The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Prisoner of Heaven returns to the world of The Cemetery of Forgotten Books and the Sempere & Sons bookshop, where Daniel, and his old friend Fermín Romero de Torres, are tending shop. Daniel is now married with a son, and Fermín is soon to follow. Both men lead relatively happy and quiet lives. Enter an enigmatic visitor–a grim old man with a piercing gaze–who inquires about Fermín’s whereabouts. When told he is not in, the old man proceeds to buy the most expensive item in the store, a first edition of The Count of Monte Cristo, adds a dedication and leaves it as a present for Fermín. When Daniel reveals the details of this unsettling encounter to his friend, Fermín reads the dedication, turns pale, and at Daniel’s insistence, decides to open up about a past that has come back to haunt him…a story that will leave Daniel questioning his very existence.

A direct sequel to my favourite ever novel? With a gorgeous cover? Returning to Sempere & Sons and The Cemetary of Forgotten Books, sidling in alongside an older Daniel Sempere and an always gregarious and charming Fermin, just can’t come soon enough. After hitting a bit of a road bump with The Angel’s Game (REVIEW), I have the utmost (to a silly degree, perhaps) faith that Zafon is back in the playground he’s meant to play in.

For more of my thoughts, see the post I did about the Spanish cover for the The Prisoner of Heaven.

Discussion
  • David H. May 2, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    I think Larry over at OF Blog has read it already (in the original of course) and liked it a lot; he seemed to think it tied in both Shadow of the Wind AND Angel’s Game together pretty well, so there’s that. I haven’t read Angel’s Game yet, but I’m looking forward to both Angel’s Game and this new one as well. I think I read that this series is supposed to be a quartet, so here’s hoping for the finale soon, too! :)

  • Davieboy May 3, 2012 at 2:44 am

    Sounds fab, I absolutely loved BOTH the previous books. Helped me get a lot out of a recent trip to Barcelona which is highly recommended. I have the Sub Press editions of the 2 earlier novels so hope they’ll produce this novel too – they’ll have to go some to top the cover you’re sharing here thougfh….

  • Locusmortis May 3, 2012 at 11:15 am

    I loved both of the previous books although The Angels Game was a lot more obtuse than SOTW. This cover is great, but I think I’d prefer the original spanish cover tbh.

  • […] to Aidan for the final cover of Prisoner of Heaven. I am both terrified and super excited about this book. I […]

  • […] Cover: The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, posted by A Dribble of Ink […]

  • Upcoming4.me May 7, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    Here’s a bit more details on the UK version (different cover art and summary)!
    http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/carlos+ruiz+zafon/the+prisoner+of+heaven/8893301/

    Can’t wait!

  • Sue May 11, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    I am wondering about the 4th book already: Nuria in Shadow of the Wind mentions that Julian knew, and liked, Daniel’s father. And Miquel hung out at the Sempere Bookstore, also (brief comment to that somewhere). Yet, no mention from Daniel’s dad about knowing these guys. Wonder if those ‘loose ends’ will be tied up?