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Summary and Reviews of The Enemies of Jupiter by Caroline Lawrence

The Enemies of Jupiter by Caroline Lawrence

The Enemies of Jupiter

The Roman Mysteries Series Book VII

by Caroline Lawrence
  • Critics' Consensus (4):
  • First Published:
  • May 1, 2005, 183 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jun 2004, 215 pages
  • Rate this book

About This Book

Book Summary

The seventh volume in the popular series of mysteries set in ancient Rome, which have been widely praised for their fast-paced plots, well-drawn characters, and authentic Roman setting. Ages 9+.

The fever that started in Ostia is sweeping through Rome, and Jonathan, Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus are called by the Emperor to investigate. The friends' investigations take them from the Imperial Palace to Tiber Island, but Jonathan is distracted by a secret mission of his own. Suddenly, he finds that everything is terrifyingly out of control. This is the seventh volume in the popular series of mysteries set in ancient Rome, which have been widely praised for their fast-paced plots, well-drawn characters, and authentic Roman setting.

Scroll I

Jonathan ben Mordecai stared at the charred flesh. "It's horrible," he said to his friend Lupus in a strangled voice. "Horrible."

Lupus could not speak because he had no tongue. So he merely nodded.

The two boys were crouching before a brick oven and peering in through its arched doorway. A blackened haunch of venison lay on a platter among the glowing coals.

"Do you think maybe I left it in too long?" asked Jonathan.

Lupus nodded again.

Using a napkin, Jonathan gripped the platter and began to pull it out.

"Yeoww! It's hot!"

There was a resounding crash, and Jonathan stared down at burnt meat and broken pottery on the concrete floor of the kitchen.

"Oh Pollux!" Jonathan cursed and blew on his scorched fingers. "Now dinner is completely ruined. And it's all Miriam's fault!"

Lupus stared at Jonathan with raised eyebrows.

"Well it is! Everything's gone wrong since she got married and left...

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Reviews

Media Reviews

The Daily Mail
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.

TES (Times Educational Supplement) - Michael Thorn
Caroline Lawrence's Roman Mysteries continue to build an avid following, bolstered by the author's active website... the latest title, The Enemies of Jupiter, contains the usual entertaining mix of topical background Roman expostulations ("Oh Pollux!"), nose-creasing facts about the antiseptic use of urine, information about the four humours and so on - all cleverly interwoven with an adventure story that in this case involves a fight to save Rome from a plague.

Travel Telegraph - Nick Trend
The Roman Mysteries seem to be eagerly devoured by most children aged eight to about 12 who encounter them. There are several in the series but the first, The Thieves of Ostia, is set in the eponymous port of Ancient Rome... Such is the addictive power of these books that when I casually suggested [to my children that] we might visit the place on our next holiday, I was nearly knocked over by the response...

Jubilee Books - Simon Puttock
In 2000, Orion Books began publishing a series of Roman Mysteries by Caroline lawrence, and I love them!...they just get better. Each story is a little darker than the one before. Rome's underbelly is gradually revealed, and each book spirals you further in and further down into real Roman life.

Reader Reviews

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Beyond the Book



Caroline Lawrence was born in London, England. Her American parents returned to the United States shortly afterwards where she grew up in California, graduating from Gunn High School in Palo Alto and then went to Berkeley. From there she won a scholarship to Cambridge (UK). After Cambridge she took an MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies, after which she taught Latin, French and art at a small London primary school. In 2001 she wrote The Thieves of Ostia and hasn't looked back since! The Roman Mystery series combines her love of art history, ancient languages and travel. She is an ...

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Read-Alikes

Read-Alikes Full readalike results are for members only

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