Praise for Quill of the Dove
Most authors try to keep their plot lines as simple as possible to avoid getting inextricably bogged down in the convoluted details of local reality. But by doing so, they tend to oversimplify, even ignore, the overwhelming complexity that burdens the daily lives of those who live there. So it is very uncommon to find an author who not only sets his story in the Middle East, but who can both keep the facts straight and also avoid turning individuals and regional populations into two-dimensional caricatures. Ian Thomas Shaw is one of those rare authors. Having served as a Canadian diplomat and aid worker in the Middle East for several years, he knows the land and people well, and has a firm grip on hills and valleys, swamps and jungles of the political topography as well.
— Timothy Niedermann, The Ottawa Review of Books
Quill of the Dove is an impressive debut, and Ian Thomas Shaw brings a new voice that’s strong and confident, weaving a tale with a knowledge of culture and history that draws and transports the reader right from the beginning.
— Dietrich Kalteis, award-winning author of Ride the Lightning, The Deadbeat Club, Triggerfish, House of Blazes and Zero Avenue.
Quill of the Dove is a suspenseful, powerful and ambitious novel.
— Sonia Saikaley, author of The Lebanese Dishwasher
Quill of the Dove approaches the history of Lebanon through the eyes of internaional journalists called upon to take huge personal risk to report the complicated facts. This is a terrific way for Shaw to tell his tale. Richly drawn characters, enhanced by his profound knowledge of the Middle East, ensure that we are along for the whole ride with men and women trying to make a difference, while trying just to stay alive. With journalists dying in disturbing numbers across the world, this novel may be providing the timeliest perspective of any on the Middle East.
— David Whellams, author of The Verdict on Each Man Dead
Shaw’s intimate knowledge of Israel and the Palestinian Territories grounds the drama in this heart-stopping political thriller.
— Claire Holden Rothman, author of My October and The Heart Specialist
Quill of the Dove brims with heartbreak and love for a troubled region. We so soon forget even recent history, and Shaw’s inclusion of the Phalangist massacre in Beirut from the point of view of a French journalist offers insight into current Arab-Israeli conflicts; this novel is both timely and needed. Shaw’s characters are memorable and his sense of place, steeped in personal experience, is powerful; the scent of orange and olive groves lingers long after the last page is turned.
— Ursula Pflug, author of Down From
Quill of the Dove is a gripping political thriller driven by memorable characters, both noble and nefarious, whose destinies are inextricably determined by war zones and conflicts. Spanning the Middle East, Europe and Canada, the novel delivers a fascinating quest for truth and love that illuminates the legacies of violence in our complex world.
— Cora Siré, author of Behold Things Beautiful
Ian Thomas Shaw writes with the intensity and the scorched vision of nation states in crisis evocative of the late style of John le Carré. Quill of the Dove is a searing portrait of lives caught in the imbalance of a fractured Middle East where no one, not even, say a “quiet Canadian” can remain untouched by the bitter legacies of the conflict for long.
— John Delacourt, author of Ocular Proof
Quill of the Dove is brilliantly plotted, bursting with suspense, and populated with characters one cares about immensely. Shaw proves himself resoundingly as a master of the political thriller. Easily one of the best novels I’ve read in recent years.
— David Joiner, author of Lotusland
Quill of the Dove by Ian Thomas Shaw is about identity—family, political, cultural, and religious. The novel is an expansive narrative with deft insights centred in the Middle East. Shaw’s use of meticulous and extraordinary research moves us backward and forward in time, shedding light on the complex motivations of a region rife with conflict. In the telling, we are reminded that the multi-faith Lebanese, Syrian, Israeli and Palestinian nations have endured a long, tortured history. But at the core of this unputdownable novel are ordinary human beings searching for meaning, love, and mastery of their rightful heritage. A finely told history lesson about sectarian violence, mutilation and territory, and yet Shaw writes: “Despite the war, the hearts of the villagers have not hardened.” Quill of the Dove is a love story, a political manifesto and a voyage into the depths of war where life and death lie down together.
— Susan Doherty Hannaford, author of A Secret Music.
A young Canadian woman’s search for her origins. A maverick French journalist on a quest for peace in the Middle East. These two intriguing stories mesh seamlessly in Ian Thomas Shaw’s riveting novel Quill of the Dove. The final vision of a Middle East that could have been left me longing for more.
—Caroline Vu, author of That Summer in Provincetown and Palawan Story
Ian Thomas Shaw spins a memorable tale that intertwines the personal with the political. A fast-paced thriller, lyrically told, that moves seamlessly between Europe in 2007 and the Middle East in the mid-late 1970’s, Quill of the Dove is a riveting novel that tells the story of a Canadian woman’s quest for identity amidst the turmoil of the Middle East. It’s not possible to do justice in a few sentences to the wisdom and intricacies of this very interesting and powerful novel. This page-turner will keep you engrossed throughout, providing not only insights into the very complex and layered political history that is the Middle East, but also into the deepest longings of the human heart.
