Pullman, Philip - THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE

[LJ Roberts]

THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE – G+
Philip Pullman – 1^st in trilogy

Set in a rogue- and scalawag-ridden Victorian London, 16-year-old Sally Lockhart has no time for the usual trials of adolescence: her father has been murdered, and she needs to find out how and why. But everywhere she turns, she encounters new scoundrels and secrets. Why do the mere words "seven blessings" cause one man to keel over and die at their utterance? Who has possession of the rare, stolen ruby? And what does the opium trade have to do with it?

A gutsy young woman who finds brave and loyal friends; what more can one ask. This is no mild kids book and there are plenty of evil characters and violent death. But it was an enjoyable story and I admit being curious to see where it goes from here.