The Roman Mysteries The Thieves of Ostia #1 by Caroline Lawrence*

I am reading mysteries to find quality ones to recommend to a fourth grade class (my mother in law is a fourth grade teacher).
This book is well written plus it integrates Roman culture and Latin into the exciting story.
A dog is beheaded on Flavia's street and then another beheading follows.  The clues point to Avitus who is grieving the loss of his daughter.  As Flavia and her friends investigate, she must rely on her logic and imagination to solve the crime.
I loved how the author displays the different social classes living in Rome during that time-Flavia (upper class), Jonathan (a Jewish boy-**spoiler alert-we find out later in the story that he and his family converted to Christianity), Nubia (an African slave girl) and Lupus (a mute beggar-someone cut out his tongue).
This exciting story provides a fun manner for upper elementary to learn about Rome and early Christianity.
All Latin words and words from that time period are pronounced and defined in the back.
Strategies: word choice/expanding vocab, check for understanding, character development/character traits, inferring

Warning: gruesome at times with the beheadings of dogs;  the author uses the "b" word to describe a female dog-not as a curse word but a description of an actual dog; Avitus walks from tavern to tavern and becomes drunk; *spoiler alert-Avitus commits suicide-he jumps off a lighthouse; everyone drinks wine (the children watered down wine);  the children are not always truthful and/or disobey parents' orders.
**Highly recommend for 5th grade and up.
Guided Reading Level: T (end of 4th grade/beginning of 5th) **I think the references to Latin and Roman culture would make it too difficult for most 4th graders.
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.3
Here is a link to the series: http://www.romanmysteries.com/books