The Assassins of Rome

December 1, 2006
Gr 4-7-Amateur sleuth Flavia Gemina and her friends Nubia, Lupus, and Jonathan return in the fourth book (Roaring Brook, 2003) in Caroline Lawrences Roman Mysteries series. They are celebrating Jonathans birthday and are told that Jonathans uncle Simeon has just arrived for a visit and is telling tales of assassins hired to kill Emperor Titus. Simeon is on his way to Rome and Jonathan begs to go along with him, believing that his mother may be one of the Jewish women that Titus is holding captive in his palace in Rome. The pair leave Ostia for Rome, secretly followed by their friends. Jonathan eventually finds his mother, and Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus solve the mystery surrounding the assassins and discover that many rumors about Titus are false. Each chapter alternates between the two adventures, which converge at the end of the book. Justine Eyre provides a skilled reading, giving the friends distinct voices and deftly handling the diverse accents of the minor characters. In most instances, the pacing is excellent, but the pause between the two story lines is too brief to fully alert listeners to the change. Chock full of rich details about Roman life in the first century, this is an exciting and fun listening experience."Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN"

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