The Moonstone (with original illustrations)

I read this terrific early mystery many years ago, and I wanted a new copy (with larger print) to replace my yellowed old mass market copy. According to the dimensions in the description, this edition appeared to be a nice trade paperback. However, it is one of those print-on-demand books. It appears that a small-print edition was scanned and printed onto larger pages, because there are very wide white margins surrounding the text. I had not looked inside until I started to read the book, so it was too late to return it.

Yesterday in Barnes & Noble I found a nice, readable copy in a B&N imprint. I am throwing away the the store book. If on-demand is part of the book description, I don't see it. The book in my memory gets five stars. The cheap copy I ordered gets one star. Beware of the book cover showing a blonde woman at a dressing table - very disappointing.

I really enjoyed this book - it kept me in suspense until the very end and was quite addictive and hard to put down. Wilkie Collins is often labeled as the originator of the modern mystery story. I really enjoy his books - the "Woman in White" is one of my most favorite's. While this one was very good it just wasn't the "Woman in White" so I gigged it one star. Definitely worth the complimentary price!

The Moonstone was my book club pick for March, and I just finished it, three weeks AFTER book club. I enjoyed the story and the characters, it was just extremely drawn out and not compelling for me. The story was originally written as a series in a periodical of some sort, which is why it was so lengthy and seemed to keep going and going. As a weekly series, it may have been more fun, especially in a whodunit sense, but as a novel it was hard to get through.

In spite of "The Moonstone" having been written over 150 years ago, its humor, insight, and intrigue were every bit as fresh and relevant as most contemporary novels. It's not a quick read, rather it's a lovely stroll through another time and place. The mystery of the moonstone's disappearance is unraveled through the testimonies of different characters, each with his or her unique voice and perspective. Both tragedy and romance play their part, but they don't overshadow the main detective story, possibly the first of its genre in the English language.

I read this with the Audible / Whispernet option, which was fun to listen to. The story is told by several characters in the book, not just one narrator, so it was harder to follow just listening than it would be to read. (Confusing if I stopped in one part and resumed later, not recalling which character was doing the narrative at that point.) It's a good mystery - a classic - compelling enough that I will read it again and enjoy it even more the next time.

I have read several books by Wilkie Collins. He is a great writer. But he was aced out by Charles Dickens (obviously a great writer), who published during the same period. The Moonstone was frustrating because, written in the style of the day, it is very wordy by 21st Century standards. Personally, I enjoyed Drood more than The Moonstone. The Mystery, Drood, actually frightened me. Both are novels well worth reading.

This book is awesome. For one particular reason. You know how when you read a book, especially a thriller, how usually the plot is so predictable? You can almost ALWAYS guess who the villian was, right? Well not in this book. I was shocked when I found out who the "whodunit" was. Now this is what I'm talking about. A book that has NO predictable plot with no way to figure out the villan, etc.

Interesting read. A history of and mystery of the missing moonstone as told though the eyes of several characters. I adored the humour in the first telling. If I had only read the first section I would have given it five stars, however there was more. If you want a long book, this is it. The ending was just. A great read, a great classic.

The Moonstone is a classic, and for good reason. Wilkie Collins has created a beautifully plotted work, and created a genre. The Kindle edition has the advantage of a built-in dictionary for the occasional word that a modern reader may find confusing; the narrative flows, however, and it is a hugely entertaining read. Highly recommended.

I reread it because I couldn't remember the story from years ago. It is a classic example of his style of writing, but very dated from today,s perspective. Read it only if really into the development of the mystery story. Edgar Allen Poe was probably a contemporary of Collins, but way better at the mystery story.

Very well written from many different perspectives and with many unexpected twists and turns. If you like to be lead on a journey of discovery will being sidetracked through false paths of hope that ultimately bring you to the truth, you'll love this book.

Quality humor sprinkled throughout. The female characters are written like something out of the 1860's (ha ha). Guessing it was serialized when originally published, as it has that "cliff hanger" feel at the end of many chapters.

Had read The Moonstone many years ago and was surprised at how much I had missed. Like all Victorian novels, it moves slowly and has a multitude of characters but be patient and you will be drawn in. There are a number of red herrings. Read deeper and it is a critique of the prejudices and assumptions in middle class Victorian society. Enjoyed seeing strong women characters.

Wilkie Collins epic was written in the 19th century and was am innovation in more than one way. His development of story using several characters was another way it was innovative. Enjoyed the book immensely as I am somewhat of a historian.

As someone who loves all books historical, fiction and non, this was a great choice for me. I was desperate seeking a historical fiction of worth to read, as I have worn out all things Austen, Dickens and Bronte. I love the genre and The Moonstone was excellent, the multiple characters who tell the tale all having very amusing and district personalities. I have read it twice already and it is definitely worthy of my Kindle collection.

