The Moonstone (version 2) - Wilkie Collins

Said to be the first detective novel ever written, it is wonderful for its blending of the intrigues of romance with the conventional sleights of hand of the mystery novel. Marvellous also for its sensitive portrayal of traditionally outsider characters - the hunchbacked girl who dies for love, the dying Jewish doctor who enables resolution of the mystery, the tricky Hindu conjurors who only seek the restoration of their sacred gem. Hilarious at times, The Moonstone is also a deeply felt example of the storyteller's art. - Summary by Tony Addison