The Scribes from Alexandria

The Roman Mysteries #15

by Caroline Lawrence

A desperate quest begins in the port of 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?

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

259 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Compared to the last one, this one was more exciting. It had more purpose to the things that happened, more mystery, and I was very curious to see how things turned out. But it also had tons of flaws. For one thing, no book intended for this age bracket should go into such detail about how a male is turned into a eunuch. It came pretty darn close to being graphic. And I also don't think that kids from that time period - even girls - would not know about what makes a male a eunuch.

I also found it more than a little annoying that the character who was serious about his Jewish faith, Seth, was also the character with the pompous and self-righteous attitude and was always making derogatory comments about pagans and eunuchs. And when Seth asks another character to marry him, the Author managed to make him sound arrogant and pompous when he tells her that if they are to marry, she'll have to convert to Judaism. Maybe it wasn't the Author's intention, but nonetheless it still seemed like she was saying people who take their religion seriously are judgmental and unpleasant to be around and arrogant, which is entirely untrue.

The other flaw lie with the ending. A great deal of mystery and intrigue is built up throughout the story, and it ends up to where the Reader really doesn't know which character is going to end up being the "villain." But the end reveals that there really is no villain, and this whole "cat and mouse" game was simply an elaborate treasure hunt to capture a husband - and there isn't even anything sinister in that, either. There's no fortune the person is trying to get ahold of or anything like that. The one redeeming thing that happens is long-term Readers of this series discover more about Nubia's family, and a few questions about where she'll eventually end up are answered. As a long-term Reader myself, I was satisfied with that, but everything else about the end was disappointing.

[Katie Gibbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was correct, there is indeed a character called Seth.
Otherwise, this is too similar to the previous one - too much travelling, not enough mystery. There is at least a slight twist towards the end, but the few moments of genuine suspense are immediately diffused, and it all just feels a bit like filler.

[Emma Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the quest narrative structure in this book- especially the riddles although I found some surpassed the comprehension of an 18 year old let alone a generic 12 year old. While the ending to the mission was a little anticlimactic and rushed for me I like the foreshadowing of future issues back in imperial Rome and also reflective closure for the past lives of many of the characters in the midst of maturation. I really enjoyed the extension to this travel sequence of books in examining another Roman province in Alexandria which again brought back nostalgia for CLC Latin days although I was saddened by the uncertainty of Gaius' fate particularly after his reconciliation in Beggar of Volubilis.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was pretty good and there were a couple of fun parts in it, I skipped a few pages (not because they were boring) and the story got pretty interesting from there.

[Mrs. Roy · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK...I'm at this point in this great YA series, and I can't get a copy of this installment in the US!! What gives?? I have the last two installments waiting to be read, but I can't read them until after I read THIS one which according to the major book sellers won't be available until January 1st!!

Whew - got word from Amazon that they were sending it, and I'm reading it now. The story is not as exciting as they others have been. My fav character, Nubia, has a backseat in the plot. However, the plethora of references to Egyptian mythology and culture are great. I may be able to use this book in my 7th grade class.

I just want Flavia to get back to Ostia so we can get on with the marriage to her hottie Flaccus!

Final analysis - BORing!! One long boat ride up the Nile was not my idea of a fun read. I was very disappointed in this story. Even the part about Nubia's cousin...started out as super-charged and interesting and then lost interest and was dropped. Sloppy.

[ChroniclesofTania · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book begins with a shipwreck after the children set sail from Volubillis (Morocco) back home to Ostia in the last book. They encounter a storm and Flavia finds herself on a beach not far from Alexandria. She soon finds Jonathan and Lupus after some searching for survivors. However Nubia and Uncle Gaius are missing. When they go to give thanks to Neptune at a temple for their survival, they see Nubia’s warped flute offering and realise she’s alive. They plan to track her down. In the meantime an arrest warrant and promise of a massive reward for their capture arrives from the emperor Titus and the authorities throughout Egypt are on the lookout for the four children. No one can be trusted and anyone could betray them for the substantial reward. Nubia is discovered by a scribe of the great library after the shipwreck and plans to go back to her homeland of Nubia since she thinks she is the sole survivor and has nothing to go back to in Ostia.
The three other children get themselves a scribe guide from the library and set off down the Nile on Nubia’s trail and a treasure hunt. They pass through the famous ancient Egyptian sites where they find riddles and clues to the next step. They go upriver to Upper Egypt for weeks till they reach the first cataract (white water) at Aswan pursued all the way by Roman watchmen and always a few steps behind Nubia. Meanwhile Nubia reaches the border of Egypt with Sudan (Nubian land) and discovers that she has changed much these last two years and needs more than the life of a labouring wife and mother which is all she would have with her own people. The patriarchal stance of her former betrothed only solidifies the feeling that she belongs now in Ostia and not in Nubia any longer. Her friends catchup with her and realise they can’t ask her to leave her homeland and people behind. They’re prepared to let her go for her happiness. This book is one of self discovery for Nubia and one of growing awareness for Flavia and Jonathan that they’re becoming young adults. Lupus remains mature and resilient for his age.

[Eleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I shouldn't be shocked at this point in the more brutal aspects of ancient life that are depicted in this series, but having Eunuch people and having it descried pretty vividly to Nubia was a bit of a shock and also something I didn't know existed in ancient times.

I love that one of the little Egyptian helpers is called "Psammi" as a nickname because in Greek that almostmeans sandwich (which would be "psommi"), so I just kept mentally referring to him as little sandwich guy when he was mentioned. Something about knowing one of the languages that's heavily featured in this series and having base level knowledge of others is so fun and satisfying to me.

The more this story progressed, the faster I read. The tension was slowly rising more and more as new dangers came up and I was desperate to find out what happened next and if everyone would be okay. A really well paced book with a satisfying storyline; I really enjoyed this one a lot.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I think this one might be my favourite story of the series so far! Although, I only have two books left so they would have to be incredible stories to top this one. And I definitely didn’t read this one when I was younger so I think we may have found the initial cut off point!

I loved the quest feel of this story, the following of clues and the tension about whether Flavia, Jonathan and Lupus would catch up with Nubia, it really made the story feel more grown up than some of the previous ones. Plus, it was interesting following the route up the Nile and reading the descriptions of the different towns along the way.

Although, I still want to know if the Emperor does want them all dead or whether that was just a ruse that was made up by the man they escaped in Alexandria or not.

[Hattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This far into the series, we’ve stopped finding out interesting things about character’s pasts, or having much character development, and seem to just be playing for time until the last book presumably where we find out what happens to the characters next [the potential future husband concerningly-named Flaccus makes one brief appearance per book]. Personally this whole 2 book detour to the continent of Africa could have been skipped plot wise, although it is admittedly interesting to visit places like Alexandria.

I was heading for 3 stars but then I did enjoy the ending.

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely not my favourite book in the series. The farther they are from home without parental supervision, the harder it is for me to buy into the story, and I just didn't get into this adventure. I also didn't like the big reveal at the end and found the treatment of gender and sexuality a bit of a mess in this one.

I did, however, learn quite a bit about Alexandria and that the library fire is a myth, which is super interesting!

[Stephanie Ziebarth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed to see that this book targets ages 7-14, as I feel some of the themes/messages are not age-appropriate. I also think the author missed the mark on her representation of Judaism. Had hoped this series would enhance my daughter’s study of ancient cultures with some fun historical fiction, but we will not pursue the remainder of the series.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book about a group of children and an Egyptian scribe who have to decipher some clues left by another scribe who appears to have kidnapped their friend, Nubia. I would recommend this series. Some riddles and clues I couldn't have figured out myself (as an adult) but I learnt some little things along the way (the meaning of Seth and Crises, for example). The ending was a surprise.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was really fun! I loved the riddles and the sense of family. The ending was a bit of a letdown because it seemed like a very low-stakes solution to what was an intriguing puzzle, but it was still cute.

[Kacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute madness, but I loved it. The character development in this series is beautifully thought out, even if the adventures are bordering on the fantastical.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

technically, this was research

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried at the end. A very accomplished travelogue of a story. I marvel every time at how much I learn about the ancient world by reading these.

[Niamh Spiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[sabisteb aka callisto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nach ihren Abenteuer in Beggar of Volubilis (Roman Mysteries) wollten die vier Freunde eigentlich nach Hause zurück. Ihr Schiff zerschellt jedoch in einem Sturm vor der Küste Alexandrias und Onkel Gaius stirbt (oder ist verschollen, denn seine Leiche wird nicht gefunden) und Nubia ist auch verschwunden. Als Flavia, Lupus und Jonathan im Tempel des Poseidon ihre Haare Opfern finden sie Nubias Flöte als Votivgabe, sie hat den Schiffbruch also auch überlebt. Der Priester erzählt ihnen, dass sie mit einem Eunuchen aus der Bibliothek verschwunden ist, aber dieser Eunuch ist aus der Bibliothek geflohen, um einen Schatz zu suchen. Der Aufseher der Bibliothek gibt ihnen Seth, einen jungen Schreiber mit auf die Suche und diese Hilfe haben sie bald auch sehr nötig. Schon bald stellt sich heraus, dass auf die vier ein Kopfgeld ausgesetzt ist, sie werden wegen Hochverrat gesucht! Auf der Suche nach Nubia flüchten die vier mit Hilfe von Seths Cousin aus Alexandria und ihre Suche führt sie bis an das erste Katarrakt nahe der nubischen Grenze.
Jetzt müssen sie nicht nur Nubia finden, sie müssen sie finden, bevor es die römischen Truppen tun und dabei stellt sich heraus, dass ein Verräter an Bord ihres Schiffes ist, der die römischen Truppen über ihren Aufenthaltsort informiert.

