The Roman Mysteries

The Thieves of Ostia

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF FLAVIA GEMINA

The year is 79 AD.

The place is Ostia, the port of Rome.

From here, Flavia Gemina, daughter of a Roman sea captain, embarks on thrilling adventures with her three friends Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus.

As she and her friends attempt to solve their first crime, the clues lead them around Ostia: to the harbour, the forum, the lighthouse, and the tombs of the dead.

Later mysteries and adventures take them to Pompeii, Rome, Greece and Africa!

Salve!

My name is Flavia Gemina, daughter of Marcus Flavius Geminus, sea captain. I live in the port of Ostia and I solve mysteries. My mother died when I was only three.

Age: Twelve

Birthplace: Ostia, the port of Rome

Family: Marcus Flavius Geminus (father)

Friends: Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus

Pets: my dog Scuto (his name means 'shield')

I am 'detectrix' or truth-seeker. I love codes and puzzles and hate not knowing things.

Pater says I can be bossy, impulsive and easily swayed by my emotions. He also says I have a brilliant mind and that I am very kind-hearted, with a strong sense of justice.

When you read my adventures you will have to judge for yourself.

Salve! My name is Jonathan ben Mordecai. I'm Flavia Gemina's next door neighbour. My hobbies are keeping Flavia out of trouble, hunting, making things and collecting jokes.

Age: Twelve

Birthplace: Jerusalem in Judea

Family: Mordecai ben Ezra (father), Miriam bat Mordecai (sister)

Friends: Flavia, Nubia and Lupus

Pets: Tigris (dog)

I am Jewish. When I was only 18 months old, my father and sister and I fled Jerusalem. A few days later it was surrounded by legions and within months it was destroyed. My mother did not escape. Or so Father tells me.

Some people call me a pessimist, which means I always expect the worst. Others accuse me of thinking everything is my fault. It usually is.

Salve! My name is Nubia. I was born in a country called Nubia. When I was still young slave-traders came in the night and took me in chains.

Age: Twelve

Birthplace: Nubia, a desert country south of Egypt

Family: I am thinking my family all to be dead

Friends: Flavia, Jonathan and Lupus

Pets: my dog Nipur

I saw my family being murdered. I was taken away in chains and sold as a slave in Ostia. I am lucky that Flavia was the one who bought me. She is being very kind to me.

Flavia says I am good at sensing if people are good or bad, lying or truthful. I love animals and I can usually calm even the fiercest beast with my flute or singing.

Flavia says I am gentle, kind, loyal and brave. Flavia says I can sometimes be too nice and people can take advantage of me because of it. I think she is right.

Salve! My name is Lupus. My name means 'wolf'. I am a bit wild, like a wolf. For a long time I lived alone in the graveyard outside Ostia, begging or stealing what I needed.

Age: Ten

Birthplace: Symi, a Greek island

Family: I don't like to talk about them.

Friends: Flavia, Jonathan and Nubia

Pets: I don't need a pet. I am too wild to own one.

I am mute, which means I cannot speak. But I don't like to talk about it.

I am sneaky and crafty. I am good at spying on people and eavesdropping on them. I am brave and clever. I'm not bragging; it's the truth. I am learning how to read and write and it's very useful. Now I take my wax tablet with me everywhere.

They say I have a fiery temper and that if you upset me I will storm off and disappear for days.

They are right.

About the Author• Caroline Lawrence was born in London, England. Her American

parents returned to the United States shortly afterwards and she grew up in Bakersfield, California with her younger brother and sister. Her father taught English and drama in a local high school and her mother was an artist.

• When she was twelve, Caroline's family moved to Stanford University in northern California so that her father could study Linguistics. Caroline inherited her father's love of words and her mother's love of art. She subsequently studied Classics at Berkeley, where she won a Marshall Scholarship to Cambridge. There, at Newnham College, she studied Classical Art and Archaeology.

About the Author• After Cambridge, Caroline

remained in England, and later took an MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College, London. She then taught Latin, French and art at a small London primary school. In 2000 she wrote 'The Thieves of Ostia', the first in a series of children's adventure stories set in Ancient Rome. The Roman Mysteries combine Caroline's love of art history, ancient languages and travel. Her other passions include cinema, jazz and London. Caroline has a son Simon, from a previous marriage, and she now lives by the river in London with her husband Richard, a graphic designer.

The author’s study where she writes