Bel Canto

“A book that works both as a paean to art and beauty and a subtly sly comedy of manners.”-Janet Maslin, New York Times

Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr. Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until a band of gun-wielding terrorists takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different continents become compatriots. Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion--and cannot be stopped. the reader will find him or herself fervently wanting the magical awakenings and love affairs to continue forever, even though you know that the violence of the real world must and will intrude.