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The Quiet Librarian
8 hours, 12 minutes
After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this sweeping novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from award-winning writer Allen Eskens.
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.
Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.
Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.
After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this sweeping novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from award-winning writer Allen Eskens.
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.
Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.
Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.
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First published February 18, 2025
1925 people are currently reading
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About the author
Allen Eskens
11 books6,723 followersAllen Eskens is the USA Today-bestselling author of nine novels, including The Life We Bury and Nothing More Dangerous. His latest novel, THE QUIET LIBRARIAN, will publish on Feb. 18, 2025
He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Rosebud Award, Minnesota Book Award, and the Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar Award, Thriller Award, Nero, and Anthony Award. His work had been published in 23 languages.
To learn more about Allen or his books, go to www.alleneskens.com.
He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Rosebud Award, Minnesota Book Award, and the Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar Award, Thriller Award, Nero, and Anthony Award. His work had been published in 23 languages.
To learn more about Allen or his books, go to www.alleneskens.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,005 reviews
March 25, 2025
Five 💃💃💃💃💃Happy Dance Stars!!
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.
Thirty years before, Hana was someone Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.
Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.
This book is a historical fiction novel and also a thriller. This book is about the Bosnian and Serbian War. This book was really surprising for me because I didn't know anything about this war. The war happened in 1990.
I have read every book by this author and I loved all of his books. I am a big fan of this author. I always get excited when I open up an Allen Eskens book.
I thought this book was AMAZING! It is POWERFUL and MENACING! It was a fast-paced read and the action does not stop This book will shock you! This story tore at my heart strings. It was so emotional and heartbreaking. Make sure you have some tissues by you when you read this book. I love emotional books and this book will give you all the feels!
I loved the characters. My favorite character was Hana Babic! She is a quiet middle-aged librarian. She was a fierce warrior and a legend-the deadly Night Mora. She is so brave. Hannah's best friend, Amina, has been murdered. Amina has an 8-year-old grandson. Hana ends up taking care of her 8-year-old grandson. Detective Claypool wants to find out how Hana knew Amina. Hannah is a favorite female character. They're also are some evil characters too.
Allen Eskens is a very good storyteller. You will fall in love with his characters. I love to read historical fiction based on true events. I loved every minute of this book. It was incredible. This was a buddy read with DeAnn. Make sure you check out her review.
A huge shout out @ Novel Suspects for the physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!!
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.
Thirty years before, Hana was someone Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.
Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.
This book is a historical fiction novel and also a thriller. This book is about the Bosnian and Serbian War. This book was really surprising for me because I didn't know anything about this war. The war happened in 1990.
I have read every book by this author and I loved all of his books. I am a big fan of this author. I always get excited when I open up an Allen Eskens book.
I thought this book was AMAZING! It is POWERFUL and MENACING! It was a fast-paced read and the action does not stop This book will shock you! This story tore at my heart strings. It was so emotional and heartbreaking. Make sure you have some tissues by you when you read this book. I love emotional books and this book will give you all the feels!
I loved the characters. My favorite character was Hana Babic! She is a quiet middle-aged librarian. She was a fierce warrior and a legend-the deadly Night Mora. She is so brave. Hannah's best friend, Amina, has been murdered. Amina has an 8-year-old grandson. Hana ends up taking care of her 8-year-old grandson. Detective Claypool wants to find out how Hana knew Amina. Hannah is a favorite female character. They're also are some evil characters too.
Allen Eskens is a very good storyteller. You will fall in love with his characters. I love to read historical fiction based on true events. I loved every minute of this book. It was incredible. This was a buddy read with DeAnn. Make sure you check out her review.
A huge shout out @ Novel Suspects for the physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!!
March 20, 2025
Another brilliant book by Allen Eskens! I swear, he could write the phone book (do they still make them?) and I would read it! The Quiet Librarian is gripping, mysterious, powerful, beautifully written, well thought out, and hard to put down. I tend to be a very fast reader, but I forced myself to slow it down and take it slow with this one. I wanted to savor the writing, the attention to detail, the plot, and the characters.
Hanna Babic lives a quiet peaceful life working as a librarian in Minnesota. She is left shocked, reeling, and devastated when a detective informs her that Amina, her best friend has been murdered!! It is apparent that her past has caught up with her. Hanna met Amina in Bosnia during wartime. Hanna's past and present collide, and Hanna knows she could be next!
This book is gut wrenching and heartbreaking. The descriptions of the war and vile and horrific crimes against women is heart wrenching. This book is told in two timelines, and both pack an emotional punch but the time during the Bosnian war hits the hardest. As the book progresses readers will learn that quiet women dangerous - at least Hanna can be. She is quiet yet strong, fierce, and has a strong will to live.
The Quiet Librarian is a powerful and emotion evoking book which showcases Eskens writing skill and plot building expertise. This book is completely different from the other books he has written showing her versatility and attention to historical detail.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Hanna Babic lives a quiet peaceful life working as a librarian in Minnesota. She is left shocked, reeling, and devastated when a detective informs her that Amina, her best friend has been murdered!! It is apparent that her past has caught up with her. Hanna met Amina in Bosnia during wartime. Hanna's past and present collide, and Hanna knows she could be next!
This book is gut wrenching and heartbreaking. The descriptions of the war and vile and horrific crimes against women is heart wrenching. This book is told in two timelines, and both pack an emotional punch but the time during the Bosnian war hits the hardest. As the book progresses readers will learn that quiet women dangerous - at least Hanna can be. She is quiet yet strong, fierce, and has a strong will to live.
The Quiet Librarian is a powerful and emotion evoking book which showcases Eskens writing skill and plot building expertise. This book is completely different from the other books he has written showing her versatility and attention to historical detail.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 17, 2025
Another miraculous story by the best crime writer of our times! Allen Eskens is an author who brings out all the “feels”! Once again he has woven a narrative so powerful that this story will stay with me for a very long time! Utterly terrifying and brilliantly executed.
Hana is a single, forty-seven year old librarian living a quiet life in Minnesota. One day her whole world crashes when a detective informs her that her only friend, Amina has been murdered. Amina is a friend she has known since the war in Bosnia they so frighteningly escaped many years ago. Who would want to kill her friend and are they someone from their past seeking revenge?
As Hana grieves, she is also informed she is to take custody of Amina’s eight year old grandson, Dylan. With everything changing and the death of her friend, she struggles to make sense of her secret past coming back to haunt her. Are her and Dylan both in danger now too?
The story is told from the past of the horrific war in Bosnia to the present time. My heart ached for the heinous crimes these men committed against the women and children. The fact that these things actually happened ripped my heart in two. Utterly gut wrenching. The backstories of the characters drew me in and held me prisoner alone. I was seriously invested and blew through this in two days!
A masterpiece tale of survival that is nothing less than 5 brilliant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m forever grateful for Eskens reaching out to me to read The Quiet Librarian. Huge thanks to Mulholland for sending me my gorgeous gifted ARC copy and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Publication date February 18, 2025
Hana is a single, forty-seven year old librarian living a quiet life in Minnesota. One day her whole world crashes when a detective informs her that her only friend, Amina has been murdered. Amina is a friend she has known since the war in Bosnia they so frighteningly escaped many years ago. Who would want to kill her friend and are they someone from their past seeking revenge?
As Hana grieves, she is also informed she is to take custody of Amina’s eight year old grandson, Dylan. With everything changing and the death of her friend, she struggles to make sense of her secret past coming back to haunt her. Are her and Dylan both in danger now too?
