Y. S. Lee

Hesitating to accept James' marriage proposal out of fear of losing her independence, Mary watches over a dying prisoner whose wife holds a grudge against James, at the same time a familiar Chinese prizefighter arrives in London.

Rivals in the City

I'm a little sad this is the definitive conclusion to the series. I truly love Mary as a character and would have loved to see more from her, especially as she learns more about her family. I partially want to see more about her family because that subplot was wrapped up so conveniently but still left me with a lot of questions. I loved that Mary and James's relationship in this book was focused on them discussing what they needed and what they were willing to give each other, with James acknowledging that Mary was socially required to give more. The fact that their relationship was a negotiation, rather than either of them just capitulating to social expectations was really satisfying. This series in general is definitely one of the more satisfying historical fictions I've read that looks at the restrictions placed on women based on gender and class as well as the ways those restrictions could have been circumvented.

YS Lee

Mary Quinn and James Easton have set up as private detectives and are also unofficially engaged to be married. But when the Agency asks Mary to take on a special final case, she can't resist, and agrees. Convicted fraudster Henry Thorold is dying in prison. His daughter, Angelica, is coming to see him one last time. Mary's brief is to monitor these visits in case Mrs Thorold, last heard of as a fugitive in France, decides to pay him one last visit. But Mrs Thorold's return would place James in grave personal danger.

Rivals in the City

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