The Labyrinth of the Spirits

A Novel

By: Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Narrated by: Daniel Weyman

Length: 27 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Best Seller

"Packed with suspense...a gripping edge-of-your-seat thriller.” (Washington Book Review)

The internationally acclaimed, New York Times best-selling author returns to the magnificent universe he constructed in his best-selling novels The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel’s Game, and The Prisoner of Heaven in this riveting series finale - a heart-pounding thriller and nail-biting work of suspense which introduces a sexy, seductive new heroine whose investigation shines a light on the dark history of Franco’s Spain.

In this unforgettable final volume of Ruiz Zafón’s cycle of novels set in the universe of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, beautiful and enigmatic Alicia Gris, with the help of the Sempere family, uncovers one of the most shocking conspiracies in all Spanish history.

Nine-year-old Alicia lost her parents during the Spanish Civil War when the Nacionales (the fascists) savagely bombed Barcelona in 1938. Twenty years later, she still carries the emotional and physical scars of that violent and terrifying time. Weary of her work as an investigator for Spain’s secret police in Madrid, a job she has held for more than a decade, the 29-year-old plans to move on. At the insistence of her boss, Leandro Montalvo, she remains to solve one last case: the mysterious disappearance of Spain’s Minister of Culture, Mauricio Valls.

With her partner, the intimidating policeman Juan Manuel Vargas, Alicia discovers a possible clue - a rare book by the author Victor Mataix hidden in Valls’ office in his Madrid mansion. Valls was the director of the notorious Montjuic Prison in Barcelona during World War II where several writers were imprisoned, including David Martín and Victor Mataix. Traveling to Barcelona on the trail of these writers, Alicia and Vargas meet with several book sellers, including Juan Sempere, who knew her parents.

As Alicia and Vargas come closer to finding Valls, they uncover a tangled web of kidnappings and murders tied to the Franco regime, whose corruption is more widespread and horrifying than anyone imagined. Alicia’s courageous and uncompromising search for the truth puts her life in peril. Only with the help of a circle of devoted friends will she emerge from the dark labyrinths of Barcelona and its history into the light of the future.

In this haunting new novel, Carlos Ruiz Zafón proves yet again that he is a masterful storyteller and pays homage to the world of books, to his ingenious creation of the Cemetery of Forgotten, and to that magical bridge between literature and our lives.

©2016 Carlos Ruiz Zafón; Translation copyright 2017 Lucia Graves (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group

Zafon can spin a masterful tale!

This offering from Zafon brilliantly tied together all of the works in the series in a way that left me completely satisfied and with the perfect sense of closure. While I can imagine a follow-up focusing on a central character, I would be ok to formulate her path to happiness in my mind. 28 hours incredibly well spent as the narrator did a masterful job with the characters...bravo!

A Thrilling Conclusion

It was with sadness but the utmost joy that I experienced this fourth and final installment of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. It so neatly yet imaginatively pulls the many threads of characters, ideas, and plots together- while also introducing new ones to keep the reader enraptured. I am sad to see the story I love so much end, but I am glad to have a book series to call my favorite forever.

Mesmerizing

OMGosh, I luxuriated in falling into the escapist abyss called The Labyrinth of Spirits, my second book by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. A magnificent gothic mystery novel based in Madrid and Barcelona. I read his Shadow of the Wind in the late aughts right after it was translated into English and LOVED it. My heavily underlined/annotated copy is lovingly stashed in the recesses of my Texas garage apartment. But I now thankfully live in Paris, and I’m reading in the time of Coronavirus. Zafón has now written four books that are loosely connected (you don't need to read them all or in order) in what he describes as his Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. I downloaded the current one, Labyrinth, on my Audible so that I would listen when I was walking My dog or cooking, etc. These books are like sinking your teeth into a big juicy savor-every-bite steak surrounded by smorgasbord of eclectic side creations. I can hardly pull myself away to be productive. The tale is mesmerizing, with luscious writing. For example, a tidbit just covered -- when the book's main character (a fabulously wily lead, Alicia Gris) comes upon a journalist cogitating over his writing while nibbling on the end of his pen, surrounded by a citadel of his research, Zafón described the journalist's countenance as looking like: "he tried to trap a sentence that refused to land on the page." OMG, writing bliss (for me). Anyway, highly recommend if you want to fall into a great yarn woven with exquisite thread. ;) perfect lockdown read!

must readm

loved it. this entire series is wonderful. you will not be disappointed... every book I'd captivating

The Explanations

This series has been magnificent. Carlos Ruiz Zafon is an outstanding author. This series of four books about the "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" has been exciting and complex. The Labyrinth of the Spirits pulls all the pieces together. I may reread this series again in the future. It is so good.

Fantastic performance

This was a joy to listen to! A magnificent performance that brought all if the characters to life!

Love

Love this book, I have read all the books of Carlos Ruiz, and this one is one of my favorite

One of the most exciting stories

I enjoyed the series tremendously. The story is great, the writing is wonderful, and the performance fantastic!

Dont miss this one!

If you started with Shadow of the Wind and continued through - this is one not to be missed. What a beautiful conclusion to wrapping up this series!!!!!

simply wonderful

the final installment. this is a story for the ages. the characters so dear. just listen