The Formidable Miss Cassidy - by Meihan Boey (Paperback)

About the Book

"There has never yet been a crisis that Miss Leda Cassidy hasn't been able to fix, be it a lovelorn young charge, perpetually distracted students, or an unruly and malevolent ghost. When she arrives at her new employer's home and discovers the family is being terrorized by a vampiric spirit, she sets about righting the situation without delay. But it seems that as soon as she puts one supernatural creature to rest, another appears to take its place. A woman's work is truly never done, is it? When she meets Mr. Kay, a widower whose greatest worry appears to be making matches for his twin daughters, she is happy to take a post that might provide her a bit of respite from her more "spirited" friends. But she soon realizes that the Kays are in far more trouble than she realized--and that her presence in their home might have put the family she's grown to cherish in even more jeopardy. Will she be able to save them all before it's too late, or has she finally stumbled upon the one problem she isn't able to solve?"--

Book Synopsis

"A charming fantasy...Leda Cassidy is something else. An unusual mix of myths and legends from around the world, this feels like a classic-in-waiting." --The Guardian

A Scottish governess arrives in Singapore to take up her new post, only to find a host of problems await that require her very unique skills in this award-winning and incredibly entertaining historical fantasy novel.

There has never yet been a crisis that Miss Leda Cassidy hasn't been able to fix, be it a lovelorn young charge, perpetually distracted students, or an unruly and malevolent ghost. When she arrives at her new employer's home and discovers the family is being terrorized by a vampiric spirit, she sets about righting the situation without delay.

But it seems that as soon as she puts one supernatural creature to rest, another appears to take its place. A woman's work is truly never done, is it?

When she meets Mr. Kay, a widower whose greatest worry appears to be making matches for his twin daughters, she is happy to take a post that might provide her a bit of respite from her more "spirited" friends. But she soon realizes that the Kays are in far more trouble than she realized--and that her presence in their home might have put the family she's grown to cherish in even more jeopardy. Will she be able to save them all before it's too late, or has she finally stumbled upon the one problem she isn't able to solve?

Review Quotes

"A rollicking good ride!" - Time Out

"Delightful and intriguing...Miss Cassidy [is] a joy to read." - Locus Magazine

"A charming fantasy from a Singaporean writer . . . Leda Cassidy is something else. An unusual mix of myths and legends from around the world, this feels like a classic-in-waiting." - The Guardian

"An utter delight. Combines several [genres]--from the Victorian comedy of manners to the fairy tale--to effervescent effect. The best thing about this novel is its intrepid, no-nonsense heroine...a charming adventure [with] a competent heroine and a middle-aged romance you find yourself rooting for. It is very good fun." - The Straits Times

"Miss Cassidy is a quirky paranormal detective with a mysterious past. The book is split into parts, which keeps pacing tight, and each chapter is portrayed as a wryly humorous, cheeky vignette. This wonderfully quirky start of a series from Boey is Mary Poppins meets Supernatural and blends Victorian-era motifs with Asian mythology." - Library Journal

"Boey blends gothic mystery with Southeast Asian supernatural traditions, offering a richly layered story...This elegant, eerie, and at times witty novel's setting is vivid and textured, capturing the heat, sound, and scent of a diverse colonial port city where British manners meet local beliefs. Readers drawn to classic heroines with sharp minds and classic courage will find Miss Cassidy a welcome companion." - Booklist

"A highly entertaining mix of fantasy, romance, and historical fiction." - Historical Novel Society

"An exuberant tale with a surprise around every corner! Miss Cassidy herself is a wonder and a delight--and the blend of Victoriana and Singaporean magic is irresistible."

- Pat Murphy, Nebula award-winning author of The Adventures of Mary Darling and The Falling Woman

"Turn-of-the-century Singapore opens the doors for adventures you just can't have anywhere else. Ghosts, demons, and other unexpected critters are lurking everywhere, but it's the cast of human characters that steal the show. Full of heart, mystery, and misadventures, this is crazy fun from start to finish."

- Douglas Westerbeke, bestselling author of A Short Walk Through a Wide World

"The Formidable Miss Cassidy is a charming, delightful mix of history and folklore with a splash of the whimsical and otherworldly. With a wildly entertaining story and wonderfully memorable characters, Miss Cassidy and her adventures will stick with me for a good long while! It's sure to be an instant hit." - Poppy Kuroki, bestselling author of Gate to Kagoshima

"Reminiscent of a multicultural Mary Poppins, The Formidable Miss Cassidy is a lovely book in all of the most peculiar ways...A dark faerie tale for nostalgic adults." - Olivia Atwater, author of Half a Soul

"What a delight--I haven't enjoyed an adventure this much in years. Great fun, completely immersive and bursting with characters who leap off the page. A debut as impressive as Miss Cassidy herself!" - Amie Kaufman, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Side of the Sky

"Formidable indeed! An effortlessly readable novel, with a stunning blend of history, myth and magic from Singapore and beyond." - Ng Yi-Sheng, award-winning author of Lion City

"The Formidable Miss Cassidy is a page-turner exuding the daylight smells and colors, and the cicada-singing nights, of Old Singapore. The borders between the real and mythological realms are presented as porous veils. At the center of the magic, mystery, and mischief, Miss Cassidy delights--a ghost-busting Mary Poppins with the proprieties, deportment, with a wicked sense of humor and fearlessness." - Nuraliah Norasid, award-winning author of The Gatekeeper