by Diane Noble
We turned back toward the room featuring Max’s exhibit. It was mostly empty now, and some of the lights had been dimmed as a signal that the event was over.
We stood facing the spotlighted Lady. The play of light and shadow made her more stunning than before.
“She brought us together,” Max said softly.
“Indeed she did.”
“The greatest treasure of all …”
“Love,” I said simply. “And we didn’t need a code for that.”
“We certainly didn’t.” He laughed lightly, pulled me into his arms, and kissed me.
“Holy cannoli,” I whispered, feeling my knees turn to jelly.
… a little more …
When a delightful concert comes to an end,
the orchestra might offer an encore.
When a fine meal comes to an end,
it’s always nice to savor a bit of dessert.
When a great story comes to an end,
we think you may want to linger.
And so, we offer ...
AfterWords—just a little something more after you
have finished a David C Cook novel.
We invite you to stay awhile in the story.
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• Note from the Author
• Discussion Questions
• Author Contact
From the Author
For the LORD your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17 NLT
Creating and populating a new fictional world is a process I love. This book, more than any of my others, gave me three characters I couldn’t wait to get back to at the end of each writing stint: El with her undaunted spirit; Max, and his growing fascination with El; and Hyacinth with her irrepressible antics (who would have thought she would get herself kidnapped on purpose?).
Discussion Questions
1. There are four spiritual threads woven through the storyline: friendship, love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Discuss instances in the book when El, Max, and Hyacinth handled any of the challenges or tests, and displayed one or more of these threads.
2. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Who do you think was the most willing to sacrifice and risk his or her life to save a colleague or loved one? Examples?
3. El is exuberant in everything she does and she loves God with all her heart. Her idea of the perfect worship service is one with upbeat music and loud instruments. She talks to God as she would a friend, and is not afraid to let her emotions show. At one point, she tells Max that she likes to try to make God laugh. Reread Zephaniah 3:17 (above), and discuss how you feel about this. What do you think about the Almighty God of the universe taking joy in you and rejoicing over you with singing?
4. Close your eyes and picture a toddler, perhaps your own little one, or a grandchild, niece, or nephew. Remember how you’ve laughed at their antics. Remember the joy you’ve taken in them just because of who they are. They didn’t have to earn your delight—it just bubbled up inside you. Pure joy. Pure laughter. Can it possibly be that God experiences us in the same way?
5. Early on we find that Max follows Jesus by walking with humility, love, and joy in the manner of Francis of Assisi, a thirteenth-century monk. Max is a contemplative who loves the older traditions and liturgies of the church, and his conversation with God is most often silent. How did you feel when El found out the details of his Franciscan side? How do you think it might affect their relationship? How do you handle theological differences of opinion with friends? Doctrinal differences? (Dare I say … political differences?) How does the following verse from Isaiah 54:2 relate to these differences: “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes”?
6. In today’s world we have some huge spiritual and political divides. How do you think we can bring about a spirit of reconciliation among those in our circles of influence?
7. Prayerfully read and discuss the following prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi. How can you be an instrument of God’s peace?
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is error, truth;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I love hearing from my readers. If you would like to contact me, please visit my website, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter. If you prefer, you can also send a letter to me at PO Box 141, Indian Wells, CA 92260.
Grace to you, and abundant joy,
Diane Noble
dianenoble.com
facebook.com/BooksbyDianeNoble
twitter.com/dianenoble
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MISSING FIGUREHEAD
Published by David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
David C Cook Distribution Canada
55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5
David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England
The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.
All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This story is a work of fiction. Characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com; Scripture quotations marked nlt are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.)
LCCN 2014944484
ISBN 978-1-4347-0497-9
eISBN 978-0-7814-1161-5
© 2014 Diane Noble
The Author is represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. www.alivecommunications.com.
The Team: Don Pape, Lorin Oberweger, Amy Konyndyk, Nick Lee, Helen Macdonald, Karen Athen
Cover Design: Tim Green, FaceOut Studios
Cover Photo: Getty Images
First Edition 2014
Photo by Scott Campbell Photography
Diane Noble is the
award-winning novelist of some two dozen published novels. With nearly a quarter million books in print, Diane continues to spin tales that touch readers’ hearts. Diane lives in California with her wonderful husband (a retired history professor) and their two spoiled cats.
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