I read The Ruby in the Smoke a while ago. I guess I got distracted before I read the rest of the trilogy...Great continuation of the Sally Lockhart story -- wow, great ending! ( )

This book does not follow on directly from the events in the previous in the series and leaves some characters behind, with questions about their fate unanswered. The story is at times scary, disturbing and very moving. As for the previous book Pullman blends in historical refernces, although for a reader the literary references are more fun - Jim receives a letter about vampires from Bram Stoker and other characters are reading Jane Austen and Anthony Trollope. But it is Sally Lockhart, a stunningly original and independent character who is the heart and soul of this novel as her integrity of spirit drives the narrative. ( )

Excellent historical mystery series. ( )

Actually quite heart breaking. I read this in middle school and cried for days. ( )

22-year-old Sally Lockhart has established herself as a financial consultant. When one of her clients loses her life's savings on a failed shipping company Sally advised her to invest in, Sally is determined to recover her client's money from the person she suspects of having deliberately destroyed the firm. Jim Taylor, moonlighting backstage at a music hall, finds himself helping a conjurer escape from several thugs who are threatening his life. Photographer/sleuth Fred Garland is investigating a medium at the request of a client who fears losing his job after hearing the medium's revelations at a séance. The three friends soon realize that their cases are somehow related, and they work together to foil an evil plot.

Once I started reading this book, it was difficult to put down. Although it is called a mystery, I would probably classify it as an adventure novel because of the amount of action in the book and the level of danger confronting the protagonists. ( )