THE DEVLIN DIARY

by Christi Phillips



"A follow-up to the well-received The Rossetti Letter (2007), Phillips once again simultaneously follows seventeenth-century and twenty-first-century mysteries. A serial killer is loose in seventeenth-century England. Are his gruesome crimes random, or are they part of a royal conspiracy? Hannah Devlin, a rare female physician, becomes convinced of the latter. Meanwhile, in twenty-first-century Cambridge, England, Clare Donovan finds Hannah’s diary. Shortly thereafter, an academic rival is murdered. Are the crimes connected? Both women work to solve their mysteries, while also becoming embroiled in parallel romances. Although the twenty-first-century plotline and ending are the weaker, both sets of mysteries and romances are engaging. An excellent afterword answers questions about historical accuracy and literary license." -- Marta Segal Block (From Booklist as posted in the Editorial Reviews section of Amazon.com)

I liked Christi Phillips' The Rossetti Letter when I read it last year, and I was very excited to finally get a hold of The Devlin Diary, which had been delayed from it's original January 2009 release date.

Like the Booklist reviewer, and for the second time for me, it was the historical chapters that I preferred over the ones set in modern times. Hannah Devlin's reluctant introduction to the decadent court of King Charles II kept me turning pages all afternoon, and I liked the way her relationship with Edward Strathern developed slowly from mutual respect of their work. In fact, it almost seemed like the modern-times chapters could almost have been completely left out and the book would have been just as good. I could live with or without the growing relationship between newly minted historian Claire Donovan and the super-reserved Englishman Andrew Kent. Their personal story didn't grab me, but it was fun to see the scholars in pursuit of their subject. I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the highly competitive world of academia.

I will definitely be looking forward to whatever Christi Phillips has coming up next, and if you want to keep track of her also, you can find more information on her Official Web Site.

THE ROSSETTI LETTER

by Christi Phillips



While researching her dissertation, Ph.D. candidate Claire Donovan uncovers previously unknown facts about the Spanish Conspiracy in early 17th century Venice and secrets about the life a courtesan who brought down the conspirators.

That's the very simplified summary. Part historical, part mystery, part contemporary romance and completely captivating, The Rossetti Letter is an excellent companion for the beach, patio, or favorite chair. I particularly enjoyed the sections set in historical Venice, but it was very interesting to see the competition of modern academic life as Clare races to finish her research before a famous and snooty scholar can refute her years of work. All this while she plays chaperone for a troubled teenager whose newly-married dad is on his honeymoon. While pieces of the story are somewhat predicable, there were plenty of surprises to keep you guessing. It's a fast read with a lot to offer, and it made me quite anxious to get my hands on Christi Phillips' second novel, The Devlin Diary, coming in January 2009!