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The Roman Mysteries #1
The Thieves of Ostia
Flavia Gemina is brilliant at finding things, so it's natural for her to solve mysteries. The daughter of a ship's captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD79, she acquires a gang of three friends who help her. There is Jonathan, the Jewish boy (and secretly a Christian) who has just moved in next door; Nubia, the African slave girl Flavia's father buys to save her from a terrible fate; and Lupus, a ragged homeless boy who is mysteriously mute. Together they work out who severed the heads of the watchdogs that guard people's homes, and why he did it. Caroline Lawrence, a first-time writer, is a terrific storyteller who creates a wonderfully vivid picture of daily life in the colourful, bustling port of Ostia while never labouring the historical detail. THE THIEVES OF OSTIA is first and foremost a whodunnit, with lots of excitement and plot twists.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
106 people are currently reading
2084 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Lawrence
64 books321 followersCaroline Lawrence won a scholarship to Cambridge to read Classical Archaeology, then did a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies at University College London. She now lives in London with her English husband and teaches Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Art and French to children.
Series:
* Roman Mysteries
Western Mysteries
Series:
* Roman Mysteries
Western Mysteries
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
May 15, 2009
So I've been reading a book on Roman triumphs by one of the best classicists writing today, Mary Beard, who holds the chair in classics at Cambridge. I noted in her bio that she has a fairly entertaining blog titled A Don's Life, to which she adds something about once a week. So I eagerly went there and found that she mentioned this excellent series by her old classmate in classics Caroline Lawrence, and highly recommended it. So I immediately tried the first one, and it really was quite a treat. Aimed at 10-13 year olds, the series recounts the adventures of four children in 79AD, running around helping each other solve mysteries. There is a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter (she calls them "scrolls"), and she smuggles in quite a lot of lore about Roman life in general and the Latin language in particular. The kids are very appealing, and there is just enough real violence to keep the stakes high. There are 16 of these books so far, they've been made into a BBC series that's in at least its second year, and I liked this first one well enough to start the next one almost immediately. I guess serious study of the Roman triumphs will just have to wait for a while.
December 22, 2025
When someone begins killing the dogs on Flavia's street, she and her new friends must discover the killer and stop them before things get any worse.
This was a fun and informative read set in the time of ancient Rome, with an interesting mix of characters and with a surprisingly engaging mystery as well.
This was a fun and informative read set in the time of ancient Rome, with an interesting mix of characters and with a surprisingly engaging mystery as well.
March 2, 2012
I had the privilege of meeting Caroline Lawrence about two years ago, and I went and bought this, the first of her books, at once, which is something I nearly always do after meeting an author. Given that my pile of "To Be Read" books is never less than 50, and I have a young family, I didn't get around to reading it until yesterday, when I got a chance while on holiday. What a treat it was!
The Thieves of Ostia is a delightful and well-written read, full of accurate yet lightly woven-in descriptions of 1st century AD Roman Italy. The heroine, the courageous Flavia, is a curious girl with more than a touch of the detective's skill. As the story progresses, she makes friends with Jonathan, Nubia and the mute beggar boy, Lupus. These three become her willing co-sleuths as Flavia tries to discover who is killing dogs in her neighbourhood.
The book is short, fast-paced and full of wry humour. The descriptions of life in Ostia, from its temples, houses, forum and harbour, to the people who lived, worked and died in it, are richly detailed. Lawrence has not, as I suspected she might (because of her intended audience), shied away from the grim realities of life in ancient times. *Mild spoilers ahead* Thus we read about the deaths of people though rabies, see a suicide, and watch as wild dogs are shot down with arrows. These topics are dealt with with a delicate yet straightforward touch, in a manner that is entirely suitable for younger readers, but which also presents the brutal reality of life 2000 years ago. For this, Lawrence is to be commended highly. I for one will be heading for the second volume of the series, as soon as possible!
The Thieves of Ostia is a delightful and well-written read, full of accurate yet lightly woven-in descriptions of 1st century AD Roman Italy. The heroine, the courageous Flavia, is a curious girl with more than a touch of the detective's skill. As the story progresses, she makes friends with Jonathan, Nubia and the mute beggar boy, Lupus. These three become her willing co-sleuths as Flavia tries to discover who is killing dogs in her neighbourhood.
The book is short, fast-paced and full of wry humour. The descriptions of life in Ostia, from its temples, houses, forum and harbour, to the people who lived, worked and died in it, are richly detailed. Lawrence has not, as I suspected she might (because of her intended audience), shied away from the grim realities of life in ancient times. *Mild spoilers ahead* Thus we read about the deaths of people though rabies, see a suicide, and watch as wild dogs are shot down with arrows. These topics are dealt with with a delicate yet straightforward touch, in a manner that is entirely suitable for younger readers, but which also presents the brutal reality of life 2000 years ago. For this, Lawrence is to be commended highly. I for one will be heading for the second volume of the series, as soon as possible!
May 29, 2020
When I was teaching The Romans as a topic to my class of 9 year olds, I let them watch The Roman mysteries and they absolutely loved them. It was a great Childrens BBC production, apparently the most expensive in the history of children’s tv. So I was interested to finally read the actual books. One down, sixteen to go!
