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Book Review of The Ruby in the Smoke: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)

The Ruby in the Smoke: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)
mccoffield avatar reviewed on + 76 more book reviews


I have no idea why the Sally Lockhart mysteries (four in all) are classified as for young readers. The plots and themes all seem very 'grown-up' to me.

I thoroughly enjoyed all four books in this series, especially the first three of which are based in Victorian London.

Quite a tour de force; an adventurous tale with lots of twists and turns and richly complex characters. Highly recommended.

The central character is Sally Lockhart, a sixteen year old young lady who is thrown into the mystery of investigating her father's death. This takes her into the seamy underworld of London, including the shadows of the opium trade of 1872. She is pursued by villans but also makes some live-long friends along the way.