A magical read by the bestselling author of The Shadow of the Wind. A mysterious toymaker, Lazarus, lives as a recluse in a crumbling mansion by the sea, surrounded by the mechanical beings he has created. Strange lights seem to shine through the mists that envelop the small island where the old lighthouse stands, and somewhere in the woods nearby lurks a shadowy creature. When her mother takes a job as a housekeeper for the toymaker, fourteen-year-old Irene meets Hannah and her alluring sailor cousin Ismael, and what seems like a dream summer begins. But Lazarus's house contains dark secrets and before long Irene and Ismael find themselves entwined in the mystery of the September lights. 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. The Watcher in the Shadows is the fifth of his novels to be published in English. textpublishing.com.au