Spain

Jill said, "I have some suggestions ... (4) The Shadow of the Wind (Zafon) - Spain. I'll probably think of more, but I feel these represent their counties - at best or worst."

Barcelona, 1945 — A great world city lies shrouded in secrets after the war, and a 10-year-old boy mourning the loss of his mother finds solace in his love for an extraordinary book called The Shadow of the Wind, by an author named Julian Carax. When the boy searches for Carax's other books, it begins to dawn on him, to his horror, that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book the man has ever written. Soon the boy realizes that The Shadow of the Wind is as dangerous to own as it is impossible to forget, for the mystery of its author's identity holds the key to an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love that someone will go to any lengths to keep secret.

And now WE have The Shadow of the Wind, but this one is by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Thanks, Jill.