victoria, 1837-1901

The Agency, the all-female detective unit, assigns quick-witted Mary Quinn to the case. Posing as a palace maid and fending off the attentions of the Prince of Wales are challenging enough, but when the prince witnesses a murder, Mary's case becomes antything but petty. Engineer and former flame James Easton has an assignment in the sewers, where someone is making illicit use of the tunnels. Mary will need James's help if she's going to catch a thief, solve a murder and avert disaster.

Mary Quinn is asked to take on one more case for the Agency, to watch for the return of Mrs. Thorold, whose husband is dying in jail and who has a grudge against Mary's fiance and partner in crime-solving, James Easton.

As a nearly full-fledged member of the Agency, the all-female detective unit based in Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, Mary Quinn, disguised as a poor apprentice builder, must brave the sinister underworld of Victorian London in order to unmask a murderer.