July 24, 2023
Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries Series is a fun read for both children and adults. The series is set in Ancient Rome, and features a group of 4 friends who help each other solve mysteries.
Flavia, the main character, is the daughter of a Roman merchant. Jonathan is her neighbor, and his Jewish family has converted to Christianity. Nubia is a slave in Flavia's household, and Flavia hopes to free her. Lupus is a homeless orphan who has a great artistic ability. The four become fast friends and in this first book of the Roman Mysteries, they attempt to solve a mysterious case involving dead dogs in their neighborhood!
Cleanliness: 5/5 The book does contain some violence, for example, dogs heads are chopped off. Slavery is mentioned throughout the book, and the Roman gods are discussed in comparison to God. The children learn valuable lessons about forgiveness and obedience. The book is both fun and educational! As a classical historian and scholar, Lawrence combines her knowledge of classical history and culture in this book. Latin phrases, Roman numerals, and descriptions of Roman society are all included here.
Flavia, the main character, is the daughter of a Roman merchant. Jonathan is her neighbor, and his Jewish family has converted to Christianity. Nubia is a slave in Flavia's household, and Flavia hopes to free her. Lupus is a homeless orphan who has a great artistic ability. The four become fast friends and in this first book of the Roman Mysteries, they attempt to solve a mysterious case involving dead dogs in their neighborhood!
Cleanliness: 5/5 The book does contain some violence, for example, dogs heads are chopped off. Slavery is mentioned throughout the book, and the Roman gods are discussed in comparison to God. The children learn valuable lessons about forgiveness and obedience. The book is both fun and educational! As a classical historian and scholar, Lawrence combines her knowledge of classical history and culture in this book. Latin phrases, Roman numerals, and descriptions of Roman society are all included here.
October 24, 2011
The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence is an exciting book with suprises around every corner! This adventure takes place in the times of the late roman era and happens at the time of a murder! A boy's watchdog was slaughtered and his head was stolen. Four children find a witness and are lead to believe that a man did it, a man whos daughter was recently murdered by a dog with rabies. Can they find him in time before he slaughters more dogs? The moral of this story is that a hero can come from anyone and it is shown in the story because no one would have thought that four kids would figure out who the murderer was. I thought this book was exciting and very energetic. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrills and chills.
February 5, 2016
Middle-grade Roman historical fiction? Sign me up! The sooner I can get Clare reading about my very favorite historical time period, the better. This will do very well while we wait for her to be old enough for I, Claudius or Kate Quinn.
The first volume in a lengthy series does several things very well, including Lawrence's impressive evocation of the sights, sounds, and smells of the Roman port town of Ostia. I also appreciated that Lawrence doesn't sugarcoat the grittier parts of Roman life for her young heroes or her readers, and she includes many dark themes (extreme poverty, suicide, the death of a child, and slavery), making clear her respect for her audience, youthful though it may be. Take, for example, the plot thread that involves heroine Flavia Gemina purchasing an African slave girl to save her from a much worse master or mistress. Lawrence could easily have had Flavia free Nubia immediately, but that wouldn't really be true to to the character of a well-to-do Roman girl or the world she lives in. Since Flavia treats her as a friend and equal, I have to assume that Nubia will be a freedwoman before too many books have elapsed, but I appreciate that Lawrence presents a fairly realistic (if a little extra rosy) situation.
While the characters and dialogue are occasionally a bit flat and I solved the mystery almost immediately, I'm plenty charmed enough to keep reading -- and I can only imagine that these books will get more vivid and interesting as the series goes on.
The first volume in a lengthy series does several things very well, including Lawrence's impressive evocation of the sights, sounds, and smells of the Roman port town of Ostia. I also appreciated that Lawrence doesn't sugarcoat the grittier parts of Roman life for her young heroes or her readers, and she includes many dark themes (extreme poverty, suicide, the death of a child, and slavery), making clear her respect for her audience, youthful though it may be. Take, for example, the plot thread that involves heroine Flavia Gemina purchasing an African slave girl to save her from a much worse master or mistress. Lawrence could easily have had Flavia free Nubia immediately, but that wouldn't really be true to to the character of a well-to-do Roman girl or the world she lives in. Since Flavia treats her as a friend and equal, I have to assume that Nubia will be a freedwoman before too many books have elapsed, but I appreciate that Lawrence presents a fairly realistic (if a little extra rosy) situation.
While the characters and dialogue are occasionally a bit flat and I solved the mystery almost immediately, I'm plenty charmed enough to keep reading -- and I can only imagine that these books will get more vivid and interesting as the series goes on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2016
I missed these in my own childhood, but would have loved this sort of series. It's a wonderful first book to a series set in Ancient Rome, always a favourite period for primary students, and involving children solving mysteries and murders.
With Sherlock so popular at the moment, the detective genre should receive a boost, and the fact that this is quite instructive on life in Roman times as well as including a murder and several personable young amateur sleuths is in its favour.
Wealthy Flavia and her new neighbours find dogs killed in their street. Alongside the slave girl she rescues and a mute beggar boy, the quartet set out to find who has killed them and why, and of course, involving themselves in a bigger (and more dangerous) mystery.
