The Man from Pomegranate Street: Book 17 (The Roman Mysteries)

I loved this whole series. It made visiting the real Ostia Antica feel alive. This last book was a little slow in parts and did not flow as easily or with the same excitement and joy as the others. However, it did finally grab me and as much as I hated to end the series I rushed to finish and share Flavia's happiness. I wish the author had not opened the book with what was going to happen at the end. It stole some of the tension I enjoyed in the other books so I took away a star. Series gets five stars! Fabulous for kids who enjoy ancient history and adventures. Fun for adults too!

I was curious to read how the series ends and the characters develop. As all the books in this series that we read, it is enthralling from the start to the end. The story takes place in Rome and surroundings - great to read when traveling there. I found that it is anyhow rather closely connected to The Assassins of Rome (book 4) (but relates also to many other books in this series that I did not yet read). In my view, it is an excellent accompanying book to Roman history lessons for children as of 10/12 years. I strongly recommend it.

Purchased this for one of my daughters, and she thoroughly loved it! Caroline Lawrence does a wonderful job of bring her characters to life, and inviting you along for the adventure. The Roman Mysteries series is a wonderful read for any young adult!

Amazing ending to a amazing series

it was amazing i loved it. i was a lot disappointed with the cliffhanger at the end but i guess well have to imagine what happens next. 25/10 is my rating :)

Well, here I am at the end of an amazing seventeen-part detective series (not counting two short-story collections), set in Ancient Rome and starring four precocious youngsters; the accumulation of a wonderful set of books that magnificently combines solid characterization, exciting plots and accurate research into a fantastic reading experience for adults and children alike. For the past two months I've been scouring the local libraries in the search for these books so that I can read them in order, and trying to put off their imminent finish in the hopes of savoring the adventure. But there's no avoiding it anymore."The Man from Pomegranate Street" has Flavia, Nubia and Lupus returning home after their long sojourns throughout Africa, Egypt and Asia, following in the footsteps of Jonathan who has gone on ahead in order to warn Emperor Titus of a suspected plot against his life. They are still in danger considering that they are wanted on charges of thievery and treason against Rome after the botched mission of  The Beggar of Volubilis , but the four of them are desperate to prove their innocence.But on returning to Rome they are horrified to discover that Emperor Titus is already dead, and his brother Domitian has assumed the throne in his place. Certain that he's the one behind Titus's suspicious death, Flavia, Nupia and Lupus reunite with several old allies from previous books in order to investigate his death and find Jonathan.To say more would be to give away the final mystery of the final book that really should not be read by anyone who does not already have the first sixteen books under their belt (starting with  The Thieves of Ostia ). But for anyone who has been traveling along with spunky Flavia, pessimistic Jonathan, wise Nubia and fearless Lupus throughout the series, they'll find that this final installment is an apt finish to each character's growth from child to adult.Spanning two years in total, and including famous historical events such as the eruption of Vesuvius, the great fire of Rome, and of course, Titus's mysterious death, "The Roman Mysteries" are exceptional works of fiction and learning tools for any young reader interested in ancient history. Tidbits of information are littered throughout the story, from cultural beliefs, geographical descriptions, or the known quirks of real-life historical figures. Facts are never shoehorned in, rather any information conveyed is always of importance to the story, adding to both the mystery and the themes of each book in such a way that it feels as though history is being *absorbed* rather than learnt.Of equal importance is Caroline Lawrence's impeccable writing style. Though she is writing of the distant past instead of a fantasy world, the customs and beliefs of the ancient Romans are potentially just as alien to a contemporary mind. Yet within her series she manages to bring everything to glorious life. It is not simply accurate descriptions of architecture and clothing that make the Roman Mysteries so vivid, but rather all the sounds, the smells, the tastes and the feel of the world that exists around our protagonists: from the stench of latrines to the sound of rain water, from the taste of bread to the pain of an injury. Just as she involves the reader in the immense beauty of this world, neither does she shy away from the cruelties, presenting a world that is both similar and profoundly different from our own.Each book has a basic formula in regards to the way information has portrayed: an historical event will be compared to a famous myth or legend, which is then used to help solve the mystery and develop character arcs along the way. It never gets stale, simply because the range of topics that Lawrence can draw upon are so broad, and here the detectives gradually piece together clues from the legend of Romulus and Remus, facts about various poisons, and clues strewn along the path of Emperor Titus's last journey. Along with the children themselves, the books mature in content and themes, and by this stage the foursome are operating in an adult world.But, as always, they have each other, and their strong, affectionate friendship has always been the highpoint of the series (though there are plenty of romantic entanglements, I have to admit that the falling-in-love aspect of the series left me a little cold; they never quite rang true). Each one has their strengths and weaknesses, and Lawrence makes sure each of them gets their chance to shine by utilizing their unique skills to the problems that beset them. It's sad to see them go, though I hold out hope that they'll reappear in future books written by Caroline Lawrence (she has left at least one rather large plot-thread hanging concerning the fate of Jonathan's nephew and Flavia's uncle).As a whole, the mysteries themselves are complex enough to avoid insulting one's intelligence, but clear enough for a discerning reader to figure it out along with the protagonists. There are so many clever twists and plotting decisions that I always felt inexplicably *pleased* whilst I was reading - I suppose there's just something satisfying about experiencing a story that is well told. It is worth every effort to read these books in order, as well as to add them to your bookshelf: brimming with danger, excitement, intrigue, romance, suspense, laughter and discovery - these are some of the best historical/mystery books that you could ever give to your child. Or, read for yourself.

