The Devlin Diary

The Devlin Diary - Christi Phillips (2009)
After reading the Rosetti Letter recently, I was excited that Christi Phillips new book was to be realeased around the same time. Continuing with Claire Donovon, who has now gone to work and live at Trinity College, Cambridge. We again see her working with Andrew Kent, to find out the mystery surrounding the death of the Kings sister and many illustrious members of court in the reign of Charless II.

Meanwhile in 1672, Hannah is working as a physician to the kings mistress, and becomes involved in a mystery of her own. Will the two stories tie together, will the heoines find true love??

Of course everything will work out, and I like how Christi Phillips manages to pace her story so that exciting stuff happens all the way through, and that the book is interesting right through to the final chapters.

Her research shows, and she does a great job of reconstructing a time period, so that I feel I could have been there. So for her, a 4/5, and I look forward to her next book.

The Rosetti Letter - Christi Phillips

The Rosetti Letter - Christi Phillips (2007)
In the 17th centuary, Alessandra Rosetti is faced with the choice of poverty or the convent after her father and brother are drowned with the family riches. Choosing instead to become a courtesan, mixing with Venetians most powerful men.

Claire Donovan is a Phd student who is studying the Spanish conspiracy in the Venice of the 1600s. In order to finish her dissertation, she must go to Venice to do some research. Without funds she finds herself a job of being companion to a teenager in order to finance her trip. Also present in Venice at the same time, is Andrew Kent, a Cambridge professor who is writing a book on the same topic.

For a first novel it was well written, and I am sure well researched with authentic Venetian details. Certainly a perfect novel to stay in bed and read on our wild, wet and windy winter weekend. 3/5