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The Ninth Stone
A jewel thief is on the loose in old London town and is murdering his victims. Sarah O'Reilly, who works as a typesetter in a newspaper office, becomes embroiled in the mystery that will eventually lead to India and a jewel with terrifying and occult powers.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Kylie Fitzpatrick
12 books6 followersKylie Fitzpatrick was born in Denmark and grew up in England, America, and Australia. She has worked as an actress, as a researcher for documentary films and as a freelance script editor. She lives in Somerset with her partner and young daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 11, 2015
Well, this book took me ages to finish. I suspect it was because I wasn't really drawn in to the plot, and I kept waiting for the 'occult' part of the novel to kick in, which it doesn't really do. There is some mild spiritualism (which given that the novel is set in the Victorian period, I would be more surprised if it didn't feature in it somewhat), and discussion of Hindu beliefs in particular to the energies of gemstones. Kali and her thuggees make an appearance, but for me it just wasn't enough.
That being said, the book is decently written. The three female main characters are interesting and were different enough to keep me reading; an artist's widow who is an aesthete, writer and proto-feminist; a practical housekeeper who is also a spirit medium; and the primary character (especially in the last half of the novel)is a teen girl/young woman who dresses as a boy and works in a newspaper printer’s, later becoming a writer herself. To my eyes the Orientalism seemed kept to a minimum - but I am not Indian, so I may well have not noticed something which they would pick up on.
Overall though, this did not meet the expectations I had for the plot. Too much of it is down to human action and too little to any occult power that the synopsis trumped up.
That being said, the book is decently written. The three female main characters are interesting and were different enough to keep me reading; an artist's widow who is an aesthete, writer and proto-feminist; a practical housekeeper who is also a spirit medium; and the primary character (especially in the last half of the novel)is a teen girl/young woman who dresses as a boy and works in a newspaper printer’s, later becoming a writer herself. To my eyes the Orientalism seemed kept to a minimum - but I am not Indian, so I may well have not noticed something which they would pick up on.
Overall though, this did not meet the expectations I had for the plot. Too much of it is down to human action and too little to any occult power that the synopsis trumped up.
March 15, 2025
If you don't value your time, then this is the book for you.
I was THIS close to DNF'ing and regretted every minute I didn't, but persevered because there were some intriguing themes, but they never came together and it was so poorly written. Felt like the author had to incorporate India to make the writing less dull; spoiler alert, it didn't work...
I was THIS close to DNF'ing and regretted every minute I didn't, but persevered because there were some intriguing themes, but they never came together and it was so poorly written. Felt like the author had to incorporate India to make the writing less dull; spoiler alert, it didn't work...
June 30, 2024
Great fun, thoroughly enjoyed this story of Victorian feminism, survival, murder, stolen gems and Indian mysticism.
July 26, 2009
One of the Amazon reviews hits it on the head for me - "Some nice ideas, but they weren't fully developed". I felt like I should've loved it, but it was just a little bit flat - and very much a novel of two halves, the first in the London slums and interesting stuff about the newspaper trade, the second in India almost a different book. Good characters, excellent descriptions, touch of the supernatural, whisper of romance ... it just didn't "fly" for me...
August 5, 2010
I thought the first half of this book was much better than the second half which seemed to lose its way, particularly the part of the story set in India.
While I liked this I don't think I'll be in a hurry to read more books by this author.
While I liked this I don't think I'll be in a hurry to read more books by this author.
July 31, 2011
Quite good :) A cross between a murder mystery and a historical fantasy story.
September 29, 2011
Another strong female character novel, with men falling away to let her shine.
May 28, 2020
j'ai plutôt envie de noter 3.5 mais je ne voudrais pas non plus tomber dans la sous-estimation.
globalement une bonne lecture, mais je dirais qu'il y'a quelques failles.
je commence par les points positifs en essayant de ne pas spoiler :
Positifs :
- l'histoire est super, l'intrigue est bonne, globalement ça parle de religion hindou, du pouvoir des diamants...
- il y'a un va et vient entre Londres victorienne et l'inde et je ne sais pas à quoi ça tient -probablement la description à été bien mené- mais dés qu'on se trouve à Londres, j'ai l'impression de voir la noirceur, la fumée, le temps grisâtre... et dés qu'on est en Inde, à Bénarès, on a l'impression que quelqu'un est venue ôter le décors grisâtre et rallumer le soleil, on voit les couleurs, on sent les épices orientales, le jasmins, on se voit se balader dans les jardins du palais du maharaja... et j'ai vraiment aimé.
