"Pompeii" by Robert Harris

I have always been fascinated by the story of Pompeii. Even though the city was abandoned as a result of a catastrophic volcano eruption, this natural disaster is also the reason this is a well-preserved historic site which lets us see first-hand what life was like in ancient Rome.

In Pompeii we follow Marcus Attilius, an engineer for the Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct that supplies water to Misenum, Neapolis, Herculaneum, Pompeii and the surrounding area. His predecessor mysteriously disappeared two weeks before, and now in Misenum inexplicably the water fountains are dry. Somewhere the line of the enormous aqueduct is damaged. The engineer sets out to investigate the incident and make urgent repairs. He finds himself very close to Vesuvius and observes first-hand as the dormant volcano begins to slowly come to life...

In addition, to the detailed account of the days and hours leading up to the eruption, we get a glimpse into the life and politics of the cities around the Bay of Naples. Attilius is a very likable protagonist to follow. He is honorable, brave and smart. There is also a mystery surrounding the disappearance of his predecessor and even a bit of romance. Despite the fact that we know how the story ends, I couldn't help but root for Attilius. This was an interesting and fast-paced historic novel. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.