February, AD 80. An imperial messenger summons Jonathan's father to Rome, where the fever which started in Ostia is now threatening to become a plague. Jonathan and his three friends go, too, and need to use all their skills to solve a dangerous mystery for the Emperor Titus.

About the Author

Caroline Lawrence is an American who studied Classical Archaeology at Cambridge and followed with a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies at the University of London. She is married to a graphic designer and lives in London.

Prizes

No comparable series exists and we now have a total of 16 titles contracted. Romans are a hot favourite with children. The Romans are National Curriculum Key Stages 1 and 2. Terrific storytelling cominbed with authentic historical detail. The series has now been sold in 17 territories. Over 900,000 copies of the UK editions of the Roman Mysteries have now been sold. 'immensely readable' Times Educational Supplement. On 'Secrets of Vesuvius' - 'an interesting and exciting read that is extremely well researched. It is packed with accurate detail of everyday Roman life. The story is so well paced and involving that you don't realise just how much information you are absorbing.' School Librarian. Inspiration for the prime time BBC TV series.

Reviews

Gr 5-8-Jonathan, Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus are involved in solving another mystery in this latest installment in the series. This time, they are trying to find the "Prometheus" who opened a "Pandora's Box" to destroy Rome. The evil from the box is the plague. Jonathan's father, Dr. Mordecai, is also summoned to help care for the sick. The detectives have several suspects, including other doctors and even the emperor. In the course of the investigation, many aspects of Roman life and politics are skillfully woven into the narrative: architecture, medical practices, gods and goddesses, slavery, etc. Titus's destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and his relationship with the Jewish Queen Berenice provide insight into the tenuous ties between the Romans and the Jews during this period. This mystery has many twists and turns, but familiarity with the characters and their situations is helpful. The ending clearly indicates that another sequel is on the way. Fans of the previous six titles will come away from the story with a good sense of Rome during A.D. 80.-Lana Miles, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

"The Enemies of Jupiter by Caroline Lawrence is the seventh and best in the superb detective series set in ancient Rome, where four children from different backgrounds band together to solve mysteries and right wrongs. The best thing about these books is that they are steeped in fantastically interesting and authentic historical detail." Daily Mail, 5 December 2003