The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 1)

I have alway been a fan of stories set in Victorian England (probably because of my fondness for Sherlock Holmes), and if you like that sort of thing, you'll really like the Sally Lockhart mysteries. They're nothing like The Golden Compass, etc., so if you didn't like the "His Dark Materials" series, you should still give this series a try.

fabulous book ... can read it over and over !!!

A great start for Sally Lockhart adventures.

After watching the television adaptation of this (rented from the library, thank you BBC), I decided to get the audiobook. The adaptation is surprisingly faithful to the book -- little happens in the novel that doesn't on screen as well. It's a fun adventure, suspenseful and welcoming all at once. Looking forward to the sequel.