This story is an exciting adventure set in Ancient Rome about four children: Flavia, a free-born Roman girl, Nubia, a slave girl bought by Flavia (who is more of a friend than a slave), Jonathan, a Jewish boy who lives next-door to Flavia, and Lupus a boy without a tongue; we learn what happened to him in the fifth book in the series.

A dog-killer is at large in Ostia. Jonathan's dog, Bobas, has just been beheaded and the head is still missing. Flavia and her new friends try to find out who killed him and why. They go around Ostia asking and listening to the latest gossip. Also, a band of rabid dogs on the loose are terrorising anyone foolish enough to go to the tombs near Flavia's house. They split up and each comes back with useful information. They ask Libertus, Cordius' freedman (Cordius is Flavia's father's patron) if he saw anything unusual; he told them he had but when they find out that he lied, they become suspicious...

Although it is written in the third person, the author manages to convey the main character's narrative as if it were in the first person. This creates a balance between historical objectivity and literary fiction. Lawrence writes colourfully and vividly about Ancient Rome as if it were the present day. The characters' exploits unfold in different parts of the series so the reader is left in suspense and of course wants to grab hold of the next volume.

If you like Adventure Stories (like the Famous Five) then I would really recommend these. Also if you are interested in Ancient Rome, then these books are perfect to stimulate your imagination and increase your knowledge.

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