The Moonstone (Abridged) Audiobook

" I highly recommend this book. "

" This book is mentioned in another book, so I thought I would give it a try. I can't remember why I stopped. "

" It starts a little slow but stick with it and you're in for a great mystery that weaves back and forth and leaves you guessing at the details even when you know the answers. "

" I loved this book from the first page to the last! It is just pure fun. "

" lovely old classic. One of the first mystery books written. "

" Reportedly one of the first novels written. It certainly is memorable "

" I liked this book overall but found that the way Collins used 11 different narrators made the book seem clumsy and awkward. It was a fairly good story but I wish there had been 100 pages less, found the middle very tiresome to get through. "

" An early night with Wilkie Collins, love it! Different from The Woman in White, but very similar style. I love the language, the subtle humour, the clear imagery of a bygone era. I'm going to run out of Wilkie Collins books far too soon. "

" Long read but I liked it. "

" Interesting in its historical context. "

" This book has different sections written by different characters/eye witnesses, and I really like how each character came through in their portions. I also have to say that I suspected several different people as being the culprit at different times in the book, and one them ended up being the thief. "

" There were parts that were slightly predictable, but that is only because this is one of the first detective novels ever written, and started the trend. Overall, I thought this book was very enjoyable. "

" Charming. It's like Agatha Christie meets Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. "

" Seems to have taken forever to read this but eventually finished it. Found it a bit slow to start and a little bit confusing on who was telling the tale.In the end it turned in to quite a good read. "

" This was a great book and a pretty great audio presentation of said book. James Langton was a great narrator, with distinct voices for each character. If I were to go back, I'd read it rather than get the audio book but I am not displeased by having listened. The audio book drags a bit because it is such a long tale. "

" Rather tough sledding on this. Dickens' characters and storylines are much more richly drawn and told. "

" "So the years pass, and repeat each other; so the same events revolve in the cycles of time. What will be the next adventures of the Moonstone? Who can tell!" (482). "

" Some say this is one of the first mystery novels, and that's probably why it's read, but it's a slog slog slog. "

" I read this book some time ago and would definately recommend it to all. So, it is not a fast paced book but I just thought it was so well written and kept me enthralled all the way through. I loved the Woman in White by the same author but to me this is the better of the two books. "

" As someone who has a medium-high level of english the victorian times and the way the people talk is like a great pain in my ass. For the rest, the story was good. "

" An amazing mystery novel. Despite the length, it never feels boring but some parts of the second period feel rather vague. "

" It's pretty obvious that this is the first mystery novel written, but it is still a very enjoyable read. "

" Possibly the first and the longest detective novel! But a good read nonetheless! "

" Seems to have taken forever to read this but eventually finished it. Found it a bit slow to start and a little bit confusing on who was telling the tale.In the end it turned in to quite a good read. "

" I remember reading this, and not liking it too much. "

" Rating 4.5 if the site allowed. This was a very entertaining, at times even fascinating, book. I loved so many of the characters, especially, Mr. Betteredge and Mr. Cuff. Amazing that this book was published in 1868 and that it holds up so well to 2012. Recommended. "

" Much wittier, but much longer, than I expected. I enjoyed the changing viewpoints. "

" Wilkie Collins - a master story teller; it's a great read. "

" a lot of fun! Two of my favorite entertainments: a British country detective story, and a Victorian novel. Peopled with exotic internationals and the British aristocracy. Our young heroine is given the Moonstone; problem is that a lot of other people want it. "

" This book is a little slow to get going, but I ultimately enjoyed it. It's like Sherlock Holmes with all the trappings you would expect from a Victorian novel: swooning ladies, grumbling detectives, comic-relief from the servants, English countryside. "

" One of the greatest novels I have ever read. Just divine. Or as Betteredge would say, "All our discontents about what we want appeared to me to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have." (Defoe). "

" A respected and often imitated classic that to my modern taste dragged on and on, but still had some exciting and suspenseful bits. Definitely worth checking out! "

" I read this for our book group and enjoyed the first half; then I got really bogged down. The community reviews were all good and I thought I should finish it, but just not that interested, especially since our group has already discussed it. "

" This is one of the first English mystery stories ever written and it is an amazingly enjoyable read. It's very humorous and quite iconoclastic for its time. It is available for free as Kindle classic and I recommend it. "

" Really enjoying re-reading this one 25 years after the first time. "

" I can't believe I have never read this book before now! I thought the book and story were great. I really enjoyed reading it. I did think that it was a bit long in parts--The ending especially. It could have been wrapped up much sooner than it was. "

" Loved this book. It had me guessing until the very end. It almost felt like the inspiration for "Clue." Several characters tell the story, and I loved the different personalities and styles of each. This will definitely go on my list of favorite classics. "

" Can't just say my thougts into words. "

" Classic page-turner. The original detective fiction and interesting to see how little deviation there's been from the formula since. "

" I liked this book. As one of the forerunners of detective fiction, it does have the "whodunit" vibe, but at the same time, it's more than that. I also preferred the female protagonist (Rachel Verinder) to either Marian Halcombe or Laura Fairlie (from Collins' earlier work, Woman in White). "

" I'd give this book more of a 2 and 1/2 stars. It's typical gothic novel. Interesting moments, lots and LOTS of mindless details, but overall an okay crime/suspense novel. "

