Beneath a Scarlet Sky

A Novel

By: Mark Sullivan

Narrated by: Will Damron

Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, the USA Today and #1 Amazon Charts bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky is the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours.

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.

In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.

Now, with the opportunity to spy for the Allies inside the German High Command, Pino endures the horrors of the war and the Nazi occupation by fighting in secret, his courage bolstered by his love for Anna and for the life he dreams they will one day share.

Fans of All the Light We Cannot See, The Nightingale, and Unbroken will enjoy this riveting saga of history, suspense, and love.

© 2017 by Mark Sullivan. ℗ 2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Exciting…taut thriller…Beneath a Scarlet Sky tells the true story of one young Italian’s efforts to thwart the Nazis.” —Shelf Awareness

“Meticulous research highlights this World War II novel of a youth growing into manhood…a captivating read…” —RT Book Reviews

“An incredible story, beautifully written, and a fine and noble book.” —James Patterson, New York Times bestselling author

Great idea, some weak spots, OK overall

What made the experience of listening to Beneath a Scarlet Sky the most enjoyable?

This was an amazing story. The book lapsed into trite sentimentality several times with invented conversations in an attempt to flesh out the facts of the story and make it more believable. NOT NECESSARY! This book went in wild swings from amazing with the actual true story to deep lows when the author tried to invent conversations and add personal romance and drama. Again, NOT NECESSARY and those invented moments became a bit of "you have to be kidding me" moments in an otherwise outstanding true story. The true facts were amazing.....the invented fictional parts were completely weak.

Have you listened to any of Will Damron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Wonderful narrator. Would be delighted to listen to other books by him.

I was too numb to cry at the end. heartbroken

There are some books that leave you feeling satisfied and there are books that fall flat. As an avid reader, I find it harder and harder to find a book that is completely and totally moving; a book that I know I will never forget. Beneath a Scarlet Sky IS a book I will NEVER forget.

My father was a history teacher who specialized in the history of WW2. He was so knowledge about it, partly because he lived through it. I say this because I started listening to this book with assumption that I was going to be familiar with much of the content. I was so wrong.

Only a few times in my life has a book made me feel so helpless and emotionally numb. I had always understood the degree of the Nazi brutality but plowing through this book brought a new understanding to their ungodly actions. I was shocked into numbness. I lied awake at night trying to comprehend how people could allow themselves to be so cruel. I think of slavery in America and how the tragedy in their lives was so similar and equally as helpless and ungodly as the treatment of the Jews in Europe under the Nazis. I try to find meaning in the history because the raw truth is too unbearable and painful to accept.

I don't like to share plot details in my reviews but all I can say is that my heart was broken and by the end of the book I was left aa helpless as I've ever been after reading a novel.

Five Stars is not enough!

Pino Lella is a hero for the ages. Full stop! His story is more dramatic than anything I could have ever imagined. I’m gutted it finished 5 minutes ago, because It was the perfect story married with perfect telling of the story married to the perfect narrator.,It was at turns exciting, inspirational, tragic, beautiful...in short it is everything! Pino shames what most of us elevate to “hero” status. There needs to be another word for Pino’s life. Mark Sullivan’s unbelievably gifted, inspired telling of Pino’s story deserves highest praise. IMHO this is a world-class audiobook due to Pino’s incredible story, Mark Sullivan’s writing which found the pitch-perfect performance of the narrator, Will Damon. Damron cemented his status as my favorite audiobook performer with this one.

I could blather on for an hour, but suffice it to say, believe every glowing review & get this one! I doubt there is anything better.

Thank you Audible for every minute I listened. Thank you to everyone involved. I loved it!

Unbelieveable story of unkown truth

Beyond great to read and feel one was there. WWII created many heroes. Nice this man finally has been recognized, at a personal price no man should have to pay.

Great story

I couldn't stop listening. It felt at times like I was there with them. It was a great story. I definitely recommend it.