School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-This addition to the series occurs in A.D. 80, during the 100 days of games that celebrated the opening of the Flavian amphitheater, now called the Colosseum. Jonathan, one of four mystery-solving friends, is missing and feared dead in the fires that rage through Rome. When word reaches his friends that he may actually be alive but under arrest for arson, the search begins. Their hunt leads them to the Colosseum, where they fear he will be found among the prisoners who serve as gladiators. The author does not shy away from the gory facts of life there, and the myriad forms of torture, attack, and death are described in great and overworked detail. As in previous titles, Lawrence includes a wealth of information about ancient Roman life. This installment stands well on its own, though new readers may need to sort out the group dynamic. Fans of the series will be happy with the fast-paced plot and plucky young sleuths.-Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Two new entries explore ancient Rome's darker side. First, young detective friends Flavia, Jonathan, Nubia, and Lupus try to discover the source of a plague, and a villain sets a devastating fire; then they must rescue Jonathan from being mauled to death in the Colosseum. The pace is lightning quick, and the details of life in 80 C.E. are fascinating. Glos. [Review covers these Roman Mysteries titles: The Enemies of Jupiter and The Gladiators from Capua.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 5-8. The sixth adventure in the Roman Mysteries series finds Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus in search of Jonathan, who may not have died as once supposed. Their hunt takes them to the newly opened coliseum in Rome, into the very midst of the entertainments. There's more scene setting than suspense here, and kids unfamiliar with the series won't have an easy time jumping into the story. However, Lawrence does fit in a few truly exciting scenes, and readers able to handle some surprisingly detailed descriptions of gladiator battles and animal sacrifices may be fascinated by the idea that people who considered themselves so urbane could be so cruel. --Stephanie Zvirin Copyright 2005 Booklist
