Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6409 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 264 pages

Review
Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries series is brought to its dramatic conclusion... This seventeen book epic makes ancient classic stories accessible and exciting. I think the whole package is a tremendous achievement and sure to bring in a whole new readership. (Sue Steel CHILDREN'S BOOKSELLER )

Caroline has taken the reader from Enid Blyton to Mills & Boon in seventeen steps, and I mean that in the best possible way. Few authors claim to have been inspired by romantic fiction, whereas many crime writers do mention Blyton as an early inspiration. Add a good dollop of history, and youve got the whole series of the Roman Mysteries. Personally I have learnt a lot about the brief period that the books cover, and I was never one for Roman Emperors. (BOOKWITCH )

'Lawrence steers this story - and the series - to a romantic and irresistably weepy conclusion, and, like so many good endings, it involves breathless reunions, a journey and a wedding (I mustn't reveal anymore...)' (Daniel Hahn INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )

'This series doesnt disappoint. From the early days of The Thieves of Ostia the books work their way across the Roman world, giving tantalising glimpses into how people lived and magically bringing the past to vibrant life... for all the carefully portioned out history, it is the story that is paramount and over the seventeen books Caroline Lawrence has grown as a storyteller, and as a writer. This final book ends the series triumphantly.' (Leonie Flynn ULTIMATE BOOK GUIDE BLOG )

"It is clear that Lawrence is a scholar and, more importantly, she is passionate about the subject of Ancient Rome and about teaching it to children...Even in this day and age, historical accuracy like that present in this book is a valuable way to teach children something interesting; while, hopefully, enthralling them with a solid mystery and a great story." (Sam North HACKWRITERS.COM )

"Since the release of The Thieves of Ostia in 2002, Caroline Lawrence's rip-roaring Roman Mysteries series has taken its readers on a string of heart-stopping and vividly evoked adventures all over the Roman Empire... the profuse and fascinating historical detail that has been carefully woven into its gripping pages...another absorbing and illuminating historical whodunit...the captivating conclusion to this epic and hugely engrossing series." (CAROUSEL )

About the Author
Caroline Lawrence is American. She won a scholarship to Cambridge to read Classical Archaeology, then did a degree in Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College, London. She lives with her husband, a graphic designer, by the river in London and is active as a speaker in schools and at book festivals.

Customer Reviews

A Thrilling End
Let's get one thing clear - at the time of writing, I am 17, and I've been reading these books since around the time of the fourth book, The Assassins of Rome, which came out in late 2002. Ever since, I've been hooked and determined to read through to the end despite apparently growing out of the 'recommended' reading ages given by Amazon and such places.

I have not been disappointed. Though the books were published over a span of eight years whilst the story is spread over two, the characters and the themes definitely mature throughout the series, and the final book is not excluded from this. In fact, some of the darkest and cleverest scenes yet in the series definitely provide a route for anyone to be enthralled in the words on the page. I found myself finishing the book at roughly 3am last night.

Fans of the series will be desperate for various loose ends to be tied up, and they will not disappointed by the results. Imagine a situation progressing in the book - as you read, you slowly imagine three different ways it could unfold, only to see all of them have a chance to unfold and then being shocked as a fourth solution bounds onto the stage. The various twists and turns of this book keep going right up until the last page, surprising you as they happen but ultimately rolling together and making sense at the end.

If you are new to the Roman Mysteries series, I would strongly recommend you start at Book 1 (Where else?) and read onwards. Reading a random mismatch of the books in no particular order will only spoil your enjoyment of them, potentially giving away spoilers that you haven't read in previous books yet and just generally confusing you - even I found myself flicking back to a previous book to reaffirm what had happened at one point.

But the summer is approaching, so I recommend you order all 17 now and make your way through them over the coming months. The length of each book is roughly similar and easily readable (No gargantuan Harry Potter beasts here), whether you've been reading for many years, or you're just approaching the world of reading for the first time.

The Best Yet
For four years, I have waited eagerly for this book to come out. I have daydreamed extensively about possible endings for the series. I have marveled at the trouble Flavia and her friends manage to get themselves into, and wondered however they would untangles themselves from all their difficulties by the ending of the last book. And, like the many fans who have been rooting for Flaccus ever since the tall, dark and handsome poet appeared in book nine, I have hoped for Flavia to marry the man of her dreams.

To be honest, I was a little afraid that because of my high and demanding expectations, I would be disappointed with the book.

I needn't have worried. Not only were my expectations met, but they were far exceeded. Whenever I thought I knew what would happen next, the author took my assumptions and turned them on their head. I felt completely absorbed in the action, as if I were solving the mystery along with Flavia. Even more astounding is the way Lawrence deftly wraps everything up in the end. She leaves the reader quite satisfied, while at the same time leaving just a few slightly loose ends. No cliché endings here! I suspect we may see some of these loose ends addressed in the Flavian Trilogy.

On top of all of this, throughout the book we are held in delightful suspense about the identity of Flavia's future husband. I really cannot recommend this book highly enough. Caroline Lawrence has outdone herself. Her books are always good, but this one in particularly goes above and beyond "good." I strongly advise you to read The Man from Pomegranate Street -- you won't regret it!

Awesome!
This is a great book! It has the perfect balance of mystery, adventure and humour. Anyone who enjoys a good book will love this and the whole series. For a series finale... this book rises to the occasion incredibly. :o)