The Prisoner of Heaven
The Prisoner of Heaven is a 2011 book written by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Originally published in Spanish, it was later translated to English by Lucia Graves. This is the third novel in the series Cemetery of Forgotten Books written by the author.
The book begins one year after the wedding of Daniel Sempere and Beatriz Aguliar. This is a direct sequel to Zafon's first novel in the series The Shadow of the Wind.
Plot summary
Daniel Sempere has settled into married life well and his son is shortly turning one year old. He is living above the family bookshop, Sempere & Sons with his elderly father, his wife Beatriz and son Julian. Though business has declined further in recent years, his friend Fermín Romero de Torres still finds a place at the bookshop and continues to source rare books while bringing a smile to the faces of the customers.One day a mysterious man arrives and asks about a rare and expensive copy of The Count of Monte Cristo that is kept in a display case behind the counter. He purchases the book from Don Sempere Snr and writes an inscription on the cover page:
"For Fermín Romero de Torres, who came back from among the dead and holds the key to the future."
The book is left as a gift for Fermín. When he returns to the bookshop later he is upset by the gift. It is revealed that Fermín was in prison 20 years earlier with the mysterious stranger as well as David Martin. While in prison Fermín, inspired by the story of The Count of Monte Cristo, escaped by taking the place of a dead cell mate, stealing a key from the stranger. Knowing the stranger has finally tracked him down, Fermín, with the help of Daniel, attempts to locate the man and come to an arrangement before he is required to pay the ultimate price.