A review by evafc
The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez by Ann Swinfen

4.0

Christoval Alvarez is a young Portugese immigrant, living in London and helping out her father as a physician in St Bartholomew's Hospital. She and her father have escaped the Spanish inquisition, but at a terrible prize. Her real name is Caterina, but she poses as a boy, because for a girl the world would be a far more dangerous place in the year 1586. And as a woman she could never assist her father as a dokter. Having had some training in mathematics, she comes to the attention of famous Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster for the Queen. She is asbest to work as a code reader and a spy to thwart a plot to help the Scottish Queen Mary to the throne.

This book is a historical cloak and dagger story filled with adventure and suspense. It's the sort of book i loved reading when is was a teenager. Especially because it has a brave and smart heroine as it's main character. I still love this kind of story, as it is a very enjoyable vacationread. The historical details add a bit extra. Christoval, or Kit as she's called, is an interesting person. Conflicted, because of her past, because of her wish to follow a proper education which is a path blocked for women. Still, she's a little to good to be true ;)

I am curious about the other books in the series. That will have to wait, since i am on holiday and without books for the moment...