By Carlos Ruiz Zafón

ISBN: 9780062206282

The backdrop of Franco’s dictatorship in 1940-50’s Barcelona adds depth to this historical fiction and mystery novel, which if read as part of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series would deliver more than as a stand-alone novel.

Synopsis

Barcelona, 1957. It is Christmas, and Daniel Sempere and his wife, Bea, have much to celebrate. They have a beautiful new baby son named Julián, and their close friend Fermín Romero de Torres is about to be wed. But their joy is eclipsed when a mysterious stranger visits the Sempere bookshop and threatens to divulge a terrible secret that has been buried for two decades in the city’s dark past.

His appearance plunges Fermín and Daniel into a dangerous adventure that will take them back to the 1940s and the early days of Franco’s dictatorship. The terrifying events of that time launch them on a search for the truth that will put into peril everything they love, and will ultimately transform their lives.

What’s to like

The novel is well-written. Its characters are built so that each has a personality that comes across clearly. The prose flows easily, and the author builds suspense as the story unfolds and we learn about Fermin’s past. Fermin as a character is fun and lovable and his ability to mask his emotions, even fear, with humor makes him a unique protagonist.

Another interesting aspect of the story is the historical backdrop of Barcelona in Franco’s dictatorship. Overall, the novel serves both genres, historical fiction and suspense, well.

What’s not to like

I picked up this book not realizing it is part of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. However, the book is meant to be independent and self-contained as well. It does still become obvious that there is much that is missing, from previous books, or left unfinished, setting the stage for the sequel in the book series. For instance, Armando and Sofia’s characters make a brief appearance in the book but it is clear that we are only learning part of their stories in this book.

The arc of the story itself is a bit disappointing once you are two-thirds into reading the book. The build up of the suspense around Fermin/Salgado’s story keeps the reader turning the pages but after its climax the remaining one-third of the book, which sets the groundwork for the sequel, is not as interesting and seems slow.

Given this, would I want to commit to reading the rest of the books in this series? Probably not. The first book in the series, ‘The Shadow of the Wind’, is better reviewed online, so maybe starting there might help a reader commit to the entire series.

Book Review Rating: 3.5/5

Content Rating: High

Content Warnings: Violence and torture, pre-marital relations and sexual innuendo. Age advisory: 18+