe my eyes when I found out this third installment was not going to be the last one in the Agency series, YES: THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOURTH BOOK! Thank you my lucky stars! :)
*PT*
February 20, 2012
Y’all, historical mysteries are one of my favorite genres. The Agency series by Y.S. Lee definitely delivers � I love these books! The Traitor in the Tunnel is easily the best yet.
Mary Quinn, working for the shadowy female Agency, is undercover at Queen Victoria’s palace as a maid. Some petty thefts have been going on, and Mary is hoping to figure out who is behind them. Then things get complicated. Extremely complicated. The prince witnesses a murder � and the accused murderer just might be someone important from Mary’s past. Then, James Easton turns up working for the palace as well. He is hoping to shore up the sewer system. Can the two of them manage to work together, given their history?
Oh, the chemistry. Mary and James together are so dynamic and full of sparkage. The first two books were great, but their relationship really comes to a head in The Traitor in the Tunnel. I absolutely adore the way Y.S. Lee has written their romance. I’m thrilled that there is going to be a fourth book � they need that extra room for some further development. I can’t wait!
So, both mysteries going on in The Traitor in the Tunnel are fabulous. The accused murderer is Chinese, possibly very important to Mary’s history and extremely difficult to carry on a conversation with. How on Earth will Mary manage to figure out exactly who he is?
When some mysterious happenings are afoot in the tunnels � can Mary and James figure out who is behind them and why?
Mystery! Intrigue! Suspense! The Traitor in the Tunnel delivers on all fronts.
Also y’all, Queen Victoria makes an excellent cameo towards the end of the story. She manages to be both hilarious and bad ass. I loved the role Y.S. Lee gave her.
Basically, this is a definite must-read if you have read the first two books in the series. Otherwise � start from the beginning and experience the awesome! Mary Quinn is an awesome character and a great detective. I can’t get enough of the intrigues she finds herself in. I also can’t get enough of her growing romance with James Easton!
Definitely a series worth reading! Trust me.
Mary Quinn, working for the shadowy female Agency, is undercover at Queen Victoria’s palace as a maid. Some petty thefts have been going on, and Mary is hoping to figure out who is behind them. Then things get complicated. Extremely complicated. The prince witnesses a murder � and the accused murderer just might be someone important from Mary’s past. Then, James Easton turns up working for the palace as well. He is hoping to shore up the sewer system. Can the two of them manage to work together, given their history?
Oh, the chemistry. Mary and James together are so dynamic and full of sparkage. The first two books were great, but their relationship really comes to a head in The Traitor in the Tunnel. I absolutely adore the way Y.S. Lee has written their romance. I’m thrilled that there is going to be a fourth book � they need that extra room for some further development. I can’t wait!
So, both mysteries going on in The Traitor in the Tunnel are fabulous. The accused murderer is Chinese, possibly very important to Mary’s history and extremely difficult to carry on a conversation with. How on Earth will Mary manage to figure out exactly who he is?
When some mysterious happenings are afoot in the tunnels � can Mary and James figure out who is behind them and why?
Mystery! Intrigue! Suspense! The Traitor in the Tunnel delivers on all fronts.
Also y’all, Queen Victoria makes an excellent cameo towards the end of the story. She manages to be both hilarious and bad ass. I loved the role Y.S. Lee gave her.
Basically, this is a definite must-read if you have read the first two books in the series. Otherwise � start from the beginning and experience the awesome! Mary Quinn is an awesome character and a great detective. I can’t get enough of the intrigues she finds herself in. I also can’t get enough of her growing romance with James Easton!
Definitely a series worth reading! Trust me.
February 13, 2012
Whenever a new Agency novel by Y. S. Lee comes out, I always try to resist the temptation to devour it immediately, knowing that I will have to wait a while until the next book. I succeeded in resisting for all of approximately two weeks after I was approved for it on NetGalley. While, in my opinion, THE TRAITOR IN THE TUNNEL didn’t quite live up to how much I loved the first two Agency books, it is still a satisfying return to Lee’s Victorian London.
My biggest frustration with TRAITOR was that I felt that many things were “uneven.� The story takes place among the most well-noted London landmarks and features well-known historical characters, but I still didn’t get a really thorough sense of the setting and minor characters. Some of the actions of seasoned characters felt rather abrupt and left me scratching my head and wondering, did he/she really do that? I also didn’t feel as much urgency or investment in TRAITOR, and felt like no sooner had I grasped what was going on in the plot than it was over.