I loved the historical detail, about every aspect of life from food and houses to slaves and books. The children are well written and not too eager or unrealistic in their language. The audiobook version I read is well-narrated with a talented actor giving distinct voices to all of the characters.
Great start to a series. I would read more if I were the right age, probably 9-12.
With Sherlock so popular at the moment, the detective genre should receive a boost, and the fact that this is quite instructive on life in Roman times as well as including a murder and several personable young amateur sleuths is in its favour.
Wealthy Flavia and her new neighbours find dogs killed in their street. Alongside the slave girl she rescues and a mute beggar boy, the quartet set out to find who has killed them and why, and of course, involving themselves in a bigger (and more dangerous) mystery.
I loved the historical detail, about every aspect of life from food and houses to slaves and books. The children are well written and not too eager or unrealistic in their language. The audiobook version I read is well-narrated with a talented actor giving distinct voices to all of the characters.
Great start to a series. I would read more if I were the right age, probably 9-12.
May 31, 2016
I waffled on whether to give this a two or a three star rating. I liked it, but I also had reservations. Sometimes kids books fall into this weird limbo of being simultaneously cozy and...not, and, even when I was a kid, that sort of uncertain tone put me off a bit. On the one hand, you've got slavery, prejudice, slaughtered dogs, and a kid who'd had his tongue cut out (!), and on the other hand, the kids escaped every danger they were in almost too easily. But I did like it well enough to try another in the series.
September 11, 2018
This was a huge childhood favourite series of mine and I loved rereading these characters!
May 2, 2012
I read this to my little boy as his bedtime story. He's still a little young for it, but enjoyed it nonetheless. So this review is more from me for the adults than anything.
I visited Ostia a number of years ago with my wife and was extremely taken with the place. Now, having just read this book, I can feel that wonder all over again. With the memories of the city, reading the book felt so vivid and real, I could picture every nuance and detail as if I were watching on the screen or even experiencing it myself. The atmosphere was simply stunning and I am so impressed with Caroline's capturing of the essence of ancient Ostia.
On top of that, while this is a children's book, the story has dark and tense places and the author pulls no punches when dealing with scary subjects, bringing them to the fore as part of the story without making them unsuitable for her readership. The plot of this book and its main characters are masterfully put together and when we reached the end and I read the last page or two, Caroline has thrown in such a conclusion that it makes me want to go straight into the next book (though we shall be reading her new book, the Sewer Demon first).
All in all, this is a great book for kids, educational, fascinating, funny and fast, but remains a great read and a wonderful story for the adults out there too; particularly the Roman-loving ones. I would heartily recommend this as a parent/child read.
I visited Ostia a number of years ago with my wife and was extremely taken with the place. Now, having just read this book, I can feel that wonder all over again. With the memories of the city, reading the book felt so vivid and real, I could picture every nuance and detail as if I were watching on the screen or even experiencing it myself. The atmosphere was simply stunning and I am so impressed with Caroline's capturing of the essence of ancient Ostia.
On top of that, while this is a children's book, the story has dark and tense places and the author pulls no punches when dealing with scary subjects, bringing them to the fore as part of the story without making them unsuitable for her readership. The plot of this book and its main characters are masterfully put together and when we reached the end and I read the last page or two, Caroline has thrown in such a conclusion that it makes me want to go straight into the next book (though we shall be reading her new book, the Sewer Demon first).
All in all, this is a great book for kids, educational, fascinating, funny and fast, but remains a great read and a wonderful story for the adults out there too; particularly the Roman-loving ones. I would heartily recommend this as a parent/child read.
February 6, 2020
This book caused a mini up-rising in the class.
I thought the book was a classical Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew style detective novel set in the classical age with aspects of classical life generously interspersed throughout.
The students however couldn't connect with the book. One of the reasons for this was that the main characters were too young for the linguistic level or maturity needed to understand all the aspects of the book and follow the storyline. I suppose this book would be great for quite bright ten-year-olds, but the average 12 year old will struggle with the classical vocabulary (atriums, wax-tablets, necropolis etc) and not be able to connect with what really amounts to a children's story more than near-teen fiction.
I thought the book was a classical Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew style detective novel set in the classical age with aspects of classical life generously interspersed throughout.
The students however couldn't connect with the book. One of the reasons for this was that the main characters were too young for the linguistic level or maturity needed to understand all the aspects of the book and follow the storyline. I suppose this book would be great for quite bright ten-year-olds, but the average 12 year old will struggle with the classical vocabulary (atriums, wax-tablets, necropolis etc) and not be able to connect with what really amounts to a children's story more than near-teen fiction.
November 15, 2023
2022 52 Book Challenge - 13) Includes a club
The Roman Mysteries series was the series that really gripped me into reading at the young age of 9, and I haven’t stopped since, so The Thieves of Ostia and The Dolphins of Laurentum really hold a special place in my heart. I would recommend to any age group because they are just wonderful.
The Roman Mysteries series was the series that really gripped me into reading at the young age of 9, and I haven’t stopped since, so The Thieves of Ostia and The Dolphins of Laurentum really hold a special place in my heart. I would recommend to any age group because they are just wonderful.
