Bel Canto

Ann Patchett · b. 1963 · United States

Why it matters

Terrorists take a birthday party hostage for months in an unnamed South American mansion, and opera (a world-famous soprano is among the captives) becomes the one language captors and captives can share. Inspired by a real Lima hostage crisis, warm where its premise could have turned merely grim.

At a glance

A single contained setting and warm, accessible prose keep a tense premise easy to read.