THE SECRETS OF VESUVIUS BY CAROLINE LAWRENCE
(THE SECOND ROMAN MYSTERY)
STAR RATING: 9/10
SUMMARY: MOUNT VESUVIUS IS ERUPTING AND COVERING POMPEII IN ASH. FLAVIA AND FRIENDS HAVE DISCOVERED A RIDDLE, WHICH MAY LEAD TO A GREAT TREASURE IF IT IS SOLVED. BUT CAN THE FRIENDS SOLVE THE RIDDLE AND ESCAPE THE VOLCANO IN TIME?
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE STORY: THE TENSION! IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE IF THE FRIENDS WOULD BEAT THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION. THE CHARACTERS WERE RESOUCEFUL AND CLEVER. THE SETTING WAS INTERESTING. THE SOLVING OF THE RIDDLE WAS NOT AS I EXPECTED EITHER, WHICH WAS A GOOD TWIST!
WHAT I WAS LESS KEEN ON: NOTHING! I ENJOYED IT ALL.
WHAT ELSE I LIKED: IT WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER BOOK THAT I'D READ (AND I'VE READ LOTS OF HISTORICAL FICTION). IT WAS GREAT TO READ ABOUT LIFE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE. IT SEEMED TO BE WELL RESEARCHED. I BELIEVED THAT WE WERE IN ANCIENT POMPEII.
FAVOURITE CHARACTERS: NUBIA AND JONATHAN. NUBIA WAS A CAPTURED SLAVE. FLAVIA BOUGHT HER, TO RELEASE HER, THEN SHE BECAME FLAVIA'S FRIEND. JONATHAN WAS REALLY RESOURCEFUL - HE MADE THEM TIE NAPKINS OVER THEIR MOUTHS AND PILLOWS TO THEIR BODIES, TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ASH AND DEBRIS.
LEAST FAVOURITE CHARACTER: MIRIAM, BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T REALLY GET STUCK IN.
IMPROVEMENTS I WOULD MAKE TO THE BOOK: IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT LONGER. THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON I DIDN'T WANT TO STOP READING. I WANTED TO KEEP GOING!
THE SETTING: POMPEII, ITALY, JUST BEFORE THE FAMOUS ERUPTION. I REALLY WANT TO VISIT POMPEII AFTER READING THIS BOOK. THE BOOK IS FULL OF HISTORICAL DETAIL, WHICH I LOVE.
IF I COULD ASK THE AUTHOR ONE QUESTION: I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH RESEARCH SHE DID FOR THIS BOOK, AND HOW LONG IT TOOK HER TO DO IT BECAUSE IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE DID A LOT!
OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR: LOTS! THERE ARE PLENTY OF
OTHER ROMAN MYSTERIES TO READ.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK? YES! DEFINITELY! FOR ANYBODY WHO LIKES A BIT OF TENSION AND HISTORICAL DRAMA.
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