The story is told from the past of the horrific war in Bosnia to the present time. My heart ached for the heinous crimes these men committed against the women and children. The fact that these things actually happened ripped my heart in two. Utterly gut wrenching. The backstories of the characters drew me in and held me prisoner alone. I was seriously invested and blew through this in two days!
A masterpiece tale of survival that is nothing less than 5 brilliant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m forever grateful for Eskens reaching out to me to read The Quiet Librarian. Huge thanks to Mulholland for sending me my gorgeous gifted ARC copy and NetGalley for the opportunity.
Publication date February 18, 2025
August 27, 2025
In a Nutshell: A dual-timeline mystery. Interesting lead character, good story, great historical content. Quite gruesome in the war-related bits. A tad too convenient at times, and the romance subplot track annoyed me (as expected). But on the whole, a worthwhile read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
PSA: The GR blurb contains major spoilers.
Bookish Yays:
🕊️ The introductory note by the author, offering details about the historical setting of the book. With the Bosnian War being at the centre of the historical (1995) timeline, this was very helpful.
🕊️ The implementation of the above war into the storyline. I am not much aware of this part of history except for the bare bones I had learnt thanks to Priscilla Morris’ ‘Black Butterflies’, but the book is informative enough without feeling like a history textbook. The war is not even that historical (It took place just thirty years ago), but it feels like an echo of so many wars occurring today. Humans just don’t learn. 😢
🕊️ The “quiet librarian” of the title vs. actual Hana – what a fabulous contrast! Love how both these aspects of her personality were written convincingly. Also loved Amina’s character though she had just a few scenes.
🕊️ Bonus points for the portrayal of middle-aged Hana, which was realistic instead of making her sound like a senior citizen.
🕊️ The two eight-year-old boys in the story, though in limited roles, won my heart.
🕊️ The use of the alternating timelines in telling this story – very efficient. The plot development is smooth and consistent, and each timeline is strong. The short chapters also help keep the tempo.
🕊️ The Bosnian timeline – informative, tense, heartbreaking, and brilliant. Love the portrayal of how war and war-related trauma affect the human psyche. This timeline is quite triggering, as the depiction of war crimes is quite brutal. But such content is to be expected, and to the book’s credit, the writing doesn’t sensationalise any event.
🕊️ No examples of “Man writing woman” despite there being two key women in the plot. Any male author who writes women like this needs more readership.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚔️ The ‘why’ of the murder is a bit farfetched. The ending, though riveting, also feels a bit too convenient and rushed. But such exaggerations and conveniences are de rigueur these days in the genre, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
⚔️ Unexpectedly, there is a minor romance arc in both timelines (or rather, romance in one timeline and physical attraction in another.) The tracks don’t dominate the main plot, but they are still annoying, especially in the contemporary story where it just wasn't needed.
Bookish Nays:
💣 So unprofessional that a police officer discusses intricate and confidential details of an ongoing case with a stranger (who could be both a suspect and a source of information), and that too, over post-work dinner dates. This part was a major negative in an otherwise strong story.
All in all, this historical mystery is a great read, even accounting for the exaggerations and unrealistic police behaviour. The historical timeline is the most impactful in generating plenty of strong emotions.
This is my first book by this popular thriller author, and I can see why he has so many fans. I would definitely like to read more of his works.
Recommended to fans of mystery-thrillers with dual timelines, especially those interested in reading about a war not often explored in fiction.
4 stars.
This was a library read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Minnesota. Hana is a reserved forty-seven-year old librarian who keeps her personal life guarded. When a detective comes to her with the news that her best friend Amina has been murdered, Hana knows that her past has finally caught up with her. But as no one else knows who she was or what she did, Hana has to rely on her instincts and her old training to protect herself and also Amina’s eight-year-old grandson who has been left in Hana’s care.
The story comes to us in two timelines, both written in third person. One is the contemporary track from Hana’s point of view. The other is from 1995, set during the Bosnian War.
PSA: The GR blurb contains major spoilers.
Bookish Yays:
🕊️ The introductory note by the author, offering details about the historical setting of the book. With the Bosnian War being at the centre of the historical (1995) timeline, this was very helpful.
🕊️ The implementation of the above war into the storyline. I am not much aware of this part of history except for the bare bones I had learnt thanks to Priscilla Morris’ ‘Black Butterflies’, but the book is informative enough without feeling like a history textbook. The war is not even that historical (It took place just thirty years ago), but it feels like an echo of so many wars occurring today. Humans just don’t learn. 😢
🕊️ The “quiet librarian” of the title vs. actual Hana – what a fabulous contrast! Love how both these aspects of her personality were written convincingly. Also loved Amina’s character though she had just a few scenes.
🕊️ Bonus points for the portrayal of middle-aged Hana, which was realistic instead of making her sound like a senior citizen.
🕊️ The two eight-year-old boys in the story, though in limited roles, won my heart.
🕊️ The use of the alternating timelines in telling this story – very efficient. The plot development is smooth and consistent, and each timeline is strong. The short chapters also help keep the tempo.
🕊️ The Bosnian timeline – informative, tense, heartbreaking, and brilliant. Love the portrayal of how war and war-related trauma affect the human psyche. This timeline is quite triggering, as the depiction of war crimes is quite brutal. But such content is to be expected, and to the book’s credit, the writing doesn’t sensationalise any event.
🕊️ No examples of “Man writing woman” despite there being two key women in the plot. Any male author who writes women like this needs more readership.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
⚔️ The ‘why’ of the murder is a bit farfetched. The ending, though riveting, also feels a bit too convenient and rushed. But such exaggerations and conveniences are de rigueur these days in the genre, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
⚔️ Unexpectedly, there is a minor romance arc in both timelines (or rather, romance in one timeline and physical attraction in another.) The tracks don’t dominate the main plot, but they are still annoying, especially in the contemporary story where it just wasn't needed.
Bookish Nays:
💣 So unprofessional that a police officer discusses intricate and confidential details of an ongoing case with a stranger (who could be both a suspect and a source of information), and that too, over post-work dinner dates. This part was a major negative in an otherwise strong story.
All in all, this historical mystery is a great read, even accounting for the exaggerations and unrealistic police behaviour. The historical timeline is the most impactful in generating plenty of strong emotions.
This is my first book by this popular thriller author, and I can see why he has so many fans. I would definitely like to read more of his works.
Recommended to fans of mystery-thrillers with dual timelines, especially those interested in reading about a war not often explored in fiction.
4 stars.
This was a library read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
April 7, 2025
The Quiet Librarian: A Tale of Two Reactions
The Sisters are at it again, rambling about our very different reactions to The Quiet Librarian and boy did we feel differently. For me, this was one of those books where mood reading came into play hard. I wasn’t quite in the mood for the heavy trauma and darkness that threads through the story. For Brenda that very darkness was the heartbeat of the story making Hana’s journey so gripping.
My rambling
3.5 ⭐️ Eye-opening, important, and powerful!
I truly appreciated and enjoyed the storyline of The Quiet Librarian. The issue for me was simply a matter of wrong book, wrong timing. I do not think I was prepared for how heartbreaking this story would be, and I found myself tapping out for a stretch in the middle because of it.
The novel starts strong, pulling readers immediately into Hana’s quiet life, which is quickly disrupted by the darkness of her past. The ending was equally strong, providing a real sense of vindication and closure that felt right for the story.
The Quiet Librarian is told through dual timelines with alternating chapters, which is by far my favourite format. I found myself leaning more toward the present-day storyline but still appreciated the depth the past provided. The way the two timelines were woven together worked really well and came together perfectly by the end.
Historical fiction based on true events is always my favourite type of story to choose, even if they are not always easy for me to read. Stories like this can be deeply disturbing and painful, and this one was no exception. Still, I am always thankful for books like this and for authors like Allen Eskens who shed light on parts of history I would have otherwise known little about.
