Der Rubin im Rauch

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published Jan. 1, 1998 by Beltz.

ISBN:
978-3-407-79768-1
Copied ISBN!
OCLC Number:
75951175

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (18 reviews)

"Beware the seven blessings" When she first utters there words, sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart doesn't know their meaning. But when an employee of her late father hears them, he dies of fear. Thus begins Sally's terrifying journey into the seamy underworld of Victorian London, in search of clues that will solve the puzzle of ther father's death. Pursued by villains and cutthroats at every turn, she at last uncovers two dark mysteries. One involves the opium trade; the other, a stolen ruby of enormous value. Sally soon learns that she is th the key to both- and that it's worth her very life to find out why.

31 editions

Review of 'The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 1)' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I went completely berserk for Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series, so I definitely wanted to read the Sally Lockhart books as well. Ruby in the Smoke is the first in the series. It takes place in Victorian London, when Sally is a 16-year-old orphan and in danger.

Pullman is uncommonly good at compelling scene-building. The historical setting feels exceptionally well drawn and realistic, both in the places and the situations. The characters are full, complex and interesting; the heroes are heroic, the villains are scary, and even the most minor characters are rich and interesting.

Plot-wise it is a complex, interesting and surprisingly advanced tale for a YA novel (opium addiction plays a central role). The mystery/thriller pacing is well-done -- it starts with a bang and builds to a tense but satisfying conclusion.

I have one gripe: Sally Lockhart herself, who is described as blonde and pretty, who …

avatar for zumbador

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LemonSky

rated it

1 star
avatar for chaos_angel

rated it

3 stars
avatar for jumbanho

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Phiznlil

rated it

4 stars
avatar for inga-lovinde

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Elspeth

rated it

5 stars
avatar for MagneticCrow

rated it

3 stars
avatar for naomi

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Dunedinmouse

rated it

4 stars
avatar for the_lirazel

rated it

2 stars
avatar for paudie

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jankmammal

rated it

4 stars
avatar for kain

rated it

4 stars
avatar for sleep-er

rated it

3 stars