The Assassins of Rome (The Roman Mysteries IV) [Paperback]

Caroline Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2005 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

It is A.D. 79. In Ostia, near Rome, Flavia Gemina and her three friends-Nubia, Lupus, and Jonathan-are celebrating Jonathan's birthday. Then a visitor from the past arrives to see Jonathan's father. The next day, the visitor has disappeared- and so has Jonathan. When the three friends discover that Jonathan has gone on a secret mission to Rome, they immediately follow him. Their journey takes them to the Golden House of the Emperor Nero, where a deadly assassin is at work, and brings them face-to-face with the terrible destruction of Jerusalem. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fast-paced adventure. (School Library Journal)

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. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142402141
• ISBN-13: 978-0142402146
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Million-selling author Caroline Lawrence writes detective stories with the double aim of entertaining children and teaching them. Combining fast-moving plots with historical accuracy means her history mystery stories are beloved of children, parents and teachers.

In 2009, Caroline won the Classical Association Prize for her Roman Mysteries series, which comprises over 20 books and inspired a glossy BBC TV series in the UK.

In 2011 Caroline launched a second historical detective series, the Western Mysteries, staring P.K. Pinkerton: a 12-year-old doubly orphaned detective who has trouble "reading people". The Case of the Deadly Desperados was the Sunday New York Times Editors' Choice in February 2012.

Caroline says: "I want to know everything about the past, especially the exciting things. Also the sounds, smells, sights and tastes. I write historical novels because nobody has invented a Time Machine. And I write for kids because 11 is my inner age."

Caroline is also writing a spin-off series of Roman books for readers aged 7+, starting with
The Sewer Demon

Here are the Roman Mystery novels in series order:

The Thieves Of Ostia: The Roman Mysteries 1
The Secrets Of Vesuvius: The Roman Mysteries 2
The Pirates Of Pompeii: The Roman Mysteries 3
The Assassins Of Rome: The Roman Mysteries 4
The Dolphins Of Laurentum: The Roman Mysteries 5
The Twelve Tasks Of Flavia Gemina:The Roman Mysteries 6
The Enemies Of Jupiter: The Roman Mysteries 7
The Gladiators From Capua: The Roman Mysteries 8
The Colossus Of Rhodes: The Roman Mysteries 9
The Fugitive From Corinth: The Roman Mysteries 10
The Sirens Of Surrentum: The Roman Mysteries 11
The Charioteer Of Delphi: The Roman Mysteries 12
The Slave-Girl From Jerusalem: The Roman Mysteries 13
The Beggar Of Volubilis: The Roman Mysteries 14
The Scribes From Alexandria: The Roman Mysteries 15
The Prophet From Ephesus: The Roman Mysteries 16
The Man From Pomegranate Street: The Roman Mysteries 17

Here are the mini-mysteries:

The Legionary From Londinium And Other Mini-Mysteries
Trimalchio's Feast And Other Mini-Mysteries

Plus quiz books, omnibus editions, a travel book and a treasury:

The First Roman Mysteries Quiz Book
The Second Roman Mysteries Quiz Book
The Roman Mysteries Omnibus (Books 1-3) (B) (Feb)
The Roman Mysteries Omnibus (Books 4-6) (B)
From Ostia To Alexandria With Flavia Gemina
The Roman Mysteries Treasury

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Exciting, and Very Human!, January 24, 2008

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Assassins of Rome (Roman Mystery) (Hardcover)

The events in The Assassins of Rome follow about a month after the events in The Pirates of Pompeii, and is the fourth in Lawrence's Roman Mysteries Series. Here we rejoin Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan, and Lupus just as they return home to Ostia. As with the previous books, this volume is set in the first century, 79 A.D. As we start out here, the group has joined together to celebrate Jonathan's 11th birthday...and as usual, something bad always happens on his birthday....he breaks a an expensive perfume bar, royal guards show up at his house, and much more. The net result is that Jonathan turns up missing and the others find themselves desperate to solve the mystery of where he has gone.

The Assassins of Rome differs slightly in form from the previous books in the series because it is told from two different perspectives, and alternates between the two. The first perspective is that of Flavia (and her group, consisting of Falvia, Nubia, Aristo and Lupus) and the second perspective is that of Jonathan and his uncle as they travel to Rome looking for his mother. This makes the story a bit more exciting and confusing that previous books...but it's welcome deviation from the regular formula and helps keep the action going, I don't think it would have been as enjoyable if there were big breaks while a narrator explained what was going on. This device made it easy for the story to remain fast paced and exciting.