This was a difficult but important read that I am glad to have picked up.
Brenda’s rambling: A Thrilling, Horrifying Dark Journey with a Quiet, Unforgettable Hero
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Our final rambling? The Quiet Librarian hits hard, but how it lands? Well, that’s a different story for each of us.
The Sisters are at it again, rambling about our very different reactions to The Quiet Librarian and boy did we feel differently. For me, this was one of those books where mood reading came into play hard. I wasn’t quite in the mood for the heavy trauma and darkness that threads through the story. For Brenda that very darkness was the heartbeat of the story making Hana’s journey so gripping.
My rambling
3.5 ⭐️ Eye-opening, important, and powerful!
I truly appreciated and enjoyed the storyline of The Quiet Librarian. The issue for me was simply a matter of wrong book, wrong timing. I do not think I was prepared for how heartbreaking this story would be, and I found myself tapping out for a stretch in the middle because of it.
The novel starts strong, pulling readers immediately into Hana’s quiet life, which is quickly disrupted by the darkness of her past. The ending was equally strong, providing a real sense of vindication and closure that felt right for the story.
The Quiet Librarian is told through dual timelines with alternating chapters, which is by far my favourite format. I found myself leaning more toward the present-day storyline but still appreciated the depth the past provided. The way the two timelines were woven together worked really well and came together perfectly by the end.
Historical fiction based on true events is always my favourite type of story to choose, even if they are not always easy for me to read. Stories like this can be deeply disturbing and painful, and this one was no exception. Still, I am always thankful for books like this and for authors like Allen Eskens who shed light on parts of history I would have otherwise known little about.
This was a difficult but important read that I am glad to have picked up.
Brenda’s rambling: A Thrilling, Horrifying Dark Journey with a Quiet, Unforgettable Hero
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Our final rambling? The Quiet Librarian hits hard, but how it lands? Well, that’s a different story for each of us.
April 3, 2025
My review is a bit of a mixed bag. 3.5 stars
I appreciate reading a book that highlighted the history of the Bosnian-Serbian War. The atrocities were horrific and difficult to read. This happened in our recent lifetime, and we should never ever forget.
I won't go into the plot, and the details of the Serbian-Bosnian War are easy to find and worth the rabbit hole I went down. We all need to be better informed.
HF is not a genre I prefer, for many reasons, which I won't go into. I've made no secret of the fact that I prefer non-fiction when reading about history. Yet, I still appreciate the author highlighting this period of history, which led me down a path to learn even more of this horrific war.
But, I didn't find this particular telling compelling. Yes, it was brutal and horrific, and yes, the revenge plot was understandable and based in truth. Yet, the revenge plot was predictable and was a slog at times. The ending, while unsurprising, was tense enough to bump my rating up to a 4.
HF readers will likely love this more than I did. My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I had a great discussion. It would make a terrific book club read.
I appreciate reading a book that highlighted the history of the Bosnian-Serbian War. The atrocities were horrific and difficult to read. This happened in our recent lifetime, and we should never ever forget.
I won't go into the plot, and the details of the Serbian-Bosnian War are easy to find and worth the rabbit hole I went down. We all need to be better informed.
HF is not a genre I prefer, for many reasons, which I won't go into. I've made no secret of the fact that I prefer non-fiction when reading about history. Yet, I still appreciate the author highlighting this period of history, which led me down a path to learn even more of this horrific war.
But, I didn't find this particular telling compelling. Yes, it was brutal and horrific, and yes, the revenge plot was understandable and based in truth. Yet, the revenge plot was predictable and was a slog at times. The ending, while unsurprising, was tense enough to bump my rating up to a 4.
HF readers will likely love this more than I did. My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I had a great discussion. It would make a terrific book club read.
April 6, 2025
The Quiet Librarian: A Tale of Two Reactions
The Sisters are at it again, rambling about our very different reactions to The Quiet Librarian and boy did we feel differently. For Norma, this was one of those books where mood reading came into play hard. She wasn’t quite in the mood for the heavy trauma and darkness that threads through the story. For me, that very darkness was the heartbeat of the story making Hana’s journey so gripping.
My rambling
A Thrilling, Horrifying Dark Journey with a Quiet, Unforgettable Hero
Okay, I have to admit—one of the reasons I love historical fiction is because it takes real events, mixes them with some drama, and makes you think, “Yeah, this could have happened.” Now Allen Eskens does just that here, creating not just another historical novel— but an emotional rollercoaster, with a bit of thriller thrown in and a female lead you’ll immediately want to root for.
A Quiet Hero
Let’s talk about Hana. On the outside? She’s just a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants a peaceful life. But inside? She’s carrying decades of pain, trauma, and secrets she thought she’d buried. When her best friend is murdered, everything she’s been hiding comes rushing back, and what follows is a wild mix of mystery, revenge, and one compelling journey. Thirty years ago, Hana wasn’t the woman we meet now. She lived through the horrors of war-torn Bosnia, making choices that still haunt her today.
Some wounds never really heal—but some women learn to turn them into weapons.
Hana is quiet and underestimated, and that makes her dangerous in the best way. She’s steady, loyal, unstoppable when needed, and fearless when it counts. Fear doesn’t stop her. Grief doesn’t break her. She’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.
From the moment I picked this up, I was hooked. I was rooting for Hana, holding my breath through every twist, and racing toward the end. The thriller vibe in this story does amps up the drama. Danger, horrifying truths, and secrets kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. This is a story about resilience, revenge, and the quiet power of a woman who refuses to stay hidden. You won’t forget Hana Babic.
By the end, I left wishing for heroes and heroines like her right now—quiet, fierce, and ready to take on the world today, no matter the cost to themself.
Our final rambling? The Quiet Librarian hits hard, but how it lands? Well, that’s a different story for each of us.
For Norma's rambling Eye-opening, important, and powerful!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Sisters are at it again, rambling about our very different reactions to The Quiet Librarian and boy did we feel differently. For Norma, this was one of those books where mood reading came into play hard. She wasn’t quite in the mood for the heavy trauma and darkness that threads through the story. For me, that very darkness was the heartbeat of the story making Hana’s journey so gripping.
My rambling
A Thrilling, Horrifying Dark Journey with a Quiet, Unforgettable Hero
Okay, I have to admit—one of the reasons I love historical fiction is because it takes real events, mixes them with some drama, and makes you think, “Yeah, this could have happened.” Now Allen Eskens does just that here, creating not just another historical novel— but an emotional rollercoaster, with a bit of thriller thrown in and a female lead you’ll immediately want to root for.
A Quiet Hero
Let’s talk about Hana. On the outside? She’s just a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants a peaceful life. But inside? She’s carrying decades of pain, trauma, and secrets she thought she’d buried. When her best friend is murdered, everything she’s been hiding comes rushing back, and what follows is a wild mix of mystery, revenge, and one compelling journey. Thirty years ago, Hana wasn’t the woman we meet now. She lived through the horrors of war-torn Bosnia, making choices that still haunt her today.
Some wounds never really heal—but some women learn to turn them into weapons.
Hana is quiet and underestimated, and that makes her dangerous in the best way. She’s steady, loyal, unstoppable when needed, and fearless when it counts. Fear doesn’t stop her. Grief doesn’t break her. She’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.
From the moment I picked this up, I was hooked. I was rooting for Hana, holding my breath through every twist, and racing toward the end. The thriller vibe in this story does amps up the drama. Danger, horrifying truths, and secrets kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. This is a story about resilience, revenge, and the quiet power of a woman who refuses to stay hidden. You won’t forget Hana Babic.
