The Shadow in the North (1988)

Full of drama and intrigue, if not quite as immediately compelling as the first book -- probably because the story begins as a complicated business investigation rather than with the deeply personal mystery of Sally's past. Still, the stakes are high and the personalities strong, aside from a couple of supporting characters who are so incredibly and annoyingly passive and even whiny at times that I wanted to slap them. I guess that's a tribute to Pullman's ability to create such a strong, brave and smart female protagonist that anything at the other end of the spectrum seems off-putting. ( )

Parts of this book make me sad, but I think it was even better than the first book. Sally's as awesome as ever. ( )

The sucker punch concealed within this book spoiled it entirely for me. ( )

A mystery set in Victorian England, with a very modern heroine in the form of Sally, a financial consultant and detective. As well as the mystery, Pullman explores the confines of being female over a hundred years ago, and the compromises to integrity workers must make to support themselves. It also explores love in its many forms, and how life can be complex, shocking and arbitrary. ( )

The Shadow in the North

A good follow up to The Ruby in the Smoke, with some shocking deaths and other scenes, though I didn't find this quite as gripping as its forerunner. Still good stuff, though. 4/5 ( )