By A.J. Griffiths-Jones

Hidden in the heart of the old city of Barcelona is the ‘Cemetery of Forgotten Books’, a labyrinthine library of obscure and forgotten titles overseen by a caretaker with an equally mysterious past. It is to here that bookshop owner Senor Sempere brings his ten-year-old son, Daniel, on a freezing cold morning in 1945.

Daniel is permitted to peruse the shelves and choose one book to take as his own, his choice being The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax, a novel that will become both a treasure and the cause for his life becoming embroiled in danger.

As Daniel grows up it becomes evident there are several people who take much more than a passing interest in his literary find, but he is resolved not to sell his precious book, instead embarking upon a mission to find out the fate of its author.

However, Julian Carax is not an easy man to locate, the only trail to his whereabouts being the mysterious Lain Coubert, a cloaked figure bearing the same name as Carax’ main protagonist. It is this man, hiding in the shadows, whom Daniel becomes most afraid of, uncertain of what his presence means and how it connects to the author’s disappearance some years earlier.

Despite it being unknown whether the elusive writer is dead or alive, one thing is evident, Coubert is intent upon finding and destroying any remaining copies of Julian Carax’ work and will go to any lengths to achieve his goal.

In his quest for the truth, quiet and sensible Daniel Sempere meets a host of misfits, some of whom he comes to hold in confidence, such as Fermin Romero de Torres, a vibrant and knowledgeable tramp whom the young man takes under his wing and saves from living on the streets by installing him in the family bookstore.

Fermin becomes invaluable at unearthing clues, mastering disguise as he goes undercover to interview old friends of Carax. The relationship between the pair deepens quite quickly, with some tender and humorous moments playing out, especially as Fermin insists upon sharing his profound experience of love with his young protégé.

The rather deep thorn in Fermin’s side is Detective Inspector Fumero, a corrupt and violent man, with whom he has a rather dark history. Fumero is also searching for the elusive Julian Carax for the sake of his own agenda and will use any means possible to attain the truth.

Of course, no epic tale of this genre would be complete without a touch of romance and, after finding the object of his infatuation, Clara, in the arms of her piano teacher, Daniel Sempere falls in love with his best friend’s sister, a young woman he had previously deemed far out of his reach.

Despite Bea already being betrothed to an officer of the Spanish Army, it doesn’t take long for her true feelings towards Daniel to be revealed, as a slow and beautiful courtship unfolds. Together the pair successfully begin to unravel the path that led to Julian Carax’ heart being broken and the reason for his disappearance from both Barcelona and the world of publishing.

The culminating scenes are tense, played out against the dark skies and gathering storms of one of the world’s most beautiful cities, with police inspector Fumero hot on the heels of our hero as he uncovers the truth behind The Shadow of the Wind.

In this epic piece of literature Zafon has created a classical tale of cat and mouse and turned it into a masterpiece. Using Barcelona as the backdrop for this story makes every scene dramatic and steeped in history, urging the reader to embark on a trip to see where the chase was played out, from the tiny cafes in Barcelona’s backstreets to the calm shores and imposing mountains.

The opening chapters take place just six years after the Spanish Civil War, and the author has captured the sense of distrust and fear in the city’s inhabitants perfectly, adding an atmosphere of suspense and intensity.

This is a novel to digest in several sittings, as there are a host of wonderful characters to acquaint yourself with and plenty of clues littered throughout the chapters. It’s hardly surprising that many fans of Zafon’s work read his books over again, as there is much to enjoy within the pages of his novels and some unforgettable moments that you will undoubtedly want to relive.