One of the best mystery novels ever written. -The Library Ladder

https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/the-moonstone-by-wilkie-collins/

one of the very first mystery novels in English, about the disappearance of a mystical jewel, with train timetables. drug addicts, religious fanatics (both Christian and non-Christian), peculiar medical conditions and suicidal love. Our copy is an ex-library edition with an enthusiastic introduction by no less than Dorothy L. Sayers.

What makes the book so memorable is that the story is told from many different points of view, and the first two are both very vivid – the old family servant, who believes that all wisdom can be found in Robinson Crusoe, and the crazy Christian relative, who annoys all the other characters. There is then a fine momentum which carries you through to the end.

It’s not without its flaws. The actual solution to the mystery resembles one of Agatha Christie’s more implausible schemes. The dead maidservant is a surprisingly good writer for someone of her background. Also, given that the jewel was stolen from the Indians by the British in the first place, it might have been better to save all the trouble by just giving it back to them early on; but then I guess you would have no story. Still, I was entertained. ( )

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The Moonestone by Wilkie Collins is a mystery revolving around an enormous diamond stolen from an Indian shrine and brought to England. Mr. Collins is a beloved, and popular Victorian writer and a close friend of Charles Dickens.

A young English woman, Rachel Verinder, inherits a large diamond on her 18th birthday. The diamond is a very significant religious artifact and three Hindu priests have dedicated their lives to recover it and bring it back to the temple in India.

During Rachel’s birthday party the diamond is stolen, and along the way a murder happens. A large cast of characters tells the story from their own point of view, until the mystery is solved.

A few years ago I read Mr. Collin’s The Woman in White and thought it was excellent. I got several comments saying I should check out The Moonstone since that is Wilkie Collins’ most beloved book. Finally, I got around to reading it, and it met all the praise it has gotten.

The fascinating aspect of this is that the narrative is told from the perspective of several of the main characters, they don’t lie but we do get a different story based on how they saw the events. It is a credit to Wilkie Collins’ talent that each section has its own voice and tone, completely separate from the others.

Today this book might read like a run-of-the-mill detective novel, however, it was written in 1868. Arthur Conan Doyle published his first Sherlock Holmes book in 1887, this book didn’t just stand the test of time but is also a groundbreaking novel.

There are a lot of different elements to the story. a beautiful, young rich heroine, a cursed jewel, Victorian mansions, death, romance, bungling cop, a smart butler, many twists and turns, and most important of all, a satisfying ending. Wilike Collins masterfully pulled together all the strands of this complicated plot, a true testament to his writing talent and ability. ( )

An evil Englishman has stolen the moonstone, a sacred gem, from India. In England, its owners are all bad luck. Sergeant Cuff is assigned to investigate the disappearance of a gem from a young Englishwoman's room and the threat of three malevolent Hindus to her family. Among Collins' best books. ( )

It was a bit of a slog to get through some of the middle parts but it definitely picked up toward the end. ( )