Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone: "Your tears come easy, when you're young, and beginning the world. Your tears come easy, when you're old, and leaving

Set against the backdrop of colonial India, the narrative revolves around a precious moonstone with deep religious significance, stolen during a birthday celebration. The story unfolds through an epistolary style, enhancing the suspense as various suspects emerge. Rachel Verinder, the stone's intended recipient, and her cousin Franklin Blake lead the investigation, only for Blake to discover he is the unwitting thief, having been drugged. The tale culminates with the moonstone's return to India, highlighting themes of guilt, colonialism, and the complexities of identity.