The Moonstone

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My first Wilkie Collins! This was begun with as much anticipation as my first Sarah Waters, another blogosphere darling. And what an adventure! Ancient India to colonial wars to mid-19th-century English Society with a capital-S.

We've got rakish young men, strong-willed young ladies, all-seeing butlers, vengeful uncles, fanatic spinsters, and not least, the hatchet-faced detective, the Great Cuff himself. Oh, and a diamond.

From the jacket flap:

The Moonstone (1868), one of the first and greatest detective stories, tells of the theft of a sacred diamond and the efforts of Sergeant Cuff, the policeman investigating the crime, to solve the mystery.

The mystery progresses, in true Victorian style, in letters, diaries, and written statements from the principal characters. Most of the first half is narrated by the elderly all-seeing butler (correction: house-steward) mentioned above. It's a wonderful combination of staircase gossip, walks in the shrubbery, and the old man's bout of detective-fever.

You will doubtless contract it yourself, reading this! It's very contagious.

I was surprised at the small role played by the celebrated Sgt Cuff. He did arrive on the scene and conduct some preliminary investigations, but soon after, gave up the case and retired to the countryside to grow roses. His efforts actually contributed very little to the solving of the case. So, I'm not quite sure why he seems to get most of the credit!

Only one thing is lamentable about this wonderful book: Now I am sadly aware that I will have to live out the rest of my life without ever having occasion to shout, 'Penelope! my bath.'



View all my reviews