Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
This work is a compelling mystery that involves a giant yellow diamond called the moonstone. Themes within the work include colonialism, wealth, betrayal, love, and detective work. This work was written in the 1800’s and yet has many concepts that can be applied to modern day mysteries. I appreciate the modern commentary in the foreword added to this work particularly relating to colonialism and sacred artifacts. The Indian men who are vilified within this work at the start of the work receive more validation in their desire to reclaim a sacred Hindu artifact throughout the work.
A typical mystery from 1868, which is told from the point of view of several people who played a role in the story. I quite liked this way of story telling, as it started off with a few rather eccentric characters. I couldn't care much for the plot or the narratives by the less interesting people.
Redeeming features are the comedic delivery of a couple of the multiple narrators, especially that of the servant Betteredge. Otherwise, slow, unfair in laying out the clues, a heavy reliance on coincidences and backstory revealed too late for reader to make use of it as a clue, and rampant racism. Only point in reading this novel in 2023 is for its historical status as an influence on decades of detective fiction that followed it.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
it feels like if Indiana Jones met Clue. i loved the section with Mr. Betteredge ( at the beginning) but I did like it once it got to Ms. Clack. I couldn’t decide on a pacing either because it did feel fast passed in the beginning but towards the middle and end it got slow so i went with medium paced.
slow-paced
slow-paced