The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: A great read that's hard to put down
Review: Sally Lockhart has been orphaned at 16 by the death of her father. She has come to live with a relative that does not want her - and her life is in danger. Dark figures are movinf around her as she tries to solve the mystery of a message sent to her by her father before she dies. The only clue she has is the name Marchbanks and a phrase, the "seven blessings". Sally is in a race against time, because as she tries to put the puzzle together others are racing to silence her permanently - and she has no idea how many enemies she has.

I had to read this book in one afternoon because I didn't want to put it down. Sally is a great character who really draws you into her world, and the strong supporting characters around her draw you into their world and keep you there. The story is great, but in the end I found it a little bit disspointing at how Pullman pulls everything together (which is why it has four stars and not five). I have the rest of the books in this series from a friend and can't wait to read them too.

These books are completely different from the Dark Materials Trilogy and should be read in their own right. The best part about this book is that Sally is the kind of person that I would have been friends with at the same age - and I can see a little bit of me on her too. Guys should like this book too as their is action, adventure, and suspense.

Rating:
Summary: Thrilling Victorian Mystery
Review: It's the year 1872, and sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart has just lost her beloved Father. She's told that he died in a shipwreck. But she suspects differently. In fact, she knows differently, now that her Father's business associate as keeled over and died after she uttered four small words "Beware the Seven Blessings." Now Sally's life has taken on new meaning. She knows that it's up to her to bring her Father's murderer to justice, and figure out why a crazy old woman, Mrs. Holland is out to get her. But while doing so, she will encounter murder, deceit, mystery, thievery, a stolen ruby worth loads of money, and the opium trade.

This was my first Philip Pullman novel, and I am in no way, shape, or form, disappointed in it's outcome. Pullman has crafted, and weaved an amazing story taking place in Victorian London, that is absolutely unescapable for all readers. Every character is intriguing, exciting, and wins a large place in your heart. I am now anticipating my purchase of THE SHADOW IN THE NORTH, which is the sequel to THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE. A fantastic novel for all fans of historical novels, especially those involving mysteries.

Erika Sorocco

Rating:
Summary: A Heart-Grasping Mystery
Review: The Ruby in the Smoke, by Philip Pullman, is one of the greatest mysteries written! It tells of a story of a young, sixteen-year-old girl named Sally Lockhart who tries to solve the mystery of her father's death. As she goes about, trying to figure this out, she wonders if there is one or two-or more-mysteries. She searches the "ghetto" side of London, trying to figure out the mysteries of her father's death. People are stalking and following her...some determined to kill her...and yet she never loses hope. She finally finds out that there are two mysteries-one to do with a very powerful drug: opium, and the second with the greatest ruby in the world. Making solving these mysteries even harder is Sally finding out that she is the main key to both of them. This heart-grasping mystery shows how one young girl can love her father's memory enough to risk her life to find out how he had died.

Rating:
Summary: The most mysterious book I ever read
Review: I have never read a book like this before. This is the most mysterious book I have never seen. Phillip Pullman wrote a fabulous book called gRuby in the smokeh. Although I would like to say this story is not good for children because it is a bit complicated and a few people die.
Sally Lockheart is a sixteen years old girl who has just lost her father. It is said that her father died by ship sunk in general, but she does not know for sure, because one day she gets a note which tells her there is mystery of her fatherfs death. She starts to find out it and the meaning of Seven Blessings which was written on a note. While she was in a process of searching the meaning of Seven Blessings, many people died. As she is trying to find out, more and more mysteries appear.
This story is located in England in 1872. I was not born yet so I do not know the history at this age. The opium appeared on the market and there are few character who are slave of it.@@Though everyone knows it is not good for our health, it is quite an important thing the key to find out the mystery in this story.
I recommend this book very much. I can say that you would not be able to stop reading, because I could not stop reading especially when I reached the climax of the novel. There is a big surprise about Sallyfs father and her relationship. Although I was mixed up which character is which, once you get it, it does not matter at all. As I said first, too many people die in this story. This is the only part I do not like.
I really would like to tell you about the story and ending, but I would rather not to say any more. You should find out how this ends and what the surprise is. This is the first book of Sallyfs story. I am going to read next one soon.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible? I Think Not!
Review: This book is the most amazing I've read. Ever.
Philip Pullman's unbelievable description and detail makes it easy for the reader to be sucked into the story and make it seem real. The book starts off with a bang and never settles down until the end - Sally's life is always in danger. "Her name was Sally Lockhart, and within fifteen minutes she was going to kill a man." What kind of a reader could put down a novel after an entry like that?! This suspenseful mystery is best not read right before bedtime, if you'd like untroubled dreams. The Ruby in the Smoke is real, the realest I've ever seen in a mystery, and the best.

