This dvd includes two bbc adaptations ruby in the smoke and shadow in the north from a series of novels by the award winning author, philip pullman. The stories follow the courageous and vibrant young heroine, sally lockhart, played here by award winning actress, billie piper, who is a 16 year old sleuth in the victorian era. The first dramatization, was transmitted in december 2006 to over 7 million viewers the second, the shadow in the north, aired on 30 december 2007. Ruby in the smoke sally, recently orphaned, is alone and being hunted by an assassin. With her new friends young photographer frederick and quick witted street child jim she must discover her father's killer. Facing them is an unseen, murderous opponent and at the heart of it all, the deadly, blood drenched secret of the ruby in the smoke. The shadow in the north once again pullman's much loved and fearless heroine sally lockhart embarks on a mission “ this time to find out why her elderly client's investment crashed and what links the clairvoyant's murderous vision to the rich industrialist, bellmann. Billie piper says of her role as sally lockhart in the shadow in the north sally is quite feisty, and has a right old bee in her bonnet when one of her elderly clients loses all her savings after investing on sally's recommendation. She is ahead of her times, outspoken and wants to be respected by those she considers her peers and is determined to get her client's money back one way or another. Running time 180 minutes region region 2 release date 7 jan. 2008