The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 373
Source: ARC from publisher | Purchased
Rating:  
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Queen Victoria has a little problem: there’s a petty thief at work in Buckingham Palace. Charged with discretion, the Agency puts quickwitted Mary Quinn on the case, where she must pose as a domestic while fending off the attentions of a feckless Prince of Wales. But when the prince witnesses the murder of one of his friends in an opium den, the potential for scandal looms large. And Mary faces an even more unsettling possibility: the accused killer, a Chinese sailor imprisoned in the Tower of London, shares a name with her long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Easton, Mary’s onetime paramour, is at work shoring up the sewers beneath the palace, where an unexpected tunnel seems to be very much in use. Can Mary and James trust each other (and put their simmering feelings aside) long enough to solve the mystery and protect the Royal Family? – Goodreads

Review:
It is always a delight to return to Victorian London in Y.S. Lee’s The Agency series. Although the first book in the series, A Spy in the House, probably remains my favorite, The Traitor in the Tunnel was a great addition to Mary’s adventures.

Y.S. Lee made The Traitor in the Tunnel the most personal chapter to Mary’s story yet. While posing undercover as a maid at Buckingham Palace, she becomes aware of a murder that has ties to her past. Her history has always been a mystery itself so it was great to finally uncover more details. Mary was filled with so much hope, but there was also dread and sadness; Y.S. Lee made these feelings very palpable as Mary navigated through her discoveries.

The other central mystery had Mary investigating thefts and secret tunnels. I must admit that I wasn’t completely engaged in these storylines, but they perfectly displayed Mary’s intelligence and tenacity. Plus, the mysteries brought my favorite duo back together.

Mary and James, gah, these two have some of the most incredible chemistry I’ve found in any couple. After their last encounter in The Body at the Tower I was a little worried about their reunion and future interactions, but I had no need to worry. Y.S. Lee had me feeling absolutely gleeful over their bantering, bickering and, yes, their kissing. SWOON CITY, I love these two, and I can’t imagine any scenario where I would grow bored of them. You know those couples that are so just blah and bland? Definitely not Mary and James. They are interesting on their own, make an amazing team together, and are a perfect balance for each other. Favorites!

I’m so glad that there’s another book in the series heading our way. I really love the turn of events at the end of The Traitor in the Tunnel and it can only mean more growth and awesome for the characters I’ve grown to love.

The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee
Release Date: August 10, 2010
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 352
Source: Personal Copy
Rating:  
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

This is another colourful, action-packed Victorian detective novel about the exploits of agent Mary Quinn. At a young age, Mary Quinn is rescued from the gallows and taken to Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. The school turns out to be a front for a private detective agency. At age 17, Mary takes on her first case (A Spy in the House). In this, the second book of the series, Mary Quinn sets out to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death at St. Stephen’s Tower, better known as the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The accident occurred after hours in a highly public part of town and despite the presence of night watchmen. Mary, disguised as Mark Quinn, becomes a builder’s assistant to find out the truth about the body at the tower. – Goodreads

Review:
After having fallen in love with A Spy in the House, I was looking forward to another adventure with Mary and James. While not quite reaching the level of enjoyment that I had with the first book, The Body at the Tower was still a great continuation of the series.

Following a death at St. Stephen’s Tower, The Agency assigns Mary to go undercover as an assistant at the construction site. Her goal is to get more information on the circumstances surrounding the accident. Posing as a lady’s companion in Spy had its own difficulties, but Mary’s new disguise requires her to chop off her hair, bind her breasts, take on a new voice and mannerisms, and even a new name! Mary Quinn becomes Mark Quinn, a twelve year old looking for work in the very male-dominated field. To add to its difficulty, disguising herself as a boy forces memories of Mary’s past to resurface, allowing us a glimpse into her life before Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy took her in.

The mystery was interesting in its own way, but I didn’t find it as gripping as its predecessor in Spy. I didn’t feel as connected with these new characters like I did with the Thorolds, Michael, or even little Alfred Quigley! With a mysterious death, I expected a lot more emotional involvement.

Mary and James did not disappoint one bit! With Mary disguised as Mark I knew there would be fun moments ahead. I’m glad, however, that the book didn’t linger too long on any confusion between the two and quickly resumed their relationship. Their banter was as delightful as ever and their chemistry definitely went up a few notches. Anything else on these two together would consist of the caps lock key and many exclamation points so I’ll just say: I LOVE THEM!

The third book, The Traitor and the Tunnel, will be released in the U.K. this June and then in the U.S. and Canada in Spring 2012… There is NO WAY I’ll be able to wait so I will somehow have to get my grubby little hands on it come June. I simply can’t get enough of these characters!