Quotes from Rhys Bowen

expected to find you dead. But I entrusted you to the care of Saint Rita.

We found a pleasant little café where the men selected a type of pasta, but I chose an omelette. I had always thought that eggs were for breakfast, so I had never tried one, and I was not disappointed. It came up light, fluffy and stuffed with tiny shrimp. Every mouthful was a delight, and I began to see that appreciation of food was a way of life in France. It was accompanied by crusty bread so fresh it was still warm, and sweet butter.

Castle Rannoch is not the most delightful spot at the best of times. It lies beneath an impressive black crag, at the head of a black loch, protected from the worst of gales by a stand of dark and gloomy pine forest. Even the poet Wordsworth, invited here during his ramblings, could find nothing to say about it, except for a couplet scribbled on a sheet of paper found in the wastepaper basket.

And on that table was the most impressive assortment of food: salmon mousse in the shape of a salmon; cold chickens; quail; a huge platter of oysters, shrimp and lobster claws; all kinds of salads; fruits and cheese. It was all so beautifully arranged that I hardly dared to touch it. At one end was a huge bowl of peaches.

looked up. "Maybe that will jog someone's memory and make them come

Emily?" Her mother's strident voice echoed up the staircase. "Where are you, child? I told you we would be leaving at ten thirty on the dot. Come along. We can't keep the young men waiting. Best foot forward.

searched for clues and fingerprints. But I will be kind to

It was like smiling at a gargoyle.

It is what we call part of our cucina povera - simple food for the peasants. And a good way to use up yesterday's stale bread. It is simply stale bread soaked in broth, and then we cook the garlic, tomatoes, some carrot, and celery and add these to it, then serve with olive oil. That's all.

I want you to know that our beautiful boy is safe. He is hidden where only you can find him.

fagioli al fiasco sotto la cenere." She handed him a bowl of what looked like white paste.

Why must I still see myself in competition with him? I wondered. Shouldn't I be content to be a wife and mother?

Harry's New York Bar. It's world famous, honey. The first cocktail bar in Paris. Inventor of the Bloody Mary. Hemingway used to hang out there.

I broke off in amazement. My father—my distant, unemotional father—had a child in Italy. A child with an Italian woman called Sofia. But hidden where only Sofia could find him? A chill came over me. The letter was never delivered. A child hidden away and never found? Of course now, twenty- eight years later, I had to hope that Sofia had recovered the child and all was well.

Cursed Sicilians." She spat into the sink. "Who wants them here?

I tucked into a plate of bacon, kidneys and fried bread, plus a couple of slices of toast and Cooper's Oxford marmalade.

Oh, you're missing so much, Alice," Emily said. "Books are wonderful. You can get transported away by a good story. If we're living in a place like this, we can read about Paris or a tropical island and feel like we're there.

We crept to the phone and dialed 999,

The African night was absolute darkness. One of the houseboys went ahead of us, carrying a lantern. Even so there were rustlings and strange noises that filled the night air. I think I heard the distant roar of a lion. I was glad I was with a group of people, even though I told myself I was safely on Diddy's estate.

Obviously I was going a little too fast, but as I came around a sharp bend, I encountered a car going even faster. I was only conscious of a long, sleek shape hurtling directly at me.

Almost twenty, I thought. And here I am at twenty-five still thinking I am young and have plenty of time to decide what to do with my life.

Time is the only healer.

He said he had no desire to live in a country that glorified violence and he found France more civilized.

The old man smiled. "It should be perfectly obvious what you have to do. Give women the vote. That will do away with tyrants and dictators instantly. Women will always opt for sensible and compassionate over warlike and corrupt