Don’t let the title fool you – this story is not about books, libraries, or librarians. The main character may work in a library, living a quiet life in Minnesota, but that is not the story because whereas Hana may be a quiet librarian now, 30 years ago she was Nura, a Bosnian teenager fighting Serbians. The book is told in dual timelines – “Bosnia - 1995” and “Minnesota - After Everything”. While in Bosnia she is fighting for her life and revenge. While in Minnesota, she has to come out of seclusion to try and find out who murdered her best friend. And are they coming after her next? There is history, suspense, action, mystery, and a little bit of a love story all thrown together into one great story. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

Hana, a Bosnian refugee, dresses in frumpy clothes and stays out of the way as an employee at a library in Minnesota. And then, one day, a detective comes in to ask her about her friend, Amina. She is dead. Her grandson, a seven year old orphan, now has no family. And Hana fears the worst. She was once Nura, a young girl living up on a mountain in a small home housing her mother, father, little brother and her. Nearby was her uncle's house. They were not observant, but Nura and her family ethnic Muslims and when the troubles begin, those who were her friends viciously turn on them. This is a story that vividly brings to life the period when there was a violent armed conflict that turned into a partly successful attempt at ethnic cleansing by Serbs against the Muslim and Croat population in Bosnia. This is such a simplistic statement. Even the Wikipedia article on this period of war is almost unintelligible in trying to understand what happened. It was on the news. It was a horror show. And yet it was and remains politically confusing to me. The part about the different ethnic groups I followed. Why it happened is an intricate story I need to learn about in more detail.

Allen Eskens, whose writing I admired takes on and personalizes this "conflict" by sharing Hana/Nura's traumatizing, violent and life-changing experiences as a teenaged girl forced to leave her home and make her way into the center of the hellish war overtaking her country. All of this is by way of her memories that flood in with Amina's death. Why did Amina die clutching a blue marble, the stone in a necklace she always wore? What is Amina's history with Hana? What does the man Amina was dating know? How much has the detective figured out. Who has come to disrupt Nura's and Amina's lives?

This vivid and beautifully written book makes you root for violence at more than one turn. To throw your fist in the air and say, "Yes!" get this guy. Hurt him! An acquaintance of mine had to flee Bosnia with her young daughter. She was Christian, married to an ethnically Muslim man who eventually reunited with her. She stayed in refuge camps in Croatia, raising her young dhild for some time before making her way to the US. I know very tiny pieces of her story that made this very personal vision of another woman's story make some sense. So, it isn't pretty and yet it is inspiring and just as beautifully written as I would expect expect of Eskens. Nura did what she had to do to live and when faced with danger in her Minnesota town, she's summons up everything it takes to do what is necessary again.

I thank Eskens for writing about this important and inadequately addressed period in history with tremendous compassion but with his eyes wide open. This story, past and present, is mind-bending at times and Eskens pulls it off with sensitivity, yet spares us nothing. Well done!

Hana lives a quiet life in Minnesota- she is a homely librarian who lives on a little farm and only has one friend. When that friend, Amina, is violently killed and leaves her grandson in Hana's care, Hana must face her past to keep him safe. Told from alternating perspectives of the present and the past in Bosnia, this historical fiction mystery has everything Eskens is known for- a quieter read that deals with guilt and survival.

I really liked this one. I enjoyed the present storyline more than the past one but that is because I don't love reading about war. I liked that this one was a lesser known and recognized conflict but it was still horrific, so we prepared if you're a sensitive reader. I thought it was nicely done- some shocking acts but it stays focused on Hana's resilience. Readers of Chris Whitaker or The Huntress by Kate Quinn will love this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

"Men have the capacity for good as much as they have the capacity for cruelty. What is right and what is wrong is written on our hearts. But when there is war, men follow what they choose to follow and rationalize the evil they do... it becomes too loud for them to listen to their hearts. They will do terrible things and believe they are doing what is right."

Hana is known as the "Sweater Lady" to the children who patronize the library. She's quiet and keeps to herself, nearly invisible until the day she learns her closest and only friend has been murdered, leaving an orphaned 8-year-old grandson, and Hana knows that she's been found.

What follows is the story of Hana (formerly Nura), her family, and life as she knew it, and the harrowing sorrows and revenges that have led her to this point.

This book is based on the true events during the Bosnian war in the early to mid 90's and the massacre of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995.

Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Another excellent book by Allen Eskens!