—Jerry Levy, author of Urban Legend and The Philosopher and the Golem
Quill of the Dove is a novel that both delights and instructs. With its intriguing, fast-paced and riveting plot it takes the reader on an adventure into the world of entangled Middle East politics, a tapestry interwoven of intricate and insidious political games, and tragic stories of ordinary people showing extraordinary valour and endurance. The literary technique of shifting timeframes, as well as a multi-layered plot keep the reader in a delicious state of suspense. Definitively, a book of notable literary merit that satisfies a craving for an interesting read, and the desire to understand better a part of the world embroiled in turmoil.
— Jana Begovic, author of Poisonous Whispers
Quill of the Dove compels you to believe that the power of love and a determination for peace will triumph against hatred, betrayal, and brutality. While vividly painting the horrors of war, the novel also places on its canvas the power of human goodness, yet keeps the reader uncertain to the end as it slowly reveals the hidden truths between the characters and realpolitik.
— Norman Hall, author of Four Stones
Quill of the Dove is an intense political thriller written with an insight that can only come from a deep understanding of international intrigue. Spy novel lovers will find everything they want and more.
— Benoit Chartier, author of Red Nexus
Quill of the Dove is a compelling novel that quickly plunges the reader into the depths of conflict rooted in the Middle East. The author’s vivid characters and keen sense of history reveal the intricate layers of political nuance and fanatical allegiance that lead to entrenched positions and hostile environments. Quill of the Dove is a noteworthy addition to fans of international intrigue and political thrillers. This passionate tale of lives shattered by conflict will keep you turning pages long into the night.
— Sean McGinnis, author of Stark Nakid.
The reader is immediately drawn into this tale of intrigue. The characters are complex and engaging, guiding the reader through Shaw’s scholarly account of a dark history in the Middle East.
—
Geri Newell, author of Quite Perfectly Dead
This is a fast-paced story told in generation-crossing firsthand, casting love and hatred, good and evil, against the backdrop of a turbulent Middle East, with all its complexity and intricacy of religious and political allegiances. Shaw holds back no punches in his vivid and disturbing description of horrors, while simultaneously word-painting acts of breathtaking kindness and sacrifice. His deep knowledge of the political and religious landscape of his story lends an astonishing credibility to the narrative.
— Robert Barclay, author of Death at the Podium
Drawing on his extensive experience and knowledge of the Middle East, Ian Thomas Shaw has crafted an exciting political thriller of intrigue and romance. As his protagonists reach toward a peace that might have been, they battle the in-grown political, religious and tribal forces that are the root cause of this instability. In the process, Shaw succeeds in bringing to life the horrors the inhabitants of this war-torn region have been living through over numerous generations. This is definitely a page-turner that will keep you reading well into the night. Enjoy!
— Geza Tatrallyay, author of the Twisted trilogy of international crime thrillers and the Cold War Escape trilogy of memoirs
Ian Thomas Shaw’s new thriller, Quill of the Dove, is a compelling story of the struggle between identity and destiny set against the turbulent backdrop of Middle East politics. It focuses on a woman’s search for her own identity as she tries to find her birth parents, and a man’s personal mission to overcome generations of communal conflict with a multi-stakeholder peace plan. Both characters encounter danger, sudden and brutal violence, hope, despair, betrayal and ultimate resolution as they follow their intersecting destinies. Shaw’s ability to depict all sides of the conflict humanely are a testament to his time in the Middle East and his skill as a writer and story-teller.
— Susan Taylor Meehan, author of Maggie’s Choice
Quill of the Dove is a fine account of the impact of bigotry, the dehumanizing effect of violence, and a chronicle of the tensions within families and of the challenges of trying to broker a peace among polarized groups whose turbulent histories reach back generations. It is a first-rate effort, and it has paid off handsomely in a richly-told and layered tale that succeeds on many levels: thoughtful readers whose goal is to gain a better understanding of one of the most troubled regions of the world will be rewarded, but so too will the casual reader simply in search of a gripping and well-told tale. Quill of the Dove is one of the most rewarding novels I’ve read in a very long time.
— Jim Napier, author of Legacy
Quill of the Dove is both a fast-moving historical novel and a fascinating and compelling view into the shadow world of middle east politics and violence in one of the most fragile of democracies—Lebanon in the 1970s. Well researched, intense, and believable, Shaw’s novel does not shy away from exposing the shifting alliances, tribal jealousies, and foreign meddling that created this tragedy. Nor does it provide cover for the continuing aggression of State players who are still heavily invested in continuing conflict in the region well into the new millennium, and for whom the cost in human lives and human misery seems of little or no concern.
— Dr. Bob Abell, author and filmmaker (Corporate Prey)
Ian Thomas Shaw has drawn on his long experience as a Canadian diplomat to produce a gripping novel that enriches and enhances the reader’s knowledge of ethnic cultures and conflicts of the times. While multi-faceted, the time transitions are easy to follow. Character descriptions and development are well examined and presented. A good read for virtually any audience.
