Uyilki Kollinz (1824—1889) po pravu vvazhayet′sya zasnovnykom anhliys′koho detektyva i literaturnym uchytelem Artura Konan Doyla, Hilberta CHestertona, Ahaty Kristi. Mayster intryh i zachoplyuyuchoho syuzhetu, vin napysav ponad sto tvoriv, yaki tsikavi ne til′ky neodnoznachnistyu personazhiv, uminnyam rozhaduvaty tayemnytsi, rozkryvaty zlochyny, a y tonkym anhliys′kym humorom, opysom zvychayiv dobroyi staroyi Anhliyi. SHedevry Kollinza «ZHinka u bilomu» i «Misyachnyy kamin′» perekladeni na desyatky mov, bahatorazovo ekranizovani y doteper ulyubleni chytachamy. «Misyachnyy kamin′» vvazhayet′sya chy ne pershym detektyvnym romanom. TSe tayemnycha romantychna istoriya, v yakiy ye mistse i lyubovi, y pryhodam, i detektyvniy intryzi. Moloda divchyna, Rechel Verinder, zhidno iz zapovitom svoho dyad′ka, yakyy voyuvav v Indiyi, otrymuye v den′ povnolittya velykyy almaz nadzvychaynoyi krasy. Vona ne znaye, scho Misyachnyy kamin′ (taku nazvu maye almaz) vykradenyy z indiys′koho svyatylyscha i try indus′kych zhertsi ydut′ po yoho slidu, a induyists′kyy boh Vishnu peredbachyv neschastya tomu, chto navazhyt′sya yim zavolodity. Vnochi kamin′ bezslidno znykaye...