The Ruby in the Smoke

The Ruby in the Smoke
By Philip Pullman
Random House/Listening Library, 2006. 6 CDs (65 mins. each). Young Adult

Sally Lockhart's father has died at sea,and after receiving a cryptic message, Sally sets out to discover more about the circumstance surrounding his death. She doesn't know much, but when she questions one of her father's business associates about the "Seven Blessings," the man drops dead from fright. Soon, Sally finds herself being hunted by evil Mrs. Holland, trying to find a ruby, and caught up in the opium trade. Sally must rely on her wits and good friends to solve the mystery and keep herself alive.

The first in a series, this Victorian-era mystery introduces readers to a darker side of London. Sally's friends are a likable crew, and I appreciated the narrator's good job on their accents and speech patterns. The mixture of mystery, adventure, and historical fiction will make it appeal to a large range of readers.

AE