Pompeii

On the afternoon of August 24, 79 AD, pyroclastic flows emitted during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius destroyed the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Those towns were completely buried and were subsequently forgotten. They were rediscovered in the early 1700's.
Robert Harris took what we know of the eruption and the destruction and wove an exciting tale. The main POV character is a young engineer, Marcus Attilius Primus. He has just been dispatched from Rome to take over the care and maintenance of the Aqua Augusta, the aqueduct that provided water to the area around the Bay of Naples. Soon after his arrival in Misenum, the flow of water begins to fail and he has to organize an emergency expedition to repair the Aqua Augusta.
This is the start of an exciting and most dangerous adventure. In attempting to do his job, Attilius is forced to deal with obstructive and corrupt officials, mutinous subordinates, and a murderous plot against his life. Initially in the background, Vesuvius rumbles to life and changes the fortunes of all involved.
Recommended.