Death has a shadow

They say that word of mouth is the best kind of publicity and marketing, the kind that according to the cliché money simply can't buy. While this is probably true, it amuses me in a small way to then see something being marketed as a word of mouth sensation. Such a ploy has actually been used on two books I've read recently (the other to follow soon), though presumably to good effect in the case of the former, as I'd heard lots about it and been looking forward to it, and considerably less so with the latter, which I'd never heard of (though maybe I wouldn't be regarded as it's target market).

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón is the first of those titles and I liked it a lot. It's always satisfying when a book does live up to the billing, the hype and everything else, as this can often raise expectations to places that cannot reasonably be attained and one can come away not feeling as fulfilled as perhaps one would have been otherwise. Set in Franco's Spain in the aftermath of the Civil War, the book ticks every box that one could hope for. Young love, missing persons, false identities, sinister antagonists, bloody deaths and more are all mixed together with skill.

The coincidences and the many plot strands that tie the characters together could in other circumstances have seemed contrived and unbelievable, but the story is unfolded carefully and told well, keeping me glued to it. Indeed, it had that page-turning quality to it that not every author or book can have. The central idea is a good one and then spreads out in many directions before being carefully brought back together. A solid cast is maintained over the course of the novel and has a good mix of intriguing characters. For me top of the list was Fermin, a splendid mix of wisdom, loyalty and joy that should serve as an inspiration to us all. And while there is plenty of tragedy throughout, it has a fitting ending that few could argue with.

Book number: 73
Title: The Shadow of the Wind
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Category: Charlotte's choice