Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Sally Lockhart finds herself enmeshed in the perplexing clues surrounding her father's death, in this rousing Victorian thriller. Ages 12-up. (Dec.)
The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart Series #1)
by Philip PullmanView All Available Formats & Editions
“BEWARE THE SEVEN blessings . . . ” When she first utters these words, 16-year-old Sally Lockhart doesn’t know their meaning. But when an employee of her late father hears them, he dies of fear. Thus begins Sally’s terrifying journey into the seamy underworld of Victorian London, in search of clues to her father’s mysterious death.See more details below
Overview
“BEWARE THE SEVEN blessings . . . ” When she first utters these words, 16-year-old Sally Lockhart doesn’t know their meaning. But when an employee of her late father hears them, he dies of fear. Thus begins Sally’s terrifying journey into the seamy underworld of Victorian London, in search of clues to her father’s mysterious death.
Editorial Reviews
Children's Literature - Monserrat Urena
The first book of "The Sally Lockhart Mysteries" was originally published in 1985. This edition of the book is a rerelease. The author's Victorian thriller begins on a cold afternoon in 1872. Sixteen-year-old Sally Lockheart has gone to the offices of Lockheart and Selby, Shipping Agents. She hopes to garner some information from her late father's business partners. He recently drowned in the South China Sea. It was considered a terrible accident and nothing more. That was until Sally received a mysterious note posted from Singapore. Written in a mystifying hand, the note advises her to beware the Seven Blessings. It also advises her to look for help from someone named Marchbanks. Upon arriving at her father's office, she asks one of his business partners if he knows anything about the Seven Blessings. He drops down dead from the shock. With this unexpected turn of events, Sally's world is about to be transformed. The past will return, and she will discover her unwitting involvement with the Opium trade and a stolen ruby of great value. This early heroine of Pullman's foreshadows Lyra's strength and tenacity in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Sally is strong-minded and active in her pursuit of the truth, making her a gutsy female heroine. The story itself reads well and is somewhat hard to put down. It is a must read for Pullman fans. Reviewer: Monserrat Urena
School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up A rip-roaring good adventure story filled with cutthroat villains, dastardly deeds, sleezy opium dens, filthy London slums, and a delightful 16-year-old heroine. Sally, orphaned when her father dies at sea, becomes ensconsed in mystery and treachery when she learns that a legendary ruby is rightfully hers. With the help of two friends, she sidesteps several attempts on her life, helps rescue a young girl from the clutches of a ruthless blackmailer, and finds the hidden fortune that her father had left her. There are twists and turns at every moment, with new characters constantly entering and old ones exiting (not by their own choice). Descriptions are vivid, colorful, and fully realized. Subtle innuendos enhance character development, and the understated humor keeps readers from taking the story too seriously. There are a few lapses in plotting and several contrivances, but these are minor flaws in a story that pulls together to become a rousing tale of murder and adventure in London in 1872. It's a book for sophisticated readers because of the variety of motivations and schemes as well as the shifts in setting within chapters, and one that's not for the timid because of the many murders. Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal''
Product Details
- ISBN-13:
- 9780375845161
- Publisher:
- Random House Children's Books
- Publication date:
- 09/09/2008
- Series:
- Sally Lockhart Series, #1
- Edition description:
- Reprint
- Pages:
- 256
- Sales rank:
- 142,032
- Product dimensions:
- 5.44(w) x 10.86(h) x 0.66(d)
- Age Range:
- 12 - 17 Years
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