I agree with the other reviewer: the end of one of my favorite literary series is indeed sad. And this book is just a great ending that carries on with the theme throughout that the world holds no promises, can be cruel but also wonderful.So I was inspired to do a bit of research and come up with the following, which, to warn you, is a bit of a plot spoiler for the current book.As the small ship rounded the breakwater at Ephesus its sails caught the wind and it picked up speed. "Headed to Ostia" Flavia Gemina remembered, as it was Lupus' ship and someone had mentioned that in passing. She could tell it was almost lunch as the sun just crossed onto the balcony on which she was standing, the room behind her still cool. She thought again about Ostia and Rome, which she had not seen since being banished by Domitian. But the news from yesterday was that Domitian was dead, killed in some kind of palace conspiracy: the details were still fuzzy. The Emperor was now Nerva, and the letter to Flavia also let her know that the emperor's new policies of reconciliation lifted all of Domitian's edicts.She was free to go home. But did she really want to? Was it really home? She had spent more of her life in Ephesus than in Ostia, and with a family, she was now settled, she reminded herself. There is no need to go, now or ever.A knock at the door, and a messenger - not so unlike Lupus when she first met him - held out a sealed wax tablet. She gave him a coin and untied the tablet."Dearest Mater, I write this in haste. I read the letter you and Pater got from Rome yesterday, and that the new emperor has freed you from exile. What you did not hear, and what I heard from the ship crew, was that Uncle Jonathan is somehow implicated in the scheme of the Praetorians, and that he is in danger. Mater, I have listened for years to all the stories of your adventures, and how you solved all those mysteries. I have been attentive and have learned so much from you. Uncle Lupus is sailing on the morning tide, and I know I can help Uncle Jonathan with all that I've learned and be an honor to you and pater. I know I can approach the emperor and help save Uncle. I know you would approve. I will be safe and home quickly.Your daughterFloppina

'September AD 81. Returning from Ephesus to Rome, Flavia and her friends learn of the mysterious and sudden death of the Emperor Titus. Was his death natural? Or was it murder? As the four detectives investigate this mystery, they little dream how much their lives - as well as the future of Italia - will be changed as a result.At last, many of the questions Roman Mysteries fans have been burning to have answered are revealed in the final book of the series.'

This series is unmatched in its historical accuracy, setting, and characters but this final conclusion lacks the sense of adventure the earlier books held. It wrapped up all the characters' stories but the plot felt rushed and empty which was disappointing for a final book. I would still recommend this series to anyone though, they're addictive and fun to read and there's a high level of research that goes into the historical aspects. All of the characters are easy to love and I'm sad to have finished these books and leave them behind.

I love the whole series. Read them. I hope she writes a new book. I don't known what I would have read without this.

This is a great book I couldn't take my eyes off it. I even got told off for reading it when I shouldn't have.

If you are a fan of books in a series then these are great. Can be read in any order.