Widely regarded as the precursor of the modern mystery and suspense novels, The Moonstone tells of the events surrounding the disappearance of a mysterious (and cursed) yellow diamond. T. S. Eliot called it 'the first, the longest, and the best of modern English detective novels'. It contains a number of ideas which became common tropes of the genre, including a crime being investigated by talented amateurs who happen to be present when it is committed, and two police… (more)
Language: English
Published in: 1868
Word count: 194,584 words (≈ about 13 hours)
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org
Copyright: Public Domain
Sherlock Holmes, the greatest detective in literature did not stand alone. This list contains some of his predecessors, contemporaries and heirs.
Discover some of the greatest British novels in this selection!