First, this is obviously a graphic novel written for a non-American audience. The art style is not what you're used to from most American GN's... it's at once juvenile and brutal, which is a uniquely European combination. Also, the story assumes that the reader will know quite about about Gaudi, his life, and his works - which of course, you probably would if you were a Spanish reader (since the Author is Spanish himself). It's clear the author has a great reverence for Gaudi.
Still, it's a story that American audiences can enjoy - though it's not territory that hasn't been covered millions of times... it's essentially a straight forward murder mystery that makes use of international character tropes - the hard nosed detective, the foppish art historian, the humble custodian etc. It's by no means groundbreaking, but it is entertaining.

A spate of vicious murders where the victims are left at sites associated with Gaudi, and sightings of a mysterious man who may be the ghost of the architect, make this book a blend of thrilling and chilling, The real star of the show is the inspiring and incredible architecture of Gaudi, beautifully rendered in detail by Jesus Alonso Iglesias , as the mystery of the book unwinds, the reader is taken on a tour of some of the most famous architectural landmarks in Barcelona. El Torres creates a thought provoking story that touches on the balance between art and commerce, especially in historical locations.

As a fan of the city of Barcelona and thus its master architect/artist Gaudi, I picked this up out of curiosity over its title. The cover art didn't really grab me, since I don't read a lot of ghost stories or thrillers, and the bloody trail by an eerie figure suggested both. But the second the first pages of art appeared, my doubts disappeared.

The art, by Jesus Alonso Iglesias is easily the most amazing I've seen in a graphic novel in a while. When I was in Barcelona, I spent hours on hours mesmerized by Gaudi's work, trying to soak up every detail in Parc Guell or the (ever in progress) Sagrada Familia, and Iglesias' art and ingenious coloring bring me back to those moments more than any photos have. The nuance in colors and shading, it's just all beautiful. I wouldn't have minded the story going on another 100 pages if it meant more of this art.

But because I'm squeamish, I mean that less for the few panels of darker, more disturbing art, which graphically depict the murder crime scenes. People are dying gruesomely around Barcelona and the deaths all seem to be Gaudi related. There's some low key detectiving in the story, nothing earth-shattering to more versed mystery readers. It's possible they'll see the twist coming. Maybe I would have too, but I was too enamored of the art work to be connecting any dots, I guess.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys standalone graphic novels that are paced like a good action movie, and also to everyone who gets nostalgic any time they see Gaudi buildings.

I loved the art in this graphic novel. It was gorgeous. Probably the best I've seen in a long time. I also really loved the story. It kept em on my toes and kept me guessing if Guadi was really a ghost or if he was actually still alive. I really liked this! I highly recommend

Very graphic murders are depicted in this graphic novel about a serial killer hunting down people he believes have done something to besmirch Gaudí's legacy.

As a fan of Gaudi's work in Barcelona, I think I expected to like this thriller more. It shares many of the faults of the characters, however - both being somewhat in awe of, and sullying, the architecture and the stories behind it, and even with all the standard tropes - police procedural interrupted by an ever-rising death count, everywoman heroine to gun for, and so on - it didn't completely engage. Still, it wasn't at all bad - just not as brilliant as its inspiration (but then, what is...).

An intriguing story with a premise along the lines of the davinci code except with Gaudi instead of Leonardo, sadly, the story itself fell flat with not much reasoning for the murders themselves. Could have been much more.

Beautiful artwork, with riveting characters and story.

The title is what intrigued me. I didn't know who Gaudi was before this but I was interested about what this story could give.
Straight away I noticed that the colours of the illustrations are so vivid and eye catching, which made it a nice experience!
The story itself was interesting, but I found that there were some words I wasn't really understanding.
I think I'd appreciate this if I had more an interest in Gaudi's work. It was facinating and thrilling but it lacked the overall interest for me. I was impressed to see all the effort and hard work they put into the story, so if you do have an interest in Gaudi, please check this out.

The Ghost of Gaudi is a brilliant crime mystery which has you questioning who is committing the murders and is Gaudi's ghost coming back from the grave?

The art does a incredible job of portraying the incredible architectural works of Gaudi and even leaves you wanting to see them in real life.

If the definition of art is to make you feel something and this graphic novel has me wanting to take a trip to Barcelona to see these in person, this book has succeeded in being great art.

