2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
More Historical Fiction than Spy Thriller, March 15, 2011
I don't normally read historical fiction--but the hook of an all female undercover spy agency was too interesting to pass up. The story was well-written and seemed historically accurate. I thought the author did well with the dialogue (making it seem old fashioned and authentic without taking away from the accessibility), as well as using correct terminology for the time. Personally I was expecting more of a lighthearted teenage spy thriller, and this book seemed more like an exploration of the setting, utilizing the story to examine things like class, gender, and race. If you like historical fiction, it's an excellent book. It just wasn't quite what I expected.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GreenBeanTeenQueen Reviews, August 10, 2010
I was a huge fan of the first book in this series, A Spy in the House, and when I love a book that much, the sequels make me nervous. But I didn't need to worry because The Body at the Tower proves that Y.S. Lee is a master storyteller who rules the historical mystery.
The banter I loved from the first book between Mary and James was back-and with things heating up between them, I kept the pages turning and I think James may be a new book crush! I still adore The Agency and I want to know more about them. I'd be OK with The Agency spin-off novels about Anne and Felicity, the women who rule the female detective operation!:)
Because this job requires Mary to disguise herself in boy's clothing, we get a peek into Mary's past. I thought her hesitancy about taking the job were believable and I liked getting to more about her life before The Agency found her. We also get to see Mary's struggle with her heritage and culture, which I think gives these books an extra twist and makes them stand out. Even though Mary says she's going to hide her past and her heritage, I think there's more to learn there, so I'm hoping we find out more about her father in the next book.
I did have a harder time getting into the mystery in this book than I did the first one, but I think that was due to the fact that the mystery took place on a building site, which is something I'm not familiar with. So there were a few times that I felt a little lost in the setting because I was having to learn about Victorian building sites and equipment on top of figuring out Mary's mystery.
Even if you're not a fan of historical fiction, these books will pull you in. I love that author Y.S. Lee adds historical details and facts without making me realize it-she's so sneaky about that stuff and I love it! I've already recommended A Spy in the House to many of my teen readers and I can't wait to do the same with The Body at the Tower. Another great read and I can't wait for more of Mary (and hopefully James!)
Book Talk Ideas: Need a mystery solved? Call The Agency, a group of female detectives in Victorian England who will go undercover and solve the case. When a body is found at St. Stephens Tower, Mary Quinn is undercover as a young boy to figure out if it was murder.
Pair it With: I love historical fiction when paired with a mystery! Check out The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes Series) by Nancy Springer The Diamond of Drury Lane (Cat Royal Adventures) by Julia Golding, The Season by Sarah MacLean, and The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart Series) by Philip Pullman
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You can't leave it like that!, May 7, 2011
"A Spy in the House" was one of the best novels I have read in a long time - especially as it is aimed at a slightly older teen/young adult demographic. I eagerly anticipated the arrival of "The Body at the Tower" and once I started it - I had to finish.
This novel is set 12 months later from the end of "A Spy in the House" - Mary is now working on her own and sent undercover as a 12 year old boy, Mark Quinn, after a mysterious death at a building site. Her task however is greatly complicated with the return of James Easton who, having returned from India after suffering from Malaria, is assigned to check the safety of the building site.
The banter between James and Mary is ever so delightful and his concern is so...well you have to read it to know. Perhaps my favourite section of the book (without giving away too much) was Mary when she was drunk - that was just priceless.
My only complaint is that Y.S. Lee has been ever so cruel to leave the ending she did - I appreciate from a writing perspective but as a reader I am immensely annoyed I shall have to endure over a month wait for the final installment! This sequel did not disappoint and is a worthy addition to any bookshelf.
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