The Devlin Diary

by Christi Phillips

Book Overview

From the bestselling author of The Rossetti Letter comes a "thrilling" (Library Journal) novel of intrigue, passion, and royal secrets that shifts tantalizingly between Restoration-era London and present-day Cambridge, England.

London, 1672. A vicious killer stalks the court of Charles II, inscribing the victims' bodies with mysterious markings. Are the murders the random acts of a madman? Or the violent effects of a deeply...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416527400
• ISBN13: 9781416527404
• Release Date: April 2010
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Mystery Across Time

A serial killer in 1670s England, stalking the court of Charles II. The murder of a history fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. How are they related? Are they related? That's what Claire Donovan is trying to find out. Claire, the heroine of Phillips' first novel, The Rossetti Letter, is trying to fit in at Trinity - not an easy task for a female American who isn't a full fellow. Even worse after she punches a colleague in the face -- and he turns up dead the next day. Something in Derek Goodman's research revealed a secret that someone didn't want made public -- a secret they were willing to kill to keep secret. And the clues reside in a 350 year old diary written in some sort of code. I didn't read the Rossetti Letter before reading The Devlin Diary. That's not really a problem -- the story stands on it's own. There are a few potential spoilers though, so be warned. And you will want to read The Rossetti Letter by the time you finish The Devlin Diary. I've read a lot of thrillers lately that really sucked me in, and pulled me along. The pacing in those books was frantic. The Devlin Diary is different; I really didn't feel pulled along, there wasn't a real sense of urgency. There were cliffhangers, but they didn't keep me up all night. This book didn't pull me so much as it enticed me. I got very curious about how things were going to progress, both in the 1672 mystery and the modern day mystery. I think that's what I loved the most with this book. You're really solving several murders, most of which took place 350 years in the past. We're following two strong women who are in positions where many people resent their strength. Claire Donovan and Hannah Devlin are so much alike that it's eerie -- for a moment, I was wondering if this was going to turn into a reincarnation/mystical bond type thing between the two, but it (thankfully) didn't. This is not a short book, weighing in at 427 pages before the author's notes. It's an engaging read, though, that will leave you hungry for more. You'll learn about Restoration England -- probably more than you thought you needed to. I know I'm taking a second look at another book I started and put back about the relationship between England and France throughout the years. But most importantly, you will be entertained, without feeling as if you've been on a roller coaster ride. Those are fun, too, but diversity is also nice. Of course, now I have to read The Rossetti Letter.

Nicely Done

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.

Great Historical/Modern Murder Mystery

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!

fun twofold mystery

In 2008 historian Clare Donovan is exhilarated with attaining her goal; albeit even if the assignment is temporary. She is a history lecturer at Trinity College in Cambridge. Clare plans to enjoy every moment at least in the classroom; as she finds academia filled with backstabbers who make Parliament debates look like preschool squabbles. The professors react differently with the news that charismatic Professor Derek Goodman was murdered while grasping in a death grip a page from the encrypted diary of seventeenth century physician Hannah Devlin. As they did with their search for THE ROSSETTI LETTER, Clare and Andrew Kent investigates the death of Goodman only as it connects to the more intriguing baffling death of Princess Henriette-Anne, sister to King Charles II and sister-in-law to King Louis XIV. Although the overall premise is similar to that of THE ROSSETTI LETTER, the second Donovan-Kent dual investigation is a fresh tale that combines a modern day whodunit with a seventeenth century romantic royal mystery. The two subplots are deep especially the look at the times of Princess Henriette-Anne. Fans will relish the delightful DEVLIN DIARY while wondering what twofold mystery next will send Clare on the cases. Harriet Klausner

First rate historical fiction

I truly enjoy a book of fictional history that makes me feel as if I am actually reading about true events from the past. This book is a prime example of how it is done. The plot of the book begins during the reign of Charles II of England, and alternates between events of that time and happenings in the present day in Cambridge. The protagonists of both eras are strong women, and they both have struggles to endure to render a satisfactory ending. There are murders in both eras, a search for the killers, some romance, and enough excitement to keep even the most jaded reader interested. The writing of the events of the late seventeenth century is so excellent that the reader can actually feel that the author is taking him or her on an actual journey. The murderers are finally unmasked, and it's not stretching things to say that the identity of both is a shock! The author plays fair with the reader, however, for there is nothing in the plot that would deceive the reader about the murderers, and that is certtainly an important aspect of good writing. I highly recommend this book!