" The book was fairly thorough--some may call it long-winded. However, I really enjoyed the story line. It threw me for a loop when I found out the real culprit--what I believe a real mystery novel should do. A very interesting and absorbing read. "

" What can you say. Started a genre. "

" One of Collins' earliest mysteries. Great story. "

" I remember reading this, and not liking it too much. "

" this is the first book i read by Mr. Collins and im impressed what an incredible writer he is! This book got me hooked from the beginning and ended with a suprising twist. I think im going to read The Woman in White next by Collins for sure! "

" What a delightful yarn. Great story, great characters. I loved the narration from different viewpoints and I loved the language. Wonderful book and a wonderful view of serial-writing in that period. "

" Great detective/mystery book. I couldn't lay it down very long before I had to know what happened next. Loved the style it was written in too. "

" Surprised no one has turned me on to Collins before. Excellent page turner whodunnit. I particularly enjoyed the first part, narrated by the butler. He was very droll. Franklin's account got a bit boring. "

" I think this would have been a much more enjoyable book if it was about half as long. Way too much padding. Still, Gabriel Betteredge with his Robinson Crusoe is a character worth reading all 472 pages for. "

" I did not love this book. I had a hard time getting through it and felt like it was longer than it needed to be. "

" Why did I wait so long to read it? I loved the shifts in point of view in this epistolary novel. Each perspective revealed the character and shed light or obfuscated the mystery. "

" It was a bit difficult to get into at first. The science of solving cases has changed quite a bit since the time of Wilkie Collins, but it was fun to see what limited means were available during the 1800s to solve mysteries. Overall, I liked the story and the ending. "

" Loved it...a great mystery of a young girl that is given the Moonstone as a gift, which then mysteriously disappears by the end of the evening. By the author of THE WOMAN IN WHITE. "

" I thoroughly enjoyed this book - plenty of plot twists and changes in narrator kept my interest. Towards the end, I couldn't put it down! "

" Definitely not a page turner. "

" packed up most of my books and don't want to lose any from the library, so i'm reading this one borrowed from my dad. :) "

" One of the best Victorian British novels I have ever read. Loved every part of the mystery. Absolutely stunning and very enjoyable to read. "

" Wow. I didn't actually get through this one. I struggled through the first half then finally gave up. It just didn't hook me at all. Perhaps I'll try it again someday, because it is, no doubt, a good book, but I'm putting this back on the shelf for now. :/ "

" This book is considered by some to be the first "detective" novel. Charles Dickens told his friend, Wilkie Collins, that he had launched a new genre. "

" For some reason I couldn't put this book down. Collins just has a way with words and I can see why this is a classic! "

" Interesting old mystery that kept me guessing and reading. "

" One of the first mystery novels. Also happens to be one of the most complicated mystery at that. Slow at times. "

" This book reads like a delicious Masterpiece Mystery Classic. It had wonderfully eccentric characters, a fascinating plot and almost no dead bodies. I had forgotten how good the classics can be. Thanks for the recommendation, Louise. "

" This book reads like a delicious Masterpiece Mystery Classic. It had wonderfully eccentric characters, a fascinating plot and almost no dead bodies. I had forgotten how good the classics can be. Thanks for the recommendation, Louise. "

" THE great detective story and with great humor, to boot "

" THE great detective story and with great humor, to boot "

" I found the mystery itself well designed, though eventually predictable. What I enjoyed most about this book was the way Wilkie Collins wrote from various perspectives, particularly those of aging servant Betteredge early on and altruistic Jennings toward the end. A fun read. "

" I found the mystery itself well designed, though eventually predictable. What I enjoyed most about this book was the way Wilkie Collins wrote from various perspectives, particularly those of aging servant Betteredge early on and altruistic Jennings toward the end. A fun read. "

" Very intriguing. A bit long, but still very good. Ending is a bit abrupt, but first part is excellent. "

" Very intriguing. A bit long, but still very good. Ending is a bit abrupt, but first part is excellent. "

" I read the Project Gutenberg version. Enjoyable. Very influential on later writers. "

" I read the Project Gutenberg version. Enjoyable. Very influential on later writers. "

" Anyone who appreciates a great mystery will enjoy this book. "

" Anyone who appreciates a great mystery will enjoy this book. "

" I can't believe I have never read this book before now! I thought the book and story were great. I really enjoyed reading it. I did think that it was a bit long in parts--The ending especially. It could have been wrapped up much sooner than it was. "

" I can't believe I have never read this book before now! I thought the book and story were great. I really enjoyed reading it. I did think that it was a bit long in parts--The ending especially. It could have been wrapped up much sooner than it was. "

" This book is a little slow to get going, but I ultimately enjoyed it. It's like Sherlock Holmes with all the trappings you would expect from a Victorian novel: swooning ladies, grumbling detectives, comic-relief from the servants, English countryside. "

" This book is a little slow to get going, but I ultimately enjoyed it. It's like Sherlock Holmes with all the trappings you would expect from a Victorian novel: swooning ladies, grumbling detectives, comic-relief from the servants, English countryside. "

" This was a really awesome mystery and I preferred it to Collins' The Woman in White. I think it had a great combination of humor and uncertainty/tension. Such a fun read and the ending was very unexpected (at least, for me!). "

" This was a really awesome mystery and I preferred it to Collins' The Woman in White. I think it had a great combination of humor and uncertainty/tension. Such a fun read and the ending was very unexpected (at least, for me!). "