The Prisoner of Heaven is the third installment in the *Cemetery of Forgotten Books* series written by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. This novel was published in 2011 and continues the captivating and mysterious story set in Barcelona, Spain.

The story begins in 1957, one year after the events of the previous book, *The Angel’s Game*. The protagonist, Daniel Sempere, now runs his family’s bookstore along with his friend and former classmate, Fermín Romero de Torres. Daniel is happily married to Bea and they have a young son named Julián.

However, Daniel’s peaceful life takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious stranger visits the bookstore. The man introduces himself as Fermín’s cellmate from his time in prison during the Spanish Civil War. His name is David Martín, and he brings with him a dark secret from Fermín’s past.

As David starts to reveal his story, the narrative shifts back to Barcelona in the late 1930s. David was a young writer struggling to make ends meet when he became entangled with a powerful and dangerous figure named Andreas Corelli. Corelli offers David wealth and success in exchange for writing a book that will change the world. But as David delves deeper into Corelli’s world, he discovers a web of secrets and lies that threaten not only his own life but also those around him.

Meanwhile, back in 1957, Fermín becomes increasingly anxious about David’s presence and fears that their shared past may come back to haunt them. As Daniel tries to uncover the truth behind Fermín’s concerns, he finds himself drawn into a complex conspiracy involving betrayal, revenge, and buried secrets.

Throughout the novel, Zafón masterfully weaves together different timelines and perspectives, gradually revealing connections between characters and events from previous books in the series. The themes of love, friendship, loyalty, and the power of literature are explored in depth, creating a rich and immersive reading experience.

*The Prisoner of Heaven* not only serves as a standalone story but also provides further insight into the larger narrative arc of the *Cemetery of Forgotten Books* series. It sheds light on the origins of some of the key characters and deepens the mystery surrounding the enigmatic Cemetery itself.

In conclusion, *The Prisoner of Heaven* is a captivating and intricately plotted novel that combines elements of historical fiction, mystery, and literary intrigue. Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s masterful storytelling keeps readers engaged as they uncover the secrets and revelations that lie within the pages of this gripping tale.

• The Prisoner of Heaven

• A Novel
• By: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
• Narrated by: Peter Kenny

Carlos Ruiz Zafon, New York Times bestselling author of worldwide renown, transports us to a dark, gothic Barcelona and creates a rich, labyrinthine tale of love, literature, passion, and revenge, in which the heroes of Shadow of the Wind and Game of Angels must battle an enemy that threatens to destroy them.

Barcelona, 1957. It’s Christmas, Daniel Sempere and his wife, Bea, have a lot to celebrate. They have a lovely newborn son named Julian, and their best friend Fermin Romero de Torres is getting married. But their joy is overshadowed when a mysterious stranger visits the Sempere bookstore and threatens to reveal a terrible secret that has been buried two decades in the city’s dark past. His arrival propels Fermin and Daniel on a dangerous adventure that will take them back to the 1940s and the early days of Franco’s dictatorship. The horrifying events of the time set them on a quest for the truth that would put everything they hold dear in jeopardy and ultimately change their lives.

I have in red all 4 books from the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. I’m really sad to finish them because I’m not sure I can find another option that matches this one. Each book is better than the other. I highly recommend.

I think I need to revisit Shadow of the Wind (all-time favorite) and the other books in the series, reading or listening to them over and over so I can experience them more fully. This book – the narrative is much clearer than the others – has many allusions and direct references to the events presented in it.

I loved this whole series and loved this book, but it wasn’t the best in the series. No series can compare to the first and the last (Labyrinth of Heaven) is the second best. The prose is still excellent, so are the characters, but the plot is not as interesting as any other book. There is a pleasant homage to the Count of Monte Christo, which is interesting.

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