The Dolphins of Laurentum

The Roman Mysteries #5

by Caroline Lawrence

It's October AD 79. The arrival of a ragged man at the Geminus household sets in motion a series of events which take Flavia and her three friends to an opulent villa by the sea at Laurentum, a few miles south of Ostia. Just off the coast is a sunken wreck full of treasure which could be the answer to all their problems. But someone else is after the treasure, too. As the four children try to recover it, they solve the terrible mystery of Lupus's past.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2003

About the author

Caroline 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

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Pair reading...quite fun.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who hasn’t dreamt oi swimming with dolphins? This instalment picks up the series after the previous two – in my opinion – were a bit flat, when compared to the first in the series. This an almost magical adventure/ mystery that focuses on Lupus and his past. Lupus is one the most interesting characters and I really loved learning more about his past. I loved how some of the plot lines are arching across the series and with characters from previous books featuring in this book and for this reason I highly recommend that you read them in order. The book has a lovely moral message (that isn’t over done) and combines history and mystery to great effect.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seem to have skipped book 4 somehow. I did miss some pertinent plot points, but nothing too tricky, and we finally got some closure on Lupus's back story. Glad this one was not so focused on Flavia.

[Emilija · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022 52 Book Challenge - 17) A Book Picked Based On Its Spine

This was the first book I ever chose to read on my own, so I will always have a level of nostalgia for this book.

That being said, I do think it was better than the previous book in the series, but the plot in this book was incredibly thin. I enjoyed the character development in it, which was mostly Lupus, who I wanted to know more about for a while. I did like that they're starting to flesh out Flavia and Miriam more, but that will probably be continued in the rest of the series.

[Isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un sólido 5 estrellas leído en menos de 24h, aunque debo reconocer que no soy una lectora imparcial: este libro ha sido de mis favoritos de la colección desde que era pequeña. Me encantan las descripciones de los lugares, las tradiciones y maneras de hacer de la época, los mitos, las cuñas de romance...

Lupo es el protagonista en esta historia y su personaje es complejo e interesante - la verdad es que para tratarse de un libro para niños su historia es bastante trágica, pero encaja muy bien. Y me da mucha satisfacción que es el libro que menos se centra en los personajes principales que menos me gustan, Jonatán y Nubia. Sigo siendo crítica con la edad de los personajes, pero qué se le va a hacer.

Me re-declaro fan de esta serie y me apetece mucho llegar a los libros del final, que son los que tengo menos leídos.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing book. I recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries. Very touching and an amazing ending.

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the complexity of Lupus' character.

[Katie Gibbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poor kids be GOING THROUGH IT.
The ending made me shed a small tear.

[Alice Stellar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there are plenty of historical details, this is the least historical-feeling of all of The Roman Mysteries books I've read so far. Instead, with its friendly, sort of mystical dolphins, evil octopus, shipwreck and treasure, it feels a bit like a typical middle grade adventure novel. That doesn't mean it's not a good story. In fact, I loved the descriptions and felt like I was transported to Pliny's villa and the beautiful sea around it - a very nice "vacation" of sorts.

I did feel the "mystery" in this one was a bit underdeveloped, and some part of me also felt like Lupus' backstory didn't quite go with what we've learned about him in the previous books so far, not to mention his general reaction to Vinalicius. But then, it's been a while since I read the previous book in the series, not to mention since I started this series overall, so it's possible that I just didn't recall the right details.

The way things wrapped up also in some ways felt too easy or neat, but not entirely unrealistic or hard to comprehend.

Whatever the case, as with the other books in this series, the characters are engaging, we learn a bit about everyday life in the Roman Empire. And in this case, we get transported to a magnificent seaside villa and get to swim with friendly dolphins - hard to complain about that!

One overall note: I'm reading these books as an adult with some knowledge of Roman history. But for young readers who maybe haven't studied Ancient Rome much, it's a shame that there aren't illustrations, at least from time to time.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lupus! and dolphins!

[ChroniclesofTania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fast paced read. Flavia's father returns from a shipwreck. The last we saw of him was in book 2 when he dropped his family and neighbours at his twin brother's farm before Vesuvius erupted. He lost everything and the bailiffs are sent from the bankers to his house in Ostia to collect on his debts. Just at that moment Pliny the Younger arrives as a guest and offers them hospitality at his inherited villa at Laurentum for Flavia's father to recover and for the children to be away from the unpleasant business of dealing with the bailiffs.
This is the book where we discover Lupus's horrific backstory and learn why he's fanatic about seeking to avenge his parents deaths by killing the slave trader Venalicius. The deep diving before modern technology was a very dangerous business by Greek sponge divers.

There is a twist in the story and a happy ending.

What's lovely in the book are the friendly intelligent dolphins who interact with the children at Laurentum.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mordecai using his knowledge of ancient medicine and healing to use maggots as a form of medicine for Flavia's father was genius and such a nice tough to add in. I love seeing the way the people of those time would have used what they had around them to try to heal and save others in any way possible, and used whatever came from the earth to do so.

Lupus is Greek! Woo! Also, finding out more about him slowly and then all at once was well paced and also extremely shocking. I did not expect that plot twist to pop up of what happened to him and who put him on the path of vengeance he was so heavily following. I thought it was a well done reveal and was shocking and interesting.

Poor Miriam. She's so young and she must feel so incredibly alone in the world without a mother or an older female figure to give her advice and help her out, and to have had it taken away from her again after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

So we are powering through these books now, love that for me. And I’m so enjoying this trip down memory lane as it’s been such a long time since I read these for the first time I’ve forgotten so much about what happens in them.

