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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Bibliophile1

The Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence - review

Caroline Lawrence, The Thieves of Ostia

The year is 79 AD. Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus are four young friends who live in Ostia and love solving mysteries. They gain a reputation for uncovering plots and putting a stop to villains' plans. Their cases take them from a strange dog-killer in Ostia, to the danger of Pompeii at the eruption of Vesuvius, from hunting down a masked assassin attempting to murder the emperor to gladiator fights in Capua, from the famous Colossus of Rhodes in Greece to the chariot races at Delphi, from trekking along the Nile to the very heart of Rome itself, discovering adventure and romance at every turn. These four intelligent and fearless friends help many people but become embroiled in something larger and more sinister than they ever could have imagined. They end up running from danger, afraid for their lives. Will they ever return to their beloved Ostia and save the ones they love most?

I know that this series is aimed at younger readers but I think that they are enjoyable for all ages. A quick and enjoyable read, they are perfect for anyone who, like myself, enjoys adventure, romance and is interested in the Roman period. I had lots of fun reading this series of 22 books and learned a lot about the Roman era.

• Buy these books at the Guardian Bookshop.

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