February 17, 2020
A book aimed at 8-13 year olds and one that has been turned into a children's series since.
I will start with the positives I found. The characterisation is great with a lot of diversity even outside of the main characters. It shows the differences of people in Roman times which is not something you automatically think of when discussing ancient times. The story feels well researched and the plot never drags despite the amount of exposition needed to start the series.
Negatively, I felt that the balance between the characters wasn't always equal. This might be fixed in the later novels. I also felt that what could have been interesting side plots were only given a line. Again, this might be addressed later in the series too.
As a reading experience it was good. Not great and not something I would automatically recommend in a crowded market. The Roman setting is something that sets it apart but not quite enough for it to be an unique selling point. I will read more of the series given the chance as this does show promise.
I will start with the positives I found. The characterisation is great with a lot of diversity even outside of the main characters. It shows the differences of people in Roman times which is not something you automatically think of when discussing ancient times. The story feels well researched and the plot never drags despite the amount of exposition needed to start the series.
Negatively, I felt that the balance between the characters wasn't always equal. This might be fixed in the later novels. I also felt that what could have been interesting side plots were only given a line. Again, this might be addressed later in the series too.
As a reading experience it was good. Not great and not something I would automatically recommend in a crowded market. The Roman setting is something that sets it apart but not quite enough for it to be an unique selling point. I will read more of the series given the chance as this does show promise.
November 25, 2021
It’s ancient Rome and the dog belonging to one of Flavia’s neighbours has been killed and beheaded. Flavia and her friends plan to find out who did it.
This is a mix of children’s lit, historical fiction, and mystery. I listened to the audio, and overall it was ok. I did lose focus (as I seem to with audios more often lately) a few times, but the story was ok. There was a short author’s/historical note at the end, though being a kids’ book, it didn’t go into detail. Even with only an “ok” rating from me, it might still be a fun series to continue.
This is a mix of children’s lit, historical fiction, and mystery. I listened to the audio, and overall it was ok. I did lose focus (as I seem to with audios more often lately) a few times, but the story was ok. There was a short author’s/historical note at the end, though being a kids’ book, it didn’t go into detail. Even with only an “ok” rating from me, it might still be a fun series to continue.
February 1, 2025
Well, The Thieves of Ostia (The Roman Mysteries #1) by Caroline Lawrence was a fun little adventure. I wish I'd read this back when it was brand new. I'm sure I would have loved it even more. I'm glad glad I decided to take all of the recommendations I've gotten for this over the years even if I got to it about 23 years after its release. I think I'll have to continue this MG series.
July 2, 2018
great bit of nostalgia. I loved the tv show when it was on cbbc but I never got the chance to read the books till now. I love the characters and their individual personalities. The mystery is a bit basic but it's for kids so it's understandable.
My only issue is I could personally do without the Christian imagery. I understand that it is a key part of Jonathan's character and that's fine but I could do without his dad making the other kids take part in their religious belief, forcing them to pray to God. I felt that the moral of feeling guilty could easily be taught without putting God into it. Personal preference though. That particular scene just felt disconnected from the rest of the story and could have been left out.
Besides that it's a good read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
My only issue is I could personally do without the Christian imagery. I understand that it is a key part of Jonathan's character and that's fine but I could do without his dad making the other kids take part in their religious belief, forcing them to pray to God. I felt that the moral of feeling guilty could easily be taught without putting God into it. Personal preference though. That particular scene just felt disconnected from the rest of the story and could have been left out.
Besides that it's a good read and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
June 26, 2016
Brilliant childrensbook!
I would certanly recommend it for learning the English language to anybody between 12 and 16 and again when they are over 20. Between 16 and 20 years of age, people will either know their English well or find themselves 'to old for this' like many teenagers and young adults do.
Also a really nice tale to read to children under 10 before tucking them in.
A good first mistery novel!
I would certanly recommend it for learning the English language to anybody between 12 and 16 and again when they are over 20. Between 16 and 20 years of age, people will either know their English well or find themselves 'to old for this' like many teenagers and young adults do.
Also a really nice tale to read to children under 10 before tucking them in.
A good first mistery novel!
May 28, 2018
I recently discovered this series of 17 books, taking place in 79AD in Ancient Rome (or Ostia) and have steadily made my way through 14 of them in about a week before I stopped to take a breath and log a few thoughts on this series.
As far as the first book goes, I would give the mystery rating of 3 stars, but the series as a whole, I would give it 4 stars. (This review will be for the series as a whole. Don't keep reading if you don't want spoilers.)
For someone completely new to reading Ancient Roman fiction, this was exactly what I wanted. It was fast-paced and contained lots of historical details, with real life people interspersed through it all. It even has maps at the end of the book, along with a glossary for those of us who are newbies to this genre.
