The Moonstone
by Wilkie Collins
A dazzling jewel known as the "Moonstone", stolen from the forehead of a Hindu idol, reappears at a birthday party in an English country house - a mysterious awake Brahmin trio traces it. Filled with superstition, suspicion, humor, and romance, this mystery draws readers into a compelling story with grievances ranging from sleepwalking to opium experiments. The tension and dramaturgy intensify as the narrative moves from one colorful character to another. Wilkey Collins' masterpiece stands out especially with the appearance of Sergeant Manget, the prototype of the British detective hero and a harbinger of the folk sanitary ware tradition.
