The story was interesting but it felt contrived in places, like Allen Eskens was forcing the story to get to where they wanted it to end. There were some great twists and I liked the veneer of the main character being stripped away as the story unfolded. From drab, quiet librarian to the person she used to be.
I did find myself drifting over the ‘past’ sections and was much more invested in the US sections. That was where the writing felt easy. Maybe Eskens got bogged down in the historical elements of the story?
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Mulholland Books for the chance to read and review this book. Al l opinions expressed are my own.
Don't be fooled by the title of this book. I thought it was going to be an engrossing story about a librarian. Boy! Was I wrong! This is the story of Hana Babic, who is living the simple life of a librarian. This quiet life is somewhat of a disguise. 30 years ago, she was Nura Divjak, living in war torn Bosnia. Her family was killed by Serbian soldiers, and Nura had to escape. Now her friend who escaped with her has been murdered, and Hana must confront the life she escaped. I thought this book was good, although sometimes I had to stop and read something a little more lighthearted. The sadness and violence got to me. Even though this is a somewhat sad book, it ends on a hopeful note.

I discovered Allen Eskens this fall, and after reading seven of his novels, I was delighted to be approved for an ARC of The Quiet Librarian. This book has the Minnesota roots and the crime novel aspect that the author is known for, but it is also quite different from his other novels. The Quiet Librarian is about Hana, who escaped to Minnesota during the Bosnian War in the 1990’s. The timeline alternates between her time in Yugoslavia and the present in Minnesota where she works as a librarian. The book opens with the death of Hana’s best friend. Hana works with the police and on her own to figure out what happened to her friend. This was such an interesting book in both timelines. The description of war-torn Yugoslavia and the atrocities that the people experienced were raw and graphic, but necessary to fully understand Hana’s thoughts and choices now. I highly recommend it, especially for those of you that enjoy crime novels and historical fiction. The Quiet Librarian is a perfect blend of the genres. Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC.

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens ranks as the best book I have read by this author, and it's one of the best I've read this year. Even though I've read a few books by this author, this one felt very different, probably due to the historical aspect; our main character's backstory takes place in the 1995 Bosnian War, of which I had very little knowledge before reading the book. Thousands of people were killed during the Bosnian War, and I appreciate that fiction can teach us history by telling a compelling story.

Hana Babic is a librarian working in a small town in Minnesota who lives a quiet life until the day a detective arrives at her library to inform her of her close friend's murder. Hana knows that her friend's death is tied to her and is afraid that someone is coming for her next. This book was actually what I would call a historical thriller, and chapters alternate between present day and 1995 Bosnia. The plot was intense and gritty, and the writing was both moving and heartbreaking. The character of Hana was so completely drawn and we learn of the horrors she experienced, which led to her present state of mind. Parts of the book were hard to read but were so worth it. The resolution was satisfying, but I won't give any spoilers. I can't wait to read what Mr. Eskens writes next.

I will highly recommend this book to readers who like historical suspense with strong female characters.

Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The tragedy of war is that it uses man's best to do man's worst." (Harry Emerson Fosdick)

Many of us are setting sights on novels that we wish to read in the upcoming 2025. If I could recommend one for your perusal, it would be The Quiet Librarian. If you've never had the opportunity to read Allen Eskens, then tip this one to the top of the pile. Eskens is a truly gifted writer. He is a magnificent story teller. He can kick a stone from beginning to end. Each chapter connects to the next as if electrically charged.

This is a completely different vein for Allen Eskens. He's going to take us to a little discussed war between the Serbs and the Bosnians that took place between 1990 - 1995. Tens of thousands were brutalized and killed within a sea of hatred. That hatred seeps into minds even through today.

Now before you back away with eyes glazed over, know that Eskens takes his story to the pulse of humanity. His characters are richly defined and they draw life and breath here. There are facts and nuggets of truism as we settle ourselves into the telling.

