The Alpine Fortress
By Rowena Kinread
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When I first opened The Alpine Fortress, I expected a straightforward thriller, but what struck me almost immediately was how character-driven the story actually is. Ivanna’s discovery of her grandfather's map has far reaching consequences not just for her but for other members of the cast in this book. When she goes to the police with her discover is when things start to become very frightening for her, for she is being stalked and her house was ransacked. Hoping to escape these unknown criminal she takes her friends place at a training camp, which turns out to be a disastrous move. I found her blend of vulnerability and stubborn resolve compelling. And although some of her choices are questionable, it makes for a thrilling read
Matteo, the mountain guide who trains the federal police, of which he is also a member of, fascinated me even more as the story unfolded. He brings a grounded, steady presence to the novel, and I loved how his expertise in the Alps is not just a plot device but an expression of who he is — disciplined, quiet, perceptive. His internal tension becomes clearer as danger mounts: the conflict between his sense of duty and his instinct to protect those around him, especially his wife as she gets dragged into the danger. What made him stand out for me was his moral clarity. Even in moments where loyalties blur, Matteo remains tethered to a personal code, and watching him navigate that treacherous terrain — both literal and psychological — added an unexpected emotional dimension to the book.
The antagonist, known as the Lizard, is drawn with disturbing subtlety. Kinread avoids making him a caricatured villain; instead, he is shaped by a chilling blend of cultured intelligence and ruthless ambition. His connection to the Nazi officer who once guarded the hidden treasure makes him feel like a modern echo of the past the novel is determined to uncover. For me, what made him unnerving wasn’t just his violence but his patience — his ability to move people like chess pieces while remaining largely invisible. Even the secondary characters orbit him in ways that reveal more about his influence: their fear, their greed, their silence. Each disappearance in the story feels like an extension of his reach, making him a constant, if often unseen, threat.
What impressed me most was how each character, no matter how briefly described, seemed to carry the weight of the Alps themselves: shaped by secrets, history, and the harshness of choices made under pressure. By the end, I felt as if the novel’s characters were as much a part of the mountain landscape as the stone, snow, and caves they traversed — weathered, resilient, and defined by their actions.
Trigger warnings: violence, murder, stalking, rape, trauma
In the shadow of the Bavarian Alps, a forgotten map leads to an unsolved mystery buried for decades. When Ivanna discovers the sketch among her late grandfather’s belongings, she stumbles upon a secret that connects her family’s harrowing past to the Nazi regime's stolen treasures.
What begins as a curious family discovery quickly escalates into a perilous adventure, drawing the attention of law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and dangerous criminals.
The Alpine Fortress is a thrilling tale of survival, betrayal, and redemption. From the chilling depths of Nazi conspiracies to the breathtaking heights of the Alps, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat as the past and present collide in an unforgettable race against time.
Will Ivanna uncover the truth—or will the secrets of the fortress remain buried forever?
You can pick up your copy on Amazon. This novel is available on #KindleUnlimited
Rowena Kinread grew up in Ripon, Yorkshire with her large family and a horde of pets. Keen on travelling, her first job was with Lufthansa in Germany.
She began writing in the nineties. Her special area of interest is history, after researching her ancestry and finding family roots in Ireland with the Dalriada clan, particularly this era. Her debut fiction novel titled “The Missionary” is a historical novel about the dramatic life of St. Patrick. It was published by Pegasus Publishers on April 29th, 2021 and has been highly appraised by The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and the Irish Times.
Her second novel “The Scots of Dalriada” centres around Fergus Mór, the founder father of Scotland and takes place in 5th century Ireland and Scotland, and is published by Pegasus Publishers.
The author lives with her husband in Bodman-Ludwigshafen, Lake Constance, Germany. They have three children and six grandchildren.
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