The Ruby in the Smoke – Philip Pullman (1985)

The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman, first published in 1985, is a gripping historical mystery set in Victorian London. It follows sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart as she unravels the dark secrets surrounding her father’s death, a missing ruby of immense value, and a sinister criminal underworld. The novel masterfully blends adventure, suspense, and emotional depth against a richly atmospheric backdrop.

Plot Summary

On a cold October afternoon in 1872, sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart arrives alone at the offices of Lockhart and Selby, Shipping Agents, in the heart of London. Pale, pretty, and dressed in mourning, she carries with her a quiet determination and the weight of her father’s recent death at sea. When she utters the strange phrase “the Seven Blessings” to Mr. Higgs, the company secretary, he collapses in sudden terror and dies, setting in motion a chain of events that will unravel the tangled threads of her father’s past and plunge her into a world of danger.

Sally’s father, Captain Matthew Lockhart, died under suspicious circumstances aboard the Lavinia, and the mysterious phrase and a cryptic letter from Singapore are all she has to guide her. Determined to uncover the truth, Sally crosses paths with Jim Taylor, a sharp-tongued office boy who becomes her steadfast ally. Quick on his feet and fiercely loyal, Jim helps Sally navigate the grimy streets and shadows of Victorian London as they search for answers.

The trail leads Sally to Major Marchbanks, a broken old soldier living in poverty on the Kentish coast. Haunted by his past, Marchbanks reveals little except that Sally’s life is in grave danger and thrusts a sealed package into her hands before urging her to flee. Pursued by the sinister Mrs. Holland, an old woman whose thirst for the fabled Ruby of Agrapur knows no bounds, Sally is thrust into a cat-and-mouse chase. Mrs. Holland, cruel and cunning, rules over a den of thieves from her lair at Hangman’s Wharf, her reach stretching through the criminal underbelly of London.

Fate draws Sally to Frederick Garland, a spirited young photographer with a restless heart and a scientific mind. Along with his sister Rosa, Frederick offers Sally shelter, friendship, and help as the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place. In the faded diary given to her by Marchbanks, Sally learns of a magnificent ruby – a blood-red stone of staggering beauty, stolen from India during the mutiny. The ruby’s path is soaked in betrayal and blood, its legend reaching back to the siege of Lucknow, where Sally’s father and his fellow soldiers fought for survival.

As Sally uncovers more, she realizes that her father had tried to smuggle the ruby to safety, hoping to keep it from the greedy clutches of those like Mrs. Holland. But Matthew Bedwell, a sailor wracked by opium addiction, holds the key to the ruby’s whereabouts. Bedwell’s ramblings, overheard by Mrs. Holland, put Sally in even greater peril. While Bedwell’s twin brother, the Reverend Nicholas Bedwell, struggles to save him from the abyss, Mrs. Holland closes in with relentless cruelty, ready to destroy anyone in her path.

With Frederick and Jim at her side, Sally races through the labyrinthine streets of London, from decaying mansions to fog-shrouded alleys, seeking clues before Mrs. Holland’s grip tightens. Sally’s mind sharpens as she deciphers hidden messages and ancient secrets, her determination steeled by memories of her father’s lessons and her mother’s fierce spirit. Together, they discover that the ruby has been hidden beneath a marked spot by the Thames, beneath the knotted rope and the watchful glow of three red lights.

But as the night falls over the river, the danger thickens. Mrs. Holland’s men are close behind, their footsteps echoing across the cobblestones. In the moonlit hours, Sally and her companions dig beneath the old docks, the air heavy with tension and the stench of the river. Their fingers close around a small package, the ruby’s deadly glow pulsing within. Yet the triumph is short-lived, for Mrs. Holland’s shadow looms near.

Cornered and desperate, Sally faces the old woman whose cruelty knows no mercy. But it is Mrs. Holland’s own greed that proves her undoing. In a struggle by the water’s edge, Mrs. Holland is dragged down by her own weight and plunges into the cold, black river, swallowed by the same depths she sought to command. The river, ancient and unyielding, claims her without a sound.

