The Roman Mysteries
The Roman Mysteries is a series of historical novels for children by Caroline Lawrence. The first book, The Thieves of Ostia, was published in 2001, finishing with The Man from Pomegranate Street, published in 2009, and totaling 17 novels, plus a number of "mini-mysteries", spinoffs, and companion titles. The books take place during the ancient Roman Empire during the reign of the Emperor Titus. They detail the adventures of four children who solve mysteries and have adventures in Ostia Antica, Rome, Greece, and beyond: Flavia, a rich Roman girl who lives in Ostia; Nubia, a freed slave girl from Africa; Jonathan, a rich Jewish boy; and Lupus, an orphaned mute beggar boy. Characters The four detectives Flavia Gemina: A wealthy Roman girl, daughter of a sea captain Marcus Flavius Geminus Jonathan ben Mordecai: A kind but pessimistic Jewish/Christian boy Nubia: An African girl, former slave of Flavia, good with animals Lupus: A mute beggar boy with a tragic past Other characters Marcus Flavius Geminus: Flavia's father, a sea captain Mordecai: Jonathan's father, a doctor Miriam bat Mordecai: Jonathan's older sister Aristo: Greek tutor of the children Characters based on historical persons Pliny the Elder, admiral of the Misenum fleet and