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sousouaya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
UGH this was a wonderful ride. I only need MORE
licensetoshelbs's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
logan_turner's review against another edition
4.0
A fun historical mystery, though perhaps not the most memorable of stories. Full review to come.
hawthornbooks's review against another edition
4.0
this book was the perfect mix of both mystery and flirtation between the main characters!! highly recommend!
s_hornsby's review against another edition
3.0
Ehh it wasn't bad. A bit slow and quite boring at times and the excitement was only at the end. I probably won't read the others. It had a good idea and stuff but it wasn't written as well as I had hoped
couillac's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to love this series, and perhaps I just set myself up for disappointment. I must admit, I like Mary's character, I'm intrigued by Lee's exploration of what it meant to be mixed race in Victoria's England, I want to see where Mary goes from here. However, the mystery is convoluted and has little human hook to interest me - what do I care about shipping fraud? And what I really want to see, details about a Victorian school that trains women to be spies, isn't there at all. Perhaps more will come in the rest of the series, but I'm not that hooked.
gokristy's review against another edition
3.75
women truly can do anything they put their mind to it
rwbrock's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as part of a book club, and overall I enjoyed it. I believe it is listed as a YA book, but I think it could be appreciated by a wider audience as well.
Set in 1850s London, Mary Quinn, a poor 12 year old orphan, is sentenced to hang for stealing when she is rescued by the headmistress of a very selective academy for girls. She is educated, both intellectually and socially, and at 17 is asked to be a member of The Agency, a secret spy group made up of young women from the academy who assist Scotland Yard gathering evidence for arrests.
She insinuates herself as a lady’s companion into the home of a wealthy shipping merchant who is suspected of insurance fraud among other things. She has various adventures and is aided by new friends in her mission. There are some twists and turns, and the villain(s) become fairly obvious, but the unique idea behind the academy and Mary herself kept me interested.
Set in 1850s London, Mary Quinn, a poor 12 year old orphan, is sentenced to hang for stealing when she is rescued by the headmistress of a very selective academy for girls. She is educated, both intellectually and socially, and at 17 is asked to be a member of The Agency, a secret spy group made up of young women from the academy who assist Scotland Yard gathering evidence for arrests.
She insinuates herself as a lady’s companion into the home of a wealthy shipping merchant who is suspected of insurance fraud among other things. She has various adventures and is aided by new friends in her mission. There are some twists and turns, and the villain(s) become fairly obvious, but the unique idea behind the academy and Mary herself kept me interested.