By the end, I left wishing for heroes and heroines like her right now—quiet, fierce, and ready to take on the world today, no matter the cost to themself.
Our final rambling? The Quiet Librarian hits hard, but how it lands? Well, that’s a different story for each of us.
For Norma's rambling Eye-opening, important, and powerful!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 17, 2026
This author first captured my attention with his book, “The Life We Bury.” That was the beginning of a wonderful series. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to try it. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So, when this one came out, especially with a librarian as a main character I was ready to read it.
Eskens will take readers on an emotional roller coaster ride as we traverse the past and present through the Bosnian war and present-time crime drama. As readers we first meet quiet, preferably invisible librarian Hana. (Hence: the title of the book!)
We learn that there is more to this unassuming immigrant now settled in Minnesota, when Hana is confronted within the stacks of her beloved library by Detective David Claypool about the murder of her best friend Amina.
What past is Hana hiding from, and what danger does this past put her and Amina’s grandson, Dylan in the path of? Even so, why is the ‘enemy’ coming in present time?
Although, it may be difficult for this reader to understand why the ‘enemy’ from Bosnia may be tracking down someone 30 years later, the story still was compelling. It was relatively well-paced, heart-wrenching, and in many ways felt like a true-to-life thriller, giving readers a front seat view of the strength and resilience of individuals during the cruelties of war. (Which might also be a trigger for some.)
So, when this one came out, especially with a librarian as a main character I was ready to read it.
Eskens will take readers on an emotional roller coaster ride as we traverse the past and present through the Bosnian war and present-time crime drama. As readers we first meet quiet, preferably invisible librarian Hana. (Hence: the title of the book!)
We learn that there is more to this unassuming immigrant now settled in Minnesota, when Hana is confronted within the stacks of her beloved library by Detective David Claypool about the murder of her best friend Amina.
What past is Hana hiding from, and what danger does this past put her and Amina’s grandson, Dylan in the path of? Even so, why is the ‘enemy’ coming in present time?
Although, it may be difficult for this reader to understand why the ‘enemy’ from Bosnia may be tracking down someone 30 years later, the story still was compelling. It was relatively well-paced, heart-wrenching, and in many ways felt like a true-to-life thriller, giving readers a front seat view of the strength and resilience of individuals during the cruelties of war. (Which might also be a trigger for some.)
April 3, 2025
This book reminds the reader that the aftermath of war never leaves those whose lives were affected.
Hana Babic leads a quiet life as a librarian. However, all that changes when her best friend is murdered. Evil in all its forms follows as Hana comes to gripes not only with her friend's murder but with the events of a war she was involved in thirty years ago. Then Hana was known as Nura Divjak, a teenage girl growing up in the mountains of Bosnia. The war is raging against Serbia, but the people in the mountains feel a level of safety.
All that changes when a band of Serbian soldiers arrive and viciously murder her family, rape her mother, and kill her young brother. Nura (Hana) sees this all as she was hiding under her home. Revenge is foremost on her mind as she joins a militia and becomes a well known avenger. However, she must escape and does, traveling to America where she becomes the unassuming Hana.
Now her friend is dead and someone is out to get Hana as well. She also must protect her ward, the grandson of her best friend.
Mr Eskens, stepping out of his usual genre, presents us with a tragic story, one that reminds the reader that horrible vile things have been done because of ethnic cleansing, genocide, and mass murder, with widespread sexual violence. This was truly a book that evokes feelings and empathy for those poor people swept away by the winds of war.
Jan and I had great conversations about this story and its aftermath.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/lo...
Hana Babic leads a quiet life as a librarian. However, all that changes when her best friend is murdered. Evil in all its forms follows as Hana comes to gripes not only with her friend's murder but with the events of a war she was involved in thirty years ago. Then Hana was known as Nura Divjak, a teenage girl growing up in the mountains of Bosnia. The war is raging against Serbia, but the people in the mountains feel a level of safety.
All that changes when a band of Serbian soldiers arrive and viciously murder her family, rape her mother, and kill her young brother. Nura (Hana) sees this all as she was hiding under her home. Revenge is foremost on her mind as she joins a militia and becomes a well known avenger. However, she must escape and does, traveling to America where she becomes the unassuming Hana.
Now her friend is dead and someone is out to get Hana as well. She also must protect her ward, the grandson of her best friend.
Mr Eskens, stepping out of his usual genre, presents us with a tragic story, one that reminds the reader that horrible vile things have been done because of ethnic cleansing, genocide, and mass murder, with widespread sexual violence. This was truly a book that evokes feelings and empathy for those poor people swept away by the winds of war.
Jan and I had great conversations about this story and its aftermath.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/lo...
August 23, 2024
“We have both light and dark within us - written on our hearts - and to do what is right, we need only pay heed.”
I binge-read this compelling story, a stand-alone, by new-to-me author, Allen Eskens. It was so different from anything I’d ever read and the storytelling was so well done that I lost track of time. It’s set in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia and is an enlightening read inspired by the Bosniak refugees in Minneapolis.
Hana Babic is a timid, mousy and invisible, middle-aged librarian in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To the school children, she’s ‘The Sweater Lady’- someone who helps them locate information and find answers to their literary questions. Unbeknownst to them, she’s worn that disguise for thirty years; she’s a work of fiction. Half a world away, she’s known as ‘The Night Mora’ and she’s a wanted person. Furthermore, she's not really Hana Babic.
In searching for her own answers, the quiet librarian operates with the mindset of making the prey come to her. This creates a tension-filled story and pulls readers into the narrative as they root for the protagonist and her quest for vengeance and atonement.
You’ll read about Nura Divjak, a Balkan, whose past has come knocking, seeking vengeance. Slowly, in flashbacks of alternating chapters, you’ll discover the secret past of this fierce fighter and the events that created her resolve.
This great survival story featuring the war crimes of the Balkans and the refugees who escaped the tumult was an enlightening read.
I was gifted this copy by Mulholland Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I binge-read this compelling story, a stand-alone, by new-to-me author, Allen Eskens. It was so different from anything I’d ever read and the storytelling was so well done that I lost track of time. It’s set in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia and is an enlightening read inspired by the Bosniak refugees in Minneapolis.
Hana Babic is a timid, mousy and invisible, middle-aged librarian in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To the school children, she’s ‘The Sweater Lady’- someone who helps them locate information and find answers to their literary questions. Unbeknownst to them, she’s worn that disguise for thirty years; she’s a work of fiction. Half a world away, she’s known as ‘The Night Mora’ and she’s a wanted person. Furthermore, she's not really Hana Babic.
In searching for her own answers, the quiet librarian operates with the mindset of making the prey come to her. This creates a tension-filled story and pulls readers into the narrative as they root for the protagonist and her quest for vengeance and atonement.
You’ll read about Nura Divjak, a Balkan, whose past has come knocking, seeking vengeance. Slowly, in flashbacks of alternating chapters, you’ll discover the secret past of this fierce fighter and the events that created her resolve.
This great survival story featuring the war crimes of the Balkans and the refugees who escaped the tumult was an enlightening read.
I was gifted this copy by Mulholland Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 18, 2025
Hana is a librarian in Minnesota who enjoys her deliberately quiet existence. When a detective arrives unexpectedly sharing tragic news that her best friend has been killed, Hana’s routine life is disrupted.
The detective looks to Hana for information that may aid in the murder investigation but Hana doesn’t let on all that she knows. Her past involves another name and a life in war-torn Bosnia, history she’s kept under wraps for a reason. Now though, Hana must determine who murdered her friend and worry about them coming after her next.
