The Thieves of Ostia (Roman Mysteries)
by Caroline Lawrence
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 62)
Read in January, 2006
Honestly, this one was not good. The history was thrown in, the plot was mediocre, and the characters not believable. Still, I wrote a booktalk.
The Thieves of Ostia, by Caroline Lawrence
The year - A.D. 79. The place - the Roman port city of Ostia. The crime - dog murder. Yes, that's right. Someone has murdered a dog and may strike again. Young Flavia Gemina, daughter of a Roman Sea Captain decides it is up to her to solve the crime. The magistrates have no interest in the crime unless i...more
The Thieves of Ostia, by Caroline Lawrence
The year - A.D. 79. The place - the Roman port city of Ostia. The crime - dog murder. Yes, that's right. Someone has murdered a dog and may strike again. Young Flavia Gemina, daughter of a Roman Sea Captain decides it is up to her to solve the crime. The magistrates have no interest in the crime unless i...more
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recommends it for:
puellis puerisque
This is the first in a series of mysteries set in and around ancient Ostia. The protagonists are four children of quite different backgrounds. As you can imagine, each one has talents that help solve the mystery.
I loved the cultural details, from the city streets to the daily meals. The author seems to have done her research, and she does well at bringing the time and place to life. Also, I quite liked the characters. The mystery won't make you fall off your seat, but it has some surprises.
I loved the cultural details, from the city streets to the daily meals. The author seems to have done her research, and she does well at bringing the time and place to life. Also, I quite liked the characters. The mystery won't make you fall off your seat, but it has some surprises.
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Read in January, 2004
Okay, I admit it, sometimes I regress to childhood and read kid's books. The Roman Mysteries (for which Thieves of Ostia is a placeholder) is a fun series - kind of a politically correct Famous Five set in Titus's Rome. Easy to read, but usually decent mystery stories, albeit aimed for a younger audience. Quite often they also examine some aspect of Roman society so even give a basic history lesson without ramming it home.
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Read in January, 2008
I thought this was a good historical fiction piece for the intended age group. There were enough clues so you could figure out the mystery without it being completely obvious. The history teacher in me enjoyed the historical references and "teaching points" that were well integrated into the story. There was a lot to learn about the period without it becoming a history lecture.
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
4th grade and older
This is the first in the Roman Mysteries series for the older elementary school-aged set. My kids were a bit concerned by some references in the book (like the slave trade in ancient Rome) but the author handles it well. The kids' interest has been peaked about ancient Rome so it's good historical fiction for them as well.
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Read in July, 2007
Didn't love it. Set in Ostia Antica (outside of Rome), yes, in Roman times. Setting was interesting because it did help me picture what all those Roman ruins that I love so much would look like not ruined. But, the story itself was not terribly compelling.
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Remember when EVERYONE was reading this because the author (who was pretty strange, I have to say) came to our school? Good times...
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This book is realy vilent
but you have to read this one to read the rest
THEY ARE ALL AWESOME!!!!!!!
but you have to read this one to read the rest
THEY ARE ALL AWESOME!!!!!!!
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Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
kids who like Rome
Great cultural details. I wish I had written this series of books.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
4th-7th Grades
Cute and entertaining.
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