The Fugitive from Corinth

The Fugitive from Corinth is the 10th book in the Roman Mysteries series. The Delphina has returned from Rhodes and everyone is taking a well-deserved break in Corinth, staying at an expensive hotel (or hospitium) before the voyage home. Aristo, the tutor of the children, has apparently committed a crime of violence and taken flight to Athens. Flavia is determined to pursue and capture her tutor so he can be put on trial for his crime. Together with Atticus, one of the sailors on the Delphina, the four sleuths and Tigris the dog set out after Aristo. Following the trail, they end up traveling to Delphi and eventually to Athens, always just behind their quarry. It was interesting to read about traveling in a carruca. Caroline Lawrence provides a good feel for the dangers of the road and the day-to-day drudgery of travel, including flee-infested hotels. This book, like its predecessors, is beautifully written. There is a detailed description of the shrine of Delphi and the famous oracle, and Flavia is even able to pose a question but does not like her answer. There also is a nice description of the Acropolis and the Temple of Athena. This book conveys the emotional states of the characters very well and they all grow up quite a bit as the story progresses. An interesting aspect of the story is that Jonathan regularly consults a guide book, which reminds us that the Romans were avid tourists.