The Angel's Game

Reviews / Votes

Those who were hooked on Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind will be similarly entranced by The Angel's Game . . . Surprising and bittersweet, it's as potent as an Audrey Niffenegger novel, with a nod to a certain nineteenth-century romance * Psychologies * Starts off as an intelligent literary thriller, but morphs into action-packed adventure with a hefty body count * Daily Express * Draws with relish on all the conventions beloved of Wilkie Collins, Dickens . . . then weaves them into something entirely original and surprisingly moving * Observer * The prose is intelligent but unpretentious, and the author is clear in his intentions to provide a rollicking, fun read . . . the novel's themes address the power of narrative, and many sharp lines pertain to storytelling . . . hugely enjoyable * Daily Telegraph * In this book about books, Zafon writes about Spain's harrowing history with literary aplomb * The Times * Revisits some of Zafon's much loved urban landscapes in old Barcelona. Yet this novel stands alone, a complement or even an antagonist to its forerunner. If the previous book celebrated the ecstasies of reading then this one - no less in love with literature, and no less crammed with archetypal plots - explores the agonies of writing * Independent * Readers familiar with The Shadow of the Wind will find themselves back in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, the echo of Eco where, from a labyrinthine library, volumes seem to select their readers . . . rattling good gothic fun * Spectator * The tale is rich, evocative and literate, with Great Expectations and Faust among its more nakedly displayed influences. Zafon is a great describer, with a cinematic flair for murders and sexual encounters * Evening Standard * Sultry days are made for chunky pageturners such as The Angel's Game . . . It unfolds in Twenties Barcelona where a young man undertakes to write a book that will change people's lives. The task is daunting and the stakes perilously high * Daily Mail * The Angel's Game weaves the conventions of Wilkie Collins and Dickens into something original and surprisingly moving. -- Stephanie Merritt * OBSERVER * 'Beyond plentiful shocks and thrills, Zafon niftily treads the fine line between a story of paranormal events and one of psychological delusion.' -- Boyd Tonkin * INDEPENDENT * This is a gothic, page-turning, supernatural thriller...there is plenty here to keep Zafon fans happy. * PRESS ASSOCIATION *