Product Description

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!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #166698 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
"The unravelling of the mystery is thrilling and is underpinned by a huge bank of information on the ancient world. An exciting and informative read." Teaching & Learning Magazine, 1 Mar 04

Borders Summer Magazine, Summer 2003
"Lively characters, exciting plotlines and the vivid evocation of life in Ancient Rome makes this series hugely popular."

From the Inside Flap
December, AD 79. It's the month of the Saturnalia: a festival when people do as they please and anything can happen. When a Roman widow, Cartilia Poplica, shows a little too much interest in Captain Geminus, his daughter Flavia Gemina is determined to find out what Cartilia's motives really are. To do that, she has to perform twelve tasks, just like the Greek hero Hercules. And to top it all, a lion is on the loose in Ostia! How Flavia and her three friends Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus unravel the mystery makes a thrilling story that is full of surprises. Caroline Lawrence is American. She grew up in California and came to England when she won a scholarship to Cambridge to study Classical Archaeology, which she followed with a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies at the University of London. She lives by the river in London with her husband, a graphic designer. She is much in demand as a speaker, and visits schools, libraries and book festivals to talk about life in Ancient Rome. The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina is the sixth of the Roman Mysteries, and there are more to come. To find out more about the Roman Mysteries, visits www.romanmysteries.com

Customer Reviews

the must own book
When you think of acient roman times you may think of the mighty colosseums,the great emperors, or the massive trade network. But if you look slightly closer you will see people living like us people loving like us and mysteries to be solved like modern times. The roman mysteries books show you this. This book, the twelve tasks of flavia gemina,is the sixth in the series and the best one yet, but certainly not the last. a further 12 books are planned to take the series up to 18.

In the port of ostia flavia's life is changing. Her father has asked her to marry, and he has plans for marrige himself. Flavia cant stand it.After her mother and two baby brothers died in child birth many years ago she has never imagined another mother. She decides to find out,with the help of her three friends, Jonathon the jew, Lupus the begger-boy and Nubia the former slave girl who this woman is and what she wants with flavias father. Her mission leads her to fufil 12 tasks to find out who her fathers new lover is...

The Twelve Tasks Of Flavia Gemina
The twelve tasks of Flavia Gemina was a very interesting and cleverly plotted book.It was very well laid out and it was gripping all the way through.It was kind of romantic, with Marcus and Cartilia having a particular interest in each other.Nubia and Diana both loved Aristo and Lysander loved diana. Also, Flavia loved Felix. I would fully recommend this book as it makes you want to read on all the time. DEFINETELY WORTH ALL ITS 5 STARS!!!!!

Detective in trouble
Flavia is in deep trouble of a pink hue.The rich mixture of strong theme, accurate Roman details & atmospherics draw us into her world with its artefacts and Eeeww factor.

We get swept along into the Roman Festival of Saturnalia, the realities of Roman love and marriage and the Myth of the Twelve Labours of Hercules. We meet some old friends and make some new aquaintances. Along the way Flavia and her friends make some extraordinary discoveries and have near death experiences.