Series:

The Roman Mysteries

4 primary works • 25 total works

Book 1

Cover of The Thieves of Ostia

The Thieves of Ostia

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 20 September 2001
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.

Book 5

Cover of The Dolphins of Laurentum

The Dolphins of Laurentum

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 6 February 2003
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.

Book 6

Cover of The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina
It is December AD 79. In the Roman port of Ostia braziers are lit, hot spiced wine is brewed and soft fur covers are brought out from cedarwood storage chests. It's the season of Saturnalia, a pagan festival where anything can happen. When a Roman widow begins to show a keen interest in Captain Geminus, his daughter Flavia and her friends have to find out if she really loves him or is just after his money. To do that, Flavia has to undertake the twelve labours of Hercules. And there is a lion on the loose!

Book 8

Cover of The Gladiators from Capua
Suspecting their friend Jonathan is alive, Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus go to Rome for the Colosseum Games, facing wild beasts, criminals, conspirators, and gladiators, and where Nubia is called upon to make a terrible choice.

Cover of The Secrets of Vesuvius

The Secrets of Vesuvius

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 15 November 2001
It's the summer of AD 79, and Flavia Gemina the sea captain's daughter and her friends Jonathan the Jewish boy, Nubia the African slave-girl and Lupus the homeless beggar-boy set sail for the Bay of Naples, to stay with Flavia's uncle near Pompeii. They are soon absorbing in trying to solve a riddle that may lead to treasure. But then tragedy strikes - Mount Vesuvius erupts and the children are fleeing for their lives, in one of the worst natural disasters ever recorded. Not just a mystery - an absolutely thrilling action adventure that makes you feel you were there!

Cover of The Enemies of Jupiter

The Enemies of Jupiter

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 6 November 2003
February, AD 80. An imperial messenger summons Jonathan's father to Rome, where the fever which started in Ostia is now threatening to become a plague. Jonathan and his three friends go, too, and need to use all their skills to solve a dangerous mystery for the Emperor Titus.

Cover of The Assassins of Rome

The Assassins of Rome

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 17 October 2002
Flavia and Nubia follow Jonathan to Rome and into the Golden House built by the emperor Nero, where a dangerous assassin lurks.

Cover of The Charioteer of Delphi

The Charioteer of Delphi

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 5 October 2006
September AD 80. Flavia and her friends go to Rome to celebrate the Festival of Jupiter at Senator Cornix's town house. When a famous racehorse goes missing, Nubia sets out to recover it. The four friends find themselves caught up in a plot against one of the rival factions, the Greens. Who is trying to sabotage the charioteers? Could it be an inside job, or someone with a grudge from long ago? And how many men and horses will die before the killer is caught?

Cover of The Legionary from Londinium and other Mini Mysteries

Mystery and adventure in Ancient Roman times for Flavia Gemina and her friends . . .

Sacred chickens, a jellyfish and a Roman mystery set in Britannia - this collection of mini-mysteries is the perfect recipe for a gripping read!

Includes an exclusive interview with Caroline Lawrence on the secrets of writing mystery stories!

Cover of The Roman Mysteries Omnibus

The Roman Mysteries Omnibus

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 15 September 2005
It is AD 79. Join Flavia Gemina, a Roman sea captain's daughter, Jonathan, her Jewish neighbour, Nubia, the African slave-girl, and Lupus, the mute beggar boy, on three exciting adventures. In THE THIEVES OF OSTIA, the four friends get on the trail of the killer who is silencing the town's watchdogs. Not long after solving this mystery, THE SECRETS OF VESUVIUS finds them relaxing near Pompeii. When Mount Vesuvius erupts, they flee one of the greatest natural disasters of all time. Sheltering in the refugee camps following the eruption, they discover that children are being kidnapped from the camps in THE PIRATES OF POMPEII. Determined to find out who is responsible, the friends come face to face with pirates and slave-dealers ...Three captivating mysteries: compulsive reading for 9-11 year-olds.

Cover of The Pirates of Pompeii
AD 79, following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii. Among the thousands of people huddled in refugee camps along the Bay of Naples are Flavia Gemina and her friends Jonathan the Jewish boy, Nubia the African slave-girl, and Lupus the mute beggar boy. Their discovery that children are being kidnapped from the camps - among them the daughter of the powerful Publius Pollius Felix - leads them to solve the mystery of the pirates of Pompeii. A terrifically exciting and dramatic story and a brilliant picture of the aftermath of a great disaster.

Cover of The Roman Mysteries 3-Book Collection
Audiobooks 1, 2 and 7 in Caroline Lawrence's internationally bestselling Roman Mysteries series.

