To represent her properly, Candlewick’s designer, Caroline Lawrence, looked specifically for a model whose ancestry accurately reflects Mary’s own racial mixture. Integrity: each cover features the protagonist, Mary Quinn. This continues to be the case with Rivals in the City, the last book in the Agency quartet. Not so in this case, to my everlasting glee and gratitude! Each of the Agency’s covers has been a model of integrity, lavish care, and historical authenticity on the part of Candlewick Press designers. You’d think that with the fourth book in a mystery series, the cover art might start to feel predictable. With the stakes higher than ever, can Mary balance family secrets, conflicting loyalties, and professional expertise to bring a criminal to justice and find her own happiness? Finally, a Chinese prizefighter has arrived in town, and Mary can’t shake the feeling that he is somehow familiar. Meanwhile, the Agency has asked Mary to take on a dangerous case: convicted fraudster Henry Thorold is dying in prison, and Mary must watch for the return of his estranged wife, an accomplished criminal herself who has a potentially deadly grudge against James. James Easton, her longtime love interest, wants to marry her, but despite her feelings, independent-minded Mary hesitates. Without further ado, BEHOLD! The smugglerific cover!

Lee over to talk about the process behind the cover creation and shoot. Thea is a HUGE fan of the series, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to host the reveal and have Y.S. Lee – the final book in her Agency series, out next year. Today we are delighted to unveil the beautiful cover for Rivals in the City by Y.S.

Grave mercy trilogy