Based in part on Gilbert’s own experiences as a prisoner-of-war during World War II, The Danger Within (Death in Captivity in Britain) is often considered one of the author’s best books. British prisoners in Campo 127 are concerned when they learn that the Allies are about to invade Italy since this means that it’s only a matter of time before the Germans seize control of their camp and so escape plans are escalated. But it appears that there may be a spy in the camp and when a man turns up dead under extremely odd circumstances in an escape tunnel, the prisoners have even more to be concerned about. It was filmed in 1959 with Richard Attenborough, Michael Wilding and Richard Todd.

Review

“A superb, though harrowing, story of murder in a prisoner-of-war camp… the skill with which suspense is kept up during a series of trivial incidents related to oppression and plans of escape is equaled only by the management of a large number of characters, Italian and English.”
—Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor,  A Catalogue of Crime

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