If you are looking for a tale of intrigue, deception, heroes, villains, friendships and of course love, then The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafn is a must read. The story follows Daniel, a young man who is mourning the loss of his mother. Daniel works in his father's antiquarian bookstore and uncovers a mystery in the heart of Barcelona, Spain 1945 that carries him into a world he didn't see around him. As Daniel's understanding of the world grows so does his understanding of himself. Zafn's prose is smooth as a chorus and as beautiful as poetry. Possibly the greatest writer of his generation, The Shadow of the Wind is the second-best selling novel in Spain only to be outdone by Don Quixote by Cervantes.
"If you thought the true gothic novel died with the nineteenth century, this will change your mind...This is one gorgeous read."--Stephen King. "Anyone who enjoys novels that are scary, erotic, touching, tragic, and thrilling should pick up "The Shadow of the Wind."--The Washington Post.