The Agency 3: The Traitor in the Tunnel [Hardcover]

Y.S. Lee (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 28, 2012 | Series: The Agency

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.

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? Hoist on your waders
for Mary’s most personal case yet, where the stakes couldn’t be higher — and she has everything to lose.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Victorian England comes alive again with Y.S Lee’s third novel in THE AGENCY series. Lee has a terrific knack of combining intrigue, romance, and mystery with the strong female character, Mary Quinn... Girls of all ages will enjoy the fast pace, the twisting plot, and most of all, the romance that awaits them.
—VOYA

Lee, as ever, paints an evocative picture of London life... Mary makes for a bold heroine (sometimes too bold for her own good), and her fans will want to find out how it all ends.
—Booklist

About the Author

Y. S. Lee was born in Singapore but brought up in Canada. She has also lived briefly in the United Kingdom. An academic with a PhD in Victorian literature and culture, she wrote Masculinity and the English Working Class in Victorian Autobiography and Fiction. She lives in Ontario, Canada.

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (February 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763653160
• ISBN-13: 978-0763653163
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.3 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Y S Lee was born in Singapore and raised in Vancouver and Toronto. In 2004, she completed her PhD in Victorian literature and culture. This research, combined with her time living in London, triggered an idea for a story about a women's detective agency. The result was her first novel, The Agency: A Spy in the House. The second and third Agency mysteries are The Body at the Tower and The Traitor in the Tunnel.

As "Ying S. Lee" she is also the author of Masculinity and the English Working Class (Routledge). She now lives in Kingston, Ontario with her husband and young son.

Ying blogs every Wednesday at www.yslee.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! March 10, 2012

By Mel Rose

Format:Hardcover

POSSIBLE SPOILERS
The Agency 3: The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y. S. Lee continues the story of Mary Quinn. This time she has to pose as a parlor maid in the Queen Victoria's household to solve a case of petty thief. However, while she's there, the Prince witnesses a murder of one of his friends. To make matters worse, Mary finds out the murderer has the same name as her father.

I really love this series and have enjoyed each and every one so far, so I couldn't wait to get this book and read it. This book is no exception. Just when you think you got things figured out, a new twists comes into play.

It was nice to read more about Mary in this book as well and about her father. It went into more detail about what happened, or what she knew about her father, and her reaction to the fact that her father might still be alive.

Also, James comes back into this book, much to the surprise of Mary. In the last book, Mary and James didn't leave things as pleasant and she's afraid of that repeating itself. However, James wants nothing more than to bury that in the past and start over. Which is great because I'm really liking the two of these together. And if you're like me and like them, let's just say, you'll LOVE what happens! I don't want to spoil it too much, but towards the end of the book, there some really good moments and well, I'm very happy. :)

Because there is a mystery involving the tunnels below the Palace, most of what happens, especially later on in the novel, takes place in the tunnels or the sewers. While that's great as far as the mystery goes, it can get a little boring. James and Mary have great interaction during this process, but sometimes I felt myself wanting to skim.... It's not that it's bad, but I guess I wanted more than just "in the sewers", so to speak. Still, it's pretty good to read.

There are so many twists and turns and different things going than what was expected, but it all flows smoothly and naturally. It's wonderful when an author can do that.

I'm not sure if there is going to be another book after this one or not, but it does end fine as is. I heard that there might be another book in the series, which I would love, but the book doesn't end where you *have* to read another book in the series. I mean, of course I want to, but it's not where there is a cliff hanger or anything. It ends to satisfy the ending of the story without leaving the reader hanging, but it also leaves the story open enough to continue the story as well.

I totally recommend this story and series to anyone and everyone. Seriously, it's amazing! Wonderful historical fiction with a mystery in it. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic YA, Suitable for Adult Gothic Romance Readers June 2, 2012

By Nicola Manning TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

An excellent finale to "The Agency" trilogy. Mary Quinn's character has grown from a rag-tag orphan thief to a young woman now ready to live independently in a world where men usually have the upperhand. This was a fun case all-round, which has Mary playing parlour maid inside Buckingham Palace to rout out who has been stealing odd pieces of ornamentation, all to no avail. However when she thinks the case is not going to go any further, the details of the murder of a friend of the Prince of Wales is being kept all "hush-hush" and the Prince has been banished to seclusion. Now here is a case Mary can sink her teeth into! But how is it related to the thefts and why does Mary think she may have finally found her father.

Many issues that have been brought up previously in this series are put together and solved to the reader's satisfaction. By the end of the book one quite forgets they are reading a YA novel, and feels more like they are in a Gothic Romance. Mary is a feisty woman and her paramour James seems to like that in a woman because nothing she says, does, or reveals shocks him. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale.

Now, we've been told this is the end of a trilogy and the book does have a finite ending in certain respects, while in others there is still plenty of openings for a new trilogy or series to continue from here; perhaps more of an adult read than YA. Though either way I'd be happy. Towards the end of the book, James and Mary had a decidedly Tommy and Tuppence air about them and I'd love to see them together in their own series aimed at adults....

ETA: Well after a little looking around it seems this is no longer being tooted as the last book in the series and Lee is indeed currently writing a fourth book about Mary Quinn! Good news to my ears! We'll see if she uses this opportunity to make any changes to the series or just continues on with it. I'm happy either way. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovable Characters May 27, 2012

By The Perspicacious Bookworm

Format:Hardcover

After reading all three books in this series, I have got to say that my favorite thing about them is the characters. Mary and James are complex, funny, and an absolute delight to read about! Mary and James also have great "chemistry" and you will often find yourself laughing out loud at their witty banter. While the actual mystery they are supposed to be solving tends to take a backseat to their relationship (to the point that you almost forget you are reading a mystery novel), the dilemma is always solved in a fast-paced action sequence that leaves the reader satisfied. Plus, James and Mary are so darn lovable that you are always left wanting more of them (fourth book please?!) and don't mind the plot straying from the investigation.

5.0 out of 5 stars The best one of the series June 16, 2013

By CindiJeanie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

It all comes together in this book! If you liked the first two, you HAVE to read this one. It is the best of the series!

5.0 out of 5 stars Jawdropping! June 15, 2013

By Alyson

Format:Kindle Edition

This book was very jawdropping.Readers never knew of her pas until now.Y.S. Lee did a very great job writing this book!

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly addicting April 7, 2013

By Sheryl J. Serrano

Format:Kindle Edition

This is the third in the series and I have to say I love these books. They are fun reads that really keep you turning the pages.

3.0 out of 5 stars quick read but slow in parts - good for a vacation read March 2, 2013

By Jen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I liked the first two books in this series and was hoping for something a little more exciting in the third book. It's ok, but defnitely not as interesting as the first two.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great February 27, 2013

By Meghan

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Loved It. Thought it was a great new YA series that was interesting and left you wanting more. Can't wait for the next one.