Wilkie Collins

"Whatever happens in your house, robbery or murder, you must have your breakfast." The Moonstone, a priceless yellow diamond, is looted from an Indian temple by a murderous British colonel. Years later, it is given to young heiress Rachel Verinder as an eighteenth birthday present ... but seems to only bring danger and misfortune. On the night of Rachel's birthday, the gem is stolen once again and no one is above suspicion. Soon the eccentric Sergeant Cuff is on the case with the help of Rachel's suitor, Franklin Blake. As they attempt to solve this puzzling crime, they are hindered by uncooperative witnesses, red herrings and a dark secret that could compromise the entire investigation... The very first detective story, abridged for today's young readers by a beloved mystery writer.

Uilki Kollinz narjadu s Edgarom Po i Arturom Konan Dojlem zasluzhenno schitaetsja odnim iz osnovatelej zhanra detektiva. Takimi ego romanami kak "Lunnyj kamen", "Zhenschina v belom" i "Moj otvet-net" zachityvajutsja pokolenija chitatelej. Tragicheskij sluchaj ostavljaet devushku iz aristokraticheskoj semi bez prava ne tolko na nasledstvo, no dazhe na rodovoe imja. No talantlivaja i energichnaja krasavitsa ne sobiraetsja sdavatsja na volju sudby-vsju svoju izobretatelnost i otchajannuju derzost ona brosit na delo vosstanovlenija spravedlivosti. Pravda, dlja etogo pridetsja mnogim postupitsja...