The crime mystery left me clueless at who the murderer was all the way till it was revealed which was a great reveal and surprise.

I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend it for any reader as it will leave you fulfilled with the mystery and also wanting to learn more of the works of Gaudi.

An exceptional story carried by clear and evocative illustrations; a compelling mix of history, culture and art, and a suspenseful plot line.

I was blown away by this classic murder mystery in the form of a graphic novel. The splendid architecture by Gaudi is a key character. Bizarre murders are taking place in Barcelona. An innocent young woman, a police detective trying to restore his reputation, the ghost of Gaudi and his symbolically complex structures are woven together with beautiful illustrations into an altogether satisfying graphic novel. Buy it!

I normally don't read mysteries or thrillers and this was the first time I read a graphic novel so this was a new experience for me. What attracted me to this novel was the blurb, it seemed really interesting and intriguing so I decided to give it a go. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this story as much as I thought I would because the characters were either very cliche, for example, the main detective followed the generic conventions we have seen time and time again or they were underdeveloped. This was definitely a more plot-driven story but if characters are well thought out then it takes the whole story to another level. I didn't enjoy the crime and everything was figured out easily.
I was really impressed by the artwork, however, I would have appreciated a disclaimer or some sort of warning about it. At times it was very graphic and mature so it might not be suitable for younger readers, therefore, some warning should be given.

An intriguing story and arresting visuals. Torres' imagery is evocative of Barcelona and the violent plot matter, richly detailed in its understanding and exploration of Gaudi's work and life. While it's a captivating and entertaining read, it's a story that's unlikely to stick in the reader's mind, save for the stunning depictions of Gaudi's otherwordly art and sculptures.

Once in a while you come across a work of art where the writer and the graphic artist have breathed much of their souls into the work. Gaudi is the patron architect/ artist of Barcelona. If you have ever been there or even seen photographs of the city, then you know Gaudi’s singular futuristic and simultaneously primitive work. It’s everywhere there. This graphic novel pays homage to Gaudi both by the stunning artwork and by the thrilling story.

The story begins in Barcelona and a series of images of Gaudí's biggest works and a set of words and feelings. It all starts, however, when we are inside a supermarket and we find Antonia. Antonia is a simple job that is ending her shift. It is evening and is waiting to go home but while on the phone with her daughter here is a man crossing the road and is about to be hit by a car that runs at great speed. Antonia does not think twice and tries to save the man, but ends at the hospital. And there, he finds out that the one who saved him seems to be the ghost of Gaudi, who is heading for the city, silent. The problem is that in the city, people are killed and appear to go in sequence according to what Gaudí's work is visiting Antonia, so as to bring her to believe that he has to do with a premonition. The police will begin investigating after the first murder. Will the police figure out what's going on? What does Antonia have to do with this?

The cover is really beautiful. What you see, for those who do not know it, is one of the corridors of Casa Batllò. The man who goes astray is the ghost of Gaudi. Inside the volume, I was struck by the fact that in the end, all the covers that were not approved for one reason or another were placed. The title is simple but goes straight to the point in the story. The setting, as you well understood, is Barcelona, ​​the beautiful Barcelona I visited just last year and brought me with my mind and heart right inside and I'm really happy with it. The era is modern, history is set today.

The characters are not so many but they are all fundamental. Antonia, or rather, Toni, is bold and courageous. It does not hesitate a second to save the life of an elder who was about to be invested. He believes in something mysterious that is hidden within Gaudí's works, as well as in their charm. Any woman who could be in such a situation. Antonia, she is strong.in all senses. Inspector Jamie is the one who will investigate homicides inside Gaudí's houses / works. He is devoted to his work and does not give up on the difficulties. A decisive and authoritarian man. Gaudi is the supporting column of the whole book. And it's about history that is based on it and it's the very centerpiece of the book.his works are recurring and it is precisely where the dead will be found. So these will be stained with blood but will never lose their charm, indeed, this story made Gaudi's monuments even more emblematic.

The graphics are really great. Barcelona and its historic monuments are reproduced at the millennium and seemed to be completely immersed in the city. Really amazing. The only macabre thing was the dead people who were found: disturbing. The story is also very interesting.it seems to oscillate between a thriller and something paranormal that will resolve in the best of ways. Leave the player with the suspended breath and thorns up to the last page.