Reputed to be the oldest novel length mystery, I read it for that reason. While ostensibly a mystery, it has a closer relationship to the works of Fielding or Eliot than those of Doyle. This book is a collection of letters that detail the events surrounding the loss of a diamond originally looted from India and then passed down in a will. Collins seems much more interested in the inner lives of the characters and their mannerly interactions than in satisfactorily resolving the mystery. After reading through hundreds of pages of introspection and exquisitely delicate interactions, the mystery is solved and explained so rapidly, it seems like it was written in a telegraph office. Read it for its historical value and bragging rights and not so much for the whodunit.

This really held my interest. Wonderful characters whose points of view wove a delightful story. There is a 1940's copy of The Moonstone which belonged to my father in my bookcase. That makes the book even more special!

This was a fantastic complex book to read,
If your looking for a old fashioned mystery, kind of like a game of "Clue's", who did what, where and with what weapon. I'm keeping this one to share with other good book hounds

I love mysteries so going back to the original mystery book was fun. I read this as a teenage too many years ago and enjoyed it more as an adult. The language of the era makes you concentrate but that was good. Wilke Collins was a brother in law to Charles Dickens so you understand the time.

Wilkie Collins is one of the early British mystery novelists. This book is an easy ready, but also keeps you engaged. What appears to be true cannot always be trusted. The courtships are wholesome and the social issues, while not completely relatable by today's audiences, are overall universal.

Enjoy the delicious language and Collins' power of narrative from each protagonist's point of view. Just when I would think, "What else could possibly be conveyed, onward the story would proceed with even more involving elements!"

I currently have three versions of The Moonstone and this is the one I prefer. Though it has a modern cover, the scan of the original bound book is included. The text is formatted for reading on the original Kindle Fire and the original illustrations are in position appropriate to the text. My only complaint is that the illustrations were not scanned at higher resolution and cannot be enlarged for better viewing.

Every Willie Collins book that I have read is full of intrigue, mystery, and adventure. Each one is better than this last and this book is by far the best I have read. It held my interest from page one to the very last page! It kept me guessing until the end and I never suspected who the true villain was. I highly recommend this book. It is a must read!

Although the story starts out way too slow in the first half of the book, the technique in the second half of telling the story in separate letters or reports by each character goes a long way towards drawing the reader headlong into the narrative.

A friend recommended this mystery and I trust her judgment. The narrator's change as the story movies. Each such "author" describes the characters and action in different styles adding to the the reader's appreciation. The denouement is well disguised, equal to the best amateur sleuths. ENJOY

A classic for a reason! Nothing is as expected in this tale. I love the ending, for once as it should have been. Should be required reading to show students there is more than one way to think about a situation.

My only complaint about this book was at times it was slow. If you read it understanding that it is an older book and uses old style writing you can enjoy this book. If you like a good mystery but have tired of all the sex and unnecessary violence that is in many books today just for the shock value, this maybe the book for you.

Unlike other fiction I've read before, this story is completely told in the first person from different characters. It was odd at first because the narative was very detailed but the story flowed from person to person smoothly. Each segment gave the reader a bit more information and a bit more mystery. For me the most interesting part was the glimpse of British society at the time. There definitely was a cast system and everyone knew his or her place in it. Uppity commoners were not tolerated.

I assumed The Moonstone would be a good read, considering its place at the head of the detective fiction genre. It remains an engaging and suspenseful story, with as much interest in the characters as in the plot. What I didn't expect was the thoughtful probing of social issues, such as racism, colonialism, gender roles, and class structure. The book leaves the reader thoughtful about these subjects that are as relevant today as when "The Moonstone" was published in 1868. Yet it does so without sacrificing our interest and suspense in the central mystery of the missing gem.

If you like a mystery with a little romance thrown in, this is for you. I was glued to it start to finish and it is really long- 9 hours. Not too mushy so I think a guy would enjoy it as much as a woman.

These early works have great plots that are expanded with wonderful descriptions. The various points of view in the narratives about the events lend intriguing perspectives. I love the rich vocabulary and the old descriptive words that have been lost from our American vocabulary. I've read this tale twice and found something new each time.

This particular copy is very hard to read because the print is very, very small. Respectfully, this was a first time ever crime story of its kind and it's over a hundred years old. Great story! Before it's time read.

Since this book was written in the nineteenth century, you have to be prepared for formal writing and events developed at length and leisurely. It may seem stilted if you're not used to it, but it's surprising how well the suspense in this classic holds up.

This book is now recognized as the first example of the detective story, although the under-appreciated detective genius does not have a starring role. Like Dickens' novels, it was written as a serial for a magazine, so one could not call it concise. But the mystery is developed very tightly in spite of that. I prefer The Woman in White, Collins other great mystery novel, because the sense of danger and skulduggery is much more sustained. But The Moonstone is fascinating, full of great characters, and kept me entertained till the end.

I read Dan Simmons' Drood which is narrated by "Wilkie Collins". I was interested in the real author and the book mentioned in the story so I found The Moonstone. It was worth it. Great mystery, well worth the read.

I loved this book and really cannot recommend this more to those who enjoy mysteries. The book is written from the perspectives of various characters which adds great depth to the story and kept me riveted.