Hana Babic, a middle-aged librarian living in Minnesota, leads a quiet life, known by her younger patrons as only "The Sweater Lady," but thirty years ago she was a girl fighting Serbian forces during the Srebrenica genocide. She fled the war-torn country with her friend, Amina, and a bounty on her head. However, the carefully constructed facade she has built around herself comes crashing down when a detective shows up at her library to tell her that Amina has been murdered. Hana suspects that her past has finally caught up with her, but with Amina's grandson now in her care she's not leaving anything to chance.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Eskens' books, but this one is truly something special. It is a testament to the human spirit, as gut wrenching as it is heartwarming. The story is told in a dual timeline, which I liked and felt like kept me hooked. The chapters in present day Minnesota were almost like a reprieve from the more tense chapters in Bosnia, though I would say both plotlines were action packed and fast paced.

My favorite thing about Eskens' writing is his ability to create compelling characters that we want to root for, even when they seek justice outside the confines of the law, and Hana is no exception. Her love for her family is the driving force behind every decision she makes, and her unapologetic vengeance might just make her my favorite of Eskens' heroines. I am always a little wary when male authors are writing women's stories, but The Quiet Librarian and The Stolen Hours, Eskens' only other novel with a female lead, are actually my two favorite by him. You can really see all of the research he's done, and the care he has taken to tell this story, in his writing.

If you are a fan of crime fiction and you haven't read one of Allen Eskens' books yet, what are you waiting for?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Mulholland Books, for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Hana is a quiet librarian, living a simple life in Minnesota. When a detective comes to the library to ask her questions about her best friend who was murdered under mysterious circumstances, we then go on the journey of Hana's tragic life.
This book is a force - it's suspenseful and heartbreaking. Be prepared to feel a lot of emotions as you are brought into the horrors of the Bosnian war.
It's such an important time in history for us to learn about and understand this tragic time when so many lost their lives and their homeland.
I liked the alternating chapters of present day and past and was very immersed in this book.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

What a beautifully haunted and thought provoking story; absolute 5/5 stars! This is my first read by Allen Eskens and I was truly blown away. I loved every part of this story from the characters to the story line to every twist and turn throughout. Hana, our main character, has shown herself as a “the quiet librarian” on the exterior, but on the interior she is a woman still affected by a war 30 years ago, who holds many secrets, and continues to deal with the turmoil that war has caused. I was entranced as I read this book, jumping between Bosnia in 1995 and current day in Minnesota. I followed the story easy and the twists and turns were surprising throughout. I really loved the meaning of the blue marble and how it was brought up throughout the book. This is a novel that will stay with me for a long time. Thank you to Netgalley, Mulholland Books, and Eskens for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Do not let the cardigan fool you, Hana Babic is not your typical librarian. Hiding in plain sight is the deadly Night Mora, wanted for crimes committed during the Bosnian War in the 1990's. When her friend dies under mysterious circumstances, Hana suspects a remnant of her dark past has come to collect its due. As the story flashes back to thirty years prior, a brutal tale of war and survival unfolds. Hana‘s experiences are made even more harrowing because they are inspired by true events of the Bosnian War. I’ve become a little jaded by female protagonists in war-time historical fiction, but this one is different. The Bosnian War is seldom written about, and the present-day mystery propels the story forward. The result is suspense that keeps the reader engaged, coupled with a history lesson many of us needed. I wanted more from main character's occupation as a librarian. The book's title led me to believe this would be a major plot point, but in actuality it plays a minor role. But this didn't impact my impression of her as a strong heroine, and I enjoyed this read that was part historical fiction, part crime drama.

I have loved Allen Eskens' other books so I was excited to get approved for this one. However, I see I am in the minority with this one as I could not connect to the characters and I don't know enough about the Bosnian war in 1992-1995. That's when I was a stay at home raising 2 kids under 3 and I just didn't pay attention to the news I guess. Anyway, I don't think this book was for me but I am giving it 3 stars. Looking forward to his next book - I know it will be a winner!

This is historical fiction about the Bosnian War alternating with a contemporary thriller set in Minnesota. After leaving Bosnia during the war with another woman, Hana now works as a librarian. When that woman turns up dead, there are many questions. The war chapters were pretty brutal, but war is brutal. The contemporary story didn't always work but was intriguing.

After all the deaths, Nura recites a prayer for her lost loved ones and becomes the Night Mora.

Hana Babic deliberately makes herself invisible. She avoids drawing attention to herself and has sought refuge in Minnesota after the war. But the past always catches up with the Night Mora, especially when there's a bounty on her head. Now they are targeting her friend to get to her.

