THE TOWER OF MONTE RADO

1974

From blurb:

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Italy . . . 1944 . . .

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The grim, old hill-fortress of Monte Rado dominates the surrounding Tuscan countryside--an ideal look-out tower for the local partisans to spy on German troops. And when two British commandos, survivors of a coastal raid, require shelter, it provides a safe refuge for them too.

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Or so they think. As yet they do not know of the traitor in their midst. When they discover, it is too late and the two soldiers, along with the young girl who is helping them, find their hiding-place has become a death-trap . . .

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From ATA page:

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Alan rose to pull out Maggie's , chair, and in doing so came face to face with a man sitting on the far side of the pillar. Christ, he thought, feeling his throat go dry, and forced himself to sit down again, to light a cigarette as nonchalantly as he knew how and to drain the last of his cognac, all the time hoping that he had not been recognized.

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A click of the heels beside his chair told him that he had hoped in vain. He looked up. Blue eyes met his, eyes that were cold, puzzled, wary. 

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"Leutnant Muller at your service," a voice said stiffly. "And whom do I have the honour of addressing?"

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"Romantic and intensely moving."

--Evening News

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From rear cover of The Foam on the River:

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Most recently The Tower of Monte Rado is set in Italy during the war. Two survivors of a commando raid are rescued by an English girl working with the partisans and fight their own war from a little village far behind the German lines. In the end they sacrifice themselves to save the villagers, who have worked with them, from hideous reprisals. "Romantic and intensely moving", Evening News. "Convincing and heart-warming", She. 

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