This is a slow burn suspense story that kept me engaged. I was curious to learn the reveals regarding Hana’s history and was rooting for her to answer the questions surrounding her best friend’s death.
The Quiet Librarian is much different than The Life We Bury, the other book by Eskens I’ve read. I really enjoyed both stories.
The detective looks to Hana for information that may aid in the murder investigation but Hana doesn’t let on all that she knows. Her past involves another name and a life in war-torn Bosnia, history she’s kept under wraps for a reason. Now though, Hana must determine who murdered her friend and worry about them coming after her next.
This is a slow burn suspense story that kept me engaged. I was curious to learn the reveals regarding Hana’s history and was rooting for her to answer the questions surrounding her best friend’s death.
The Quiet Librarian is much different than The Life We Bury, the other book by Eskens I’ve read. I really enjoyed both stories.
July 23, 2024
This was incredibly well done. Allen Eskens is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine and I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC. The Quiet Librarian comes out in February of 2025 and you should read it when it comes out.
This has a little bit of everything but it’s not overly done and it’s displayed perfectly. The story is told in a dual timeline both as a thriller/crime drama told in modern day Minnesota and part historical fiction in the mid 90s in Bosnia during the Bosnia war for independence and the horrible genocide (Srebrenica massacre) which resulted in the death of 8,000 Muslim boys and men. These two stories are linked by Hana, a Middle Aged librarian with a very little life living in Minnesota. When a police detective finds her and reveals her only friend in the world has been murdered, she desperately tries to discover the truth that happened to her friend before her own very mysterious past is revealed.
This was so good. Eye opening, fast paced, shocking.., so many amazing descriptive words I could use. I highly recommend this book.
This has a little bit of everything but it’s not overly done and it’s displayed perfectly. The story is told in a dual timeline both as a thriller/crime drama told in modern day Minnesota and part historical fiction in the mid 90s in Bosnia during the Bosnia war for independence and the horrible genocide (Srebrenica massacre) which resulted in the death of 8,000 Muslim boys and men. These two stories are linked by Hana, a Middle Aged librarian with a very little life living in Minnesota. When a police detective finds her and reveals her only friend in the world has been murdered, she desperately tries to discover the truth that happened to her friend before her own very mysterious past is revealed.
This was so good. Eye opening, fast paced, shocking.., so many amazing descriptive words I could use. I highly recommend this book.
September 3, 2025
I love fiction that delves into wars or political issues from the past, as I learn something new while also enjoying myself. This delivered on that promise, and I’m glad I read it.
August 29, 2025
Raw. 🔥 Emotional. 🔥 Unforgettable. 🔥
A powerful dual-timeline story set between war-torn Bosnia and present-day Minnesota that explores survival, vengeance, and the heavy price of justice. 📚💔
Eskens doesn’t hold back; his portrayal of war is brutal yet honest, and through Hana’s journey, we feel the weight of trauma, resilience, and choices that shape a life. Hana is a fascinating heroine: strong, layered, and deeply human. 🙌 Her story is heartbreaking yet inspiring, reminding us of the hidden battles people carry and the strength it takes to keep moving forward. 🌍🔥
This isn’t a “pretty” read, war never is, but it’s powerful, gripping, and thought-provoking. The pacing stumbles in places, but overall it’s a moving and impactful read. If you’re looking for a historical thriller that’s meaty, emotional, and unforgettable, Eskens delivers. 👏✨
A powerful dual-timeline story set between war-torn Bosnia and present-day Minnesota that explores survival, vengeance, and the heavy price of justice. 📚💔
Eskens doesn’t hold back; his portrayal of war is brutal yet honest, and through Hana’s journey, we feel the weight of trauma, resilience, and choices that shape a life. Hana is a fascinating heroine: strong, layered, and deeply human. 🙌 Her story is heartbreaking yet inspiring, reminding us of the hidden battles people carry and the strength it takes to keep moving forward. 🌍🔥
This isn’t a “pretty” read, war never is, but it’s powerful, gripping, and thought-provoking. The pacing stumbles in places, but overall it’s a moving and impactful read. If you’re looking for a historical thriller that’s meaty, emotional, and unforgettable, Eskens delivers. 👏✨
March 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this suspenseful and extraordinary war-torn historical fiction novel that has a mystery at the heart of it. This dual timeline story vacillates between 1995 in Bosnia and years later in Minnesota.
Nura is a young Muslim girl from a loving family who delighted in watching Olympic figure skating. However, a destructive and devastating situation quickly has her becoming a spy and soldier helping the Bosnian army fight against the Serbs. Nura's feelings of hatred, and desire for revenge are equally matched by her unbelievable bravery and resilience.
Many years later, Nura takes on the identity of Hana, a quiet unassuming librarian. But, when Hana's closest friend Amina is murdered, she realizes that her past has returned to find her. Will Hana be able to find her friend's killer in time to save herself and Amina's son?
Nura is a young Muslim girl from a loving family who delighted in watching Olympic figure skating. However, a destructive and devastating situation quickly has her becoming a spy and soldier helping the Bosnian army fight against the Serbs. Nura's feelings of hatred, and desire for revenge are equally matched by her unbelievable bravery and resilience.
Many years later, Nura takes on the identity of Hana, a quiet unassuming librarian. But, when Hana's closest friend Amina is murdered, she realizes that her past has returned to find her. Will Hana be able to find her friend's killer in time to save herself and Amina's son?
February 28, 2025
Having discovered the wonderful writing of Allen Eskens last fall, I was eager to get my hands on this standalone novel. It was completely different from many of the author’s previous books, permitting Eskens to pull on the heartstrings of the reader. Pulling on the horrors of the Yugoslavian Civil War, Eskens delves deeply into this thriller that is steeped with history in a two-timeline story. He educates and entertains in equal measure and leaves little unaddressed. A powerful book that is as impactful as it is well written. Eskens is an author worth being on many people’s radars!
Enjoying a quiet life in Minnesota, Hana Babic enjoys her work in a local library and being left to her own devices. She’s visited one day by a curious detective who seeks her help on a case. It would appear as though her best friend has been murdered and no one has any concrete clues. This triggers Hana’s memories to a life and history she shelved when she arrived in the United States, wishing never to remember the horrors of her youth.
It’s been three decades since Hana had another persona. She was Nura Divajak, a Bosnian teenager who lived in a small-town, scarred when Serbian soldiers arrived to murder her entire family in front of her. Refusing to stand by and let herself be killed, Nura joined a militia to fight against the Serbian attacks. She was not only a survivor, but a legend, as she helped the effort and targeted those who would kill those like her for reasons that made no sense. Nura was able to escape the dismantled Yugoslavia for the United States with a price on her head and a determination never to think about those years again.
In present-day Minnesota, someone has found Hana and is ready to exact some revenge. One body is enough to show Hana that she is not safe, nor is the eight-year-old child left in her care. There is only one choice to ensure she can neutralise the threat and protect this little boy. She will have to become Nura once more and resume her tactical ways to stop the killing and permit her to return to the quiet life of a librarian. A brilliant piece that pulls on two time periods and shows Allen Eskens is able to lead the reader through this impactful adventure.
I have yet to find a book by Allen Eskens that I did not thoroughly enjoy. His books are well-paced and keep me eager to learn a little more as things progress. The narrative moves things along, yet lingers over important issues that serve to keep the reader locked in the middle of the story’s most important aspects. Many of the characters provide the reader with an understanding of many struggles and horrors that befell segments of the population simply for who they were and not their politics. Eskens adds depth and flavouring to each name that appears, making things a gift for the reader. Plot points are woven into the historical discoveries found within the larger story. The attentive reader will enjoy all they discover and how the surprises are well-spun to make the most of a dire situation. I do love a great Allen Eskens novel and this is surely one of those!
Kudos, Mr. Eskens, for showing a different side to your storytelling!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Enjoying a quiet life in Minnesota, Hana Babic enjoys her work in a local library and being left to her own devices. She’s visited one day by a curious detective who seeks her help on a case. It would appear as though her best friend has been murdered and no one has any concrete clues. This triggers Hana’s memories to a life and history she shelved when she arrived in the United States, wishing never to remember the horrors of her youth.
It’s been three decades since Hana had another persona. She was Nura Divajak, a Bosnian teenager who lived in a small-town, scarred when Serbian soldiers arrived to murder her entire family in front of her. Refusing to stand by and let herself be killed, Nura joined a militia to fight against the Serbian attacks. She was not only a survivor, but a legend, as she helped the effort and targeted those who would kill those like her for reasons that made no sense. Nura was able to escape the dismantled Yugoslavia for the United States with a price on her head and a determination never to think about those years again.
In present-day Minnesota, someone has found Hana and is ready to exact some revenge. One body is enough to show Hana that she is not safe, nor is the eight-year-old child left in her care. There is only one choice to ensure she can neutralise the threat and protect this little boy. She will have to become Nura once more and resume her tactical ways to stop the killing and permit her to return to the quiet life of a librarian. A brilliant piece that pulls on two time periods and shows Allen Eskens is able to lead the reader through this impactful adventure.
I have yet to find a book by Allen Eskens that I did not thoroughly enjoy. His books are well-paced and keep me eager to learn a little more as things progress. The narrative moves things along, yet lingers over important issues that serve to keep the reader locked in the middle of the story’s most important aspects. Many of the characters provide the reader with an understanding of many struggles and horrors that befell segments of the population simply for who they were and not their politics. Eskens adds depth and flavouring to each name that appears, making things a gift for the reader. Plot points are woven into the historical discoveries found within the larger story. The attentive reader will enjoy all they discover and how the surprises are well-spun to make the most of a dire situation. I do love a great Allen Eskens novel and this is surely one of those!
Kudos, Mr. Eskens, for showing a different side to your storytelling!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 22, 2025
Solid writing, and a strong story with representation of history that's often overlooked by Western readers — that said, the pacing was quite slow and I found myself more reluctant to return to this story than I expected from my past experience with Eskens' work. The tone and style is definitely a departure from his earlier books.
August 24, 2025
Hana Babic is the quiet librarian of the title. She wears drab skirts and baggy cardigans, to look plainer and older than she really is, so that no one notices her. A refugee from Bosnia, she escaped the war after her family were killed and came to America with her friend Amina Junuzoić to start new lives. Amina is the only one who knows about Hana’s past and the dark secrets she must keep hidden. But now a detective comes to tell Hana that Amina has died after a fall from her balcony and Amina fears that something evil from her hidden past is about to catch up with her.
This is a terrific novel, both gripping and heart wrenching. I knew little about the Bosnian war of 1992-95 particular its roots, before the reading this but the author provides enough background to explain what is going on without it seeming like a history lesson. Told from Hana’s point of view in the present day and in 1995, the two time-lines fit together perfectly. The war scenes are dark and often brutal, but necessary to explain the trauma both Amina and Hana still suffer. Hana is such a strong woman, beautifully portrayed by Eskens. This is a powerful story that hooked me in right to the very end. 4.5★
This is a terrific novel, both gripping and heart wrenching. I knew little about the Bosnian war of 1992-95 particular its roots, before the reading this but the author provides enough background to explain what is going on without it seeming like a history lesson. Told from Hana’s point of view in the present day and in 1995, the two time-lines fit together perfectly. The war scenes are dark and often brutal, but necessary to explain the trauma both Amina and Hana still suffer. Hana is such a strong woman, beautifully portrayed by Eskens. This is a powerful story that hooked me in right to the very end. 4.5★
January 8, 2026
For a full spoiler version of this review, please check out my book review blog here: https://spoiledbooks.blogspot.com/
Allen Eskens delivers another thoughtful, beautifully written story with The Quiet Librarian. After reading The Life We Bury, I already knew he could mix mystery with deep emotion, and this one proves it again. It’s darker and more reflective, blending historical fiction and psychological suspense in a way that feels both gripping and human.
Hana (formerly Nura) is a quietly fierce protagonist whose past in war-torn Bosnia collides with her present life in Minnesota. The dual timeline structure keeps the story layered and tense, and the moral questions about justice and revenge give it real weight.
⭐️ 4/5 — emotional, well-crafted, and haunting.
Allen Eskens delivers another thoughtful, beautifully written story with The Quiet Librarian. After reading The Life We Bury, I already knew he could mix mystery with deep emotion, and this one proves it again. It’s darker and more reflective, blending historical fiction and psychological suspense in a way that feels both gripping and human.
Hana (formerly Nura) is a quietly fierce protagonist whose past in war-torn Bosnia collides with her present life in Minnesota. The dual timeline structure keeps the story layered and tense, and the moral questions about justice and revenge give it real weight.
⭐️ 4/5 — emotional, well-crafted, and haunting.
February 25, 2025
Hana Babik learns of the murder of her close friend and goes after the killer. A long history with her friend is told from alternate time lines, present day Minnesota and the Bosnian/Serbian war. Sometimes painful, but the story and the writing are brilliant. .
September 7, 2025
I loved every second of this book. This is a heartbreaking story. But I still loved it. The main character was a strong woman and I really liked her pout of view. Also the ending was amazing. Would highly recommend.
March 2, 2025
“The Quiet Librarian”, by Allen Eskens
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solid writing and very engrossing. Great concept and quite violent, especially the horrors of war.
This was my 10th book by this author, who has impressed me with his writing skills.
But this one is different in comparison. So different that I thought I was reading a book written by someone else.
The story was well done and fast paced.
The main character was a quick ass, and I can easily see this book being adapted for the screen.
There were heartbreaking and enraging moments.
Some actions were over the top and hard to believe, and the conclusion felt rushed, but I can’t deny it was riveting.
The chapters are short, so this is a fast read.
I cant hard wait for his new book, but I do hope he will go back to his original storytelling style.
Hardcover (Mulholland Books): 309 pages.
E-book (Kobo): 300 pages (default), 93k words
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solid writing and very engrossing. Great concept and quite violent, especially the horrors of war.
This was my 10th book by this author, who has impressed me with his writing skills.
But this one is different in comparison. So different that I thought I was reading a book written by someone else.
The story was well done and fast paced.
The main character was a quick ass, and I can easily see this book being adapted for the screen.
There were heartbreaking and enraging moments.
Some actions were over the top and hard to believe, and the conclusion felt rushed, but I can’t deny it was riveting.
The chapters are short, so this is a fast read.
I cant hard wait for his new book, but I do hope he will go back to his original storytelling style.
Hardcover (Mulholland Books): 309 pages.
