The Moonstone

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins is considered by many to be the first great detective novel, and if you are a fan of detective novels, then this is a must read! The Moonstone helped start a genre of literature that has since exploded into many novels across many generations, radio mystery events, and a variety of television shows that have been running for years as well. But it is amazing to think that it started back in 1871 when Wilkie Collins first introduced England to the famous diamond known as the Moonstone.

In The Moonstone, reality and reason meet mystery and superstition as a member of a prestigious family heirs this precious diamond to a niece. But where did the diamond come from? It originated in India, and through a course of unsettling circumstances, Hernecastle gained possession of the diamond and sent it to Rachel Verinder. But on the night of birthday party, when she received the diamond, the diamond mysteriously went missing. And as a result, no one in the house is beyond suspicion.

Even England's finest, such as Sergeant Cuff, cannot locate the diamond or determine who is responsible for its disappearance. Through a series of dead ends, readers will immediately begin pointing fingers at various people, but they will undoubtedly find themselves casting suspicion on the wrong characters at some point in the novel. The detective work then stems to science, as a scientist gets brought into the investigation, and he carries the case further than Sergeant Cuff, eventually leading to the revelation of who took the diamond and where the diamond can be found. But even in the novel's closing pages, the mystery still arises. What will happen to the Moonstone next? Not even the closing pages can tell.

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This is a very interestingly written novel. It is told from the perspective of several characters. Franklin Blake, one of the novels main characters wants to record the experiences of his family's dealings with the Moonstone. He begins with a letter from Hernecastle, introducing the diamond itself. And then he transitions into a series of narratives, written by various characters that readers meet over the course of the story. For instance, the majority of the story is told from the perspective of Gabriel Betteredge, an elderly gentlemen who works for the Verinder family. Through these different narratives, readers gain different perspectives from the events that span 1 year. And ultimately, these narratives lead readers to the 2 major revelations of the narrative: who took the diamond and where they can find the diamond.

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I personally enjoyed the structure of the novel. It made the novel a more interesting read. Plus, the language is easy as well, providing a fast read. If you enjoy a good mystery, then The Moonstone must be on your reading list. It is full of action, supicision, suspense, and surprise. It being the first great detective novel, any mystery reader should make it a priority to read.

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Matt