Sally Lockhart's father was an unconventional man who preferred to teach his daughter how to run a business and shoot straight from a pistol, rather than school her in the social graces expected of a young lady. When he dies suddenly and unexpectedly, on a voyage to the Far East, Sally receives a mysterious letter containing a strange warning - one that is to lead to yet another unexpected death. Soon Sally finds herself at the heart of a deep and dangerous mystery, and one which she is determined to solve at all costs.
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On a cold, fretful afternoon in early October 1872, a hansom cab drew up outside the offices of Lockhart and Selby, Shipping Agents in the financial heart of London, and a young girl got out and paid the driver. CHAPTER ONE, THE SEVEN BLESSINGS
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(Audible Studios, 11 November 2008, audiobook, 6 hours 33 minutes, bought from @audibleuk, various narrators, # popsugarreadingchallenge, a book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title)
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I've read (or rather listened to) one of the later books in the series, which I really enjoyed but I wanted to read the rest of the books. I enjoyed this a lot. Like all of the audiobooks from Audible Studios, the quality is very high with good narrators which bring the story to life. Sally is younger in this book than the one I read so I had to get to know her all over again. The Ruby in the Smoke has everything I'd expect from a historical mystery; sinister characters, devious plots and the like.