The first novel in the Agency series is set in Victorian England and follows a seventeen-year-old girl named Mary. She is rescued from her life on the streets and given an education at Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. She soon learns, however, that the Academy is a cover for its real purpose, the Agency. The Agency is an undercover spy unit comprised only of women, and it uses the strict social rules and stereotypes surrounding women to its advantage.  Mary is trained and assigned as a lady’s maid in the house of a rich merchant who is accused of fraud and importing illegal items.  Her first assignment puts Mary on a steep learning curve, and she must quickly learn who to trust and how to deal with difficult and unexpected situations. Full of danger, wit and romance, the first Agency book is an incredible, unique historical fiction novel.
This novel is wonderful in so many ways.  The main character Mary is incredibly strong and independent, but not without her flaws, a quality which makes her more interesting and real. The author has done an immense amount of research about Victorian London, and the history depicted in the novel is easy to follow and believable.  Overall, this novel is filled with suspense and well-rounded characters and is unlike any other novel I have read.  It's a wonderful example of well-written historical fiction. If you like this novel, you might also like Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury and A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper.