Y. S. Lee

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, orphan and thief Mary Quinn is invited to join a covert female investigative unit and poses as a lady's companion to track down a wealthy merchant's missing cargo ships. A first novel.

A Spy in the House

A follow-up to A Spy in the House finds mid-19th-century orphan Mary Quinn tackling a latest case in which her efforts to discover a murderer's identity force her to relive harrowing childhood experiences.

The Body at the Tower

When Mary Quinn is ordered to work undercover after a petty thief steals from Buckingham Palace, she receives attention from a prince, wonders at a murder suspect's shared name with her father, and struggles with her feelings for James Easton.

The Traitor in the Tunnel

Hesitating to accept James' marriage proposal out of fear of losing her independence, Mary watches over a dying prisoner whose wife holds a grudge against James, at the same time a familiar Chinese prizefighter arrives in London.

Rivals in the City

Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this diverting mystery trails a feisty heroine as she takes on a precarious secret assignment. Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn found herself at Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls, the cover for an all-female investigative unit called the Agency. Now seventeen, Mary must put her training to the test. Disguised as a lady’s companion, she infiltrates a merchant’s home in hopes of finding clues to the whereabouts of his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of deceptions, and there is no one to trust. . . . Or is there? Packed with suspense and evoking gritty Victorian backstreets, this breezy mystery marks the debut of a detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.

The Agency: A Spy in the House

Packed with action and suspense and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets--including those of her own past.

In a tale steeped in action, romance, and the gaslit intrigue of Victorian London, Mary Quinn’s detective skills are pitted against a cunning and desperate opponent. Mary Quinn has a lot on her mind. James Easton, her longtime love interest, wants to marry her; but despite her feelings, independent-minded Mary hesitates. Meanwhile, the Agency has asked Mary to take on a dangerous case: convicted fraudster Henry Thorold is dying in prison, and Mary must watch for the return of his estranged wife, an accomplished criminal herself who has a potentially deadly grudge against James. Finally, a Chinese prizefighter has arrived in town, and Mary can’t shake a feeling that he is somehow familiar. With the stakes higher than ever, can Mary balance family secrets, conflicting loyalties, and professional expertise to bring a criminal to justice and find her own happiness?

The Agency: Rivals in the City

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. Quick-witted Mary Quinn is undercover at Buckingham Palace, hunting a petty thief, when the Prince of Wales witnesses a murder. Even more alarming is the fact that the accused killer shares a name with Mary’s long-lost father. Meanwhile, engineer James Easton, Mary’s onetime paramour, is at work shoring up the sewers beneath the palace, where a newly discovered tunnel seems to be very much in use. Can Mary and James trust each other long enough to solve the mystery and protect the royal family?

The Agency: The Traitor in the Tunnel

Shveta Thakrar

Cassandra Khaw

Stephanie Burgis

Jenny Moss

Patrick Samphire

Ysabeau Wilce

Iona Sharma

Laura Gilman

Would you rather dance beneath the waves or hide your smuggled magic there? Welcome to a world of sparkling adult fantasy and science fiction stories edited by Stephanie Burgis and Tiffany Trent and featuring underwater ballrooms of one sort or another, from a 1930s ballroom to a Martian hotel to a grand rock 'n roll ball held in the heart of Faery itself."From the first page, I knew I was in good hands. This is my kind of fantasy -- magic, adventure, and gorgeous writing. The Underwater Ballroom Society is the kind of fantasy that got me into reading fantasy." - Patrice Sarath, Author of The Sisters MederosStories in this anthology:Ysabeau S. Wilce, "The Queen of Life"Y.S. Lee, "Twelve Sisters"Iona Datt Sharma, "Penhallow Amid Passing Things"Tiffany Trent, "Mermaids, Singing"Jenny Moss, "A Brand New Thing"Cassandra Khaw, "Four Revelations from the Rusalka Ball"Stephanie Burgis, "Spellswept"Laura Anne Gilman, "The River Always Wins"Shveta Thakrar, "The Amethyst Deceiver"Patrick Samphire, "A Spy in the Deep""This anthology is an excellent collection of stories and all of them are well worth your time." - Michelle at The Monday Review

Y. S. Lee

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