If I hadn't been lucky enough to take a college course that required The Moonstone, I would have missed reading this tremendous mystery. It's great reading through and through -- great Victorian writing, exotic characters and scenery, terrific plot, likeable characters (Sergeant Cuff and Franklin) etc... Not only that, it's an important work for those who consider themselves fans of detective fiction since many consider it the first detective novel of all time. In fact, I'd argue that it puts many modern and popular detective novels to shame. I'm amazed that Collins had such a good handle on a "page turner" that long ago. This is such a good mystery that it will make you want to read The Woman in White which is equally as good if not better. I have to admit that I also enjoyed the PBS version of the Moonstone as well. Don't read the abridged version -- the full version is a classic read and well worth it.