Book Review: The Alpine Fortress by Rowena Kinread @RowenaKinread @maryanneyarde

 

The Alpine Fortress 
By Rowena Kinread

Publication Date: 12th September 2025

Publisher: Goldcrest Books

Page Length: 311

Genre: Thriller

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?

Book Rating:

📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million

📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.

📚📚📚📚 = A really great read.

📚📚📚 = It was enjoyable.

📚📚 = It was okay.

📚 = Um...! 😕

My Review

The Alpine Fortress 

📚📚📚📚 

The story kicks off when Ivanna, sorting through her late grandparents’ attic, finds an old map hinting at hidden Nazi treasure somewhere in the mountains. Naturally, chaos follows. At the same time, a dangerous Argentinian drug lord known as “the Lizard” is hunting for the same treasure, and he will stop at nothing to get his hands on it.

When a group of detectives heads into the Alps for a training mission, it becomes clear that not everyone on the mountain is who they claim to be.

What really works in the novel is the atmosphere. The mountains feel harsh, beautiful, and unforgiving, and they shape the story’s mood from start to finish. The historical element adds another layer, giving the treasure hunt an emotional weight through Ivanna’s family history. The characters, especially the main trio — Ivanna, Matteo, and the Lizard — are distinct enough to keep the narrative engaging, even when the plot becomes crowded with detectives and side players.

The book isn’t perfect. At times, there are simply too many characters to track comfortably, and a few of them feel like they exist mainly to serve the plot rather than leave a strong impression. The “Nazi treasure” premise has been used before, but the Alpine setting and the combination of personal and historical stakes keep it from feeling stale.

Overall, The Alpine Fortress is a gripping and atmospheric read that balances action, mystery, and emotional depth. It delivers strong tension, memorable scenes in the snowbound mountains, and just enough twists to stay exciting without becoming confusing. I’d call it a solid, enjoyable thriller — especially if you like stories where danger, history, and landscape all collide.

You can pick up your copy of this book on Amazon. If you subscribe to #KindleUnlimited you can read this novel for free.

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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Look who is in the SPOTLIGHT!!! Paoletta: An Eye for an Eye by J.R. Powell

Paoletta: An Eye for an Eye

By J.R. Powell

Publication Date: November 28th, 2024

Publisher: independently published

Pages: 421

Genre: Historical Thriller

Exiled to a Caribbean island, Paoletta Cadoville and her family cling to the hope of one day returning to their Parisian home. But in a single, devastating moment, that dream is shattered. Alone and horrifically scarred, Paoletta embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the truth behind her family’s tragic fate, only to become entangled in a web of political intrigue, secret societies, and dangerous alliances.

In a Paris overshadowed by the guillotine, Paoletta must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of vengeance. Will she achieve justice for her family or lose herself to the darkness that threatens to consume her?

Paoletta – An Eye for an Eye is a gripping historical thriller set during the French Revolution and a stark reminder that in times of upheaval, innocence is the first to fall, and revenge demands a price paid in blood.

Praise for Paoletta – an Eye for an Eye:

"A haunting tale of vengeance, survival and revolution - Powell's heroine grips you by the throat and never lets go"

~ Chris Riches, Daily Express

"Vivid, visceral, unforgettable. Powell's masterful storytelling plunges us into the heart of revolutionary Paris"

~ Will Barker, The Sun

Pick up your copy at your favourite online bookstore Universal Buy Link

J.R. Powell

Originally from the UK, J.R. Powell lives in Germany, where he works as a translator and editor. His debut novel was published in 2024, marking the first instalment of a new historical thriller series.

Paoletta – an Eye for an Eye follows Paoletta Cadoville, a young woman driven by vengeance after the murder of her family during the French Revolution. Drawing inspiration from his time living in Paris, Powell immersed himself in the city’s rich and brutal history to craft a story that brings a lesser-explored period to life with the momentum and intensity of a gritty, modern thriller.

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