As with previous books, the author tackles the ins and outs of daily life in 78 A.D., as such we get a look at various people's perceptions on slavery (including the slaves), life in the royal city, various opinions on the Emperor (and his predecessors), and this book takes a more in depth look at the fall of Jerusalem, which as a theme introduced in The Pirates of Pompeii.

Lawrence's series is an excellent glimpse into the daily life of the Roman people.

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable mystery/thriller/adventure book for young readers that is heavy on the details of Roman daily life and is highly descriptive with likable and believable characters (for the most part). Previously, what I felt that there was a bit of a heavy handed Christian message to the series, however it's much more subtle in this book and is more welcome...woven into the story with more skill. I give it four stars, The Pirates of Pompeii strength is in details and overall, it is a light and entertaining read.

5.0 out of 5 stars "It's My Fault That Mother Died...", August 9, 2010

By 

R. M. Fisher "Raye" (New Zealand = Middle Earth!) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Assassins of Rome (The Roman Mysteries IV) (Paperback)

It is Jonathan de Mordecai's eleventh birthday, and despite the presence of his friends Flavia, Nubian and Lupus, he's feeling a little apprehensive. Something bad always happens on his birthday, and sure enough, a visit from the local magistrate informs the family that a dangerous assassin known as Simeon is on the loose, and could be targeting Jonathan's father.

Yet things may not be as bad as they appear: only a few chapters in, we learn that the assassin is actually Jonathan's uncle - the brother of his missing mother. He is on an important secret mission to Rome, and under the cover of darkness, he shares some astonishing news with his nephew. Refusing to be left behind, Jonathan accompanies Simeon to Rome, ignorant to the fact that his father has just been arrested. Hot on his tail are Flavia, Nubian and Lupus, hoping to stop their friend before he does something that gets him killed.

"The Assassins of Rome" marks the first installment in this series that is specifically character-centric. Up until now the children have shared the spot-light, but "Assassins" definitely belongs to Jonathan. Likewise, it is less of a mystery as it is a mission, for Jonathan accompanies his uncle to Rome in the hopes of finding what happened to his long-lost mother.

Previous books have mentioned the siege of Jerusalem by Roman legions in 70AD, and Lawrence draws upon the bloody aftermath of that event in order to shape the context of this plot. No one, either adult or child, will walk away from this book without a rudimentary understanding of what happened and why, as well as the major figures that were involved. As Jonathan uncovers the sad story about his mother's past and her current whereabouts, Lawrence draws upon themes of child abandonment and religious persecution - and the potentially frightening idea that a child may not be the most important factor in a parent's life.

With his low self-esteem and rather self-deprecating nature, Jonathan suffers under the implication that he's responsible for his mother's disappearance, particularly after overhearing a conversation between his father and uncle that confirms his guilt. Lawrence takes him on a journey of discovery through the streets of Rome and into the old Emperor's palace, guided by a little girl who lives in secret behind the walls. Meanwhile, his friends uncover what the assassins are *really* doing in the city, and find their own way into the palace...

Historical figures such as Emperor Titus, his brother Domitian, and his ex-paramour Berenice have important roles to play, in keeping with their real-life personalities, and other original characters are introduced or explored further. Particularly delightful is the young Jewish girl Rizpah, who lives in the darkness of the palace's secret passages and tunnels, and who is implied to be an albino who hides herself away from the sun (though in an odd oversight, Lawrence describes her as having pink eyes; despite this widespread belief, albino eyes are usually grey or blue - it just bugs me). Other than that, Lawrence once again finds the perfect balance of interesting and relevant historical tidbits to weave into her story, without getting too bogged down with displaying her extensive research to the detriment of the plot.

At times the two plot strands that are at work throughout most of the book change too often between paragraphs, flitting back and forth in a choppy manner to the point where you begin to lose track of what's happening, but "The Assassins of Rome" is more character-driven than previous installments, and has the usual plot twist that manages to be neither convoluted nor obvious.

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great set of book for an 11 year old., December 24, 2008

By 

Paolo Argentieri "Arge" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Assassins of Rome (The Roman Mysteries IV) (Paperback)

My 11 year old boy is really enjoying reading these books. As soon as he finishes one, he asks for the next. I got the first one from the library because of the title (I am originally from Ostia - Rome). After the third book he asked me: "Do you know who Plinio was?". But of course! I used to jog in the pinewood next to the villa of Plinio il Vecchio...