The Case of the Missing Moonstone

The historical backdrop adds so much flavor to the story, but I wonder what motivated the author to choose this particular time period and how it influenced the plot.

I loved trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters, but sometimes I felt the clues were a little too obvious or too hidden. What did others think?

They each had such distinct traits that made their teamwork fun to read. Wondering whether these characters were inspired by real kids or purely fictional creations.