BOOKIN' BINGO'S REVIEW: THE DEVLIN DIARY

THE DEVLIN DIARY
by Christi Phillips

A REVIEW
by BINGO

Now for those of you who entered for THE DEVLIN DIARY GIVEAWAY, remember you have 3 chances to enter. One was at the initial post and you can still enter there if you didn't.

FOR THE SECOND ENTRY: You could enter after reading Christi Phillips' interview.

FOR THE THIRD TODAY: You will go back to the first comment with THIS LINK.

THEN in a new comment on that first day's entry, tell me something about what you liked or didn't like about my review...and this is your turn to be a critic...I can take it so don't be shy! Honesty will not take away or help your chances of winning as RANDOM.org chooses them...and I can use the constructive criticism. THANK YOU! Once you do that, you should have your three entries and winners will be announced tomorrow, July 3. You have up until 6 PM Friday, June 3, to get your answers in. Good luck and here is my review of THE DEVLIN DIARY!

THE DEVLIN DIARY is set in England however, in two time periods, as the reader finds parallel stories taking place. In London, during the 17^th Century, there is Hannah, while Claire lives in 2008. Their stories are indeed unique and yet they entwine making one grand mix of mystery.

Hannah Devlin treats the sick because her father was a physician and she wants to carry on his life’s work. However, women are not allowed to be practicing physicians in those days and so it is mainly the poor that she ministers. But all that changes when she is asked to come to court to treat a mistress of Louis de Keroualle. Because of all the odd and devious things that she finds when she is there, she begins a diary written in code about all she sees. When arcane symbols are found on two murder victims, Hannah becomes part of a major conspiracy that is thought to have taken place between Hannah’s father and the king.

Meanwhile, Claire Donovan is working as a professor of history in Cambridge in 2008 and learns of the diary that may contain valuable information but someone else has found it and is using it for his own gains. Claire discovers that someone wants to keep this secret so much that they will kill for its safety. She is working with Andrew Kent, a historian, when they discover a colleague murdered and are led to believe that the murder is associated with the very last person to have been involved with the diary, Hannah Devlin. They follow the clues they gain from their research and discover that what happened with Hannah Devlin years past may still be a problem today.

The story evolves into a twisted plot from both time periods and I enjoyed the perplexing mystery that only solving the puzzles and code would resolve. Claire and Andrew begin to wonder if the two mysteries are somehow linked from the past to their current time. How can a book written so long ago still hold the answers to solving a present day problem? Is something in common happening? Do both women solve their mysteries?

I found that the romance and mystery blended well and kept my interest although I was surprised that the earlier story was much more to my liking. All the characters are well written and believable. The best part for me was I figured out who did it before the end which is unusual for me. I recommend this book especially for book clubs as it would surely bring about a lively discussion.

YOU SHOULD NOW HAVE THREE ENTRIES FOR THE DEVLIN DIARY...ALL WRITTEN ON THE FIRST DAY'S COMMENTS' POST.

GOOD LUCK AND BE SURE YOU ARE DONE WITH ALL THREE PARTS BY 6 PM, FRIDAY, JULY 3.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ENTER ALL THREE PARTS BUT YOU DO HAVE TO ENTER ON THE DAY ONE POST TO HAVE ANY OR ALL OF THEM COUNT!
YOU CAN'T EVEN ENTER A COMMENT HERE SO THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER TO GO HERE TO DAY ONE POST OF THE DEVLIN DIARY TO ENTER!