"The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins is a novel written during the late 19th century and is often regarded as one of the earliest detective stories in English literature. The book revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a valuable diamond known as the Moonstone, which is steeped in Indian legend and believed to carry a curse. The narrative begins with a prologue that sets the stage for a family feud and introduces key characters, including the enigmatic Colonel Herncastle and his cousin, the protagonist Gabriel Betteredge. At the start of the novel, the narrative unfolds through a letter that recounts the tension between two cousins stemming from a conflict related to the diamond and a historical backdrop steeped in intrigue surrounding its origins in India. The opening chapters reveal Herncastle's violent and shadowy character, emphasizing the weight of the Moonstone's legacy and the potential curse that comes with it, raising questions of guilt and the supernatural. The themes of theft, revenge, and moral reckoning are hinted at, promising a complex web of suspense as the various characters' lives become entwined with the fate of the fabled gem. This rich opening sets the tone for an engaging mystery that invites readers to solve its riddles alongside the characters. (This is an automatically generated summary.) This novel content is quoted from public domain works, from Project Gutenberg ([https://www.gutenberg.org/](https://www.gutenberg.org/)). Project Gutenberg is a project dedicated to digitizing and archiving public domain books. The works it provides have expired copyright and legally entered the public domain. Providing these classic works free of charge is intended to promote cultural dissemination and reading convenience. We sincerely thank Project Gutenberg for its efforts and provide links to the original content for reference. If you want to learn more about public domain works or download these contents directly, please visit the [Project Gutenberg website](https://www.gutenberg.org/).