Book 1:
Flavia Gemina is a natural at solving mysteries. The daughter of a ship's captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD 79, she and her three friends, Jonathan, a Jewish boy (and secretly a Christian); Nubia, an African slave girl; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy, must work together to discover who is beheading the watchdogs that guard people's homes, and why.

Book 2:
It's the summer of AD 79 and Flavia Gemina and her friends, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus, set sail for the Bay of Naples where they are going to stay with Flavia's uncle near Pompeii. Once they arrive, they are soon absorbed in a quest to solve a riddle that may lead to treasure. But then tragedy strikes: Mount Vesuvius erupts and the friends must flee for their lives!

Book 3:
Jonathan's father, Doctor Mordecai, is summoned to Rome to help the plague victims. Flavia, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus, the four young detectives, are wanted too, as the Emperor Titus believes that they can find the mysterious enemy who seeks Rome's destruction. Can the friends prevent disaster?

A talented storyteller, Caroline Lawrence has created a delightfully accessible series that children will want to listen to time and time again.

Cover of The Scribes from Alexandria

A desperate quest begins in the port of Alexandria: site of the great lighthouse, the famous Library, and the tomb of Alexander the Great.
Codes, riddles, anagrams and hieroglyphics lead the young detectives down the river Nile to pyramids and sphinxes, temples and tombs, crocodiles and hippos. But what lies at the end of the journey? Treasure? Or death?

Cover of From Ostia to Alexandria with Flavia Gemina
From Morocco to Libya, from Ostia to Surrentum - Caroline Lawrence has travelled widely to give the Roman Mysteries unrivalled authenticity among historical novels. Her research trips have yielded a dazzling array of insights that allow Caroline to vividly re-imagine the ancient world and to bring her characters and stories to life. This book gathers together anecdotes, factual information and advice for children and their families looking to explore exotic locations, as well as offering compelling background to the real world behind the bestselling Roman Mysteries novels.

Cover of Trimalchio's Feast and other mini-mysteries
Between writing her bestselling novels, Caroline Lawrence has penned several short stories, covering incidents alluded to in the novels, but not dramatised at length. This book brings together mini-mysteries to provide even more coverage of events in the lives of our four detectives during the dangerous, exciting reign of Emperor Titus. Each of these short and sharp stories is as compelling and exciting as the novels, full of the sights and sounds of ancient Rome. Caroline Lawrence has written exclusive notes on each story, providing background on the inspiration and relevance to the series.

Cover of The Fugitive from Corinth

The Fugitive from Corinth

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 13 October 2005
May AD 80. Flavia and her three friends, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus are in Cenchrea, the eastern harbour of Corinth, the hometown of Aristo, their tutor. But Aristo tells them he is not coming back with them this time. Later, there is a commotion, and the children find a blood-soaked Aristo crouched over Flavia's father, who has been stabbed. The children set off for Delphi in pursuit of Aristo ...

Cover of The Sirens of Surrentum
Summer AD 80. Flavia and her friends receive an invitation to stay at the luxurious Villa Limona in Surrentum, where their friend Pulchra has a mystery she desperately wants them to solve. After a year of hardship and disasters, people are in cheerful spirits - there is even talk of love and romance. But it seems one of the guests has murder in mind. Can Flavia and her friends track down the would-be poisoner before it's too late?

Cover of The Second Roman Mysteries Quiz Book
As well as being gripping adventures, Caroline Lawrence's bestselling novels are packed with facts about ancient Roman life. This quiz book includes over 500 questions based on the following six titles: The Enemies of Jupiter, The Gladiators from Capua, The Colossus of Rhodes, The Fugitive from Corinth, The Sirens of Surrentum and The Charioteer of Delphi. Plus ...quizzes about Roman Entertainment, Rules and Rituals, Architecture, Medicine, Love and Marriage, and picture puzzles to solve. For all Roman Mysteries fans, and anyone fascinated to know what life in first-century Rome was really like.

Cover of The Man from Pomegranate Street
September AD 81. Returning from Ephesus to Rome, Flavia and her friends learn of the mysterious and sudden death of the Emperor Titus. Was his death natural? Or was it murder? As the four detectives investigate this mystery, they little dream how much their lives - as well as the future of Italia - will be changed as a result. At last, many of the questions Roman Mysteries fans have been burning to have answered are revealed in the final book of the series.

Cover of The Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes

by Caroline Lawrence

Published 17 March 2005
Spring AD 80. The sailing season has begun. Lupus decides to see if his mother is still alive and to follow his uncle's dying wish. The friends sail to the island of Rhodes, site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world ...and base of a criminal mastermind!