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?
Praise
“The Alpine Fortress” by Rowena Kinread is a captivating crime thriller that immerses readers in a suspenseful narrative set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alps.
Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion
An interview with Rowena Kinread
What inspired you to start writing?
It started with reading. With three elder sisters and an elder brother, I was already reading books at the age of four. Although our local library didn’t usually issue reading passes for any children under six, with my parents signature, they made an exception. So every Saturday I would walk the 3 miles to the library and choose three new books to carry home and read until the next week. I would like to say I was particularly brilliant, but I wasn’t! I chose books suitable for junior school and not how to speak Chinese in two weeks or astrophysics. When I got my first job and my first flat, money was tight and I didn’t have a television. But I didn’t want one and never had watched much at home either; maybe the circus after the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day. I had to work for a steady income as my parents, with six children, were unable to give me any support. But it was about this time that I started writing a little more seriously than my childhood essays and as time went by, having not studied, I enrolled for a creative writing course. Our tutor told us to look which magazines were offering payment for stories and then write accordingly. This wasn’t very satisfactory for me, I wanted to write what I wanted to write and not what the magazine wanted me to write. I had three children and when they grew older I went back to work but once again a job offering a steady income. However, in my spare time I started writing and haven’t stopped since. This was the 1990s and after retirement in 2015 I found myself with more time and have actually completed four novels since then.
What was the hardest part about writing this book?
Before I write a book, I have the plot in my mind and a rough idea what is going to happen and when. I have a lot more ideas for books, than books that I have actually written. So the answer would be: after having the original idea, writing a detailed plot.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Yes, Matteo. Matteo has a little bit of my son in him. My son works as a mountain guide and team trainer for the federal police in Berchtesgaden.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
My main message is resilience. If things don’t work out at first but you are convinced that what you are doing is right, then don’t give up, keep on trying. I have lived a lot of such examples in my life as, presumably, many other people.
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Rowena Kinread
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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This was such a fascinating interview — I loved learning about Rowena Kinread’s journey into writing and how her personal history and family experiences have shaped The Alpine Fortress. Thank you so much for hosting today's tour stop.
ReplyDeleteLovely Interview Rowena.
ReplyDelete