The Roman Mysteries
The Roman Mysteries is a series of historical novels for children by Caroline Lawrence. The first book, The Thieves of Ostia, was published in 2001, finishing with The Man from Pomegranate Street, published in 2009, and totaling 17 novels, plus a number of "mini-mysteries", spinoffs, and companion titles. The books take place during the ancient Roman Empire during the reign of the Emperor Titus. They detail the adventures of four children who solve mysteries and have adventures in Ostia Antica, Rome, Greece, and beyond: Flavia, a rich Roman girl who lives in Ostia; Nubia, a freed slave girl from Africa; Jonathan, a rich Jewish boy; and Lupus, an orphaned mute beggar boy. Characters The four detectives Flavia Gemina: A wealthy Roman girl, daughter of a sea captain Marcus Flavius Geminus Jonathan ben Mordecai: A kind but pessimistic Jewish/Christian boy Nubia: An African girl, former slave of Flavia, good with animals Lupus: A mute beggar boy with a tragic past Other characters Marcus Flavius Geminus: Flavia's father, a sea captain Mordecai: Jonathan's father, a doctor Miriam bat Mordecai: Jonathan's older sister Aristo: Greek tutor of the children Characters based on historical persons Pliny the Elder, admiral of the Misenum fleet and an accomplished natural historian. Pliny the Younger, nephew of the Elder Titus, Emperor of Rome Berenice of Cilicia, Titus' exiled Jewish mistress Domitian, Titus' younger brother Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, the famous historian, who appears as a young man initially betrothed to Flavia. Gaius Valerius Flaccus, the poet, who appears in several novels as a teenaged man, and a love interest of Flavia's. Titus Flavius Josephus, famous Jewish historian. Julia Flavia, Titus' daughter. Novels The Thieves of Ostia (2001) The Secrets of Vesuvius (2001) The Pirates of Pompeii (2002) The Assassins of Rome (2002) The Dolphins of Laurentum (2003) The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina (2003) The Enemies of Jupiter (2003) The Gladiators from Capua (2004) The Colossus of Rhodes (2005) The Fugitive from Corinth (2005) The Sirens of Surrentum (2006) The Charioteer of Delphi (2006) The Slave-girl from Jerusalem (2007) The Beggar of Volubilis (2008) The Scribes from Alexandria (2008) The Prophet from Ephesus (2009) The Man from Pomegranate Street (2009) Omnibus The Roman Mysteries Omnibus I: The Thieves of Ostia, the Secrets of Vesuvius and the Pirates of Pompeii. The Roman Mysteries Omnibus II: The Assassins of Rome, the Dolphins of Laurentum, the Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina. The Roman Mysteries Omnibus III: The Enemies of Jupiter, the Gladiators from Capua, the Colossus of Rhodes. Mini-mysteries Bread and Circuses (short story published in 2003 in The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunits); re-published in a shorter version as a novella, titled The Code of Romulus for World Book Day in April 2007) Trimalchio's Feast and other mini-mysteries (2007) The Legionary from Londinium and other mini-mysteries (2010) Companion books The First Roman Mysteries Quiz Book The Second Roman Mysteries Quiz Book The Roman Mysteries Treasury (2007) From Ostia to Alexandria with Flavia Gemina: Travels with Flavia Gemina (2008) Sequel trilogy In