sigils (pg. 314) -- Signs, words, or devices held to have occult power in astrology or magic
pergola (pg. 366) -- An arbor or a passageway of columns supporting a roof of trelliswork on which climbing plants are trained to grow.
...Sophie leaned over and hit the windshield wiper switch. The heavy blades activated...and simply swept the bird off the hood in a flurry of feathers and a shrill croak of surprise. (pg. 98) Mere mortal SUV wipers can sweep a Dire-Crow, "huge" bird, right off the hood? A bird that can peck through windshield glass? I think NOT!
Gabriel Hounds...Ratchets (pg. 206) -- Gabriel Hounds are a pack of spectral hounds said to be haunting Britain during the Wild Hunt. Ratchet is the archaic term to describe a hound hunting by scent. Mary Stewart wrote a book titled The Gabriel Hounds.
Ensconced (pg. 75) -- To settle oneself securely or comfortably, or to place or conceal in a secure place. In the text, Fung is ensconced by Giulia's bosom, so I'm not sure which meaning is correct...
Camarr (pg. 92) -- Can't find a translation. Friend, buddy?
Cavone (pg. 93) -- Disrespectful, lower class.
Locatelli (pg. 177) -- A hard, sharp, cheese. Which the text says, two pages before...
On page 201 she is trying to convince the police of her identity. Don't they do fingerprints in Pellesburg, PA?
On page 198 the "husky Officer Pete" is typing on an IBM Selectric typewriter. I love the Selectric, but that is probably a twenty year old machine. You know, it takes balls to type on those.
I'm here all week, folks. Try the veal.
Chang and Eng (pg. 13) -- Famous Siamese twins from the 1800s.
Strega Anna Wintour (pg. 24) -- Anna Wintour is editor of Vogue, strega means "witch" in Italian.