Books
Young Adult Fiction
The Ruby in the Smoke
The Ruby in the Smoke
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
ISBN
0394895894
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User reviews
Average user rating from: 4 user(s)
Reader reviewed by Lizzie
In The Ruby in the Smoke, Sally Lockhart, a seemingly normal 16-year-old living in Victorian London, goes on an unforgettable journey to reclaim a stolen ruby. The year is 1872 and Sally's father, a partner in a shipping business, takes off on an ordinary business trip to Singapore. When his ship sinks and her beloved father drowns, Sally is forced to live with her aunt, Mrs. Rees. One day she receives a disturbing letter warning her of "The Seven Blessings", and thus begins her adventure. Along the way she meets a photographer whom gives her a place to stay and the family she never had, she battles against one very evil old lady, and has an experience with an opium den that helps her remember her oldest memory.
The Ruby in the smoke is a wonderful historical novel. The story is exciting and grabs your attention from the first chapter. You learn a lot reading this too! I had no idea there were wars over opium, and I found that very interesting. This book does have many deaths, and strong drug references, which were necessary to the story. These things made it very realistic to Victorian times when Jack The Ripper was wandering about. I really enjoyed The Ruby in the Smoke and I cannot wait to read the other 3 books in the series!
In The Ruby in the Smoke, Sally Lockhart, a seemingly normal 16-year-old living in Victorian London, goes on an unforgettable journey to reclaim a stolen ruby. The year is 1872 and Sally's father, a partner in a shipping business, takes off on an ordinary business trip to Singapore. When his ship sinks and her beloved father drowns, Sally is forced to live with her aunt, Mrs. Rees. One day she receives a disturbing letter warning her of "The Seven Blessings", and thus begins her adventure. Along the way she meets a photographer whom gives her a place to stay and the family she never had, she battles against one very evil old lady, and has an experience with an opium den that helps her remember her oldest memory.
The Ruby in the smoke is a wonderful historical novel. The story is exciting and grabs your attention from the first chapter. You learn a lot reading this too! I had no idea there were wars over opium, and I found that very interesting. This book does have many deaths, and strong drug references, which were necessary to the story. These things made it very realistic to Victorian times when Jack The Ripper was wandering about. I really enjoyed The Ruby in the Smoke and I cannot wait to read the other 3 books in the series!
| Overall rating | 5.0 | |
| Plot | 5.0 | |
| Characters | 0.0 | |
| Writing Style | 0.0 |
A great historical novel
Reader reviewed by Lizzie
In The Ruby in the Smoke, Sally Lockhart, a seemingly normal 16-year-old living in Victorian London, goes on an unforgettable journey to reclaim a stolen ruby. The year is 1872 and Sally's father, a partner in a shipping business, takes off on an ordinary business trip to Singapore. When his ship sinks and her beloved father drowns, Sally is forced to live with her aunt, Mrs. Rees. One day she receives a disturbing letter warning her of "The Seven Blessings", and thus begins her adventure. Along the way she meets a photographer whom gives her a place to stay and the family she never had, she battles against one very evil old lady, and has an experience with an opium den that helps her remember her oldest memory.
The Ruby in the smoke is a wonderful historical novel. The story is exciting and grabs your attention from the first chapter. You learn a lot reading this too! I had no idea there were wars over opium, and I found that very interesting. This book does have many deaths, and strong drug references, which were necessary to the story. These things made it very realistic to Victorian times when Jack The Ripper was wandering about. I really enjoyed The Ruby in the Smoke and I cannot wait to read the other 3 books in the series!
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Reader reviewed by Tina.S
Sally Lockhart has lost her father and is trying to find out more about his death. However everywhere she goes things just get more confusing. By merely saying " Seven Blessings" one man dies on the spot. Plus she has no idea what a strange, and valuble ruby has to do with anything. This book keeps you in suspense!
Sally Lockhart has lost her father and is trying to find out more about his death. However everywhere she goes things just get more confusing. By merely saying " Seven Blessings" one man dies on the spot. Plus she has no idea what a strange, and valuble ruby has to do with anything. This book keeps you in suspense!
| Overall rating | 4.0 | |
| Plot | 4.0 | |
| Characters | 0.0 | |
| Writing Style | 0.0 |
Keeps yuo reading till the end!
Reader reviewed by Tina.S
Sally Lockhart has lost her father and is trying to find out more about his death. However everywhere she goes things just get more confusing. By merely saying " Seven Blessings" one man dies on the spot. Plus she has no idea what a strange, and valuble ruby has to do with anything. This book keeps you in suspense!
Was this review helpful to you?
Reader reviewed by Veronika
I loved this book. I read it in french and I appreciated very much !
I would advise this book to all people who love victorian period and mysteries.
I liked it because the heroine isn't a stereotyped girl, she has an own character and an aim, and she fights to reach it.
A best !
Veronika
I loved this book. I read it in french and I appreciated very much !
I would advise this book to all people who love victorian period and mysteries.
I liked it because the heroine isn't a stereotyped girl, she has an own character and an aim, and she fights to reach it.
A best !
Veronika
| Overall rating | 5.0 | |
| Plot | 5.0 | |
| Characters | 0.0 | |
| Writing Style | 0.0 |
Love this book !
Reader reviewed by Veronika
I loved this book. I read it in french and I appreciated very much !
I would advise this book to all people who love victorian period and mysteries.
I liked it because the heroine isn't a stereotyped girl, she has an own character and an aim, and she fights to reach it.
A best !
Veronika
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Reader reviewed by Bookworm9
In this mystery set in Victorian London, 16 year old Sally Lockhart, recently orpaned, is searching for clues about her father's death. When she goes to his former place of business, she stumbles into a series of clues that take her all over London and put her life in danger-- but also lead to her finding close friends in 13 year old Jim, an office-boy, and Frederick, a young photographer. After taking a job at Frederick's shop, Sally puts him and others in danger but eventually discovers the truth about her father's death.
An action-packed story with a strong female heroine, "The Ruby in the Smoke" is the first of the books in Pullman's excellent Sally Lockhart trilogy. It is followed by "Shadow in the North" and "The Tiger in the Well."
In this mystery set in Victorian London, 16 year old Sally Lockhart, recently orpaned, is searching for clues about her father's death. When she goes to his former place of business, she stumbles into a series of clues that take her all over London and put her life in danger-- but also lead to her finding close friends in 13 year old Jim, an office-boy, and Frederick, a young photographer. After taking a job at Frederick's shop, Sally puts him and others in danger but eventually discovers the truth about her father's death.
An action-packed story with a strong female heroine, "The Ruby in the Smoke" is the first of the books in Pullman's excellent Sally Lockhart trilogy. It is followed by "Shadow in the North" and "The Tiger in the Well."
| Overall rating | 5.0 | |
| Plot | 5.0 | |
| Characters | 0.0 | |
| Writing Style | 0.0 |
An excellent mystery
Reader reviewed by Bookworm9
In this mystery set in Victorian London, 16 year old Sally Lockhart, recently orpaned, is searching for clues about her father's death. When she goes to his former place of business, she stumbles into a series of clues that take her all over London and put her life in danger-- but also lead to her finding close friends in 13 year old Jim, an office-boy, and Frederick, a young photographer. After taking a job at Frederick's shop, Sally puts him and others in danger but eventually discovers the truth about her father's death.
An action-packed story with a strong female heroine, "The Ruby in the Smoke" is the first of the books in Pullman's excellent Sally Lockhart trilogy. It is followed by "Shadow in the North" and "The Tiger in the Well."
Was this review helpful to you?
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