The book was fluid, sliding and fantastic in many ways. As I have already said, the graphics are wonderful and the author has not hesitated to explain in advance how the idea was born and, in the end, everything that was behind his work. Torres and Iglesias have created a unique and unique blend. A thrilling thriller with distinctive shades, for no consideration.the city's background was really unique and helped to blend everything. The reader will be ecstatic. Do I recommend this book? Obviously. A Graphic Novel that you can easily read also in English for its simple and intuitive language. My vote for this book is: 5 Stars.

Unfortunately I did not finished the book thus I won't write a review. I am sorry but I couldn't get into the story.

I received an arc copy from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fictional graphic novel about an investigation of serial murders on the sites of Gaudí's creations in Barcelona.

Before I review this comic, there is one thing you need to know about me. I LOVE GAUDÍ! For the past twenty years, my family and I, rent an apartment near Barcelona from friends for a week or two. Aside from my university city, Ghent, Barcelona is my most well-known and favourite city. I have visited everything Gaudí designed which is open to the public. He is by far my favourite architect.

So, now let's move on to the actual review:

Things I liked:

- As I'm a huge Gaudí fan, I adored the drawings of his many creations. The art style is really stunning and for that alone, I recommend this graphic novel. The theme of the story was represented in the darker colours while the artist still showed the vibrant buildings created by Gaudí in their original state.

- I enjoyed the mystery aspect, it was entertaining and I actually didn't figure out who was responsible for the murders before the police did, which is also refreshing.

Things I didn't like:

- I didn't really get Antonia's storyline. It made the story more confusing and I feel she could have been left out of the comic in its entirety.

- The presence of Gaudí's ghost was a bit over the top for me. I think the story would have been stronger it focussed a bit more on the police investigation instead of on Antonia and Gaudí's ghost, but that's just my personal opinion.

All in all, I recommend this graphic novel! I absolutely adore the art style and for me that's always the most important aspect of a graphic novel (again that's just my personal opinion). If you like Gaudí as much as I do, I believe you should definitely check this one out. However, if you are not familiar with the Catalan architect, this comic offers a good introduction to his work as well. All his most famous creations in Barcelona are featured in the story.

I gave this graphic novel 3 stars and I might actually purchase it in the future as well! Loved it!

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

As El Torres notes in his afterword, "each and every one of the characters in 'The Ghost of Gaudi' is... confused and overwhelmed", not unlike those who view, study, and seek to completely understand Gaudi's fascinating life's work. Luckily for us, this tale - on one hand a simple crime story and on the other a meditation on what makes Gaudi unique and compelling - is crisp, clear, and accessible. Hand in hand with that, and elevating the project beyond the mere commonplace is that, again to quote Torres, the illustrator Jesus Iglesias "...draws. He draws like the angels."

The premise here isn't exactly novel. Someone is murdering people and positioning their bodies in different Gaudi buildings. Is the motive revenge, is the killer mad, is there a supernatural link to the ghost of Gaudi himself? Maybe. Just as in books in which a mad killer recreates the torments described by Dante, or mirrors the seven deadly sins, or tracks the murders in Shakespeare's plays, in this book, by investigating the crimes we learn a great deal about Gaudi, what he was trying to express, what his designs mean, and how he tried to connect heaven and earth.

The beauty here is that this is not a textbook or some sort of sterile exercise. Gaudi was interesting, his buildings are fascinating, his torment as an artist was real, and so all of this can come through in a story that remains compelling, suspenseful and sometimes even thrilling. We see much of the action through an everywoman bystander who gets caught up in the crimes and their investigation, and placing this unassuming heroine at the center of things allows the author to bring us along with her as the mystery is unravelled.

But, crime story aside, this book works just as an illustrated guide, or tour, of some of Gaudi's masterworks. All of the panels and drawings work well enough, but some of the splash pages and big scenes are downright arresting. The drawing, as you might expect, isn't anywhere near photo-realistic. It's sometimes very impressionistic, but it always captures the spirit and essence of both the grandness and immensity of the buildings and the delight Gaudi took in detail. For anyone interested in Gaudi this is just a tasty and pleasing interpretation.

So, while this might be well often the beaten path of comics and graphic novels this struck me as certainly a rewarding and nicely crafted option, and an excellent find.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)