The books are approximately 200-250 pages each, and each lead into the next so that each book is more like a really long chapter. This worked for me, because I have the whole series! For some unfortunate souls, that would really take away from the narrative because there are allusions to previous books that may leave you a bit lost. I also wouldn't call it Roman Mysteries as much as they are Roman Adventures, because some books don't seem to deal with mysteries at all. They are, however, chock full of Flavia's adventures around the place. One thing I liked was that each book takes place in a different city, and each deals with a different historical element. The second book
(Secrets of Vesuvius), for example, deals with the explosion of Vesuvius and what happened to Pompeii. The fifth book (Dolphins of Laurentum) deals with the dangers of free-diving at the time. The eighth book (Gladiators of Capua) dealt with the games of the day, which was fun to read about. The thirteenth book (Slave Girl from Jerusalem) talks about the burning of Jerusalem and the destruction of Masada, both of which I have visited, so that was a cool review. You get the picture.
What also works is the historical elements of religion and medicine of the time. There's no talking about how "ew, bloodletting, that's so terrible!" which is a concept I see time and again in er, less accurate fiction (usually romantic fiction). And in fact, there's kind of an interesting factoid of using cobwebs in open wounds to help keep it clean. Also, for all that the Roman Empire was almost eerily organized, people dropped like flies. Don't expect a totally fun, light-hearted series for all that it's supposed to be for grade schoolers; people die in EVERY SINGLE BOOK. Oh yeah, and young girls are married at 12, which sounds gross now, but makes a terrible sort of sense since the life expectancy seems to be around 30.
This first book sort of makes it seem like the series is going to be preachy, but from the second book on to the fifteenth, so far, it seems like the only one.
What I felt started to fail was in the changing characterizations of the protagonists. The first book sets up the four friends pretty well: Flavia, 10, highborn daughter of a sea captain. Jonathan, 10, son of a Jewish doctor (secretly Christians). Nubia, 11ish, slave captured from Africa and bought by Flavia and saved from a fate worse than death. And Lupus, 8, who has a really raw deal, because his tongue has been cut so that he can't talk or eat properly. Flavia is initially very clearly the protagonist. By the third book, her viewpoint has been gradually taken over by Nubia, and by the tenth book, almost all internal dialogues are from Nubia's point of view. I like Nubia as a character, but this shift is jarring to me, because we have been introduced first to Flavia, and I grew to really like her. This shift was also accompanied by really unlikable behavior on the part of Flavia, and as an invested reader, it made me feel gradually more disengaged. Instead of trying to explain away Flavia's characteristics due to youth, inexperience, or background, you're immediately switched over to the more sympathetic Nubia.
Flavia and Jonathan are the main characters at the start of the series, but by book 15, they seem to be completely overshadowed by Nubia and Lupus. Lupus is hot-tempered, brave, incredibly quick and athletic, but by the end, he's...almost a superhero of sorts. Essentially a deus ex machina, since whenever they run into a brick wall, there's Lupus, who's able to get entrance ANYWHERE, find out ANYTHING, swim, jump, climb anywhere, escape murderous criminal masterminds ON HIS OWN. He becomes the smartest one of the group, and who's able to figure out things our scroll-loving Flavia cannot. Did I mention he can free-dive to a ship that no one else can and by the 14th book, he's also an acrobat of sorts? It's just a tad...unbelievable. Luckily, the plots are fast-moving enough that this isn't too glaring of an issue. But poor Flavia and Jonathan. It seems like most readers don't even like them by then.
Another thing is that these are sort of depressing subjects that are dealt with. A lot of children's mystery and adventure books deal with more light-hearted romps, but this series isn't one of them. It's still very well-written and educational (oh, so educational) and therefore to be recommended, however, a fun-in-the-sun read they are not. I know some of the characters tried to do "humorous" things which other characters found amusing, but they are, in general, not that humorous. At all. Like I said, lots of people die. There's blood. There are lots and lots of uber depressing things that go on that make you glad you don't live in Ancient Rome. This is not a fantastical, Historical Times Are So Fun Let's Go There, book. There are terrible things that happen at, basically, the drop of a hat, that include: headaches (no medicine), asthma, nearsightedness, death by dog bites, death by childbirth, death by gladiator games, death by war, death by sea, death by slavery, death by...well, need I go on? Death by you name it, and it happens. Like I said, lots and lots of deaths, and they aren't even the "mystery" part of these mysteries.
It actually startled me that the intended audience is supposed to be 10, but I suppose children lived such atrocities, so why are we shielding them from knowing about it? So. There you have it. The series in a nutshell. Well-written, bite-sized, accurate Ancient Roman Empire adventure mystery stories. Recommended with caution.
As far as the first book goes, I would give the mystery rating of 3 stars, but the series as a whole, I would give it 4 stars. (This review will be for the series as a whole. Don't keep reading if you don't want spoilers.)
For someone completely new to reading Ancient Roman fiction, this was exactly what I wanted. It was fast-paced and contained lots of historical details, with real life people interspersed through it all. It even has maps at the end of the book, along with a glossary for those of us who are newbies to this genre.
