The second volume of the Roman Mysteries series goes like a rocket, as Flavia and friends travel for a nice peaceful holiday near the city of Pompeii, AD 79. While they poke around at a few mysteries - an odd riddle, an elusive blacksmith - Vesuvius sleeps peacefully - until it doesn't. Not only are the mysteries solved, they're solved while trying to escape a massive volcanic eruption. The characters are downright adorable, the action is superbly orchestrated and paced, the eruption and the race for survival are epic and dangerous and dark. Superb.