  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 17 more novels were planned, plus a number of "mini-mysteries" and companion titles. the books take place in 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, rome, greece, and beyond: flavia, a roman girl who lives in ostia; nubia, a slave girl from africa; jonathan, a jewish boy; and lupus, a mute beggar boy. ==characters==  ===the four detectives=== * flavia gemina: a wealthy roman girl * 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 ===characters based on historical persons=== * pliny the elder, admiral of the misenum fleet and an accomplished natural historian. * pliny the younger, nephew of the elder * titus, emperor of rome * berenice of cilicia, titus' exiled jewish mistress * domitian, titus' younger brother * gaius suetonius tranquillus, the famous historian, who appears as a young man initially betrothed to flavia. * gaius valerius flaccus, the poet, who appears in several novels as a teenaged man, and a love interest of flavia's. * titus flavius josephus, famous jewish historian. ==novels== # the thieves of ostia (2001) # the secrets of vesuvius (2001) # the pirates of pompeii (2002) # the assassins of rome (2002) # the dolphins of laurentum (2003) # the twelve tasks of flavia gemina (2003) # the enemies of jupiter (2003) # the gladiators from capua 
The_Roman_Mysteries