The books are approximately 200-250 pages each, and each lead into the next so that each book is more like a really long chapter. This worked for me, because I have the whole series! For some unfortunate souls, that would really take away from the narrative because there are allusions to previous books that may leave you a bit lost. I also wouldn't call it Roman Mysteries as much as they are Roman Adventures, because some books don't seem to deal with mysteries at all. They are, however, chock full of Flavia's adventures around the place. One thing I liked was that each book takes place in a different city, and each deals with a different historical element. The second book
(Secrets of Vesuvius), for example, deals with the explosion of Vesuvius and what happened to Pompeii. The fifth book (Dolphins of Laurentum) deals with the dangers of free-diving at the time. The eighth book (Gladiators of Capua) dealt with the games of the day, which was fun to read about. The thirteenth book (Slave Girl from Jerusalem) talks about the burning of Jerusalem and the destruction of Masada, both of which I have visited, so that was a cool review. You get the picture.
What also works is the historical elements of religion and medicine of the time. There's no talking about how "ew, bloodletting, that's so terrible!" which is a concept I see time and again in er, less accurate fiction (usually romantic fiction). And in fact, there's kind of an interesting factoid of using cobwebs in open wounds to help keep it clean. Also, for all that the Roman Empire was almost eerily organized, people dropped like flies. Don't expect a totally fun, light-hearted series for all that it's supposed to be for grade schoolers; people die in EVERY SINGLE BOOK. Oh yeah, and young girls are married at 12, which sounds gross now, but makes a terrible sort of sense since the life expectancy seems to be around 30.
This first book sort of makes it seem like the series is going to be preachy, but from the second book on to the fifteenth, so far, it seems like the only one.
What I felt started to fail was in the changing characterizations of the protagonists. The first book sets up the four friends pretty well: Flavia, 10, highborn daughter of a sea captain. Jonathan, 10, son of a Jewish doctor (secretly Christians). Nubia, 11ish, slave captured from Africa and bought by Flavia and saved from a fate worse than death. And Lupus, 8, who has a really raw deal, because his tongue has been cut so that he can't talk or eat properly. Flavia is initially very clearly the protagonist. By the third book, her viewpoint has been gradually taken over by Nubia, and by the tenth book, almost all internal dialogues are from Nubia's point of view. I like Nubia as a character, but this shift is jarring to me, because we have been introduced first to Flavia, and I grew to really like her. This shift was also accompanied by really unlikable behavior on the part of Flavia, and as an invested reader, it made me feel gradually more disengaged. Instead of trying to explain away Flavia's characteristics due to youth, inexperience, or background, you're immediately switched over to the more sympathetic Nubia.
Flavia and Jonathan are the main characters at the start of the series, but by book 15, they seem to be completely overshadowed by Nubia and Lupus. Lupus is hot-tempered, brave, incredibly quick and athletic, but by the end, he's...almost a superhero of sorts. Essentially a deus ex machina, since whenever they run into a brick wall, there's Lupus, who's able to get entrance ANYWHERE, find out ANYTHING, swim, jump, climb anywhere, escape murderous criminal masterminds ON HIS OWN. He becomes the smartest one of the group, and who's able to figure out things our scroll-loving Flavia cannot. Did I mention he can free-dive to a ship that no one else can and by the 14th book, he's also an acrobat of sorts? It's just a tad...unbelievable. Luckily, the plots are fast-moving enough that this isn't too glaring of an issue. But poor Flavia and Jonathan. It seems like most readers don't even like them by then.
Another thing is that these are sort of depressing subjects that are dealt with. A lot of children's mystery and adventure books deal with more light-hearted romps, but this series isn't one of them. It's still very well-written and educational (oh, so educational) and therefore to be recommended, however, a fun-in-the-sun read they are not. I know some of the characters tried to do "humorous" things which other characters found amusing, but they are, in general, not that humorous. At all. Like I said, lots of people die. There's blood. There are lots and lots of uber depressing things that go on that make you glad you don't live in Ancient Rome. This is not a fantastical, Historical Times Are So Fun Let's Go There, book. There are terrible things that happen at, basically, the drop of a hat, that include: headaches (no medicine), asthma, nearsightedness, death by dog bites, death by childbirth, death by gladiator games, death by war, death by sea, death by slavery, death by...well, need I go on? Death by you name it, and it happens. Like I said, lots and lots of deaths, and they aren't even the "mystery" part of these mysteries.
It actually startled me that the intended audience is supposed to be 10, but I suppose children lived such atrocities, so why are we shielding them from knowing about it? So. There you have it. The series in a nutshell. Well-written, bite-sized, accurate Ancient Roman Empire adventure mystery stories. Recommended with caution.
November 21, 2019
This is the first in a series of books about mysteries in Ancient Rome, and although it's quite a quick read, it doesn't shy away from the grimmer parts of living in the ancient world! There's enough mystery to keep you hooked and you get a real flavour of what it's like to live in a Roman town - and the main characters are a well-off roman girl, a slave girl, a jewish boy and a beggar boy who has had his tongue cut out!
January 1, 2022
A very apt new year’s day read - a kids’ Roman mystery adventure full of historical charm and innocent intrigue that would never normally feature in my ‘must read’ list!
Three stars seems a bit stingy but there was a weeny bit too much religion and piety and while I appreciate I am not the intended audience, the characters and story could have gone further. Perhaps Caroline Lawrence is saving these new depths for the next books - it is quite a long series !