— Bill Horne, past President of the Ottawa Independent Writers
Quill of the Dove
MIROLAND IMPRINT 21
Guernica Editions Inc. acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.
The Ontario Arts Council is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
IAN THOMAS SHAW
Quill
of the
Dove
Copyright © 2019, Ian Thomas Shaw and Guernica Editions Inc.
All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise stored in a retrieval system, without the prior consent of the publisher is an infringement of the copyright law.
Connie McParland, series editor
Michael Mirolla, editor
Cover and interior book design
Rafael Chimicatti
Guernica Editions Inc.
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Distributors:
University of Toronto Press Distribution,
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High Town, Lancaster LA1 4XS U.K.
First edition.
Printed in Canada.
Legal Deposit—First Quarter
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2018954208
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Shaw, Ian, 1955-, author
Quill of the dove / Ian Thomas Shaw. -- First edition.
(MiroLand imprint ; 21)
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-77183-378-3 (softcover).--ISBN 978-1-77183-379-0 (EPUB).--
ISBN 978-1-77183-380-6 (Kindle)
I. Title. II. Series: MiroLand imprint ; 21
PS8605.U22Q55 2019
C813’.6
C2018-904697-X
C2018-904698-8
To my mother Marie and brother Mark,
travellers of the world
PROLOGUE
They race along the camp’s perimeter. She trips and scrapes her knee. “Don’t cry,” her cousin whispers. “They will hear you.” He picks her up. They must find a breach in the wall. Beyond it is her uncle and safety. Her mother’s words to her cousin echo in her head: “Munir, bring Meryem to your father. Go quickly. Take this money. And these photos.” They scramble along the wall but find no opening. Finally, they see a spot where the debris of a bombed-out house is piled against the wall. A bridge to safety. Munir is sure-footed. He confidently climbs onto the broken concrete and twisted iron rods, holding Meryem tightly in his arms. He lifts her to the top of the wall and then pulls himself up behind her. The drop to the other side is steep. She is afraid. He leaps to the ground, turns and raises his arms. “Jump! I’ll catch you.” She trusts him, closes her eyes, and pushes off the wall. In mid-air, his hands clutch her tiny waist. She looks down at him and smiles. The crack of a single rifle shot. He collapses under her. Her face is wet with his blood. Struggling to breathe, he presses one of the photos into her tiny hands then falls against her. Steps, heavy steps come toward her. And the nightmare rewinds.
Chapter
1
Nicosia, Cyprus – January 2007
THE FRAYED CURTAINS dance in the warm Mediterranean wind. The modest hotel has seen better days, but it is close to the crossing and within her budget. She shifts her body on the sheets drenched with sweat from another night of turmoil. Dreams half-started and memories resurfacing from the unexplainable. She opens one eye to greet the sunshine streaming into the room. No, one more hour of sleep, she pleads. But the wind has picked up and is causing a loose shutter to bang against the outer wall. Sound and light will not leave her be. She rolls out of bed and drowsily walks across the cold tiles to the windowsill. She reaches outside to secure the shutter’s latch. On her second try to get the latch in place, she notices reflected light from across the courtyard. She pulls back to hide her nakedness. From the corner of the window, she glances out. On a balcony directly opposite stands a man, his dark glasses like mirrors in the su
n. He is tall, athletic and blond. Marie Boivin shakes her head and draws shut the curtains. Today is not a day to worry about voyeurs.
In the darkness of the room, she slowly finds her way back to the bed. Exhausted, she falls on it, closes her eyes desperate to find some respite from the thoughts and doubts racing through her head. Eventually, a half-slumber takes hold, one that barely dulls her anxiety. The minutes turn into hours, and the temperature in the room rises. She stares at the peeling paint of the ceiling as the perspiration rolls off her forehead onto the cotton pillow. She knows that it’s time to meet the day and all that it will entail, but her body resists. The sweet music of Scriabin’s Piano Étude begins, first softly, then more intrusive. She reaches for the cell phone in her jacket and clicks on the speaker button.
“Hello!”
“Hi, it’s Marc Taragon.”
Her vocal cords instantly freeze at the sound of his voice. It is deep and orotund, gently laced with a southern French accent, and so different from how she had imagined it.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
“Yes, yes, everything’s fine.”
“I’m wondering if we could delay the interview by an hour, and start at noon.”
“Of course, Monsieur Taragon. Noon will be fine.”
“Do you know the Black Sea Café? Two hundred metres from the Ledra Street crossing. They can show you the way at the checkpoint. Ask for Ibrahim. He’s a friend who works there.”
“Excellent. I’ll be there at noon.”
“Oh, how will I recognize you?”
Marie wants to say frazzled with dark circles for eyes, her hair tangled like a bird’s nest, but then looks at her open suitcase, and says: “I’ll wear a light lavender dress.”
“Lavender. A pretty colour. À bientôt.” His words disconcert her. There’s an uncomfortable familiarity. Could it be he already knows?
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