The Moonstone

by Wilkie Collins

My niece, a PhD candidate in English Lit praised this book, she said it was one of her favouite books of all time, so I thought I would give it a try.

The book was written in 1848 and is considered the first mystery fiction book.  It was an amazing read.  It is incredible how close it was in story and characters to mysteries being written today.  It had the usual police detective who is sure of himself and who sees things others don't see. It also had a cast of unusual and in some cases hilarious characters, a butler who is devoted to his mistress, her daughter and Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (it is his bible for understanding life and directing his actions), a religious fanantic, a servant who kills herself when her love for a gentleman is unrequited, mysterious Indians, a damsel and two romantic interests.

The story is centred around the theft of a huge diamond the Moonstone.  A Brit had stolen the diamond from a shrine when serving in India.  When he dies he bequeaths the diamond to a niece.  The stone has been kept in a bank for safekeeping but it is delivered to the niece on her birthday only to be stolen on the night of her birthday party.  Police are called but the young lady refuses to coooperate with the police so she becomes a suspect in the disapperance of the gem.  She rejects both her suitors for different reasons.

The mystery is solved in the end with the help of an unusual country doctor and the police detective who initially was unsuccessful in solving the crime.

The book was very entertaining and  did an excellent job of presenting the passions and foibles of humans.  It is amazing how little people have changed in 160 years...