But perhaps it’s just a result of it being a long time since I was in Mary’s world, or the fact that I was reading this on a Kindle, which, truth be told, sometimes takes away from my engagement in a story. I am very glad to see Mary again, who is resourceful, yet also contains relatable insecurities, particularly involving her familial past and her future, both of which get explored in appreciable side plots in TRAITOR. As always, I am more than happy to see James again—even though some of his behavior did feel a bit incongruous with the James I knew from the previous two books.
So THE TRAITOR IN THE TUNNEL might not be my favorite of the Agency books, but this series is still arguably the best mystery series set in Victorian England available. Best yet, there is one more Agency book in the works—and you’ll agree with me that it is a wonderful thing to be able to read about Mary, James, and the others for as long as possible once you start this series!
My biggest frustration with TRAITOR was that I felt that many things were “uneven.� The story takes place among the most well-noted London landmarks and features well-known historical characters, but I still didn’t get a really thorough sense of the setting and minor characters. Some of the actions of seasoned characters felt rather abrupt and left me scratching my head and wondering, did he/she really do that? I also didn’t feel as much urgency or investment in TRAITOR, and felt like no sooner had I grasped what was going on in the plot than it was over.
But perhaps it’s just a result of it being a long time since I was in Mary’s world, or the fact that I was reading this on a Kindle, which, truth be told, sometimes takes away from my engagement in a story. I am very glad to see Mary again, who is resourceful, yet also contains relatable insecurities, particularly involving her familial past and her future, both of which get explored in appreciable side plots in TRAITOR. As always, I am more than happy to see James again—even though some of his behavior did feel a bit incongruous with the James I knew from the previous two books.
So THE TRAITOR IN THE TUNNEL might not be my favorite of the Agency books, but this series is still arguably the best mystery series set in Victorian England available. Best yet, there is one more Agency book in the works—and you’ll agree with me that it is a wonderful thing to be able to read about Mary, James, and the others for as long as possible once you start this series!
August 22, 2013
This is very likely the best of The Agency series so far. Certainly better than the second, which wasn't quite so good as the first, though it's a bit harder to remember that one, as it's been a good year or more since I read it (but I do have some vague recollections of a mystery gone horribly awry). I enjoyed the writing, the story was excellent, and I have a notion that the setting was perhaps a bit better done the others. Also, the addition of Mary's father didn't go amuck.
So overall, quite good.
There were, however, just a few things that can't help but feel the author could have done better. While I think Mary is a great character, and James isn't half bad himself, their relationship is bloody rubbish. It's pretty much a series of furious blushes (on Mary's part) and animal passion (to quote James himself) with hardly any indication that they actually even like each other beyond physical attraction. It can summed up in yelling and kissing. Crikey.
And then some of Mary's, er, shall we say moral priorities. Like her helping Jones sneak into Amy's room, even when she knew where that whole relationship was going. And I'm not entirely sure that there was a whole lot of point to that thing between her and Bertie, either.
Beyond that though, it was pretty darn good with a vastly improved mystery from the first book (but that would hardly be difficult, considering the level of pathetic that one had mystery-wise) and a satisfactory ending. It hardly needs another book in the series. In fact, we'd possibly be better off without. I can already almost hear Mary and James shouting at each other again....
So overall, quite good.
There were, however, just a few things that can't help but feel the author could have done better. While I think Mary is a great character, and James isn't half bad himself, their relationship is bloody rubbish. It's pretty much a series of furious blushes (on Mary's part) and animal passion (to quote James himself) with hardly any indication that they actually even like each other beyond physical attraction. It can summed up in yelling and kissing. Crikey.
And then some of Mary's, er, shall we say moral priorities. Like her helping Jones sneak into Amy's room, even when she knew where that whole relationship was going. And I'm not entirely sure that there was a whole lot of point to that thing between her and Bertie, either.
Beyond that though, it was pretty darn good with a vastly improved mystery from the first book (but that would hardly be difficult, considering the level of pathetic that one had mystery-wise) and a satisfactory ending. It hardly needs another book in the series. In fact, we'd possibly be better off without. I can already almost hear Mary and James shouting at each other again....
