The Prisoner of Heaven

A Novel

De: Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Narrado por: Peter Kenny

Internationally acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Carlos Ruiz Zafon takes us into a dark, gothic Barcelona and creates a rich, labyrinthine tale of love, literature, passion, and revenge in which the heroes of The Shadow of the Wind and The Angel's Game must contend with a nemesis that threatens to destroy them.

Barcelona, 1957. It is Christmas, and Daniel Sempere and his wife, Bea, have much to celebrate. They have a beautiful new baby son named Julian, and their close friend Fermin 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 Fermin and Daniel into a dangerous adventure that will take them back to the 1940's 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 ultimately transform their lives.

Performed by Peter Kenny

©2012 Carlos Ruiz Zafon (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.

greatest volume of a book, forever treasured

I just finished all 3 series of Carlos Luis zafon shadow of the wind. I love this series and thank him for forever engraining the memories of what never was physical, but ethereal.

excellent!

This book was excellent as all Carlos ' books have been. I have always loved his vocabulary.

Jeanne

good back story

Enjoy the ongoing story of Daniel & Fermin. This book seems to focus alot on back story. Not my favorite or better than Shadow of Wind. Look forward to their next adventure. One negative was the performance. I prefer the last book read by Dan Stephen's. This was harder to understand at 1st. Some of it too fast paced for me.

classic - but know this story arc is part 1 of 2

reader has a great voice, in spite of his misapplied southern lisp. ;-) a delightful Gothic yarn.

Amazing performance

One of the best voice acting ever. Totally recommend. And the book is incredible as usual.

Superb

The Sempere’s story continues to delight, enthrall, and thrill. Zafón is a true wordsmith of the highest order. Peter Kenny delivers a breadth of character and enthusiasm worthy of the tale.

Great story but the narration almost ruined it

I was nervous to learn the truth about this story at first. The questions that come from this book and the twists that it takes left me slightly uneasy, but I believe the characters and the words told. I love this series and although SOTW is still my absolute favorite, every story I have read I adored.
However, this narration nearly ruined the story for me. From the weird Scottish or Irish accent he gave for Fermin, to weird pronunciations of locations to calling Bea (BEE). That was so distracting I almost couldn't go on. Part of me wishes that the first narrator of SOTW that I listened to, Jonathan Davis, continued here for this title. I look forward to reading this for myself because this story was still so enjoyable.

Answers questions poses more. I’m still hooked on series

Not as strong as Shadow of the Wind or Angels Game but holds its own and moves the arc forward. Preferred the character voices in Shadow, and shifting to a very different Fermín was a bit of a jolt. Not everyone’s cup of tea but in his strong points Zafón bears comparison to dickens and Balzac.

Compelling Listen

Would you listen to The Prisoner of Heaven again? Why?

I would definitely listen again, the characters, story, setting, narration, everything about this kept me hooked and listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think Sempere's son was extremely compelling as his humanity was so powerfully simple to relate to.

Not the best of the Series

I love this entire series, and loved this book, but it is not the best of the series. None of the series quite compares with the first, and the last (Labyrinth of Heaven) is the second best. The prose are still excellent, as are the continuing characters, but the plot is not as interesting as any of the other books. There is a pleasant homage to the Count of Monte Christo, which is mildly fun.

The narration is excellent.