Moonstone

Applauded by T. S Eliot as ' the best of English detective novels, 'this classic tale of mystery and intrigue is the first of its kind in this genre of literature. Right from its title, the novel carries an indian flavour. Moonstone is the legendary diamond stone set in the forehead of the statue of god at somnath. Apart from being sacred and of great religious significance, the diamond also seems to have miraculous powers. The plot of the novel is complex. Rachel Verinder, a young Englishwoman, receives a large, indian diamond as a gift on her eighteenth birthday. This diamond is a legacy from her uncle, a corrupt English army officer who had served in india. On the very night of her birthday, the diamond is stolen from her bedroom. Then follow days of sadness, grief, misery, and misfortunes till the mystery is solved. The rest of the story is unfurled as narratives by some of the main characters associated with the different aspects of the case, their interpretation of the theft, their efforts to find the theief and then recover the lost stone. With its elements of suspense and sensations, the novel is delightful to readers of all ages.