The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

I like Wilkie Collins a whole lot. He’s one of those writers that even though he wrote in the last half of the 1800’s, you can still read him like he’s a modern suspense writer. His plots are tightly written and his characters are fairly modern. People even credit Collins as creating the first true English detective novel, although I really am not sure I completely agree with them on that.

The Moonstone is a cursed Indian blue diamond with a dubious past. It was stolen from an Indian shrine, and later passed on to Rachael Verinder as a birthday gift. With it brings mystery and danger, first with strange juggling Indians showing up to steal the diamond, and then, with the diamond being stolen and Rachael trying to cover up the crime. Sergeant Cuff is called to the case. He is sort of an early Sherlock Holmes character, but he doesn’t stay around long enough to really make a huge impression. Franklin Blake is in love with Rachael, and he was the one who delivered the diamond to Rachael and who pushes the mystery through to its conclusion.

A different narrator tells each section of the mystery and takes you through their parts of the story. I love that you can hear each character’s voice strongly in their sections, and each is so individual. Some are comic, like Betteredge the house steward, who always finds the answers in his copy of Robinson Crusoe, and Miss Clack, cousin to the Verinders, an old maid who is steadfastly devoted to Christ and is devoted to saving her cousin by leaving pamphlets in secret places around the house. Some are straightforward, like Sergeant Cuff, who looks through people to find the truth, but who still has time for his roses. Each character is unique and vividly drawn, and each adds to the story.

If you enjoy older mystery stories, but are looking for something easy to read but still worthwhile, you should check out Wilkie Collins.

Rating: 4 Purrs, if only for Betteredge and Mr. Crusoe