It's AD 79. Someone is killing Ostia's dogs and Flavia Gemina - inquisitive, bossy and brave - wants to find out who and why ...

The first in Caroline Lawrence's internationally bestselling Roman Mysteries series, re-issued with a fantastic new cover look.

Flavia Gemina is a natural at solving mysteries. The daughter of a ship's captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD79, she and her three friends, Jonathan, a Jewish boy (and secretly a Christian); Nubia, an African slave girl; and Lupus, a mute beggar boy, must work together to discover who is beheading the watchdogs that guard people's homes, and why.
A talented storyteller, Caroline Lawrence has created a delightfully readable and accessible series that children will want to read time and time again.

"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

"immensely readable" - TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT

"Instantly accessible adventure ... trans-century appeal" - THE GUARDIAN

"The Thieves of Ostia sets up this wonderful series in fun and exciting way ... I enjoyed learning surprising details of Roman life in the company of four memorable characters. And everyone loves mystery solving!" - The List

"If you like detective stories, you'll love the first in this exciting mystery series" - The Week Junior