3.5 stars rounded up to 4 Allen Eskens’ latest standalone novel, The Quiet Librarian is a gripping, dual-timeline thriller that explores war, survival, and the price of vengeance. The novel follows Hana Babic, a quiet librarian in Minnesota, who has spent decades hiding from her past as Nura Divjak, a teenage soldier-turned-legendary assassin during the Bosnian War. When her best friend is murdered, Hana realizes she’s being hunted, forcing her to resurrect the ruthless warrior she once was. Eskens doesn’t hold back in his portrayal of war-torn Bosnia, detailing the horrors Nura endured and the choices that shaped her. The historical sections are the strongest, offering compelling storytelling and emotional […]