The Charioteer of Delphi (Roman Mysteries Series #12), Vol. 12 Book

The Roman Mysteries Book XII

A RETURN TO ROME. Flavia and her friends experience the danger and exhilaration of chariot racing in the circus Maximus.

It's September AD 80. Flavia, Jonathon, Lupus and Nubia are back in Rome to celebrate the Festival of Jupiter at the town house of Senator Cornix. A famous racehorse has gone missing just days before important events at the Circus Maximus. With their new companion Scopos, the young charioteer from Delphi, the friends must infiltrate rival facing factions to discover who stole the horse, and why. Violence, deception, secret identities and a deadly curse are all ingredients in this twelfth installment of the exciting series.

Children's Literature

The twelfth book in The Roman Mysteries series finds friends Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan, Lupus, and Aristo in Rome tracking down a prize racehorse that was stolen just before the races at Circus Maximus. When a tip from a one-legged beggar leads the young detectives directly to the missing Sagitta, Flavia believes the mystery is solved and they are free to enjoy the festivities of the next few days (and their substantial reward). But Jonathan is doubtful about the easy-find and his suspicions are confirmed when strange things happen to the charioteers during the races. As the day of racing goes on, the friends must find out who is behind the sabotage, before anyone else gets hurt or killed. In the historically accurate series, this book focuses on the history of Rome s chariot racing. The endpapers contain diagrams of chariots and the Circus Maximus around the time the story takes place. The glossary in the back ( Aristo s Scroll ), translates and pronounces any terms that children or adults might be unfamiliar with. Though at times the dialogue felt a little stilted, overall the story was fun and educational and would be a perfect way to get kids interested in ancient history. Reviewer: Kathleen Foucart