The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens
To most people, Hana Babić is an unassuming librarian, easily overlooked. Only her friend Amina knows the truth: that Hana is a survivor of the war in Bosnia who garnered a fierce reputation as a militia fighter following an unspeakable personal tragedy. After fleeing Bosnia, Hana cast aside her history and remade her life in rural Minnesota. But when Amina is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the secrets Hana has buried for 30 years begin to seep forth. Hana decides to employ the skills she honed in wartime to protect her peaceful life and find Amina’s killer. The suspense builds as the two threads of Hana’s life come together and readers begin to wonder how far Hana is willing to go to put the past to rest. With its vivid depictions of the horrors of war, this novel isn’t for the faint of heart, but it raises thought-provoking questions about loyalty, justice and the nature of retribution.
Reviewed by Mary Kinser, collection development librarian, Whatcom County Library System
(Originally published in Bellingham Alive March 2025 issue.)