Published in 1868, 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins is credited with being the first ever detective novel in the English language.
The original novel, The Moonstone, is made up of a series of letters from different people with differing tones and approaches. From the very beginning the writers (Flowerday and Hails) were clear about not wanting to simply do a linear retelling of the story but to reflect the epistolary nature of the novel.
Thornton Watlass Hall in North Yorkshire is a Grade I listed Georgian country house and was one of the 19th century period settings.
Sophie Ward here portrays Lady Verinder, the role played in The Moonstone (1996) by Ward's The Shell Seekers (1989) co-star Patricia Hodge.