- Les histoires d'amours qu'il y'a derrière l'intrigue sont bien menés, je dirais même parfaite, les émotions sont bien communiqués et la fin est toutes douce... certaines phrase m'ont bien ému.
Négatifs :
- on a l'impression que l’écrivaine a passé des jours à se renseigner sur le hindouisme et qu'elle n'a pas trouvé un moyen subtil de nous imprégner de ses connaissances, à chaque fois je ressens qu'elle en bave pour trouver un moyen de nous en apprendre plus, elle a ajouté des personnages qui n'ont aucun rôle si ce n'est parler de la religion hindou et du pouvoir des diamants. j'ai franchement trouvé ça légèrement lourds mais franchement ça n'est pas si catastrophique que ça
- le roman est vécu au travers des yeux de Sarah, mais on a l'impression que l’écrivaine voulais nous en apprendre un peu plus que ce que Sarah pouvait savoir. L'un des exemple est que l’écrivaine a relayé des correspondance entre une amie à Sarah et une certaine Barbara qui donne plutôt l'impression d’être une amie imaginaire à laquelle elle raconte des détails que je suis sure n’intéresse pas du tout cette Barbara. En fait, tout au long du roman on sent que l’écrivaine en a bavé pour nous mener à bien l'intrigue, je ne dirais pas que c'est un échec, mais à force de rechercher des procédés originaux, elle est tombé légèrement dans l'exagération
Mais je recommande vraiment
globalement une bonne lecture, mais je dirais qu'il y'a quelques failles.
je commence par les points positifs en essayant de ne pas spoiler :
Positifs :
- l'histoire est super, l'intrigue est bonne, globalement ça parle de religion hindou, du pouvoir des diamants...
- il y'a un va et vient entre Londres victorienne et l'inde et je ne sais pas à quoi ça tient -probablement la description à été bien mené- mais dés qu'on se trouve à Londres, j'ai l'impression de voir la noirceur, la fumée, le temps grisâtre... et dés qu'on est en Inde, à Bénarès, on a l'impression que quelqu'un est venue ôter le décors grisâtre et rallumer le soleil, on voit les couleurs, on sent les épices orientales, le jasmins, on se voit se balader dans les jardins du palais du maharaja... et j'ai vraiment aimé.
- Les histoires d'amours qu'il y'a derrière l'intrigue sont bien menés, je dirais même parfaite, les émotions sont bien communiqués et la fin est toutes douce... certaines phrase m'ont bien ému.
Négatifs :
- on a l'impression que l’écrivaine a passé des jours à se renseigner sur le hindouisme et qu'elle n'a pas trouvé un moyen subtil de nous imprégner de ses connaissances, à chaque fois je ressens qu'elle en bave pour trouver un moyen de nous en apprendre plus, elle a ajouté des personnages qui n'ont aucun rôle si ce n'est parler de la religion hindou et du pouvoir des diamants. j'ai franchement trouvé ça légèrement lourds mais franchement ça n'est pas si catastrophique que ça
- le roman est vécu au travers des yeux de Sarah, mais on a l'impression que l’écrivaine voulais nous en apprendre un peu plus que ce que Sarah pouvait savoir. L'un des exemple est que l’écrivaine a relayé des correspondance entre une amie à Sarah et une certaine Barbara qui donne plutôt l'impression d’être une amie imaginaire à laquelle elle raconte des détails que je suis sure n’intéresse pas du tout cette Barbara. En fait, tout au long du roman on sent que l’écrivaine en a bavé pour nous mener à bien l'intrigue, je ne dirais pas que c'est un échec, mais à force de rechercher des procédés originaux, elle est tombé légèrement dans l'exagération
Mais je recommande vraiment
October 4, 2025
Just finished this book last night but it's still sitting on my bed because I'm not ready to put it away (hoping an extra chapter will magically appear). Anyway, it was a great read. As someone who grew up watching Hindi/Tamil films, I was already familiar with some of the Hindu beliefs, but was also pleased to learn many new things. What kept me reading was mostly the mystery surrounding the deaths. The way people died really felt occult and I thought Kali was out there drop-kicking dudes on her own, so it was fun to unravel that mystery. Also, in most historical novels I read, the struggling girl(s) are always saved by a Knight in shining armour, I love that it was WOMEN who saved the girls in this book! Characters like Sarasvati and Govinda are so intriguing and they heighten the mystery exponentially. I pitied the Maharanee, and lowkey hated it when Sarah went to Kali's shrine the 2nd time (because why?). I also loved the subtle attraction between Sarah and Gerard (I called it the first time they met and I was right). In conclusion: it's a very well written book that reminds us that despite all the superstitions in the world and all the spirits we may fear... humans are always the most dangerous.
