Marina

A gothic tale for readers of all ages from the author of the bestselling The Shadow of the Wind. Barcelona, 1980. Oscar Drai finds himself drawn to an old dilapidated mansion where he meets the captivating and elusive Marina. She leads him to the cemetery to witness a mysterious ritual: on the fourth Sunday of every month, a veiled woman alights from a carriage and lays a single rose on an unmarked grave. Oscar and Marina are swept on a journey into the city's dark underground of labyrinthine sewers, corrupt policemen, ageing aristocrats, forgotten societies and criminal depravity...to a sinister tale of love, ambition and jealousy that will hold Oscar's heart forever. Carlos Ruiz Zafon was born in Barcelona. He is one of the world's most read and best-loved writers. His work has been translated into more than forty languages, garnering numerous international prizes and reaching millions of readers. Marina was first published in Spanish in 1999, this is the first time it has been published in English. textpublishing.com.au 'Marina is one of those books that are meant to be devoured in one sitting' Guardian 'A tale of love, revenge, corruption and death...What at the start seem to be a story about a schoolboy crush easily morphs into a horror story, Carlos Ruiz Zafon skillfully weaves the subplots together.' Daily Telegraph 'A triumph of the storyteller's art.' Daily Telegraph on The Shadow of the Wind 'You'll read it and you'll want more.' Age on The Shadow of the Wind