The theft of a sacred yellow diamond from a young woman's bedroom during her eighteenth birthday party sets off a complex investigation into family secrets and colonial guilt. The protagonist, Rachel Verinder, finds herself at the center of a mystery that implicates her household and guests, forcing the arrival of the astute Sergeant Cuff. The narrative is constrained by the rigid social hierarchies of Victorian England and the physical limitations of the isolated country estate. Presented through a series of documents, letters, and testimonies, the story unfolds as a multi-perspective account that challenges the reliability of each narrator.

Readers frequently highlight the innovative structure of the novel, noting how the shifting perspectives create a layered reading experience. Discussion often centers on the balance between the domestic setting and the broader implications of the diamond's history. Critics often point to the character of Sergeant Cuff as a foundational figure in the development of the detective genre. The atmosphere is consistently described as tense and methodical, with many readers appreciating the intricate plotting that keeps the resolution obscured until the final chapters.