The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Prisoner of Heaven is a treasure to be savoured, much like a discovery of a second-hand bookstore, perhaps stumbled upon during a wander of the wintry streets of Barcelona.

In the next instalment of the four-book cycle, that has included The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel’s Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon returns to the Sempere & Sons bookshop. Trade is suffering during the Christmas period of 1957 and Daniel Sempere is keeping a watchful eye on the shelves of untouched books. While frost laces the outside of the shop window, the quiet is broken by the appearance of a mysterious customer in the doorway.

The unknown figure limps towards Daniel and demands to buy a rare copy of The Count of Monte Cristo - which happens to be the most expensive book in the shop. This, the strange character says, will be made out as a gift to Daniel’s friend, Fermin Romero de Torres, including an ominous note.

After the man’s exit what follows is an intrinsic delve into Spain’s forgotten secrets. While visiting dank and dark prison cells and scenes of murder Carlos Ruiz Zafon weaves a thrilling pattern of intrigue, cleverly interlocking with the previous books of the series.

Yet out of the bleak and sinister void of imprisonment shines the colourful spark provided by Fermin. In him, the Spanish novelist has created a lovable fighter, who squirms, scratches and kicks at the officials of Franco’s dictatorship with a wonderfully funny and eloquent rhetoric. 

The Prisoner of Heaven is an entertaining read that delightfully combines the historical, mystery and romance conventions, and is a welcome addition to any book collection.