The Guardian 'Tuck Into a Book' insert Sept 2001
This is an action-packed adventure...which has trans-century appeal.
Family Circle magazine, December 2001
The story gets the reader involved from the very first page...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Thieves of Ostia is all about Flavia and her friends who get involved in a mystery set in the Roman port of Ostia in the year 79 AD. Two dogs are killed and their heads are taken away.No one knows who killed the dogs or why.Flavia meets new friends in different ways; she buys a slave named Nubia because she feels sorry for her and a boy named Jonathan saves her from a pack of wild dogs. Last but not least, the trio of friends save a mute begger boy named Lupus.
During their adventures they are chased by slave dealers, go all around the streets of Ostia and much more with a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter. They learn how to become a Christian and we learn how hard it was to become Christian in those days. We also learn how Romans lived such as how they dressed and ate. We even learn how they used the different rooms in their houses.
I loved the Thieves of Ostia there wasn't one bit I didn't like.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
While one questions the need for yet another Roman detective, this book is an interesting variant from the growing range of adult series. There's none of the increasingly painful tongue-in-cheekness that is so much a feature of much of this oeuvre. Instead we get a refreshingly straight narrative voice that describes Ostia in tangible terms and Lawrence simply gets on with telling the tale. And she's good at it. I found this book to be a real page turner, thanks to the obvious (but still effective) use of cliff-hanger chapter endings (which I'm fond of in my own writing). The characters are a little flat at times and the identity of the villain was never much of a secret. But that's no great problem, since most detective novels suffer from the same measure of predictability.
Having finished this I have tried to buy the others from my local bookstores, but it seems the print runs are quite small. So, once this is written I'll just have to use Amazon!
Having finished this I have tried to buy the others from my local bookstores, but it seems the print runs are quite small. So, once this is written I'll just have to use Amazon!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having collected and read all of Lindsey Davis and Stephen Saylor, I've wondered if there were comparably well written books for younger mystery fans and classics students. I think this first book by Ms. Lawrence fits the bill. Well researched and well paced, the 'Thieves of Ostia' has enjoyable characters and a good puzzle. Several serious themes are brought out, such as the purchase of a slave, and the treatment of Christians, which the author says will be directly addressed in the series and not glossed over (there is a website with a discussion forum available in which the author replies to questions and asks for feedback). This is a welcome attitude to learning about the realities of Rome while actually enjoying a well written story.
I've recommended and loaned this book to Latin teachers in our area (I don't think I'll ever see my book in one piece again), and I would have welcomed having this when I was starting Latin.
I've recommended and loaned this book to Latin teachers in our area (I don't think I'll ever see my book in one piece again), and I would have welcomed having this when I was starting Latin.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Thieves of Ostia, audio book
I was shocked. Always before I thought that "almost as good as new" meant what it said. I therefore bought these and gave them to my grandchildren. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sarah Ryan
VERY impressed!
This is the first of Lawrence's books I have read, and was very impressed by the quality of the writing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lucy Taylor
Deeply atmospheric
I read this to my little boy as his bedtime story. He's still a little young for it, but enjoyed it nonetheless. So this review is more from me for the adults than anything. Read more
Published 3 months ago by SJATurney
A Brilliant Historical Mystery! - review by Roxie Rees (aged 8)
This is the first book I've read by Caroline Lawrence. It's set in Roman times and it's one of the best books I've ever read. My favourite character was Flavia Gemima. Read more
Published 4 months ago by EMLYN REES
excellent!
Brilliant! just brilliant. Got me going on the whole series as this was a excellent book and made me want to read more of her work! Read more
Published 9 months ago by fan of the roman mysteries
Excellent Roman fiction
I had the privilege of meeting Caroline Lawrence about two years ago, and I went and bought this, the first of her books, at once, which is something I nearly always do after... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ben Kane
Roman Mysteries
This book is an excellent introduction to Romans for KS2 - I bought the whole series as it sparked off such enthusiasm! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Carol812
not appropriate for 7-8's
I bought this book to go with my Roman unit at school for my Year 4 class. It is good for the cpnversations around the vocabulary and the subjects raised in the story. Read more
Published 18 months ago by S. Dowers
FANTASTIC!! By Lucy aged 12
The theives of Ostia is a great book, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in history. It is a very gripping book and I was hooked on it. Read more
Published 19 months ago
Thoroughly engaging book - my 8yr old son loves it!
My 8 yr old son received this book as a Christmas present and he absolutely loves it. While he is a very good reader, he has never been in the habit of voluntarily choosing to... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2010 by A. Crease
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