The Moonstone Summary

Beginning in 1799, the narrative opens with a tale of a sacred yellow diamond, known as the Moonstone, and its theft by a British soldier, John Herncastle, during the colonial period in India. The diamond is said to be the centerpiece of an idol of the Moon god and is guarded by three Brahmin priests. Herncastle, after killing the Brahmins, takes the diamond to England.

Fast forward to the mid-19th century, the plot unfolds around the mysterious disappearance of the Moonstone from the house of Lady Verinder, the niece of Herncastle. Lady Verinder's nephew, Franklin Blake, is assigned to bring the diamond to Rachel Verinder, Lady Verinder's daughter, for her eighteenth birthday. The diamond, a legacy from Herncastle, is suspected to have been given out of spite for Lady Verinder. Following Franklin is a group of Indians, rousing his suspicions about the diamond's curse. However, the diamond goes missing the morning after Rachel's birthday. Lady Verinder's housemaid, Rosanna Spearman, a reformed thief, and Rachel are suspected of having a hand in the disappearance by the renowned investigator, Sergeant Cuff. This leads to the suicide of Rosanna, who had hidden a mysterious package and left a letter, leaving the household in chaos and Rachel in distress.

Rachel, under the stress of her mother's death, agrees to marry philanthropist Godfrey Ablewhite, only to break off the engagement after learning of his ulterior motive of marrying for money. Meanwhile, Franklin learns from Rosanna's letter that he was the thief of the diamond, a fact confirmed by Rachel, who witnessed him taking it. In the quest to clear his name, Franklin learns from Ezra Jennings, assistant to Lady Verinder's doctor, that he was under the influence of opium given by the doctor on the night of the theft. A reenactment of the theft under the influence of the drug vindicates Franklin. Back in London, the diamond is traced to Godfrey, who was leading a double life and was killed by the Indians, who returned the diamond to their idol in India.