The Agency by Ally O’Brien has to be one of the most fun books I have read in awhile. A mixture of racy chick lit, mystery, and adventure, you will find it hard to put this book down once you get started.

At first I didn’t think I would like this story but on page 6 when Tess describes her new boss as “She is our wicked witch – the kind of witch who would have bitch-slapped Dorothy and served Toto sausages to the flying monkeys.” I knew I would love this character!

The Agency is about media agent Tess Drake. She has been with her current company for nearly a decade and has fought hard for the status she enjoys in the highly competitive world of the publishing. She has a hugely successful children’s author in one hand and in the other an author who is suicidal and depressed but Tess think she owes him something. When her boss mysteriously dies at the onset of the novel, Tess starts contemplating her escape from Bardwright Agency. It has always been a dream of hers to be her own boss and have her own agency. That is the goal throughout the entire novel but she has one obstacle after another to contend with to get to where she wants to be.

It seems Tess always haphazardly puts herself into situations that could tear her world apart at any moment. She makes a joke about how her boss passed away which in turn has a police detective watching her every move. How did she know exactly how the man was dressed when he died? She sleeps with her best friend’s fiancé and wonders why the friend could be so mad when Tess didn’t know they were engaged yet. Some people may find reading a book about a self-centered, extremely snarky character is boring or not exciting but will think differently when you get into Tess’ world. She rubs elbows with Sean Connery, Sienna Miller, and even gets to throw a book into Tom Cruise’s lap despite Tom’s publicist hating Tess.

The main part of the story centers around Dorothy, Tess’ most lucrative client who writes a series of children’s books based on panda bears that teach children about conservation, recycling, and taking care of the planet. Life takes a turn for the worse when Dorothy is accused of plagiarism from the son of a long dead friend. So Tess battles being accused of murdering her boss AND has to juggle how to keep her client out of a career ending lawsuit all while sleeping with a married man (which is a huge surprise when you find out who his wife is!) and living the high life! The complex plot will keep you guessing and will definitely surprise you with the ending!

The Agency is written under the pen name of Ally O’Brien. This is a “pseudonym for the writing duo that includes an international author of suspense novels and a successful media agent based in London.” I am hoping there is a sequel!