E-book (Kobo): 300 pages (default), 93k words
April 28, 2025
the setup…
Hana Babic lives a solitary and quiet life in Saint Paul, working as a librarian and living in a small farmhouse. When Detective David Claypool comes to see her at the library with the news that her best friend Amina Junuzovíc was murdered, Hana fears their past has somehow found them in the present, especially after learning what Amina said moments before she died. Thirty years ago Hana was Nura Divjak, a teenager living in war-torn Bosnia until her entire family was ruthlessly killed. She joined a group of fighters and became the legendary Night Mora…with a bounty still remaining on her head.
the heart of the story…
Sadly, my knowledge of this time in history of the genocide of Bosnian citizens by Serbian forces was basic at best. It was heartbreaking to live Nura’s story as well as her fellow countrymen. Her courage and fierceness was fueled by rage as she sought out those who had killed her family. The story effectively transitions between 1995 Bosnia to present day Minnesota, peeling back the layers Hana created to protect her true identity. Her personal investigation into Amina’s murder gave me a strong sense of her younger self back in Bosnia.
the narration…
Ilvana Muratovic made me believe she was Nura and the demure, clever Hana. Her storytelling was riveting, creating tension in both timelines.
the bottom line…
While the events in this story are fictional, they are based on true events that happened in Bosnia. Hana is the most interesting woman who sacrificed so much in leaving her country behind. There were shocking revelations that heightened the suspense and had the old Nura re-emerge not only to protect herself and Amina’s eight-year old grandson but to avenge the past. It’s an intense, important story that everyone needs to know lest we repeat the past.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Hana Babic lives a solitary and quiet life in Saint Paul, working as a librarian and living in a small farmhouse. When Detective David Claypool comes to see her at the library with the news that her best friend Amina Junuzovíc was murdered, Hana fears their past has somehow found them in the present, especially after learning what Amina said moments before she died. Thirty years ago Hana was Nura Divjak, a teenager living in war-torn Bosnia until her entire family was ruthlessly killed. She joined a group of fighters and became the legendary Night Mora…with a bounty still remaining on her head.
the heart of the story…
Sadly, my knowledge of this time in history of the genocide of Bosnian citizens by Serbian forces was basic at best. It was heartbreaking to live Nura’s story as well as her fellow countrymen. Her courage and fierceness was fueled by rage as she sought out those who had killed her family. The story effectively transitions between 1995 Bosnia to present day Minnesota, peeling back the layers Hana created to protect her true identity. Her personal investigation into Amina’s murder gave me a strong sense of her younger self back in Bosnia.
the narration…
Ilvana Muratovic made me believe she was Nura and the demure, clever Hana. Her storytelling was riveting, creating tension in both timelines.
the bottom line…
While the events in this story are fictional, they are based on true events that happened in Bosnia. Hana is the most interesting woman who sacrificed so much in leaving her country behind. There were shocking revelations that heightened the suspense and had the old Nura re-emerge not only to protect herself and Amina’s eight-year old grandson but to avenge the past. It’s an intense, important story that everyone needs to know lest we repeat the past.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
March 18, 2025
4.5 Stars
SUMMARY
The book feels like a little bit of a step up from Alan Eskins’s previous novels. Although he is definitely a favorite author of mine, this one just kind of took it to another level. I absolutely loved everything about this book. There were some parts that were of course hard to read, but it was the story of a woman who has survived the Bosnia/Serbian war. I honestly did not know a lot about that war and the genocide associated with it. Pretty horrific stuff. I wonder why it is not talked about more often.
Nura escaped Bosnia and moved to Minnesota. She was living quietly as a librarian on a farm outside of Twin Cities’s area. Her best friend was killed and the police got in touch with her to see what she knew and to see if she could help. She was reluctant to speak with them because she was wanted back home for war related “crimes,” leaving her hesitant to share much with the police, but desperately wanting the crime to be solved. She did some investigating on her own and had to decide how much to actually share with the police. The book gives a lot of backstory on her time and Bosnia.
WHAT I LOVED
This was a nonstop thriller. I loved the main character and admired her bravery. I liked the plot. And it made me realize that I really hadn’t given the whole Bosnia Serbian war the attention I should have.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
There really wasn’t much to not love. There were parts that were hard to read and very sad, but it was a well written solid book that made me think. I don’t think I could ask for much else.
SUMMARY
The book feels like a little bit of a step up from Alan Eskins’s previous novels. Although he is definitely a favorite author of mine, this one just kind of took it to another level. I absolutely loved everything about this book. There were some parts that were of course hard to read, but it was the story of a woman who has survived the Bosnia/Serbian war. I honestly did not know a lot about that war and the genocide associated with it. Pretty horrific stuff. I wonder why it is not talked about more often.
Nura escaped Bosnia and moved to Minnesota. She was living quietly as a librarian on a farm outside of Twin Cities’s area. Her best friend was killed and the police got in touch with her to see what she knew and to see if she could help. She was reluctant to speak with them because she was wanted back home for war related “crimes,” leaving her hesitant to share much with the police, but desperately wanting the crime to be solved. She did some investigating on her own and had to decide how much to actually share with the police. The book gives a lot of backstory on her time and Bosnia.
WHAT I LOVED
This was a nonstop thriller. I loved the main character and admired her bravery. I liked the plot. And it made me realize that I really hadn’t given the whole Bosnia Serbian war the attention I should have.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
There really wasn’t much to not love. There were parts that were hard to read and very sad, but it was a well written solid book that made me think. I don’t think I could ask for much else.
May 28, 2025
My heart is still soaring. RTC.
March 7, 2025
March 7 and I found my first read that will be in my top 10 or maybe even top 5 for 2025!
Eskens says this is a departure from his normal story. He’s right but even though the tone and plot are a huge departure, you can’t take the author’s writing style out of the book. This may be the best book he ever writes.
This book takes place in 1995 and today. 1995 brings us to Bosnia and the war between Bosnia and Serbia. It’s the story of Nura and the horrific life she lived. Present day St Paul, Minnesota is in a library in Farmington which is practically my hometown. Here, we meet Hana, the quiet librarian.
Now the reader gets the pleasure of watching this story fold together.
Nura may be one of the toughest women I have ever read about:
“Turn right become a refugee. Turn left and be a hunter. Nura turned left.”
“She felt no fear, which bothered her. She should be trembling. She should be second guessing herself, but instead she breathed in the scent of pine trees and wildflowers. It was a good day to call her last.”
Now cue to Hana the quiet librarian:
“The Sweater Lady — that’s what the children call her behind her back. What would they think if they saw her beating the crap out of a heavy bag, her arms cut with muscle, her left foot pounding the bag high enough to break a man’s eardrum?”
AND SO I NEVER FORGET:
“There had been millions of girls her age — Amina’s age— going about their lives unaware that people in a small country called Bosnia were being tortured and murdered. What would it be like to be one of those girls?”
IN 1995, I was one of those girls. I was 24 years old and was oblivious to this. I feel so sad about that.
“It made Nura sad to think that the world would never know that she and Amina had been held captive in that basement. Their graves will be, like so many Muslim graves, just holes in the ground, the only marker of their resting place an imperceptible depression in the terrain. They will be covered with dirt and forgotten.”
Amanda, Barbara, Emily, Carolyn, Heidi, Nigel, Wulf, Joey, Renee… and whoever else may read this review, you will be better for reading this story. Please do! I need to talk about it!
Now, I am going to channel my inner Hana to tackle a very difficult work day Friday. I need every ounce of everything to do well today.
Eskens says this is a departure from his normal story. He’s right but even though the tone and plot are a huge departure, you can’t take the author’s writing style out of the book. This may be the best book he ever writes.
This book takes place in 1995 and today. 1995 brings us to Bosnia and the war between Bosnia and Serbia. It’s the story of Nura and the horrific life she lived. Present day St Paul, Minnesota is in a library in Farmington which is practically my hometown. Here, we meet Hana, the quiet librarian.
Now the reader gets the pleasure of watching this story fold together.
Nura may be one of the toughest women I have ever read about:
“Turn right become a refugee. Turn left and be a hunter. Nura turned left.”
“She felt no fear, which bothered her. She should be trembling. She should be second guessing herself, but instead she breathed in the scent of pine trees and wildflowers. It was a good day to call her last.”
