COLORFUL CHARACTERS TUMBLE FROM THE PAGES AS POMPEII LIVES AGAIN. A.D. 59. Nero, a corrupt and narcissistic sadist rules the Roman Empire. Eventually, tired of the Emperor's determination to destroy the social and political fabric of Roman life, a group of senators, praetorians and courtiers conspire to assassinate him. Pompeii is a city of secrets with a reputation for wealth, leisure and the good life. Culturally rich and oozing energy, it exudes a zest for living unmatched by Rome's cold, corrupt magnificence. Murder and revenge will fuel support for the conspiracy, from those Pompeians with every reason to despise Nero. And Pompeii hides another secret. What is the mystery of the villa with the room of the crimson frescoes? Rome's Empress, Poppaea, born in Pompeii, struggles to cope with Nero's madness, her political ambitions, and her longing for a glamorous lover hidden in a villa in nearby Oplontis. Through the novel's pages walks Praxus, a praetorian guard. His inner struggle between decency and his oath to a murderous Emperor, represents the core of goodness that remains inherent in Roman society.