Instead, a narrator's elliptical reminiscences provide carefully orchestrated clues that the reader must slowly piece together, like a detective, to get a picture of what really happened and why.

In response to questions, he slowly pieced his story.

The media slowly pieced it all together in various forms.

The business slowly pieced itself together, said Mr. Martling, who is known as Jackie the Jokeman and is the head writer for the Howard Stern radio show.

After the tragic death of her own son, Mahboba slowly pieced her life together by helping other Afghan women, pioneering English classes and even a learn to swim program.

For now, they are slowly piecing their lives together again, relying on financial and other help from the local relief agency.

With the help of Doctor Elizabeth Barnes (Elisabeth Shue), Madison begins to slowly piece her life together.

Following the conception of several songs, the two began recording ideas; slowly piecing guitar parts and vocal harmonies together on Damion's home computer.

It took years, but she slowly pieced her life back together.

Slowly in Pippin's aching head memory pieced itself together and became separated from dream-shadows.