The Shadow in the North

"Fraud, fire, and bloody murder pursue Sally Lockhart in a fine sequel to "The Ruby in the Smoke." Sally, now 22, is in business as a financial consultant. When she and her friends challenge corrupt financial interests, they find themselves in a web of intrigue that stretches from fetid slums of the poor to the corporate offices of the richest man in Europe. Sally's detective work reveals the connections between corrupt power and broken lives. The action is fast, scenes are tight and dramatic, the language is vivid, and the wealth of minor characters are sharply individualized. An immensely entertaining thriller."--(starred) "Booklist." Reading level: 6.7.