Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens Narrator: Ilvana Muratovic
Published by Hachette Audio, Mullholland Books on February 18, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction
Pages: 320
Length: 8 hours, 12 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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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.
Allen Eskens is one of my favorite authors. It’s partly the genres he has written with compassion and interesting issues and also the Minnesota settings (where I lived for many years). The Quiet Librarian feels a bit of a departure from his usual stories. There are many triggering aspects if you are a sensitive reader.
Our main character, Hana, is a Bosnian refugee. She came to Minnesota after her family was murdered, including her 8 year old brother. She came with another refugee, Amina, who was even a younger teen than Hana. Her friend has been murdered leaving an 8 year old grandson in Hana’s care.
The story intermixes flashbacks to the Serbian-Bosnian war 30 years ago when Hana was a teen and her family killed. She joined the resistance. Hana is trying to solve the murder of her friend, trying to figure out if they were after Amina or actually hunting Hana. The truth is more complex and she needs to make a safe place for her new charge, 8 year old Dylan. She had pulled away from him growing up because she couldn’t protect her own 8 year old brother, but now she is his guardian.
She starts a complicated relationship with Detective Claypool to try to get enough information to track down the assailant and learn what is happening. But to get his info, she has to give a little. Thankfully, he doesn’t suspect Hana as she was working at the library, at least an hour away, and a man was seen. An odd factor seems to be the stolen records at the office of Amina’s therapist. Hana had cautioned Amina about saying too much but those files appear to be connected to the killing.
Hana does an incredible job of investigating and tracking down the truth and protecting herself and Dylan. Things are intense but I was very satisfied with the ending. I am always crushed by man’s inhumanity to man (or woman) and this was difficult to read during these horrible times.
Narration:
I have not listened to this narrator previously. Her voices seemed to fit the accents and tones for the characters. The story was nearly all Hana’s thoughts and only a few conversations. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story. I was able to listen comfortably at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Allen Eskens
Allen Eskens is the USA Today-bestselling author of The Life We Bury, The Guise of Another, The Heavens May Fall, the Deep Dark Descending and The Shadows We Hide. 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, and Anthony Award. His work had been published in 21 languages and his debut novel, The Life We Bury is being developed for a feature film.
Allen lives with his wife, Joely, in greater Minnesota and is represented by Amy Cloughley of Kimberley Cameron and Associates, and is published by both Seventh Street Books and Mulholland/Little Brown.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
- 25-COYER
That’s a new-to-me narrator, too, so I’m glad you liked her storytelling. Another win for this talented author. I’m in a short library queue for the audiobook so thanks for a great review, Anne💜
Thank you Jonetta. It’s an excellent book although difficult to read some of the events.
This sounds like an intense read, glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Naida. It’s a little more tragic than I normally read as it’s about horrific true events but this author is a favorite of mine.
I have several of his books on my TBR list and I really need to read some of them this year. I don’t think I’ll start with this one ,though. It might be a little too dark for me at the moment.
yes I’d agree with that assessment. There are many great choices though.
Glad the ending was satisfying. I think I’d enjoy this.
You read more historical fiction than me so I do think you would like it. His writing is always exceptional.
I’m always stunned by man’s inhumanity to man (or woman)! Glad to hear this was a satisfying mystery despite the difficult topics.
yes exactly! This author never disappoints. Otherwise I might not have read it. I did know a couple of Yugoslavian students when I was in grad school in Minnesota which was at least 10 years before this all happened.
Sounds like an interesting mystery and story. Thanks.
It was interesting but heart-breaking. War with genocide is always a crime. Children aren’t the ones who made any choices and yet they suffer.
I’ve wanted to read something by this author for awhile and this looks amazing though heart wrenching. I’m glad to see you liked the audio. I will have to try the audio version.
This author is amazing. I would say this is different from his series, it’s a standalone.
Honestly I feel like this would be a good book club book.
It could be. It has plenty of moral questions to discuss.
How interesting to have the refugee as the story goes. I like that! Thanks for sharing your review!
It’s a well written but heartbreaking story. Genocide is not a good thing whether it is Serbia or Gaza or Ukraine or Germany or China or even the US.