July 13, 2012
This installment of YS Lee's excellent historical romance-mysteries is, in my opinion not quite as tightly plotted as the last two, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. If I could, it would get 3.5 stars. Mary is, as always, intelligent, courageous and impulsive. Her thoughts always take more of the center stage than the actual mystery, and in this one, the mysteries are numerous and a bit confusing. They don't end up being related, which was disappointing. And as for James...well, at the beginning of the book I was beginning not to like him! It's true that witty and flirtatious dialogue can't take the place of a relationship's development, but he was being just a bit too insistent and passionate, considering Mary was trying to keep some semblance of dignity. It was embarrassing. Especially when they are caught making out by his brother. At least show a little decorum, man! But I can overlook it, considering the ending. That's all I'll say. The Agency's fate is very sad, I was hoping Anne and Felicity would be fleshed out more. I was prepared to like them. But I can't wait to see how the next book carries this forward. Other nit-picks: there were some things I was surprised were glossed over. The storyline about Mary's father is excellent, but the time frame of his life wasn't clear. I was thinking, what about his part in Mary's mother's fall and death? Why didn't she mention that? Who was the red-haired girl? And why didn't Mary say anything to James about her promise too the Queen? Ah, well. With the engaging writing and characters and wonderful historic atmosphere and details, I still approve of this book and can't wait to read the next!
January 27, 2012
Okay, this review will be short but let me just some this book up first in three words: fun, addicting, and fabulous.
I absolutely loved the new setting in this one. We went from the absolute lows of Victorian society (the poor and the hardworking who live in shoddy housing and unhygienic places) to the utmost of highs (the ruling royalty). It was so fun seeing how she portrayed everyone from the well-meaning, sharp, but also caring queen to the ineffective, cowardly, and lazy ponce of a prince.
The whole mystery plot didn’t seem as captivating or excessively complicated to me. I actually didn’t care too much about this aspect of the story. I will add that her discovery of her father and his rejection and refusal of her existence was heartbreaking as it was realistic. It was a chapter in Mary’s life that needed closure no matter how painful it was for her.
But what am I talking about? It’s all MARY AND JAMES! TOTALLY! I loved that they were back and their witty banter back and forth proved just as fun. Not to mention the hot make out times. OH YES, THE MAKE OUT TIMES. I will not tell you how many times I swooned. They’re just so perfect for each other. I can’t tell you how much I loved it and wanted there to be another book when it came to an end because I loved those two enough to share my chocolate with them. And that’s big! I NEVER share my chocolate! Hell no, it’s hands off, maggots!
Then I found out there was going to be another book in the series� Can you say HELL YES? Those screams you just heard? Totally mine.
I absolutely loved the new setting in this one. We went from the absolute lows of Victorian society (the poor and the hardworking who live in shoddy housing and unhygienic places) to the utmost of highs (the ruling royalty). It was so fun seeing how she portrayed everyone from the well-meaning, sharp, but also caring queen to the ineffective, cowardly, and lazy ponce of a prince.
The whole mystery plot didn’t seem as captivating or excessively complicated to me. I actually didn’t care too much about this aspect of the story. I will add that her discovery of her father and his rejection and refusal of her existence was heartbreaking as it was realistic. It was a chapter in Mary’s life that needed closure no matter how painful it was for her.
But what am I talking about? It’s all MARY AND JAMES! TOTALLY! I loved that they were back and their witty banter back and forth proved just as fun. Not to mention the hot make out times. OH YES, THE MAKE OUT TIMES. I will not tell you how many times I swooned. They’re just so perfect for each other. I can’t tell you how much I loved it and wanted there to be another book when it came to an end because I loved those two enough to share my chocolate with them. And that’s big! I NEVER share my chocolate! Hell no, it’s hands off, maggots!
Then I found out there was going to be another book in the series� Can you say HELL YES? Those screams you just heard? Totally mine.
March 12, 2012
This series continues to be entertaining with well-developed characters and excellent plots. The mystery in this one, the thefts from the palace and the lurking about in the tunnels, is somewhat secondary to Mary's personal mysteries and actions. Not that that is bad, it's just that solving the mystery isn't central to the story, although it is the central story.
Without going into much detail, I loved how this one ended. I would have liked Mary to get to know more about her heritage and why things happened as they did, but sometimes in life you simply don't get all the answers, but I think she gets enough to move on.
