Great mystery based in an underground detective agency in London. Has gadgets and spies. It had a taste of Harry Potter for adults...just no magic. Strong female main character. Really good opening scene that drives the rest of the mystery. Definitely recommended.

I loved the idea of this book and the implementation of some of it. The underground spy network is clever, but the book is much longer than it should be. I enjoyed the main character for the most part but really everything about the book should be tightened up a fair amount.

An alternate 1953--or is it? Twenty-something Marion Lane, a lowly bookstore employee, is secretly an apprentice in a very special and clandestine detective agency. Things happen. People die. People have disappeared. In order to save an old family friend who is being blamed for a murder, Marion finds herself exploring the tunnels below London to solve the current mystery, and a batch of old ones. This charming story moves right along at a good clip with both suspense and plenty of action. I couldn't put it down, and hope to see Marion Lane again soon.

This was an utter delight -- a fun mystery, some fun gadget era-Bond type hijinks, characters you can't help but root for, and, despite a lack of magic, a sort of Harry Potter feel to it all. My only regret is I read this so early that it will be ages before 1) I can buy this to share with everyone else and 2) I have so much longer to wait for a sequel. (surely there will be a sequel! There has to be!)