As dawn breaks, the city stirs to life, oblivious to the secrets buried in its heart. Sally stands with Frederick and Jim, the ruby heavy in her pocket, its curse broken, its power dimmed. She knows that wealth or jewels will never matter as much as the friends beside her, the truth she has uncovered, and the freedom she has won.

Returning to Peveril Square, Sally is no longer the frightened girl sent to live under her aunt’s cold rule. She has carved her own place in the world, her heart bruised but unbroken, her spirit tempered by fire. The past has been faced, the debts of the dead paid, and the ruby’s shadow lifted. For Sally Lockhart, the road ahead is still uncertain, but it is hers to walk – and this time, she does not walk it alone.

Main Characters

• Sally Lockhart: A resilient, intelligent, and determined sixteen-year-old orphan. Sally’s sharp mind, bravery, and moral compass drive the narrative as she navigates danger and betrayal in search of the truth about her father’s death and her family’s past. Her growth from sheltered girl to courageous investigator is central to the novel.

• Jim Taylor: A streetwise, quick-witted office boy who becomes one of Sally’s most loyal allies. Jim’s resourcefulness, humor, and unwavering loyalty provide both comic relief and crucial assistance in Sally’s quest.

• Frederick Garland: A charming, creative young photographer and amateur inventor. Frederick’s keen mind and empathy make him an indispensable friend to Sally, offering both practical help and emotional support as their friendship deepens.

• Mrs. Holland: The ruthless and malevolent criminal mastermind who will stop at nothing to obtain the ruby. She embodies greed and cruelty, and her presence looms menacingly over Sally throughout the story.

• Matthew Bedwell: A tormented sailor and opium addict who holds key information about the ruby and Sally’s past. Bedwell’s tragic arc underscores the destructive reach of Mrs. Holland’s schemes.

• Major Marchbanks: An old family acquaintance, living in poverty, haunted by guilt over the past. Marchbanks is both a link to Sally’s father and a figure whose secrets deepen the mystery.

Theme

• The Search for Identity: Sally’s journey is as much about discovering who she is as it is about finding the ruby. Through uncovering family secrets, confronting danger, and making choices, Sally shapes her own sense of identity and moral direction.

• Greed and Corruption: The ruby symbolizes the destructive power of greed. Nearly every adult in the novel is compromised or corrupted in their pursuit of wealth, contrasting sharply with the integrity of Sally and her friends.

• Loss and Grief: The novel explores the lingering effects of grief, particularly Sally’s mourning for her father. Her nightmares, memories, and moments of vulnerability deepen the emotional weight of her quest.

• Female Agency and Empowerment: Sally defies the expectations of Victorian womanhood, taking control of her destiny in a society that seeks to control and limit her. Her intelligence, bravery, and independence stand as a quiet rebellion against patriarchal norms.

• Social Inequality: Pullman vividly depicts the divide between rich and poor, showing the harsh realities of London’s underclass and the moral rot at the heart of the upper world. Characters like Jim and Adelaide embody the resilience of the marginalized.

Writing Style and Tone

Philip Pullman’s writing in The Ruby in the Smoke is elegant, immersive, and cinematic. He balances lush, atmospheric descriptions of Victorian London with sharp, precise dialogue that brings his characters to life. Pullman’s prose often shifts between suspenseful, action-driven scenes and moments of introspective depth, creating a rhythm that pulls the reader through the twists and turns of the plot.

The tone is darkly romantic and tinged with menace, blending the gothic with the adventurous. Pullman masterfully evokes the mood of Victorian mystery novels, yet his characters—especially Sally—feel modern in their emotional complexity and agency. Moments of wit and warmth, particularly in the interactions between Sally, Jim, and Frederick, offset the darker themes, creating a layered and compelling reading experience.