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, young orphan (and thief) Mary
Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in
fine manners--and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for
Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency,
and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test.
Assuming the guise of a lady's companion, she must infiltrate a rich
merchant's home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the
household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to
trust--or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance,
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.