December 20, 2017
En spännande bok, inte märkvärdig men läsvärd. Det är den unga Sarahs historia som fängslar mig.
January 6, 2018
One of the best books that I have read in quite awhile. Mystery, intrigue and murder travels between England and India.
March 4, 2022
Heel mooi opgebouwd verhaal met verrassend plot
July 22, 2010
Unusual Victorian Intrigue
Orphaned on the streets of London at a young age, Sarah O’Reilly has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She struggles to keep her and her little sister Ellen out of the workhouses, and to avoid prostitution, or street begging to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Disguising herself as a boy, Sarah gets a job as a messenger at one of the local newspapers. Seeing her intelligence and potential, the paper’s editor finds a soft spot with Sarah and keeps her working to encourage her self improvement. Sarah’s ideal role model is a widowed writer named Lily Korechnya who pens articles about exemplary women for the newspaper under a man’s name. Endearing her heart to Sarah, Lily takes her under her wing and befriends the two sisters giving them a new home and teaching Sarah to become the writer she always dreamed of.
Friend to Lady Cynthia Herbert, a collector of exquisite gems and jewels, Lily tells Sarah of a mysterious and sought after set of nine colored diamonds that Lady Herbert brought back from India to have set in an amulet for none other than the Maharajah. Set in a specific design that in Hindu Mythology would bring extreme power and destruction, no jeweler in India would do the job. Lord and Lady Herbert had agreed to take the jewels back to London for the maharajah to be created properly. Giving the glittering gems to a recommended artisan with nothing but a drawing he must memorize on sight and immediately hand over, the jeweler agrees to take on the job. While Lily is there at the jewelers with Lady Herbert, she also commissions a necklace piece for herself, a mourning locket that with hold a lock of her late husband’s hair close to her heart.
Days later the diamonds are stolen and three people are murdered. Local London police are unable to make heads or tails; a curious case unfolds and a relentless manhunt is unleashed. Lily, Sarah, and Ellen find their lives entwined with much mystery, mischief and mayhem that will lead them from the streets of London across the sea to the exotic realm of 19th century India. Lily and Sarah both, at different times in their lives will encounter many baffling conundrums and come face to face with a host of wicked enemies that at first do not show their true colors but all have connection to the London crimes.
The author’s ability to evoke marvelous period detail that takes the reader on a curious and enchanting journey from the depraved gutters of London’s underworld to the markets of India where the scents of spices and yards of diaphanous silks abound. From proper English tea parties to Indian temples that spin dancing girls into voluptuous temptations, this book is a unique blend of historical novel and international mystery. Steeped in the lore of diamonds with the added pleasure of Hindu mythology that gets sprinkled hither and yon throughout the book, we are immersed in gods and goddesses both wondrous and fearsome that add spicy ingredients to this exceptional novel. I really enjoyed this innovative and clever plot finely crafted.
Orphaned on the streets of London at a young age, Sarah O’Reilly has the weight of the world on her shoulders. She struggles to keep her and her little sister Ellen out of the workhouses, and to avoid prostitution, or street begging to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Disguising herself as a boy, Sarah gets a job as a messenger at one of the local newspapers. Seeing her intelligence and potential, the paper’s editor finds a soft spot with Sarah and keeps her working to encourage her self improvement. Sarah’s ideal role model is a widowed writer named Lily Korechnya who pens articles about exemplary women for the newspaper under a man’s name. Endearing her heart to Sarah, Lily takes her under her wing and befriends the two sisters giving them a new home and teaching Sarah to become the writer she always dreamed of.
Friend to Lady Cynthia Herbert, a collector of exquisite gems and jewels, Lily tells Sarah of a mysterious and sought after set of nine colored diamonds that Lady Herbert brought back from India to have set in an amulet for none other than the Maharajah. Set in a specific design that in Hindu Mythology would bring extreme power and destruction, no jeweler in India would do the job. Lord and Lady Herbert had agreed to take the jewels back to London for the maharajah to be created properly. Giving the glittering gems to a recommended artisan with nothing but a drawing he must memorize on sight and immediately hand over, the jeweler agrees to take on the job. While Lily is there at the jewelers with Lady Herbert, she also commissions a necklace piece for herself, a mourning locket that with hold a lock of her late husband’s hair close to her heart.
Days later the diamonds are stolen and three people are murdered. Local London police are unable to make heads or tails; a curious case unfolds and a relentless manhunt is unleashed. Lily, Sarah, and Ellen find their lives entwined with much mystery, mischief and mayhem that will lead them from the streets of London across the sea to the exotic realm of 19th century India. Lily and Sarah both, at different times in their lives will encounter many baffling conundrums and come face to face with a host of wicked enemies that at first do not show their true colors but all have connection to the London crimes.