I'd also like to recommend: The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, The Tin Princess, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass

Rating:
Summary: The Ruby in the Smoke
Review: The Ruby in the Smoke was full of excitment. There were many twists and turns and betrayals of friends. Sally uncovers many secrets and mysteries of hers and others mysterious pasts. She is joined on her adventures by quite a few friends who she meets along the way. Sally is a very kind and caring young woman who is always eager to help others out when they need it. Due to her loveable personality and her outstanding intelligence she is able to figure out the mysteries left to her after her father's murder. She uses her courage to stand up to evil and win.

Rating:
Summary: "Keep your powder dry"
Review: After being blown away by "His Dark Materials," I went questing for more books by Philip Pullman. I found Sally Lockhart.

"Ruby in the Smoke" is a very different style of book. There is no fantasy in this series, no armored bears or magical implements. This is straight historical mystery, set in England of 1872. Sally Lockhart is our young hero. She is an amazingly well-rounded character, at times a plucky, spirited lass, at times a shy young woman. She is looking for facts about the death or her Father. Someone else is looking for her, and her connection to the lost Ruby of Agrapar.

While this book does not have the sense of wonder and captivation of "His Dark Materials," it does posses it's own strengths. Pullman has gone very deep into accuracy and social relevance with this trilogy. The story is as much Sally Lockhart's battle with women's conventions of the time, as it is with the villains of the series. The story is very dark, and the opium trade and the Indian Mutiny are all major story points. (In fact, anyone taking up "Ruby in the Smoke" would do well to review this historical events.)

A very good, intelligent book. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Rating:
Summary: Intruiging, wonderful, READ IT!
Review: Phillip Pullman once again captures readers in the poetry of his stories. The Ruby in the Smoke is an intruiging and wonderful book, I could not put it down. Readers of all ages will enjoy this book. Based in 1700 victorian london, entertaining and enjoyable Sally Lockhart finds herself sucked into the journey of a life time. After uttering three simple words "The Seven Blessings" to her diseased father's former worker he drops dead. The whole book pulls you in and never lets you out. His characters including terrifying and sickening Mrs. Holland who steals everything including her diseased husbands false teeth as his coffin closes over his body, and of course smart, business like Sally Lockhart, who knows how to navigate her way around trouble, danger, and hot pursuit are well thought out and realistic. Which of course are all elements of Phillip pullmans Awe inspiring novellette.

Rating:
Summary: only ok
Review: i read this book hoping for something similar to Pullman's later work, his dark materials. It isnt that. Its pretty dry, just a regular girl who happens to come into several bouts of both good and bad luck. Ill give it three stars because it kept my attention long enough to finish it, and I'll probably read the other two. hopefully they will be better.

Rating:
Summary: nice detective story with some importent theams.
Review: like many people i got to read "the sally lockheart" trilogy hoping it would be like reading "his dark materials", sadly, it was not a like at all, the issues are very diffrent and the whole atmospher's a lot more of this world then in the golden compass. and yet, the book for what it is, is extreamly well written, intriguing and very hard to put away once started reading.

this story's lyra is called sally lockheart, she's 16 years old, and so being more grown up, her world's less fantastic then that of lyra. however, following a strange investigation over her father's death, she get to experience charecters from many diffrent type and classes, finding friends and anemys in her search for answer and self realization.

though it's a detective story, pullman does manage to weav some very immportent theams into the plot, like women rights, classes in our society, drugs and politics.

i found the book a lot of fun and enjoyed reading it.