perennial HarperCollins, New York, 2001

This story would be the ideal libretto for a romantic opera. It´s full of music, passion and compassion. The plot is simple. There is a grande birthday party in some operetta-like south American state. By some chance the guest of honour is not the president, but the vice-president. Roxanne Cross, a world famous opera singer, is enchanting the audience with her singing. Then a group of terrorists takes the entire party hostage. They are disappointed. because they had expected the president to be there, but nevertheless they can´t be persuaded to call the operation off. The longer the siege lasts, the more relaxed everybody  in the villa becomes.  Roxanne is allowed to practise singing, and her beautiful voice brings hostages and terrorists together. What an idyllic situation. Of course, there can´t be a happy ending.