Customer Reviews
The first book i ever fell in love with - By: Mr. A. Jenkin, 20 May 2008 
I am not a big book reader, far from it actually, but Rubyin the Smoke just had me cooped up indoors. This was actually the first real book i sat down & readin my own time, a good 5 years ago. I was on holiday, bored stiff because i was too young to go clubbing with my brothers & i was stuckin with mum & dad. So, mum suggested i read a book & handed my Rubyin the Smoke, she hadn't read it but bought it out of her love for the 'His Dark Materials' series. So i thought, what the hell, i'll give it a try.
Sally Lockhart is a sixteen year old orphan livingin Victorian London, living with an education, which extends to - straight shooting & military tactics, business is her only educational strong point. When Sally's father is drownedin suspicious circumstancesin the South China Sea, she soon begins to find herselfin terrible danger, & at the rotten heart of it all lies the deadly secret of the Rubyin the Smoke.
I am not big into thrillers, nor Victorian history. I enjoy moviesin either the Fantasy genre or something a little more modern-realistic (KiDULTHOOD/Green Street). But this series of books makes that one exception - the characters are so lovable, the story is told with such beauty & the plot is filled with a history of violence - but don't let that change your mind, this book is a must have for anyone who reads or doesn't - no matter who you are there will always be one book that you will love with all your heart - & for me, this is it. The entire series is fantastic - but this is my favourite, mainly because it is the first. I strongly suggest you give this a read, you won't be disappointed.
Very good ! - By: Cwm Rhymni, 20 Mar 2008 
The Ruby & the smoke was a very exciting story there was lots of different things going on . When you start to read the story it was hard to stop reading it . The character Sally Lockhart was a very polite & kind person but shes also a firey person which made the story even better . In my opinion this was the best book ive ever read.I enjoyed the story a lot it was quite interesting & some parts was quite confusing but towards the end the story became clear. The character Mrs Holland was quite scary & sneaky & it was very exciting that they included herin this story it made the story better & better as it went alone .In my opinion this story was brilliant & i enjoyed it very much .
Morgan Owen Roberts
A flat story which left me feeling flat - By: FBPadfoot, 31 Jan 2008 
I don't mind PP's books, & fall on them when there's nothing else that catches my eye. This started off intriguing, but chapter after chapter never quite took off. It's not the longest book ever, the print is quite large as if it's aimed at a younger audience despite all the opium dens & drug wrecks, & there's wasted space with pointless prints from bygone times which serve no purpose, & the back end is also used for promotion. So although it's quoted as being however many pages, there's considerably less used for the story.
As for the tale itself, the characters remain flat on the pages for me. I've mentionedin other reviews how I like to feel like I'm part of the world I'm reading & imagining, & I like to feel involved with the characters who are with me through the adventure. But just as with Lyra & the restin His Dark Materials, Sally Lockhart never reached me & the people she was with remained just carriers of dialogue. It all felt flat & the relationships were portrayedin a functional, sensible manner. Even the Harry Potter series was more inviting & easier to be in, & I'm not the greatest fan of JKR's style or world. I liked The Kite Runner, which was bordering on the intense but worth reading, some of the Lemony Snicket series were lightly amusing & very well done, & The Babushka Inheritance was the best thingin ages.
One of the best books I ever read - By: loves2read, 29 Jan 2008 This book is an interesting mystery, which for some people is hard to get their head round. It is very interesting with many twists & turns & I would definatly recomend to everyone the whole series of the Sally Lockheart Quartet.
Brilliant!! - By: Suzannah Reid, 29 Dec 2007 I hope when people read the Sally Lockhart series of books, they will not compare them to the His Dark Materials series. His Dark Materials are a stunning set of books but people should not compare Pullman's other works to them. These stories are brilliantin their own right.
I agree with the person who wrote that these books are too good for the kids! I love these books & I'm not a kid! This is the 1st of the 4 stories & a brilliant start. I happened to read the 3rd book first before buying the other 3 so I see how the books are going to pan out but I still felt completely involvedin the story. Pullman has a brilliant way of story telling & he captures the feel of the people & surroundings of the 1870's perfectly.
