The Moonstone: Reviews by 2022 Reading Challengers

[Winter, Group Reads]

Tell us what you thought of the book! You can leave your review here. Even if you read the book outside of the group, please feel free to let us know what you thought of it.

Please make sure to mark your spoilers by typing [spoiler] at the start and [/spoiler] at the end but replacing the [] with <>.

[Valerie]

Finished today. A very enjoyable read, if a bit longwinded for our modern tastes. I guessed (view spoiler)[ that drugs were involved and also that Godfrey was the sailor at the end (hide spoiler)] but not all the complicated details of the plot.
I didn’t feel that the book seemed as old as it is and it was good to find a writer calling out prejudice considering when it was written.
I liked the fact that (view spoiler)[ at the end the diamond was returned to its rightful place (hide spoiler)]
I love his style of writing so I’ll probably check out one of his other books in the future.

[Rachael]

Here is my review.

There's mystery afoot! Who stole a priceless diamond known as the Moonstone?
Various witnesses tell the tale through letters and diary entries. It was very cleverly done as each narrator brought something different to the story.
Gabriel Betteredge has a tendency to go off on tangents which makes you wonder which bits are red herrings and which are relevant to solving the crime.
Drusilla Clack is a pious and judging busybody who spends a lot of time trying and hilariously failing to urge people to be Good Christians so becomes blind to one or two clues.
Mathew Bruff felt impartial and impersonal as he narrated his part in a rather dry, factual manner.
Franklin Blake and Ezra Jennings team up to find a pivotal clue.
Sergeant Cuff gets his moment in the spotlight as he gathers us together, so to speak, to reveal how the case is solved.
For one of the first detective novels, this was pretty good. It was a bit slow to start with lots of characters to keep track of. But, it didn't take long for me to enjoy it and I can clearly see how it has influenced many subsequent locked room mysteries.

[Megan]

Originally written in installments, when put together in a single narrative it drags so! He must have been paid by the word. The overall plot was interesting, but it could have been chiseled into something much more concise and enjoyable. I’m not a fan of how the author presented the women in his novel, but it is slightly better than some of his contemporaries. I did like his cynicism toward religious folk. 3 stars

[L Y N N]

This was definitely a 'slow burn' for me, but enthralling nonetheless. I was glad for the characters who got their comeuppance! I did appreciate the depiction of the religious folks as well! So glad I read it and now I know what everyone is talking about! :)