The MoonstoneThe Moonstone
Score Classic
What it's about
A priceless yellow diamond, stolen from a Hindu idol, is given to a young woman on her eighteenth birthday, and disappears that same night. Told by several witnesses, Wilkie Collins's novel follows the investigation by the brilliant Sergeant Cuff and others.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English. It's often called the first great English detective novel.
You'll love it if you liked
The Woman in White
Murder on the Orient Express
Bleak HouseGood to know
It's long and Victorian, but full of humor. Each section has a different narrator.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #275 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #482 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1681 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping
More by Wilkie Collins
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Quick answers
Is The Moonstone worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English. It ranks #1,681 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Moonstone about?
A priceless yellow diamond, stolen from a Hindu idol, is given to a young woman on her eighteenth birthday, and disappears that same night. Told by several witnesses, Wilkie Collins's novel follows the investigation by the brilliant Sergeant Cuff and others.
How long does it take to read The Moonstone?
About 13 hours (517 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Moonstone?
If you liked it, try The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie or Bleak House by Charles Dickens.