Dieses Buch ist nicht mehr ganz so düster wie sein Vorgängerband. Es ist eine Schnitzeljagt mit Hilfe von Rätseln und Annagrammen quer durch das alte Ägypten mit einigen überraschenden Wendungen.

Zeitpunkt der Geschichte:
Mai 81 bis ca. 19. Juni (Flavias 12. Geburtstag)

Schon gewusst:
Es gibt eine antike Vorlage für die Aschenputel Geschichte: Rhodopis

[Nathalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK...I'm at this point in this great YA series, and I can't get a copy of this installment in the US!! What gives?? I have the last two installments waiting to be read, but I can't read them until after I read THIS one which according to the major book sellers won't be available until January 1st!!

Whew - got word from Amazon that they were sending it, and I'm reading it now. The story is not as exciting as they others have been. My fav character, Nubia, has a backseat in the plot. However, the plethora of references to Egyptian mythology and culture are great. I may be able to use this book in my 7th grade class.

I just want Flavia to get back to Ostia so we can get on with the marriage to her hottie Flaccus!

[Vicki Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 15th of a projected 18 book series, all of which take place during the 2 1/2 year reign of Emperor Titus (79-81 AD). Sounds like a lot to squeeze into a relatively short time. In this one, the young friends have been shipwrecked off the coast of Egypt. Three of them are fine and have found each other, but no one can find Nubia. When they get to the Library of Alexandria, they hear she has gone off to find her family with one of the scribes there - she has been thinking they were all dead. While they and another young scribe are following her trail, using clues the scribe with her has left on various monuments, they (and we) find out a lot about ancient Egypt. While these books are aimed at a pre-teen audience, they are quite well written and can hold an adult's interest.

[Matilda Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fifteenth book in the series, the four detectives are shipwrecked in Egypt. Nubia departs mysteriously with a eunuch to her homeland Nubia. Her actual name is Shepenwepet, but her friends call her Nubia. Flavia, Jonathan and Lupus travel in a boat with a scribe called Seth and his brother Nathan. They float down the Nile river to find Nubia (Shepenwepet) before it is too late!

But Nubia arrives at the Land of Nubia and meets Kashta, who she is betrothed to. Nubia decides she wants to live with her friends, and tries to escape, but her betrothed will not allow her to and threatens to beat her. Her friends arrive just in time to save her and travel back to Rome all together.

[Ujwals · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very exciting book. I liked many things about this book. Firstly, I enjoyed the riddles that were the hidden clues on the treasure hunt. I also liked the writing description, and the obvious research shown in the writing. I also liked the twists and turns. However, I also feel like the author stopped wanting to write about other characters, so she just abandoned them. The plot of this book was good, but there were fewer characters. This is part of a great series, that I highly recommend.

[Anna Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the 'Roman Mysteries' series!! Might be getting a little long in the tooth for it now, but I just couldn't stand not finding out what happens to my favourite little Romans!!! Not many books to go now... I'll write more when I'm finished...

Okay, I liked this book a lot, found out some interesting facts about Alexandria and Egypt. Maybe it wasn't a page turner, exactly, but it was a fun, light read, perfect for the holiady cottage terrace in Croatia :)

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picks up almost immediately following the previous book and finds the gang shipwrecked off Alexandria. The book is less a mystery than an adventure as three of the kids race to catch up with Nubia who is heading up the Nile toward her homeland. Very vivid picture of the journey and the sights along the way. Enjoyable as always. Excellent maps and glossary.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was lame, the characterization not so good. The only reason this book gets two stars instead of one is that the author does a good job of setting the scene in ancient Egypt. The glossary at the end of the book for unfamiliar historical terms, names, and places was way cool.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating travelogue of Egypt in Roman times.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful adventure in the land of Egypt!

[Rosario · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way the characters question their choices, and principles, as they go through the book

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

More skimmed, than abandoned, the only thing that made it a 1&1/2 or 2 star is my love of codes and riddles. But other than that.. A bit of a miss

[Tchipakkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where can I find out more about Alexandria? I never heard about their water system before.