Now cue to Hana the quiet librarian:
“The Sweater Lady — that’s what the children call her behind her back. What would they think if they saw her beating the crap out of a heavy bag, her arms cut with muscle, her left foot pounding the bag high enough to break a man’s eardrum?”
AND SO I NEVER FORGET:
“There had been millions of girls her age — Amina’s age— going about their lives unaware that people in a small country called Bosnia were being tortured and murdered. What would it be like to be one of those girls?”
IN 1995, I was one of those girls. I was 24 years old and was oblivious to this. I feel so sad about that.
“It made Nura sad to think that the world would never know that she and Amina had been held captive in that basement. Their graves will be, like so many Muslim graves, just holes in the ground, the only marker of their resting place an imperceptible depression in the terrain. They will be covered with dirt and forgotten.”
Amanda, Barbara, Emily, Carolyn, Heidi, Nigel, Wulf, Joey, Renee… and whoever else may read this review, you will be better for reading this story. Please do! I need to talk about it!
Now, I am going to channel my inner Hana to tackle a very difficult work day Friday. I need every ounce of everything to do well today.
May 26, 2025
Superb! This will be one of my favorite reads this year, for sure. It's a riveting blend of historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and revenge story. If my work hadn't been so exhausting lately, I could have given this book a proper review, but time slipped away from me. Anyway, read it!
May 29, 2025
phew made it through. . . this terrible time. . . amazing book, excellent read!
Allen Eskens' The Quiet Librarian is definitely one of my top reads of 2025. It had my constant attention - even through the night. I read and re-read to thoroughly and completely understand what had happened and what hadn't. The author starts with a note about events in the book - ones about which had me paying attention to the news in my adult lifetime (read: during a time I was actually worrying over the world outside my houseful of babies) and which exceeded my understanding. Even more astounding to me - a time and place about which I have rarely read. I've read a lot, but upon considering recognized a decided void in my reading list on this topic.
This is Hana's story, but it is so much more. It is fiction, based on real happening - terrible happenings. So terrible they don't show up in fiction because it is uncomfortable, things we don't like to think about. Yet all terrible things that are hidden away in time are forgotten, then ultimately denied, and disappear from the written and oral records. Still, the echoes of them remain in the culture and social milieu inherited through uncounted generations. We need to face the past of our people, our tribe, our forebears. Allen Eskens offers us this opportunity.
That said, Hana's story has other aspects worth examining - about loyalty, promise keeping, fierce courage, and is allowing change an admission of surrender, failure?
I recommend this with 5+ stars, and a warning - this is not a read that is relaxing or gentle. Find your perch, a damp cloth for your brow, maybe a pillow for your perch and a beverage that keeps you hydrated. And just keep breathing . . . .(I kept holding my breath!)
This was eyes and ears for me, and if you choose this, do not miss the audio book - I did both, and there was a serious aspect of putting me in the place with all those true pronunciations of a cyrillic
*A sincere thank you to Allen Eskens, Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:52f
Allen Eskens' The Quiet Librarian is definitely one of my top reads of 2025. It had my constant attention - even through the night. I read and re-read to thoroughly and completely understand what had happened and what hadn't. The author starts with a note about events in the book - ones about which had me paying attention to the news in my adult lifetime (read: during a time I was actually worrying over the world outside my houseful of babies) and which exceeded my understanding. Even more astounding to me - a time and place about which I have rarely read. I've read a lot, but upon considering recognized a decided void in my reading list on this topic.
This is Hana's story, but it is so much more. It is fiction, based on real happening - terrible happenings. So terrible they don't show up in fiction because it is uncomfortable, things we don't like to think about. Yet all terrible things that are hidden away in time are forgotten, then ultimately denied, and disappear from the written and oral records. Still, the echoes of them remain in the culture and social milieu inherited through uncounted generations. We need to face the past of our people, our tribe, our forebears. Allen Eskens offers us this opportunity.
That said, Hana's story has other aspects worth examining - about loyalty, promise keeping, fierce courage, and is allowing change an admission of surrender, failure?
I recommend this with 5+ stars, and a warning - this is not a read that is relaxing or gentle. Find your perch, a damp cloth for your brow, maybe a pillow for your perch and a beverage that keeps you hydrated. And just keep breathing . . . .(I kept holding my breath!)
This was eyes and ears for me, and if you choose this, do not miss the audio book - I did both, and there was a serious aspect of putting me in the place with all those true pronunciations of a cyrillic
*A sincere thank you to Allen Eskens, Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* 25|52:52f
April 3, 2025
I am so thankful for my GR friends' reviews on this one. First for leading me to it. Second, when I found the beginning to be slow and hard to connect with, I returned to read all the glowing reviews and decided to push forward. And I'm so glad that I did!
This book features Nura, who grew up in Bosnia. It features her time during the invasion by Serbian soldiers who slaughtered her family, her time trying to survive afterwards and track down those that killed her family... and then her later life as she takes on the alias of Hana and leads a quiet life as a librarian in Minnesota.
Hana has a friend who also escaped with her and is living in Minnesota. A terrible tragedy has Hana rethinking the past and also working to protect her friend's child. She begins to see how current events are tied to her past, and knows that she is in danger. The book follows both timelines, from her earlier time during the war and her current life in Minnesota. But Hana is not the meek sweater-wearing librarian that she portrays. She is a fighter and she has survived frightening events in her past.
I love these types of books, that help me grow my knowledge of cultural and world events that I am oblivious or have little knowledge of. But when it's done in a way with interesting characters that you connect with, it helps those events to be more personal to the reader. Excellent narration in this audiobook.
This book features Nura, who grew up in Bosnia. It features her time during the invasion by Serbian soldiers who slaughtered her family, her time trying to survive afterwards and track down those that killed her family... and then her later life as she takes on the alias of Hana and leads a quiet life as a librarian in Minnesota.
Hana has a friend who also escaped with her and is living in Minnesota. A terrible tragedy has Hana rethinking the past and also working to protect her friend's child. She begins to see how current events are tied to her past, and knows that she is in danger. The book follows both timelines, from her earlier time during the war and her current life in Minnesota. But Hana is not the meek sweater-wearing librarian that she portrays. She is a fighter and she has survived frightening events in her past.
I love these types of books, that help me grow my knowledge of cultural and world events that I am oblivious or have little knowledge of. But when it's done in a way with interesting characters that you connect with, it helps those events to be more personal to the reader. Excellent narration in this audiobook.
December 7, 2024
Allen Eskens is one of my favorite authors; however, I have been most critical with his choices of protagonists in what you can call his ‘series’ books.
I was very intrigued with this book and glad to see it was a standalone. Loved the title and the cover! I watched an interview before reading it so I knew the plot going in. The interview was very interesting to understand his unique writing process.
This book was excellent with alternating chapters of past and present. Strong characters that you really feel like you are part of the scene. He is a great writer making it so easy for the reader to turn the pages.
His first book, The Life We Bury, had been my favorite but I now rank this one as my top read from him as this was an excellent thriller.
Some of the violence content could be considered a little disturbing for some who are sensitive to it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
I was very intrigued with this book and glad to see it was a standalone. Loved the title and the cover! I watched an interview before reading it so I knew the plot going in. The interview was very interesting to understand his unique writing process.
This book was excellent with alternating chapters of past and present. Strong characters that you really feel like you are part of the scene. He is a great writer making it so easy for the reader to turn the pages.
His first book, The Life We Bury, had been my favorite but I now rank this one as my top read from him as this was an excellent thriller.
Some of the violence content could be considered a little disturbing for some who are sensitive to it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
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