The author’s ability to evoke marvelous period detail that takes the reader on a curious and enchanting journey from the depraved gutters of London’s underworld to the markets of India where the scents of spices and yards of diaphanous silks abound. From proper English tea parties to Indian temples that spin dancing girls into voluptuous temptations, this book is a unique blend of historical novel and international mystery. Steeped in the lore of diamonds with the added pleasure of Hindu mythology that gets sprinkled hither and yon throughout the book, we are immersed in gods and goddesses both wondrous and fearsome that add spicy ingredients to this exceptional novel. I really enjoyed this innovative and clever plot finely crafted.
January 15, 2010
First Sentence: On principle, Lord Herbert was content to leave the governing of everyday affairs to his wife.
Sarah O’Reilly disguises herself, not very successfully, as a boy to work setting type for ads at a newspaper in order to support herself and her younger, rather fey, sister and keep them off the streets. She is befriended by Lily Korchnya, writer of a column on “exceptional women” and widow of an artist.
Lily has been asked by Lady Cynthia Herbert, whose husband was murdered in India, to catalogue her magnificent collection of jewels. Among them are large colored diamonds she has promised to have set in an unusual pendant for the Maharajah of Benares. But it seems the gems bring death and other murders occur and the gems disappear. The trail, after several years, leads back to India and the vengeful goddess Kali.
The opening chapter is a wonderful mix of metaphor and murder. Fitzpatrick is an amazingly descriptive writer whether the setting is the slums, workplaces or mansions of London or the streets, temples and palaces of India.
Her sense of time and place are so strong and writing so visual I felt part of the scene rather than viewing it. The dialogue is very well done with just the right feel of the period. I also very much appreciate an author who understands the value of well-done chapter headings.
All the characters were wonderful and very well developed. I had a real sense for who they were and liked the inclusion of the letters as it did make the story seem very personal.
The story is not a mystery in the traditional sense, although certainly there are murders and there is resolution in the end. The story incorporated myths, superstition, philosophies, and spirits which all add to the richness of the story.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for several years. In that time, I’ve picked it up, read the fly leaf and put it back thinking I wouldn’t enjoy it. I am delighted to say I was very wrong. It was a beautifully written book and a wonderful read.
THE NINTH STONE (Hist Mys-Sarah O’Reilly-London/India-1864/Victorian) – VG
Fitzpatrick, Kylie – Standalone
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780297852766
Sarah O’Reilly disguises herself, not very successfully, as a boy to work setting type for ads at a newspaper in order to support herself and her younger, rather fey, sister and keep them off the streets. She is befriended by Lily Korchnya, writer of a column on “exceptional women” and widow of an artist.
Lily has been asked by Lady Cynthia Herbert, whose husband was murdered in India, to catalogue her magnificent collection of jewels. Among them are large colored diamonds she has promised to have set in an unusual pendant for the Maharajah of Benares. But it seems the gems bring death and other murders occur and the gems disappear. The trail, after several years, leads back to India and the vengeful goddess Kali.
The opening chapter is a wonderful mix of metaphor and murder. Fitzpatrick is an amazingly descriptive writer whether the setting is the slums, workplaces or mansions of London or the streets, temples and palaces of India.
Her sense of time and place are so strong and writing so visual I felt part of the scene rather than viewing it. The dialogue is very well done with just the right feel of the period. I also very much appreciate an author who understands the value of well-done chapter headings.
All the characters were wonderful and very well developed. I had a real sense for who they were and liked the inclusion of the letters as it did make the story seem very personal.
The story is not a mystery in the traditional sense, although certainly there are murders and there is resolution in the end. The story incorporated myths, superstition, philosophies, and spirits which all add to the richness of the story.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for several years. In that time, I’ve picked it up, read the fly leaf and put it back thinking I wouldn’t enjoy it. I am delighted to say I was very wrong. It was a beautifully written book and a wonderful read.
THE NINTH STONE (Hist Mys-Sarah O’Reilly-London/India-1864/Victorian) – VG
Fitzpatrick, Kylie – Standalone
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780297852766
August 8, 2013
Desire itself gives me life; its actions form my fate, for an action without desire has no destiny.
Last line from The Ninth Stone by Kylie Fitzpatrick. This was a book of two halves. Usually when a novel splits its time between England and India, I prefer the time it spends in India. However, on this occasion, Victorian England (first half) proved to be a more exciting setting than India’s harems and opium dens (second half,) which frankly bored me.
