The Moonstone

The Moonstone (1868) by Wilkie Collins  is a 19th-century British novel. Generally it is said to be the first detective novel in the English language. One of the best books of  Wilkie Collins, a great detective novel writer of his time. The novel was first published in 3 volumes. 
Rachel Verinder , a young heiress at the centre of the story inherits the very precious moonstone which she wears to her birthday party, but that night it disappears from her room. The suspicion falls on number of people but the stone could not be found. Rachel's mother dies, increasing her grief and isolation.


Franklin Blake one of Rechel's cousins come to the picture with many other characters. The story goes on with different twists. At last the mystery is solved and Rachel and Franklin marry.

The Moonstone is a long, detail and interesting detective. The story unfolds in different narrations with a great ending...

Only Time Will Tell.....book review

Since Not a penny more..not a penny less(1976)  Jeffery Archer has thrilled us with some greatest stories mainly based on England and USA. Only Time will Tell is no doubt the continuation of the saga of his masterful writing. Its the 1st part of the Clifton chronicles. The total life span of the protagonist Harry  Clifton is almost 100 years. There are 5 books in this chronicles.


Only Time Will Tell is the story of Harry Clifton from 1919 to 1939. Harry Clifton is introduced to us here in the backstreets of Bristol with his mother, grandma and uncle Stan. He was told that his father died in war. But a slight hint of suspicion always remains in his mind. Later he actually came to know the horrible truth about his father. His firm voice can be heard every where in the book from the dockyard of Bristol to New York Harbour. 

Then there is Maisie Clifton, Henry's mother the extremely hard working woman but with some secrets from her early life. 

Old Jack Tarr who lives in a railway carriage but no one knows at first who he actually is. 

Sir Walter Barrington the head of Barrington family and a good family man. 

Hugo Barrington,son of Sir Walter.As by Old Jack Tarr as "A man not cut out of the same cloth as his father."

Deakins, Harry's friend throughout school life.

Giles Barrington, Harry's best friend and Hugo's son.

Emma Barrington, Giles' sister and the love of Harry.

All the characters are very descriptively written and follows an internal link which you can fell while reading. Once you start reading the book its hard to keep it down. It has all the twists and turns that makes you hooked in it till the end. The inter communication and the dialogues between the characters bears the trademark style of Jeffery Archer. This book ends in a very interesting situation at New York harbour which creates the perfect platform to start the part2....