In mid-19th century London, 12-year-old Mary Lang is sentenced to hang for the crime of “housebreaking.” She has resigned herself to this fate, but is rescued and secretly whisked away to Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. Five years later, Mary yearns to do more than merely teach others what she has learned at the school. She approaches her superiors and is let in on the academy’s secret: a female investigative team called The Agency.

Mary is offered her first assignment as a lady’s companion in a rich merchant’s home, where her task is simply to listen and learn. “Simply” is not how Mary does things, however, and she soon finds herself neck-deep in deception and danger. Will Mary’s training and street smarts save her or will they reveal her true identity?

Y.S. Lee of Kingston, Ontario, has a Ph.D. in Victorian literature and culture, and it is this expertise that lends the novel an atmosphere reminiscent of Dickens or Doyle. From her description of the stinking Thames on a hot summer day to her explanation of the nuances of Victorian gender roles, Lee creates the impression that she has first-hand knowledge of these sights, sounds, smells, and experiences. Add to that a feisty protagonist, and The Spy in the House makes for an appealing start to a planned trilogy.

There is a lot packed into the book, and Mary’s assignment and the primary mystery are sometimes lost among the numerous subplots and side stories. However, all of the seemingly loose threads come together in a satisfying conclusion that adds depth to an otherwise straightforward and somewhat predictable central storyline. The book’s commentary on the role of women in Victorian society and Mary’s ability to realistically challenge these assumptions and empower other females are perhaps more memorable than the solving of the mystery itself.