A police detective searches out a woman librarian in St. Paul, Minnesota. He must deliver the weight of tragic news to her. Hana Babic is at the receiving end. Her best friend, Amina, has died under horrendous circumstances. The police believe it to be suicide after Amina throws herself over the balcony of her apartment. Hana knows far better. Someone has finally found them. Hana knows that it is only a matter of time before she is the next victim.

And with that, Allen Eskens will introduce us to alternating chapters from present day Minnesota to 1995 in Bosnia. We will learn more about the connection between Hana and Amina and what fate has in store for them. Eskens interviewed many Bosnian individuals who found refuge in Minnesota during and after this war as a source for this book. Although a work of fiction, you can only imagine the travesties of this war on these people.

The Quiet Librarian is fast-paced and riveting. I read it in one day. That's how good it is. It's due to publish 2/18/25. Be sure to search this one out. It will certainly be one of your most memorable reads of 2025.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Mulholland Books and to the talented Allen Eskens for the opportunity.

Allen Eskens is hit or miss for me. I have loved several of his books. Unfortunately, The Quiet Librarian as just mediocre. It's a sad and informative topic. But it didn't really ever get off the ground. The story told in the present wasn't that suspenseful. And while sad, the story from the 90s felt a little stilted to me. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

The Quiet Librarian
by Allen Eskens
Pub Date: FEb. 18th 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opini0n.
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.
This is a new author for me and it won't be my last read! Incredibly well done! I highly recommend it!
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..

Don’t let the title or cozy cover fool you—this is a gripping and emotional thriller that will have you hooked from start to finish. Hana Babic, a librarian in Minnesota known for her quiet demeanor, hides a dark and harrowing past from the Bosnian War. When her best friend Amina dies under suspicious circumstances, Hana is drawn into a dangerous investigation, uncovering buried secrets and confronting the horrors she thought she’d left behind. Told in dual timelines—Hana’s peaceful yet unraveling present and her haunting memories of war—the story is as heart-wrenching as it is thrilling. Eskens masterfully balances the brutal realities of the Bosnian War with a compelling crime mystery, creating a deeply human tale of resilience and justice. Hana is a complex, unforgettable character whose strength and vulnerability make her easy to root for. This book isn’t just a page-turner—it’s a story that lingers with you, shining a light on a tragic history while keeping you on the edge of your seat.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was suspenseful and full of twists, some predictable but also had some that shocked me! This was a page turner and always kept me guessing. It has a lot of deeper themes and motifs compared to other mystery/thriller novels which I enjoyed. Would definitely recommend!

All I can say is WOW…..the quiet librarian has led anything but a quiet past. In 1995, Hana Banić, a young Muslim woman escaped the atrocities inflicted on her family by the Serbs during the Bosnian War. Making her way to St. Paul, Minnesota, Hana becomes a librarian and now thirty years later is living a quiet and isolated life until her best friend, Amina, is found dead following a vicious attack. As Hana gets close to the detective working the case, she is withholding her true identity from him, instead trying to find Amina’s killer and at the same time, seek revenge for the murders of her family and friend. This intense yet captivating piece of historical fiction brought to life the atrocious imagery of this brutal war. Warning…..acts of wartime violence against men, women and children.

Mr. Eskens delivered a story so well written that it inspired me to do some additional research about this time in history. My gratitude to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the privilege of receiving an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Allen Esken is such an incredible writer and he knows how to deliver elite story after elite story. This one is no different. I can’t wait until February when this one is on my bookshelf. I’ll be recommending it to anyone and everyone I know. Thank you NetGalley and Mr. Eskens team for the advanced copy.

This is a very engrossing dual timeline story. In the present day, Hana is a librarian when the police tell her that her best friend has been murdered and she knows that an evil from her past has returned. In the past, Hana had survived the horrors of Bosnian war in the early 1990s. The details of this war were interesting to learn. I thought the character development was well written. Highly Recommend!! Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC and a chance to give my honest review this book.