The scenes between Mary and James always crackle with underlying attraction and their arguments, stubborn against stubborn are fun to read. These two have gotten to know one another and their relationship or beginnings of a relationship make sense for the two of them and the time in which they live.
The ending is satisfying. I just saw that the series is going to be continuing on. Normally I am irritated when I think I'm at the end only to find that the series has been extended. In this case, I am pleasantly surprised and happy there will be more. And when I say that, it doesn't mean that this one doesn't have an ending or that you would feel you must read the next one(although, of course, you will want to) but that I enjoy this series so much that I'm glad this isn't the end.
Great series.
Without going into much detail, I loved how this one ended. I would have liked Mary to get to know more about her heritage and why things happened as they did, but sometimes in life you simply don't get all the answers, but I think she gets enough to move on.
The scenes between Mary and James always crackle with underlying attraction and their arguments, stubborn against stubborn are fun to read. These two have gotten to know one another and their relationship or beginnings of a relationship make sense for the two of them and the time in which they live.
The ending is satisfying. I just saw that the series is going to be continuing on. Normally I am irritated when I think I'm at the end only to find that the series has been extended. In this case, I am pleasantly surprised and happy there will be more. And when I say that, it doesn't mean that this one doesn't have an ending or that you would feel you must read the next one(although, of course, you will want to) but that I enjoy this series so much that I'm glad this isn't the end.
Great series.
March 20, 2012
So far this is my favorite book in the series. Of course this is the natural thing for most series because the characters and the world setting is mostly done in the first book. So we already have the established characters and just get to focus more on the plot of the story, which is a new mystery for Mary to solve.
This time the characters involved may be closer to Mary than she would have ever thought. It not only develops a story within the Royal court at Buckingham Palace, but one that leads to her own past and could possible answer questions about her life.
The suspense is knocked up a bit with a little more speed and urgency to keep the pacing as well as the combination of different questions she is trying to get answered leads to more than just one mystery to be solved. There is just a short introduction to set the setting of this mystery and some of the clues to what Mary will be looking for, with a twist.
Mary is a strong lead character, very intelligent and brave. She is forced to accept some things in her personal life and grows up a lot emotionally. She is a lot more admirable person that I would have been in her place.
There is also the romance factor, very cute and light. I give this one 4 stars
This time the characters involved may be closer to Mary than she would have ever thought. It not only develops a story within the Royal court at Buckingham Palace, but one that leads to her own past and could possible answer questions about her life.
The suspense is knocked up a bit with a little more speed and urgency to keep the pacing as well as the combination of different questions she is trying to get answered leads to more than just one mystery to be solved. There is just a short introduction to set the setting of this mystery and some of the clues to what Mary will be looking for, with a twist.
Mary is a strong lead character, very intelligent and brave. She is forced to accept some things in her personal life and grows up a lot emotionally. She is a lot more admirable person that I would have been in her place.
There is also the romance factor, very cute and light. I give this one 4 stars
March 10, 2015
This book made me laugh out loud, it made me flip pages frantically to find out WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT, it made me sigh soulfully over perfect romantic scenes, it made me cry, it was-- in short-- a Mary Quinn book. The mystery here is a little less tightly-plotted than the others have been, as the two disparate threads Mary is investigating never coalesce into a larger, joined problem and the payoff in each-- since neither has been the specific focus-- is therefore lessened. But Mary's emotional journey is depicted with beautiful detail, so this is a minor quibble. I am so relieved that there will be a fourth book because, even if this one provides a satisfying conclusion to the series, saying goodbye to these characters for good would break my heart. I am just so attached to Mary and James.
February 10, 2016
I loved this book! Mary finally confronts the ghosts of her past...and she seems to be the better for it. She also has to make some major decisions about where her life is going n this book, and I really hope that she sticks with what she chose. James is so confusing. I mean in the first part of the book, I really hated him for what he did to Mary. But by the end, I was totally back on his side again. The mystery, as usual with Y.S. Lee books was great. I never suspected who was stealing the trinkets from the palace. Octavius Jones just confuses me. I mean I like his character, but I also don't understand why he is such a prominent character in the book. But I do hope that there is not a love triangle between Octavius, Mary and James. I can't wait to read the next book!
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