Rating: 
Summary: most mature book in the trilogy
Review: This trilogy seems to grow up steadily with its main character, Veronica "Sally" Lockhard, a beautiful and successful independent business around the turn of the century. The first book, 'Ruby in the Smoke', was enthralling and very good, but a bit juvenille. The second, 'Shadow in the North', grew up considerably, and the dialogue was more complex and mature to reflect the growth of Sally. Emotions are deeper, and the story is a tad more grisly then 'Ruby'. Now, with this third book, author Phillip Pullman has struck gold. It's intelligent, fast-paced and yet thoughtful and very mature. The crimes are more violent, the subject matter darker, and the characters are different and unique. They are adults now, in every sense of the word - physically, of course, but most noticably mentally and emotionally. Sally is her delightful self as always, stubborn and flawed but with a strong character and a good heart. Enter a new character, who at first seems to be an all-too-perfect new love interest for the heroine, a brilliant and radical Socialist under the name Daniel Goldberg. In short, a story rich is landscape, character, and emotion, and thick with plot, not to be missed. A new change for the slightly more young adult novels in this trilogy, but change most definitely for the better. My favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Fastpaced, Excitment around every corner.
Review: This was the best book I have ever read. It made me feel like I was Sally. The book makes you laugh, cry, and want to help Sally.
Rating:
Summary: A really excellent book
Review: This was the first of the Sally Lockhart books that I read, and it got me absolutely hooked! I thought that the characters were well-drawn, the emotions were vividly portrayed and the situations, though not always strictly realistic,were well-described. It gave an intruiging description of Victorian London, its politics, its living conditions and its society. It was especially interesting from a Jewish point of view as many of the characters are Jewish, and the story was very sympathetic towards the situation of immigrants targeted by racists and anti-semites. However, "The Tiger in the Well" is an outstanding book by an outstanding writer, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Potential but Pullman Doesn't Deliver
Review: Tiger in the Well starts off a dead sprint. After reading the first two books in the trilogy, you'll find that Pullman has a very defined plot system, but here he really throws a monkey wrench into things. At the beginning of the book Sally Lockhart is on her own and sucessful, albeit without her beloved Frederick. However, within the first couple of chapters, the surprise of the deadly and heinous accusations made against her will leave you speechless. This definitely classifies as a page- turner. Pullman sets the plot up well, but he doesn't use the potential of the plot to the fullest extent. The subplots (which are probably the best- loved aspect of his writing) come fast and furious as is typical in his novels, but it all eludes to a mystery larger than Pullman can sucessfully articulate. Instead the book degenerates into a fairly convoluted mess, and you feel so dissatisfied at the end because the book was such a waste. The plot idea is so sophisticated and wonderful, like in all the books of the Sally Lockhart and His Dark Materials trilogies, and there is so much that could be done with this book, but I definitely think Pullman pulled up short on this one. (no pun intended)
Rating:
Summary: Satisfying conclusion to an excellent trilogy
Review: We start the story with Sally living happily in the country, with her friends and her daughter, and everything is wonderful. Then she falls into a nightmare - someone, claiming to be her husband, wants custody of her daughter. Who hates Sally so much that he wants to destroy her utterly, and steal her daughter? This is a really gripping story with no loose ends. Sally goes on a journey through the underside of Victorian London, ending up in Spitalfields. I used to live in this area, and loved reading the way that Pullman brought its history to life. The baddies are very bad, and get their comeuppance. The finale is worthy of a Hollywood action movie. I came to these books after reading The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife. The Sally Lockhart trilogy has none of the fantasy aspects of these books - it's set firmly in gritty, dirty Victorian England. The stories are simpler, so the books would be easier for a younger reader. Sally is a real role model heroine for a young girl - she never gives up, and is very smart and brave. For the older reader, the attractions are the quality of the stories (except perhaps for the middle book), and the excellent descriptions of life in Victorian England. These stories rattle along at a fast pace, with plot twists coming from the baddies trying to outwit Sally and her friends. Sally ends up in the Victorian underworld, and the portrayal of street gangs, and the lives they lead, is very believable. A nice piece of social history. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting!
Review: When I read The Ruby in the Smoke it was good, Shadow in the North was great, but Tiger in the Well is the best book I ever read. I am only 12 years old and am already hooked on Philip Pullman. I am now reading the Golden Compass, (almost done!) and cant wait to read the Subtle knive and the new The Amber spyglass! You rock Philip.
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