I honestly don't think Allen Eskens can write a bad book! This book was phenomenal. The story is told with alternating chapters- present day Minnesota, and past 1990's Bosnia during wartime.
I thought the story was told perfectly, there was nothing overdone, the pacing was great and the alternating chapters kept me engaged throughout. It was really hard to put down. I feel this book has some really complex themes, and is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
I appreciate the opportunity to read and early copy and provide my thoughts. Thank you NetGalley, and the publisher!

In 1995, Nura Divjak was a Muslim teenager living in Bosnia with her family until Serbian soldiers arrived at their farm, and slaughtered her parents and younger brother while she hid and watched. Fleeing her home to avenge the deaths, Nura joined up with a group of militia to take guerilla action against the Serbs. But, when she's captured, she assists another teen, Amina, to escape, and the two are sent from the country for their safety. Given a new identity as Hana Babic, she ends up in Farmington, Minnesota, where she hides behind a sweater and bun as a librarian. Then a police detective informs her Amina was murdered, and left her grandson in Hana's custody. With a warrant out for her as the Night Mora in Serbia, Hana realizes her past has caught up to her, and it's up to her to protect Amina's grandson, and finally take revenge on the men hunting her.

The author of The Life We Bury alternates timelines from 1995 Bosnia to contemporary Minnesota to tell the brutal story of war and repercussions thirty years later. Fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale or Kate Quinn's books will be caught up in this violent story of a courageous woman.

I love Allen Eskens books and this one was no exception! Great read - good character development and interesting plot. Highly recommended!

I've read The Life We Bury, Allen Eskens' first book, multiple times, both on my own and with several book clubs. It's easily one of my all-time favorite books. When I was approved to read Mr. Eskens' new standalone novel, it was like getting an early Christmas present.

The Quiet Librarian is several things - mystery, thriller, crime drama - but at its heart, it is historical fiction at its best. In chapters alternating the past and present -- mid-1990s Bosnia and present-day Minneapolis -- it tells the compelling story of Hana Babic, a woman who survived unspeakable atrocities during the Serbian/Bosnian war. The book reveals a time in history that I personally was unaware of, at least to the extent that is revealed in this story, and sometimes Hana's journey was a little difficult to read. But I was completely blown away by this book and couldn't put it down. Absolutely brilliant!

Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I feel like I learned more about the Bosnian/Serbian war from this book than from any current event info. There were not any Author's Notes available in the advance read available through NetGalley, but I am going to look for them in the final release version of The Quiet Librarian.

For a quiet librarian, Hana has an interesting past and it comes looking for her.

I really enjoyed the characters and the plot. Going to consider this to be one of the best historical fiction books for 2025.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for approving my request to read the advance read copy of The Quiet Librarian in exchange for an honest review. Approx 320 pages, expected release is February 18, 2025.

I am BLOWN away by how good this book was. I loved every minute of it and read it in one sitting, the chapters went by with quickness and the story just kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I will admit that the synopsis was really what sold me on requesting this one but in all honesty it was a great read. I dare say this might be a 10/10 book and at the top of the list of favorite reads from this year. I think the writing was another reason why it just felt like I floated through the words on the pages. The mystery, the suspense, all of it was just gripping and had a pull on you. It was almost as if you couldn’t look away or else you’d miss something.

I cannot wait to read more from this author. Truly couldn’t recommend this enough

The war on Bosnians is a distant memory, as it was a distant war for most of us. This story recalls the atrocities we can’t imagine inflicted on the Bosnians by the Serbs. It’s a well crafted story that is difficult to put down. I enjoyed reading it, although parts I find implausible to a degree. One tiresome theme is the mutual attraction between the 2 main characters - so predictable! But all in all, I know our library patrons will devour this book.

This was a great book. I especially enjoyed reading about Bosnia and the history of the war. I was just graduating high school when this was all happening. The entire story line kept me engaged. Beautifully written.