The Diamond Eye
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by Kate Quinn
Publication date: March 29, 2022
Publisher: William Morrow
Hardcover: 448 Pages
Publisher Description
The New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code returns with an unforgettable World War II tale of a quiet bookworm who becomes history’s deadliest female sniper. Based on a true story.
In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kiev (now known as Kyiv), wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son—but Hitler’s invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper—a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour.
Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC—until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila’s past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life.
Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.
About the author
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set in the Italian Renaissance before turning to the 20th century with The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Rose Code. All have been translated into multiple languages.
Read more about Kate ON HER WEBSITE
Praise
“The brilliant Kate Quinn is at the top of her game with an unexpected historical heroine to root for. The young Russian mother and war hero will steal your heart by stealth–just as she stole the heart of Eleanor Roosevelt, America’s most celebrated First Lady. You’ll be wowed by this unlikely tale of love and lasting friendship that transcends ideology. It kept me reading late into the night!” — Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of The Women of Chateau Lafayette
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“An epic journey with history’s deadliest female sniper from the trenches of the Russian front to the halls of American power, The Diamond Eye is an enthralling page-turner brimming with emotion and excitement. Kate Quinn writes with a diamond eye for detail.” — Taylor Adams, author of No Exit
“In The Diamond Eye, Kate Quinn introduces us to her fiercest heroine yet, Mila Pavlichenko, a celebrated female sniper for the Red Army who displays death-defying courage, skill, and wisdom. As readers follow her into the trenches of WWII, they will feel the adrenaline rush each time she pulls the trigger. Be forewarned: once you start reading, you’ll not be able to stop turning the pages. Exquisitely told, this is what makes Kate Quinn such a powerhouse in historical fiction.” — Renee Rosen, author of Park Avenue Summer
“Few authors are able to craft stories as immersive and compulsively readable as Kate Quinn, and her latest is not exception. The Diamond Eye is a sparkling new gem in Quinn’s already impressive bibliography. Quinn recaptures the Russian intrigue—the utter magic—of The Huntress in Mila’s story. The characters and setting are vibrant and compelling, and the reader can’t help but root for Quinn’s heroine from start to finish. A brilliant tale by a master storyteller.” — Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of The School for German Brides
“Crack-shot novelist Kate Quinn’s aim is dead on in The Diamond Eye. Based on the true story of a Soviet female sniper who killed more than three hundred German soldiers and then befriended Eleanor Roosevelt, Quinn’s suspenseful narrative rings with deep understanding of long-range riflery, U.S. politics early in WWII, and the heartache of a woman on the front lines of combat.” — Mark Sullivan, bestselling author of The Last Green Valley and Beneath a Scarlet Sky
“A stunning, immersive tour de force by one of the best historical fiction writers working today. Meticulously researched, deftly plotted, and executed with a thrilling blend of action and heart, The Diamond Eye is a masterpiece.” — Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars