The Moonstone

By: Wilkie Collins

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

No, the "Moonstone" isn't a celestial relic, it's a gigantic yellow diamond of unearthly beauty that was given to Rachel Verinder as a present on her 18th birthday - and stolen that very night! Betteredge, one of the most beloved butlers in English literature, is the focus of this seminal detective novel, which examines how one family's life is turned upside-down by the theft. And find out why the answers to all of life's problems can be found in the pages of Robinson Crusoe.

Public Domain (P)1989 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"The first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels." (T.S. Eliot)

"This finely crafted tale is riveting in the audio medium." ( Library Journal)

Glad I Stuck With It

I decided to read this after having listened to and enjoyed Collins' "The Woman in White." At first I almost stopped listening, mostly because I wasn't a big fan of the second narrator. He reads the part of Gabriel Betteredge, which is a rather long section of the book, and his voice got on my nerves. I also had this nagging feeling, even though I had never read the book before, that he wasn't presenting Betteredge's character in the right tone. But I persevered and I'm very glad I did. There are various narrators for the many character accounts in this book and most of them do a fine job. (I was annoyed by the narrator of Sergeant Cuff's section as well, but it was a short section.) The story is engaging, and I enjoyed never quite knowing what was going on until the end (the same was true with Collins' "The Woman in White").

Dr. Maturin Revisited

Perhaps the brilliant, plane looking, laudnam dropping Doctor was inspired in Patrick O'Brian's mind by Wilkie Collins Dr. Jennings. Since Patrick Tull has done such a wonderful job reading the Aubry-Maturin books and this one he should be the expert. I took time out from my third trip around the world with Captain Aubry to listen to another of Tull's performances and was not disappointed.

Took me by surprise

Had never heard of the book or author- took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. The plot is very interesting and moves along nicely. And the readers were spot on. Highly recommend and in my top ten for the year.

A masterpiece, indeed!

I see know see why this work is so admired by Sayers, Eliot, and Chesterton.

What an exquisite piece of literature!!

Listening to The Moonstone was an absolute joy! The narrators are extraordinary and of course the story is beautiful and charming.

Listen to it own its own terms.

This book is not a murder mystery. It's not what we might recognize as a detective novel either. It was written long before the conventions of those genres came into being. It is, however, the best novel about a mystery that I have ever read. More importantly, it abounds with social satire, plays with multiple narrators, nods to romance, and delivers great drama. Yes, it is long. This is because it was originally serialized in a fiction magazine. Said magazine publisher wanted the story drawn out as long as possible to keep readers buying new issues. This is also why so many of Dickens' novels are unduly long. But in this case, I enjoyed every wordy word! And that is in large thanks to the excellent narrators, first and foremost Patrick Tull and his magnificent Betteredge.

Not for the faint of heart

Written before the invention of the television, this book is not for those with short attention spans, or who like to get to the crux of the mystery right away, or who like fast-paced chase scenes through the streets of Paris. (The book only leaves England for a brief stint or two in India.)

However, if you enjoy fascinating character studies with a dash of mystery thrown in, this book is a definite must-listen. Different sections are told from the POVs of different characters, each with a very unique view on the world. The narrators do a wonderful job catching the flavor of the different characters. (Though I confess the Ms. Clack section could have been shorter and I wouldn't have minded, but only because the character herself is so well-penned that she bothers me.)

Book and Cast 10/10

If you love British literature then do not miss this romantic classic. Collins masterfully presents the mysterious tale of the theft of the Moonstone, a magnificent Indian gem of great price. The story is told from multiple perspectives ranging from the lovable butler Gabriel Betteridge (sp?) to the dashing hero of the story, Franklin Blake. The cast of performers in this audio edition do Collins' work ample justice.

All the right audio book elements: mystery, romance, happy ending, and flawless readers. Enjoy! And if you like this book then listen to Collins' "The Woman in White."

Not bad, but not nearly my favorite

I suspect Wilkie Collins fans will greatly enjoy this book. If you are big fan, ignore my criticisms below. My chief complaint is with the story itself rather than the audiobook. Without spoiling the story, I'll say only that I thought the plot and ending were rather silly, with a series of far-fetched circumstances and bizarre twists at the end. I greatly preferred Wilkie Collins' "Woman in White" audiobook because it is a darker, yet more interesting story with better plot development.

A Victorian Ride

A classic that I had never heard of. As long as you can tolerate Victorian sensibilities, you'll very likely enjoy it. The butler and his copy of "Robinson Crusoe" are memorable.