The Ninth Stone began with interesting ideas but they didn’t develop and the 400 pages just dragged out the plot, which could have been concluded in England in less time. Didn’t like the use of letters scattered through the book, they felt pointless, would have preferred to just read a ‘story.’
Loved the protagonist; Sarah O’Reilly’s fearless and strong. Ellen O’Reilly, Lily Korechyna and Holy Joe were intriguing characters too and it was a pity they weren’t featured more prominently. The Indian characters weren’t particularly inspirational, so I won’t spend any more time on them.
Last line from The Ninth Stone by Kylie Fitzpatrick. This was a book of two halves. Usually when a novel splits its time between England and India, I prefer the time it spends in India. However, on this occasion, Victorian England (first half) proved to be a more exciting setting than India’s harems and opium dens (second half,) which frankly bored me.
The Ninth Stone began with interesting ideas but they didn’t develop and the 400 pages just dragged out the plot, which could have been concluded in England in less time. Didn’t like the use of letters scattered through the book, they felt pointless, would have preferred to just read a ‘story.’
Loved the protagonist; Sarah O’Reilly’s fearless and strong. Ellen O’Reilly, Lily Korechyna and Holy Joe were intriguing characters too and it was a pity they weren’t featured more prominently. The Indian characters weren’t particularly inspirational, so I won’t spend any more time on them.
March 22, 2009
A good story that has history, murder and mystery as its elements.
an orphan girl, Sarah O'Reilly has disguised herself as a boy so that she can work in a newspaper office. There she meets a young widow, Lily Korechyna, who writes a column for the paper, under another name.
The time period is 1864 and ladies were frowned upon for being "outspoken and independent".
Lily is asked by Lady cynthia Herbert to catalogue her collection of jewels. Lady Cynthia has recently returned from India, where she met with the Maharaja of Benares - and he entrusts her with a number of jewels, so that s special charm can be made.
It would appear that the jewels have a curse on them, as 3 people die, who have come in contact with them (including Lily).
A few years after Lily's death in India, Sarah decides to travel there and come to terms with the past events.
an orphan girl, Sarah O'Reilly has disguised herself as a boy so that she can work in a newspaper office. There she meets a young widow, Lily Korechyna, who writes a column for the paper, under another name.
The time period is 1864 and ladies were frowned upon for being "outspoken and independent".
Lily is asked by Lady cynthia Herbert to catalogue her collection of jewels. Lady Cynthia has recently returned from India, where she met with the Maharaja of Benares - and he entrusts her with a number of jewels, so that s special charm can be made.
It would appear that the jewels have a curse on them, as 3 people die, who have come in contact with them (including Lily).
A few years after Lily's death in India, Sarah decides to travel there and come to terms with the past events.
April 3, 2015
A prince in India is set upon finding nine jewels of different hues and he has all but the most rare. We first pick up the tale in historic London where we learn about gems, then the second part of the book moves to India.
We see that the prince or rajah has set the whole village to scouring the streams for gems washed out of a mountain vein and while anyone finding a gem is rewarded, this is a pittance compared to the value of jewels and to the prince's wealth.
The trouble is, the old tales say that the ninth stone and the combination of all nine stones, brings a curse.
I was more interested in the portrayal of the period and social settings than in the supernatural, but the tale should interest a variety of readers.
We see that the prince or rajah has set the whole village to scouring the streams for gems washed out of a mountain vein and while anyone finding a gem is rewarded, this is a pittance compared to the value of jewels and to the prince's wealth.
The trouble is, the old tales say that the ninth stone and the combination of all nine stones, brings a curse.
I was more interested in the portrayal of the period and social settings than in the supernatural, but the tale should interest a variety of readers.
April 23, 2008
I felt this was an excellent first novel that married a compelling mystery against the dual backdrops of Victorian London and the early years of the British Raj.
It had interesting and engaging characters and kept my attention. I particularly appreciated that she didn't sensationalize elements such as spiritualism and the cult of Kali but blended the mysticism into the overall text.
In terms of characters it is very much a woman's book with men as supporting characters.
April 25, 2018
Truly well worth a read. Victoriana, murder, mystery, and a bit of the supernatural thrown in. Great characterisation, endearing protagonist, and a well written story full of twists and turns. This book challenges the usual sterotypical portayal of Victorian women, which is something of a well used path in fantasy fiction, making for a refreshing read.
June 21, 2011
Would have liked a more sinister ending or at least a more sinister villan... Still characters were well rounded, believable. The myths included in the story were very interesting and I liked the quotes at the start of every chapter.
April 1, 2011
This was a truly magificent book, Looking forward to reading more from this author x x
October 16, 2015
Alas not as good as this authors previous novel, still an interesting read
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews