Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Thrilling End, 14 Jun 2009
Let's get one thing clear - at the time of writing, I am 17, and I've been reading these books since around the time of the fourth book, The Assassins of Rome, which came out in late 2002. Ever since, I've been hooked and determined to read through to the end despite apparently growing out of the 'recommended' reading ages given by Amazon and such places.
I have not been disappointed. Though the books were published over a span of eight years whilst the story is spread over two, the characters and the themes definitely mature throughout the series, and the final book is not excluded from this. In fact, some of the darkest and cleverest scenes yet in the series definitely provide a route for anyone to be enthralled in the words on the page. I found myself finishing the book at roughly 3am last night.
Fans of the series will be desperate for various loose ends to be tied up, and they will not disappointed by the results. Imagine a situation progressing in the book - as you read, you slowly imagine three different ways it could unfold, only to see all of them have a chance to unfold and then being shocked as a fourth solution bounds onto the stage. The various twists and turns of this book keep going right up until the last page, surprising you as they happen but ultimately rolling together and making sense at the end.
If you are new to the Roman Mysteries series, I would strongly recommend you start at Book 1 (Where else?) and read onwards. Reading a random mismatch of the books in no particular order will only spoil your enjoyment of them, potentially giving away spoilers that you haven't read in previous books yet and just generally confusing you - even I found myself flicking back to a previous book to reaffirm what had happened at one point.
But the summer is approaching, so I recommend you order all 17 now and make your way through them over the coming months. The length of each book is roughly similar and easily readable (No gargantuan Harry Potter beasts here), whether you've been reading for many years, or you're just approaching the world of reading for the first time.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Yet, 13 Jun 2009
For four years, I have waited eagerly for this book to come out. I have daydreamed extensively about possible endings for the series. I have marveled at the trouble Flavia and her friends manage to get themselves into, and wondered however they would untangles themselves from all their difficulties by the ending of the last book. And, like the many fans who have been rooting for Flaccus ever since the tall, dark and handsome poet appeared in book nine, I have hoped for Flavia to marry the man of her dreams.
To be honest, I was a little afraid that because of my high and demanding expectations, I would be disappointed with the book.
I needn't have worried. Not only were my expectations met, but they were far exceeded. Whenever I thought I knew what would happen next, the author took my assumptions and turned them on their head. I felt completely absorbed in the action, as if I were solving the mystery along with Flavia. Even more astounding is the way Lawrence deftly wraps everything up in the end. She leaves the reader quite satisfied, while at the same time leaving just a few slightly loose ends. No cliché endings here! I suspect we may see some of these loose ends addressed in the Flavian Trilogy.
On top of all of this, throughout the book we are held in delightful suspense about the identity of Flavia's future husband. I really cannot recommend this book highly enough. Caroline Lawrence has outdone herself. Her books are always good, but this one in particularly goes above and beyond "good." I strongly advise you to read The Man from Pomegranate Street -- you won't regret it!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!, 11 Jun 2009
This is a great book! It has the perfect balance of mystery, adventure and humour. Anyone who enjoys a good book will love this and the whole series. For a series finale... this book rises to the occasion incredibly. :o)
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DVD ~ Mark Benton
