Christmas time in Barcelona, cold temperatures and warming lights accompany the people rushing through the streets in order to buy food and presents for their beloved ones at home. Daniel, his father and their friend Fermin are wondering about everybody just passing the Sempere & Sons bookshop. Marketing and refreshing decoration ideas are a great challenge for the three of them. Sempere Senior worries about the future because of missing incomings. Daniel, now married with Bea is captured by his thoughts about a supposed love letter he recently found in Beas jacket. And Fermin is busy preparing his wedding to Bernarda.

As everybody is engaged in his own troubled mind a stranger enters the shop. He insists to buy the most expensive book in store, a beautiful illustrated edition of “The count of Monte Cristo”. Daniel wonders about the mysterious man but otherwise welcomes the sale in these bad times. But the stranger doesn’t take the book with himself, he inscribes the book with the words “For Fermin Romero de Torres, who came back from the dead and who holds the key to the future.” Another riddle seems to be solved.

The Prisoner of Heaven is full of mystery, detective work, friendship and captivatingly love story. Carlos Ruiz Zafon, an undoubtedly great narrator, continues to overwhelm with his vivid fantasy and another well balanced recipe of mystery and crime, love and loyalty.