“The Quiet Librarian” by Allen Eskens is a mystery/thriller/action story told in 2 timelines and settings. Events in the current day murder investigation take place in Minnesota. The 2nd timeline takes place 30 years in the past, during the 1990’s Bosnian-Serbian War in what was previously known as Yugoslavia.
Hana Babic is a middle-aged, timid librarian who lives on a small farm in Minnesota. The local school children call her ‘The Sweater Lady’ due to her daily wardrobe of a cardigan sweater. Hana’s world comes crashing down when a detective comes to the library to tell Hana that her only friend in the world, Amina, has been murdered. Amina has left behind her 8 year-old grandson, Dylan, who is in need of care. David, the detective, doesn’t know that 30 years ago, Hana was a soldier and a spy for the Bosnian army and that she may still be in danger from the Serbian forces. Amina leaves behind a clue for Hana, but will it be enough to find the killer before it’s too late?
“The Quiet Librarian” is a terrific read, especially if you like historical fiction! The novel is really well written and Hana Babic is a multi-layered heroic character. I didn’t know much about the horrible atrocities committed during the Bosnian War. Those sections were difficult to read because they felt so real and showed why Hana acted the way she did. This was a fast-paced novel with short chapters and some terrific twists at the end! One of my favorite books of the year so far!
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