Three stars seems a bit stingy but there was a weeny bit too much religion and piety and while I appreciate I am not the intended audience, the characters and story could have gone further. Perhaps Caroline Lawrence is saving these new depths for the next books - it is quite a long series !
July 24, 2020
I loved this book as a child, and I admire it now. Well-written, gripping, and true to the strangenesses and difficulties of the time period depicted, all told well to the target audience. Now on to the other fifteen volumes waiting for me in the bookshop, as somebody has donated the lot...
October 2, 2022
The Thieves of Ostia
During my time reading The Thieves of Ostia. There were a lot of things going on that built a strong opinion of mine. There were times when characters were betrayed, backstabbed and hurt. However, there were also times when characters were lifted, supported and were there for each other. Lots of times during the book, there were moments where these traits were used in the story. For example, when L framed A for stealing. Although it didn’t work, this was still very hurtful to do for a friend. Also, there were times when they helped each other out. For example, in the beginning when Jonathan saved Flavia from getting bitten by the wild animals that were chasing them. This showed character and that some of the characters cared for one another. When Flavia met her friend, that couldn’t speak. I think that showed a lot of heart throughout the book. She shared her loving home, food and care with her, and that’s all you really can ever want from a person is for them to care for you. Which is exactly what Flavia did. Also, other friends of Flavia's like Jonathan etc. cared for her as well as she did. Overall, my summary/overview of the book is that there were lots of key moments that showed care, passion, and love. I think that my main summary if I had to tell someone about it was that all those characters had a purpose in it and had lots of depth within each other.
Overall, I thought the book was very enjoyable. I think it showcased lots of good things in life, and I think it was a great fit leading into high school. What I personally would do is recommend this book for kids/teenagers, not so many adults. I reckon that this book is for a younger age rather than an older age just because of its storyline and characters. Although, some adults may enjoy this book very much, which is great. In my general opinion on the book, I thought it was very good in terms of characterization and how the author wrote the book. I think the author did and exceptionally good job on this, which I why I think I enjoyed it so much.
During my time reading The Thieves of Ostia. There were a lot of things going on that built a strong opinion of mine. There were times when characters were betrayed, backstabbed and hurt. However, there were also times when characters were lifted, supported and were there for each other. Lots of times during the book, there were moments where these traits were used in the story. For example, when L framed A for stealing. Although it didn’t work, this was still very hurtful to do for a friend. Also, there were times when they helped each other out. For example, in the beginning when Jonathan saved Flavia from getting bitten by the wild animals that were chasing them. This showed character and that some of the characters cared for one another. When Flavia met her friend, that couldn’t speak. I think that showed a lot of heart throughout the book. She shared her loving home, food and care with her, and that’s all you really can ever want from a person is for them to care for you. Which is exactly what Flavia did. Also, other friends of Flavia's like Jonathan etc. cared for her as well as she did. Overall, my summary/overview of the book is that there were lots of key moments that showed care, passion, and love. I think that my main summary if I had to tell someone about it was that all those characters had a purpose in it and had lots of depth within each other.
Overall, I thought the book was very enjoyable. I think it showcased lots of good things in life, and I think it was a great fit leading into high school. What I personally would do is recommend this book for kids/teenagers, not so many adults. I reckon that this book is for a younger age rather than an older age just because of its storyline and characters. Although, some adults may enjoy this book very much, which is great. In my general opinion on the book, I thought it was very good in terms of characterization and how the author wrote the book. I think the author did and exceptionally good job on this, which I why I think I enjoyed it so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 12, 2022Borrowed off of Elinor he he.
This fully brought back so many childhood memories- I still absolutely love this series and fully just needed to read a child's book lmao. I kid you not this is fully where my whole passion for all things Ancient started and although this is an idealised world of Ancient Rome it is such a good starter for kids to get into Ancient History. Also the whole whodunnit thing is great.
In terms of the story it's not great like it was completely obvious who it was but I am not in a position to comment on that as I am literally an adult (supposedly) but it is still a good read and I fully felt I was in the world of Ancient Italy.
Also not me completely not realising just how strongly Christian these books are. Like they have a full on praying for their sins session or something at one point and all the Christians are so great and kind and happy, like one guy fully commits suicide because he is not a Christian and doesn't have 'the faith'. Yeah I know, wtf it's weird -maybe this is where my apparent strong Christian girl energy comes from.
Also just pointing out the funniest quote ever it was just so random- "The previous cook Gusto, had died shopping for leeks in the forum when a donkey had kicked him in the head." The subject is then completely changed and that is it, it is literally the most random morbid sentence ever I'm cryingggggg
This fully brought back so many childhood memories- I still absolutely love this series and fully just needed to read a child's book lmao. I kid you not this is fully where my whole passion for all things Ancient started and although this is an idealised world of Ancient Rome it is such a good starter for kids to get into Ancient History. Also the whole whodunnit thing is great.
In terms of the story it's not great like it was completely obvious who it was but I am not in a position to comment on that as I am literally an adult (supposedly) but it is still a good read and I fully felt I was in the world of Ancient Italy.
