Sally Lockhart Quartet

Sally Lockhart #1-4

by Philip Pullman

All four Sally Lockhart novels in one volume.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Novels

Paperback

About the author

Sir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman is an English writer. His books include the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, a fictionalised biography of Jesus. In 2008, The Times named Pullman one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945". In a 2004 BBC poll, he was named the eleventh most influential person in British culture. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to literature.
Northern Lights, the first volume in His Dark Materials, won the 1995 Carnegie Medal of the Library Association as the year's outstanding English-language children's book. For the Carnegie's 70th anniversary, it was named in the top ten by a panel tasked with compiling a shortlist for a public vote for an all-time favourite. It won that public vote and was named all-time "Carnegie of Carnegies" in June 2007. It was filmed under the book's US title, The Golden Compass. In 2003, His Dark Materials trilogy ranked third in the BBC's The Big Read, a poll of 200 top novels voted by the British public.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire Philip Pullman more than almost any other writer, for so many reasons, but mostly because he works in a genres where something is usually given-up or left-out -- prurience overrides sex, ripping yarns become didactic, complexity is traded in for main-character likability -- and written young-adult historical fiction that sacrifices nothing. This is exciting, confident storytelling, resulting in books which seem to encompass every aspect of their time (and, oh my god, Victorian London, my favorite time) but also reach across history not to wink or nudge, but to look the reader in the eye. I almost want to have children just so I can introduce my daughter to Sally Lockhart.

N.B. This series, especially The Tiger in the Well, is quite five stars when compared to most other books except Pullman's other superlative young adult series, His Dark Materials -- books so important to me, I once tried to review them here but gave up because I ran out of superlatives and, also, wept -- so the Sallys get a short shrift that should in no way discourage you from devouring them as the most delicious I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter summer reading ever.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are, on the one hand, books of adventure, mystery, and romance, written in the style of (or at least heavily referencing) the casual penny-dreadfuls of Victorian England. Yet at the same time, these are compelling stories that explore human emotion, endurance, and relationships, with a healthy dose of philosophy and politics in the mix. Sally Lockhart (the main character in the first three books, i.e. the core trilogy) is a remarkably strong, capable, independent young woman living in a time in which women were more like decoration than real people. I was entranced by Sally's adventures as she is forced by circumstances beyond her control to face (and overcome) everything from solving the mystery of her father's death to supporting herself as a single female in a man's world. The first three books give us a complete and satisfying story, populated generously with characters to fall in love with. The fourth book is a companion novel, following two minor characters from the trilogy in a side (but no less thrilling) adventure. One caution, however: Philip Pullman can be brutal at times, and he doesn't pull any punches. These characters encounter real danger and hardship, and they are so well brought to life that the instances of tragedy are deeply painful to read. These books are, I believe, marketed for a younger audience, but I would absolutely say that readers of any age would enjoy them, and (as with "His Dark Materials") there are certain aspects of the books that are really only at their most effective when you are older.

[Fanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I despise mystery novels, or any of those kind where solving a crime is the major storyline. So i can say that a story has to be really compelling if it happens to be of that kind. The Sally Lockhart Quartet definately took me in.

It introduces a foreign time very well and also made it kind of relateable. And I think Philip Pullman's descriptive voice is very strong, with settings as well as with characters. Sally herself is a very likable character, still the books also take time to focus on other people. Moreover, Philip Pullman is very good at creating villains and twisted crime cases.

All in all, I would advise everyone to read it who's not a fan of crime novels, you will be pleastently surprised!

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot rate these books highly enough - they’re better, in my opinion, than the His Dark Materials trilogy (by the same author) and are all page-turners. ‘The Ruby In the Smoke’ follows Sally Lockhart as she tries to unravel the mystery of her father’s murder while ‘The Shadow in the North’ is set around 6 years later when she is working in Victorian London as a financial consultant. Without giving anything away, ‘The Tiger in The Well’ and ‘The Tin Princess’ are also fab books with some shocking twists that will maybe you unable to put them down! I thoroughly recommend this quarter for fans of Sherlock Holmes and Dorothy L Sayers - they’re some of the best books I’ve ever read!

[Maiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was very invested in the story/characters! Can't recall the last time I got so mad at a book as I did here😅

[Lucinda Real · Rating 5 out of 5]

I encountered these books by chance, they arrived in a bundle, which is often the best opportunity to read a story that would dwindle in a TBR pile. Considering myself a fan of His Dark Materials, I was curious. Of course, I wasn't disappointed. Not knowing what to expect, I was soon immersed in Victorian London and met a cast of very interesting characters. The books are full of adventure and action. I took breaks in reading, because at times, I felt like it was too much. As usual with Pullman, I cared about his characters and the main heroin - Sally Lockhart, has a very hard time. She is however a very strong, remarkable young woman. When I figured that the fourth book will be mainly about the other characters, I was relieved in knowing that Sally is finally safe and settled. Immediately, I found myself rooting for the cast old and new and caring about as much as about Sally before. It was a nice escape.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Book #1 in the series. I mean, it's Philip Pullman! Written in 1985, about 1870's, but that still doesn't really make up for the negative stereotypes about Chinese people. Not terrible, but noticeable.

[Hannah Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book for school. its OK I wouldn't read it again but the mystery of Sally and her father is quite gripping.

[m_miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this series certainly does not compare to 'His dark materials', it still has fully-formed characters, complex story-lines, and that charm of Pullman's prose. Personally, I appreciated the socialist storyline of the 3rd novel. I also luved the fluidity of many of the characters, the way they moved through the series with varying degrees of prominence, similar to how individuals often move through our own lives; we have certain constants, some recurring characters, and people who are simply passing through.

[Emily F · Rating 4 out of 5]

children's/ teen fiction.

historical fiction: Victorian England.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun young adult read!

[Dhithya R · Rating 1 out of 5]

no where near as good as the golden compass series, much more YA fiction

[LOL_BOOKS]

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS? BESIDES THE LYMOND CHRONICLES, MEME, WE ALL KNOW WE LOVE THOSE.

[Anna F switched to Storygraph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I didn't read these earlier, and I'm so glad the buzz about Pullman's upcoming sequel to the His Dark Materials series motivated me to look for more of his work! He really makes characters come alive, especially strong female protagonists, and Sally Lockhart is a force to be reckoned with. I've listened to 3 of the 4 on Audible and loved every second of them!