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The Charioteer of Delphi opens with by introducing us to a 13-year-old would be charioteer name Scopas. He has come from Delphi to Ostia on the recommendation of Lupus’ mother in the hopes he can find a job with one of the racing factions in Rome. Scopus is a bit unusual in that he communicates better with horses than he does with people. Like Nubia he can tell the mood and read the mind of animals. Scopus not only get his change with the Green faction but presents a mystery for Flavia: a horse named Sagitta has disappeared.

Fortunately, for Flavia and company her father has to be away so they (and we) go back to Rome where the races for the Ludi Romani are about to be held. In Rome, we join Senator Cornix’s household, including the delightful Sisyphus. The senator has his own seats at the Circus Maximus and is a huge supporter of the Greens. Along the way we meet a rather helpful one-legged beggar, who provides a clue to the finding of Saggita, and Urbanus the racing master of the Greens. Sagitta is found by the four detectives who claim the reward but it was all too easily and Flavia believes there is another more complex mystery yet to solve.

Caroline Lawrence provides magnificent and well-researched chariot races that will be eye-openers for those who think the file film Ben-Hur shows an actual ancient chariot race. The diagram of the Circus Maximus at the front of the book is very helpful in determining where the characters are at times in the book. The writing of the races is exciting and realistic. This book is among the highlights of the series and one that you can’t put down.

Rating: 5 / 5