Also not me completely not realising just how strongly Christian these books are. Like they have a full on praying for their sins session or something at one point and all the Christians are so great and kind and happy, like one guy fully commits suicide because he is not a Christian and doesn't have 'the faith'. Yeah I know, wtf it's weird -maybe this is where my apparent strong Christian girl energy comes from.
Also just pointing out the funniest quote ever it was just so random- "The previous cook Gusto, had died shopping for leeks in the forum when a donkey had kicked him in the head." The subject is then completely changed and that is it, it is literally the most random morbid sentence ever I'm cryingggggg
September 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this. Flavia is a nice, engaging little girl whose curiosity and caring about other people are both contagious. I felt drawn to all the side characters too, especially all her new friends (although it's a little odd that she didn't seem to have any friends prior to this story starting). The mystery is a bit more gory than I expected. Warning: dogs are killed. But it's all handled well within the story. The story touches on issues of slavery, child abduction and child death, and even suicide, but somehow remains fairly light-hearted and focused on relationships and solving the mystery. The ending was pretty satisfying, and I liked how Flavia explained to everyone how she figured it out: smart girl! The setting in ancient Rome was definitely a big draw for me too; Lawrence gave enough details to give a good impression of being there without spending time on long info dumps.
After finishing it, I wanted more, and borrowed the next two books from the library right away!
Overall, a short but interesting children's mystery, just right for a quick read. Recommended!
After finishing it, I wanted more, and borrowed the next two books from the library right away!
Overall, a short but interesting children's mystery, just right for a quick read. Recommended!
July 10, 2024
Mi trovo in imbarazzo nel valutare l'opera perché sono totalmente fuori target. Il romanzo è ovviamente per ragazzi, mentre io l'ho letto per migliorare un po' il mio inglese (oltre che per l'ambientazione e perché avevo visto la serie tv).
Da questo punto di vista meriterebbe 5 stelle perché in effetti è stato perfetto per il mio intento. Come trama, devo dire, soffre forse di eccessiva rapidità verso la fine, con diversi colpi di scena che cambiano le carte in tavola. Non si può negare sia una lettura che per tematiche è ottima anche per gli adulti, visto che si parla di assassini, rapimenti di bambini per farne schiavi, cani decapitati e molto altro. Diverse brutture della società romana non vengono nascoste od edulcorate.
Ovviamente i nostri piccoli protagonisti sono pieni di "buoni sentimenti", come è giusto che sia in una letteratura per ragazzi.
Ne recupererò qualcun altro e li proporrò a mia figlia quando sarà più grande.
Da questo punto di vista meriterebbe 5 stelle perché in effetti è stato perfetto per il mio intento. Come trama, devo dire, soffre forse di eccessiva rapidità verso la fine, con diversi colpi di scena che cambiano le carte in tavola. Non si può negare sia una lettura che per tematiche è ottima anche per gli adulti, visto che si parla di assassini, rapimenti di bambini per farne schiavi, cani decapitati e molto altro. Diverse brutture della società romana non vengono nascoste od edulcorate.
Ovviamente i nostri piccoli protagonisti sono pieni di "buoni sentimenti", come è giusto che sia in una letteratura per ragazzi.
Ne recupererò qualcun altro e li proporrò a mia figlia quando sarà più grande.
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May 11, 2020I’M ACTUALLY CRYING.
i’ve been looking for this book FOR YEARS. i read this series as a kid (at age six probably) and loved them but then i forgot about them for a while.
but, the past few years, they’ve haunted me. i would remember random bits and parts of them, but i could never remember any names or anything.
a huge part of me thought i made these books up and never actually read them.
so, after years of uncertainty, i just went on google for a solid hour to track these books down, and see if they actually did exist. to make sure that these weren’t some odd fever dream.
and folks, I FOUND THEM. i have never felt as at peace as i do now.
i’ve been looking for this book FOR YEARS. i read this series as a kid (at age six probably) and loved them but then i forgot about them for a while.
but, the past few years, they’ve haunted me. i would remember random bits and parts of them, but i could never remember any names or anything.
a huge part of me thought i made these books up and never actually read them.
so, after years of uncertainty, i just went on google for a solid hour to track these books down, and see if they actually did exist. to make sure that these weren’t some odd fever dream.
and folks, I FOUND THEM. i have never felt as at peace as i do now.
March 15, 2022
I read this as a consideration to be studied by 3rd graders, who are currently learning about Ancient Greece and Rome. It is steeped in the culture of the time period, from beginning to end and would a wonderful way to go deeper into the time period. Unfortunately, mature themes like suicide and drunkenness deter me from using it in a 3rd grade classroom. Maybe a book later in the series will be more appropriate thematically. This first book in the series has interesting characters and a “whodunnit” plot that certainly makes it worthy of further exploration. I especially appreciated the Christian references and look forward to those being developed.
November 17, 2021
This was a fun read aloud for my 2nd, 5th, and 7th graders, though I did edit just a touch (was it really necessary to describe slaves as naked three separate times?) It was more intense than I expected, but great on the whole and I will likely read aloud the next one at least. *There was a part that, though sweet, missed the mark on Christianity so again, as a Baptist for whom theology and salvation matters, I edited slightly.
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