What is incredible though is that while I have forgotten a lot of what happens in the books, as soon as I start to read them again I’m instantly reminded of the story and it all comes rushing back to me. This one in particular I remember scaring me as a kid, I think it was the image of the dead octopus and the e descriptions of what happens to divers after too many dives in a day.

Plus the connections that Lawrence makes between people are so subtle that you don’t even fully realise until it is right on top of you. As I say, thoroughly enjoying the journey through this series and can’t wait to get to the others.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fifth book in the Roman Mysteries series had a lot a emotional moments, especially the parts concerning Lupus's past. I didn't care for the parts with the two young men competing for Miriam, but luckily that did not last too long. Once again, I was impressed with Lawrence's attention to detail and historical accuracy. The only thing that bothered me, though, was that tea drinking was mentioned several times but tea did not exist in ancient Rome! It was not introduced to Europe until the 17th century, so that seems like a large error on the author's behalf. Maybe she didn't want to write the children drinking watered down wine all the time. Despite that, I really enjoyed this volume and look forward to reading the next installation.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I was small and I loved The Thieves of Ostia, I really appreciated Caroline Lawrence's sense for the particular sensory joys of childhood, and this story with its new sea-dwelling characters felt really full of that joy. Less so the reveals, which are quite dark as I have noticed the books are, something I don't think I was ever too thrown by as a child but jars now when I think I don't know if my ten-year-old niece would be too happy reading them (but this because I know she is particularly sensitive, not because I'm an adult now who needs to shield my precious baby) (and anyway at her bedtime the other night I read the first chapter aloud to her and we were literally rolling laughing).

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5th book in the series - Flavia Gemina and her friends meet Pliny the Younger, who invites them to vacation at his villa in Larentum. Her father, Captain Marcus Flavius Geminus, recently returned home, having barely survived a shipwreck (and having lost a fortune). His bankers are trying to take away the Geminus house to pay his debts, but Flavia and friends get the idea of diving to a sunken ship near Laurentum to retrieve gold to pay the debt. Lupus turns out to have been raised by sponge divers . . . and we find out much more about his past, and how he lost his tongue and ended up an orphan on the streets of Ostia . . .

[Abi Pellinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these books as a kid and just had to pick this up when I saw it in a charity shop. I was just as captivated as I was as a child (although I was taken out of the story a little by the 14 and 31 difference, something I didn't pay attention to when I was younger).

These books are absolutely amazing, as accurate to the time as they can be and still surprisingly enjoyable as an adult. Definitely need to try and find the rest of them!

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read one of these before then you know roughly what to expect. Good teenage fiction set in Ancient Rome [well Ostia, but you know what I mean]. Some interesting characters and good period detail. Compared to the other one in this series that I read the storyline was nothing special - it actually got a bit slow in the middle with not a lot going on - but an interesting twist in the tail at the end.

[Laura Špůrková · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is the best book of the series. The word choice, the setting, the emotional pull that it had on my mind, made it stay ON my mind for the whole time I was reading it. The characters, amazing, and, if I can be honest, in the movie that came with this book, Flavia looks the best she has, for the whole series. This is an amazing book, and I recommend this to everyone that likes historical fiction, or historical realistic fiction.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me being me got this book and just started reading it. Only after I finished it did I notice that it was a series and this was the fifth book😅
Even though it is a series I was able to understand the plot pretty easily and that was just another motivation to give it a 5. Liked the plot, loved the characters, would recommend it to anyone interested.

[sarita raichura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am 10 years old and I did not know that this was the fifth book of the series.
I really liked the plot of the story.It was very interesting and I got to learn a lot about the Roman history.
During the first fifty pages I did not really understand the content of the book and I was confused.There could have been more to the story...
I would recommend this book for the age group 9-12.

[Monica Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lupus was my favourite character so it was excellent to be able to get his gripping backstory.

HOWEVER, there are some pretty graphic mutilation scenes in here which were a bit much for 10-year-old me to handle. Just a warning.

Nonetheless, far more moving and powerful than anything else in the series.

[Sara Beatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I found it in a used bookstore, so read it out of the series order. I really enjoy Lawrence's plotting. Never a dull moment, and I'm learning about Rome as well! I plan to read the whole series.

[Hattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent instalment.
In a new beautiful setting in Pliny’s sea side villa, the friends return to another thrilling adventure.
The plot is simpler than the previous book, but in a good way - less improbable and complicated.
Also we get to find out about Lupus’ mysterious past.

[Madeleine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this next installment of the Roman Mysteries. Its focus on Lupus' past, the revelations by Doctor Mordecai and reflections on vengeance meant that though there was less focus on actual mystery, it was still a really engaging read. Lawrence's descriptions were beautiful as ever, this time set around Pliny's villa by the sea and featuring some really lovely moments with dolphins.
The storyline around Miriam, Uncle Gaius and her other suitors was still uncomfortable so detracted slightly, but other than that it was a great read.

[Flowergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a wonderful book with lots of adventure. The four friends had a mystery to solve and found out some new things they had never dreamed of.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was boring until the midway point. I was glad I'd stayed with it since it had some nice scenes with dolphins, interesting scenes of diving for treasure, and a thoughtful resolution on vengeance.

[Dee Paisley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dramatic and maybe not for younger kids

[Slow Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little treasure from my childhood. Great book,great series
highly recommended for any young readers who enjoy historical fiction

[Kacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Losing myself in well-written kids' books again...