The LuminariesThe Luminaries
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1866, during New Zealand's gold rush, Walter Moody arrives in the town of Hokitika and walks into a hotel room where twelve men have gathered in secret. They're discussing a series of unsolved crimes: a rich young man has vanished, a prostitute has nearly died, and a hermit has been found dead with a fortune in his house. Each man knows part of the story.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Booker Prize; Catton was the youngest winner ever. It's a huge, intricate Victorian-style mystery built on astrology.
You'll love it if you liked
The Woman in White
Possession
FingersmithGood to know
It's over 800 pages, and the first part is slow. Each section is half as long as the one before.
By the numbers
- Readers5 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller52 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz1 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #98 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #1054 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1953 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic, Gripping
If you like this, read next
The Underground Railroad
World Without End
Fall of Giants
The Water Dancer
A Column of Fire
The Shadow of the WindExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Luminaries worth reading?
Yes. It won the Booker Prize; Catton was the youngest winner ever. It ranks #1,953 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Luminaries about?
In 1866, during New Zealand's gold rush, Walter Moody arrives in the town of Hokitika and walks into a hotel room where twelve men have gathered in secret. They're discussing a series of unsolved crimes: a rich young man has vanished, a prostitute has nearly died, and a hermit has been found dead with a fortune in his house. Each man knows part of the story.
How long does it take to read The Luminaries?
About 21 hours (848 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Luminaries won?
Booker Prize winner (2013).
What should I read after The Luminaries?
If you liked it, try The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, Possession by A. S. Byatt or Fingersmith by Sarah Waters.