This suspenseful novel takes us back in time, showing how Hana was once Nura and later became the Night Mora. It explores the horrors of the Bosnian or in fact, any war, highlighting how everyone believes they're in the right while some use it as a justification for heinous acts. In this story, tells the story of a Hana, a woman who will stop at nothing to avenge those she loves.

I appreciate the raw honesty with which the author portrays how people’s nature can change in the face of war.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The title of this book caught my attention as I’d had read not anything by this author. Wow, readers will get an in-depth view of the war in Bosnia! This book has a lot of disturbing scenes as events unfold. Hana’s story is one that historical readers will not want to miss. Highly recommended!

This was very good. Hard to read because it will break your heart. But very good. It was not at all what I expected by the title but I was pleasantly surprised. I am embarrassed to say that I did not know much about the genocide in Bosnia and how it happened in my lifetime. This book was eye-opening, heart-wrenching and gripping. I would definitely recommend it.

Hana Babic is a middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants to be able to live without disturbance. She appears a bit dowdy, with her worn cardigan sweaters and long skirts, and she performs her work without fanfare.

When she learns that her best friend has been murdered, she knows that danger is coming from their shared past as young militia members fighting with the Bosniak forces against the Serbs in the early 1990s. In fact, she was not just a soldier: She was the much-feared Night Mora, with a huge bounty on her head. Now, she must leave the quiet librarian behind.

This is an outstanding novel of historical fiction, as the chapters alternate between Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Minnesota. And it is also an excellent mystery and thriller.

I found this title a little misleading because aside from the opening scene featuring the titular character quietly working in a library, to my recollection, no other part returned to that location nor focused heavily on her chosen career path. It was more about how she was hiding from her tragic past in that role. And it was v. sad and brutal but also a little sad that it turned her into such a lethal person. The ending was a bit too neat for me as well. I'm sure there are plenty of thriller readers who will like it fine though. Just not my cup of tea, as a not-so-quiet librarian myself.

This book was a bit out of my normal genre so I didn’t quite know what to expect. Only took me a minute to get used to the dialect, foreign names and locations. I really enjoyed his writing style, absolutely full of passion. Dark and gritty yet with a brilliant spark of hope. Could not put it down.
Thank you NetGalley, Allen Eskens and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read and review this book

Allen Eskens did it again. He wrote, The Quiet Librarian, another powerful book, this one somewhat out of his normal genre.

Nura/ Hana lives with guilt, feeling she did nothing to stop the murder of her family. Serbian soldiers came into her home in the mountains of Bosnia and killed her family while she hid. She goes on to live her life hunting the murders so that she can avenge the death of her mother, father and brother. She becomes known as the Night Mora, a hunter, a warrior, a legend.

There are so many twists to this story. It will keep you up into the wee hours of the night. The bonus is that the ending was perfect too.

Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A librarian, dressed in her worn cardigan, holds thirty years of secrets behind her quiet stare. Hana Babic lives a simple, discreet life. No one would ever guess her real name is actually Nura Divjak, a wanted criminal for the murder of innocent civilians in Bosnia.

Nura was a teenager during the Bosnian War and suffered immense heartbreak when her father, mother, and young brother Danis were killed by Serbian soldiers. Nura narrowly escaped the attack and promised to spend her life avenging for their deaths. Allen Eskens, the author, does an incredible job describing an absolutely horrific, yet deeply moving scene of death, cruelty, and utter heartbreak for Nura.

Thirty years later, Nura's childhood friend Amina is killed by an unknown assailant. She suspects her death is connected to their role in the war and Nura's relentless desire to seek revenge towards the men who killed her family. She begins to unravel the mystery surrounding Amina's death and discovers an unlikely person from their past may hold the key to it all.

The Quiet Librarian is a heartbreaking and deeply thoughtful novel based on true accounts from Bosnia refugees. Nura is an incredible leading character who never stops loving her family and demonstrates remarkable bravery throughout her life. Esken's powerful and highly entertaining novel is definitely worth a read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an advanced reader copy of The Quiet Librarian in exchange for my honest review.

Allen Eskens is an underrated author and deserves more publicity. I hadn't read one of his books in awhile, and I was intrigued by this story which takes place in the 1990s during the Bosnian War. Not knowing much about this war, I entered the book blindly in present day, resulting in a suspenseful story with well developed characters.

Hana and Amina flee war-torn Bosnia to start life over in America. Many years later Amina is murdered. Hana is determined to solve her best friend's murder and avenge her family as well, on her own. Told in alternating times and locations (there then and here now)

This is a beautiful and haunting story of the atrocities that war brings, but the life that can be in the after. I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.