Following a long list of engrossing novels by former career Navy Captain P.T Deutermann the Last Man is a very well done archaeological story revolving around the self immolation of more than 900 Jewish Zealots at Masada in 73 A.D.
David Hall a disgraced and discharged from his job American nuclear engineer travels to Israel in order to visit the Masada site and test his former girlfriend's theory about what is really buried under the site and never been found. The Israeli government assigns an archaeological professor and antiquities historian; Judith Ressner as his guide and watcher She has been in mourning for five years over her husband killed in an accident at the Israeli nuclear facility which is near the Masada site and is not happy about breaking away from her duties at the University.
With both carrying mental baggage concerning past loves friction is inevitable.