Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing and lush historical detail - a great read, May 13, 2009
In a nutshell; a wonderful book. Christi Phillips manages to give readers both a scholarly and detailed historical account of life in 17th century England as well as a tautly written and compelling mystery. I found myself dwelling on the interesting historical elements as much if not more, than the story itself. I usually give books about two chapters to prove themselves and The Devlin Diary met that test. I also enjoy any novel where the pace increases each chapter. The Devlin Diary met that test as well but really accelerated about halfway through and clearly `red lined' near its end. The finish was satisfying and I would have read even more than its 448 pages offered.
The book centers on a 17th century mystery in the King's court in London. There are a series of murders and a real political cover up that occurs and which the characters are trying to resolve. The counterpoint to this story is a present day tale of two scholars in Cambridge England who stumble upon these historical events while investigating a present day murder on their campus. Going back and forth between the two eras is not only interesting, it's fun. Although the book is a stand-alone work, it contemporary story picks up where it left off in Phillip's last book, The Rossetti Letter. So, there is a sense of continuity here that is gratifying. Whereas the Rossetti Letter in 17th century Venice was also a great read, the contemporary story which continues in the Devlin Diary is richer and generally more satisfying and interesting than in the previous book.
There is an underlying theme is feminism which not only bores but irritates many male readers, myself included, but here it provided an interesting historical contrast and interesting perspective rather than the angry PC tonic many authors ask that we drink and enjoy. While this theme as presented will not be a negative for most men, it certainly will be a plus for most women.
Both stories are solid and the key characters are well developed. If you are more interested in a great mystery than history, you will be richly rewarded however the accent here is on history. The stories alone are wonderful reading but history buffs will love and linger over the scholarly and fastidious attention to detail and period accuracy. It is evident that there was a lot of solid research here. I look forward to her next book.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Historical/Modern Murder Mystery, May 31, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This wonderful book follows two parallel murder mysteries separated by 4 centuries. In the first, in 17th century London, a serial killer is on the loose, and the crimes which are growing more and more gruesome, appear seemingly random - or are they??? Hannah Devlin, a woman physician, an illegal "career" for women of her time, becomes convinced the crimes are NOT random, and thinks they may be tied to a royal death and its cover up. In the 21st century, at Cambridge University, Clare Donovan, a visiting American scholar, finds Hannah's diary, and shortly afterwards become embroiled in a murder mystery of her own, when a fellow professor is found murdered. Could both of these crimes, though separated by 4 centuries, be related? Both of these women use their knowledge and intelligence to solve their respective mysteries, while also becoming involved in parallel romances. The plots twist and turn until both finally merge in a satisfying and unexpected climax.
Of the two stories, I found Hannah's story to be the most interesting and the most fully developed. The characters are real, believable, and come to life as the story unfolds. They also show the depth and extent of the author's research of the period. The modern characters, while also real and believable, seemed less well developed.
This book is one that will keep the reader's interest from the beginning to the end. If you like a good mystery, then this book is a treasure, with two parallel situations, and two wonderful, intelligent protagonists. If you are a fan of history or historical fiction, then this book, with its extensive historical research, is a gold mine! It is an interesting, spell binding story that transitions smoothly between the two periods, and is truly a historically rich, satisfying and completely wonderful book!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nicely Done, June 6, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Enjoyed very much this suspensful story and I found it hard to put down. I am a big fan of historical novel/fiction and was impressed by this particular story. I have not read any of Christi Phillips' work before, but I certainly plan on buying The Rosetti Letter after reading The Devlin Diary.
I loved the back and forth between the two time periods and how they related to each other. It had a nice surprise ending which I will not reveal.
If you like mysteries, historical fiction, etc. I highly recommend Phillips' work.
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