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The Moonstone  By  cover art

The Moonstone

By: Wilkie Collins
Narrated by: Walter Covell, full cast
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Editorial reviews

At her 18th birthday party, Rachel Verinder shows off the valuable Indian diamond that she inherited from her uncle. That night, it’s taken from her room. Thus begins the mystery at the heart of Wilkie Collins’ 1868 novel, The Moonstone.

As the listener learns, Rachel’s diamond is wanted by three Hindu priests who have sworn to recover the religious artifact. Rachel’s love interest, Franklin Blake, searches for the gem. The possible suspects include three Indian jugglers at the party and a maid who mysteriously drowned herself shortly afterwards.

Given a measured reading by Walter Covell in an English accent, Collins’ mystery story is chock full of intriguing characters and unexpected turns that lead to a surprising resolution.

Publisher's summary

The story involves a huge diamond, the moonstone, originally stolen from an Indian shrine. The gem is given to an English girl on her 18th birthday but disappears that same night. What follows is a spellbinding mystery that to this day has the power to draw the listener into its world of danger, suspense, and surprise.
Public Domain (P)1986 Jimcin Recordings

Critic reviews

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

What listeners say about The Moonstone

Average customer ratings
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Book

One of the greatest mysteries ever written. I never wanted it to end. Loved the way the different sections were read by different readers.
Some were better than others but the overall effect was excellent.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I grew up reading English literature classics. I used to get simplified versions of these from the British counsel when I was in my teens. Now that I am an adult, I have rediscovered all my favorites, but now listening to the originals on audible. This is my favorite of Wilkie Collins books.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

most enjoyable

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Woman in White", but I liked this one even better. Easier to get into, and the first narrator was really excellent. I was surprised at how funny and charming it was. Anyone who likes Victorian- type stories will love this book.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Worst purchase so far

The narrator sounds pompous and boring; so it's been hard to get into the story. When I push to pay attention, the story is awkward and uninteresting at best. If I never hear the term "my lady" again, I'll be thrilled!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Lengthy Tedious Torture

Ugh, I couldn't even get through all of Part 1. What a waste of my precious Audible credits. Whew, wish I could have a "do-over"!! I love British mysteries, but this is SOOOO tedious, monotonous, boring.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Classic Story, Badly Read

What a shame that such a great and classic story is made dull, hard to follow and plain tedious by poor narration. None of the four readers was pleasant to listen to, sounding variously exhausted and whiney. Ugh - good thing I'd read the book already.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Get anther version there are several available

Would you try another book from Wilkie Collins and/or Walter Covell and cast ?

I will deliberately avoid Walter Covell at all costs

What was most disappointing about Wilkie Collins’s story?

It seems a shallow adventure book with little depth.... but I haven't finished yet so withholding judgement

What didn’t you like about Walter Covell and cast ’s performance?

This guy has a really annoying Rowan Atkinson type voice. In addition he starts every section very mellow and increases in volume and speed as he proceeds. There is no logic to this that has to do with the story.

Any additional comments?

Finally the audio quality itself is poor. There are passages where the sound is distorted because it is being recorded to loud, there are other places where the sound drifts in and out from muffled to crisper as if played back on a worn out tape recorder.

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