From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–Jonathan, Flavia, Nubia, and Lupus are involved in solving another mystery in this latest installment in the series. This time, they are trying to find the "Prometheus" who opened a "Pandora's Box" to destroy Rome. The evil from the box is the plague. Jonathan's father, Dr. Mordecai, is also summoned to help care for the sick. The detectives have several suspects, including other doctors and even the emperor. In the course of the investigation, many aspects of Roman life and politics are skillfully woven into the narrative: architecture, medical practices, gods and goddesses, slavery, etc. Titus's destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and his relationship with the Jewish Queen Berenice provide insight into the tenuous ties between the Romans and the Jews during this period. This mystery has many twists and turns, but familiarity with the characters and their situations is helpful. The ending clearly indicates that another sequel is on the way. Fans of the previous six titles will come away from the story with a good sense of Rome during A.D. 80.
–Lana Miles, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
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.
