The Prisoner of Heaven: A Novel - Tapa dura

"[A novel] with the blissful narrative drive of a high-class mystery... Ruiz Zaf?n is a splendidly solicitous craftsman, careful to give the reader at least as much pleasure as he is evidently having."--The Guardian

"The story has heart, menace torture, kindness, cruelty, sacrifice, and a deep devotion to what makes humans tick."--New York Journal of Books

"Perhaps his wittiest [novel] and the darkest to date, a stylistic feat that Ruiz Zafon handles deftly...Savor this book."--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"Gripping...suspenseful...The magic of the novel is in the wonderfully constructed creepy and otherworldly setting, the likable characters, and the near-perfect dialogue."--Booklist

"Invoking the atmosphere of Dumas, Dickens, Poe and Garcia Marquez, Carlos Ruiz Zafon retains his originality and will hold his rightful place among the storytelling masters of literature."--Book Reporter

"Zafon's storytelling is deft and well-paced, and his vivid prose brings the cultural riches and political strife of Franco-era Spain to life."--Publishers Weekly

"There is an air of magical realism to Zaf?n's tales. The prose is robust and the dialogue rich with smart irony. But mostly, reading Zaf?n is great fun."--Miami Herald

"A deep and mysterious novel full of people that feel real...This is an enthralling read and a must-have for your library. Zaf?n focusses on the emotion of the reader and doesn't let go."--Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[A novel] with the blissful narrative drive of a high-class mystery Ruiz Zaf?n is a splendidly solicitous craftsman, careful to give the reader at least as much pleasure as he is evidently having. --The Guardian"

The story has heart, menace torture, kindness, cruelty, sacrifice, and a deep devotion to what makes humans tick. --New York Journal of Books"

In 1957 Barcelona, Daniel Semper and his close friend Fermin Romero de Torres find their lives violently disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger who threatens to divulge a terrible secret that has been buried for two decades in the city's dark past. 200,000 first printing.