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challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This standalone novel from Minnesota author Allen Eskens tackles a subject I know very little about - the Bosnian genocide of the mid 1990's. The eponymous Quiet Librarian is Hana Babic, a Bosnian refugee living an unremarkable life in a small Minnesota town not far from Minneapolis. The kids who come to the library call her "the sweater lady". She has a small farm where she raises three cows, and keeps mostly to herself. Her circle of friends is small, and she prefers it that way. When she learns that her only close friend, a fellow refugee who had been living in the twin cities, has been murdered, Hana suspects her violent past is catching up with her. As a teenager, she spent time as part of a militia group resisting the Serbian soldiers who had brutally murdered her family and continued to massacre innocent Bosnians, just because they were "different". After her friends murder, Hana assumes guardianship of the grandson her friend had been raising, and vows to protect him from the violence she had believed was in the past.
This was not an easy book to read. A dual timeline tells us both halves of Hana's story - her desperate fight to avenge her family in 1995 and her present day fight to protect the child left in her care. It served as an important reminder to me about how shockingly easy a descent into hatred and violence can be when we let ourselves be convinced of the "otherness" of a group of people. Tragically it is a pattern we see repeated all too often. Will we human beings ever learn?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
SYNOPSIS
- Hana Babic, a 47-year-old librarian in Minnesota, lives a quiet, solitary life until Detective David Claypool delivers devastating news—her closest friend has been murdered.
- The crime forces Hana to confront a dark past she buried decades ago, one that began in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia thirty years earlier.
- Set across dual timelines—modern-day Minnesota and war-ravaged Bosnia—this haunting story explores trauma, survival, and the lengths we go to for those we love.
MY THOUGHTS
- Genre-Bending: Eskens masterfully blends historical fiction with suspense and mystery, creating a page-turner that kept me hooked until the end.
- Dual Timeline: The seamless transitions between present-day Minnesota and the brutal realities of 1990s Bosnia add depth and tension without disrupting the flow.
- Eye-Opening History: This book offered my first glimpse into the Bosnian War. Eskens highlights its atrocities—ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and unimaginable loss—while handling these brutal truths with care and sensitivity.
- Complex Themes: The story tackles how war turns neighbors into enemies, how trauma lingers long after the violence ends, and how revenge can consume us. It also beautifully explores female friendship, survival, and the burden of dark secrets.
- Strong Female Lead: Hana/Nura stands out as a resilient, complex, and deeply human protagonist. Watching her transform from a quiet librarian into a fierce protector felt both heartbreaking and empowering.
- Beautifully Written: Eskens crafts haunting yet elegant prose, balancing heavy topics with moments of quiet beauty and human connection.
- Gripping & Fast-Paced: Despite its weighty themes, the plot moves quickly. The suspense kept me turning pages, while the emotional stakes made it impossible to stop.
- Satisfying Ending: The conclusion felt complete and well-earned—a rare achievement in stories this complex.
- Delicately Handled Darkness: Eskens addresses graphic and traumatic moments with care, making the horrors real without relying on gratuitous detail.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A gripping, haunting, and beautifully written story about the ghosts of war, the strength of women, and the inescapable pull of the past. With a resilient female lead, fast-paced suspense, and thoughtful handling of heavy themes, this novel is as powerful as it is unforgettable. A must-read for fans of historical fiction and mystery.
Thanks to Mulholland Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Murder, War
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail