Philip Pullman
"But her hands - she noticed - were perfectly steady. Good, she thought. When I am frightened, I can rely on my hands."
7.1
London, 1872. The fog clings to the streets, and danger lurks in the shadows. When Sally Lockhart’s father dies at sea under mysterious circumstances, a single message—‘Beware the seven blessings’—pulls her into a dark and twisting mystery. Pursued by ruthless criminals and haunted by a secret worth killing for, Sally must rely on her wits, her allies, and her courage to survive. The Ruby in the Smoke is a gripping Victorian thriller filled with intrigue, danger, and a heroine ahead of her time.
Judging The Book By It’s Cover
The copy being discussed in this review is the 1999, Scholastic Ltd paperback edition.
This is a terrible book cover. If it hadn’t been for our love of Phillip Pullman’s other work we probably wouldn’t have bothered picking this book up. This cover is very much a product of its time and looks dated but would fit among its peers from the same period. There is little design to this cover save for the choice of font and the large and comically shiny ruby. The colour choices are perplexing, the only easy to read part is the title. The author's name and much of the blurb are hard to distinguish against the background. More recent covers of this book are much easier on the eyes.
Closing the Book
The Ruby in the Smoke is a delightful mystery. Pullman’s writing is descriptive without being overly flowery, making it an easy and engaging read. It’s a great starting point for young adult readers looking to explore the mystery genre.
Sally Lockhart is a compelling protagonist, driven by a determination to overcome her uncertainty and follow the clues left for her. However, it felt that Sally sometimes seemed like a side character in her own story and we would have liked to see her take a more active role in solving the mystery. Jess also found some of the supporting characters difficult to distinguish from one another.
The novel’s villain is genuinely terrifying—it’s entirely believable that she would stop at nothing to eliminate anyone in her way. However, her motives aren’t revealed until the very end, and the big reveal felt somewhat underwhelming.
Pullman brings Victorian London to life with gritty, immersive descriptions. His writing strikes a balance between vivid detail and reader imagination, painting a rich setting without overwhelming with minutiae.
We’re eager to continue the Sally Lockhart series to see how Sally continues to challenge societal expectations and navigate her independence in the male-dominated culture of Victorian England.
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