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.
THE DIAMOND EYE by KATE QUINN
Series: standalone
Publication date: March 29, 2022
Published by: William Morrow
Genre: historical fiction
SYNOPSIS
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.
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Praise for The Diamond Eye:
"The Diamond Eye is sharply observed, multi-faceted and brilliantly alive—historical fiction at its best!" -- Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the Resistance
"A riveting, authentic story of a Soviet woman who becomes a sniper during WWII. In page-turning prose, Kate Quinn illuminates the tale of Mila Pavlichenko, who, after killing more than 300 of Hitler's most formidable officers, comes to the U.S. to promote America's entry into the war. With vivid characters, unforgettable battle scenes, and moments of intense humanity and love, The Diamond Eye is a master class in historical fiction. It will leave you breathless, choking on tears." -- Elena Gorokhova, author of A Train to Moscow
"Readers can all but smell the gunsmoke in The Diamond Eye, so thoroughly does Kate Quinn immerse you in the grim and grey world of the Russian Front — and in the psyche of her remarkable real-life heroine, Mila Pavlichenko. Quinn’s page-turning account of Mila’s transformation from student to sniper measures the unimaginable toll of pulling the trigger, portraying with power and compassion Mila’s urge not to kill, but to protect. Unputdownable!" -- Bryn Turnbull, author of The Last Grand Duchess
"Kate Quinn amazes me. With each new book she reaches new heights in her craft as a writer of page-turning plots and prose. The Diamond Eye is a remarkable story filled with heart, intrigue, breathtaking drama and, perhaps best of all, meticulously researched details that prove that history provides the absolute best raw material for storytelling. Like her sniper subject Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Kate Quinn has brilliantly hit her mark--this is a stunning novel about a singular historical heroine." -- Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
“A sparkling gem of a story about a fabulous and fascinating woman. Lyudmila Pavlichenko’s journey from history student and mother to sniper and national hero is beautifully rendered by Kate Quinn in this utterly absorbing novel.”
-- Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Riviera House
“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
“From blood-soaked Russian battlefields to the White House Rose Garden, Kate Quinn takes expert aim at one of history’s forgotten heroines to bring us a story that will pull you in from the very first sentence. The Diamond Eye is her best yet!”
-- Alix Rickloff, author of The Way to London
"The Diamond Eye is another winner from Kate Quinn. A historian-turned-sniper who falls in love in wartorn Russia and then befriends Eleanor Roosevelt – what’s not to love? The thrilling showdown at the end is not to be missed!"
-- Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms
"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 and Hairpin Bridge
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books 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. Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with three rescue dogs.
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REVIEW
The Diamond Eye by Kate QuinnMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
When you’re young and you’ve known nothing but peace,you assume there will always be time for everything.
One of my favorite things about this book was that it was compulsively readable. Oftentimes with historical fiction, you have to be patient while attempting to get engrossed in the book. Setting the historical scene and balancing fact and fiction can be a time consuming thing, albeit usually worth your while. Similar to world building in fantasy books, slow and steady can win the race in a big way. In The Diamond Eye, Kate Quinn manages to add just enough historical detail to transport you while simultaneously drawing you in from page one. I managed to plow through a book of this heavy nature in less than twenty-four hours. The author's trademark dual timeline plot that eventually merges past and present was used once again. Personally, I found the past sections to be a much more engrossing read than the Washington present sections, partly because I was most excited to read about this heroic female figure's wartime contribution on the front.
Mila Pavlichenko was a fascinating study of contradictions. She was at once an introverted, intelligent, abused young mother, and a fierce survivor with a will of steel and enduring loyalty to her country. She may get knocked down time and again, but no matter what transpires to break her spirit, she picks herself up to fight again every single day. The last person you would expect to become a decorated wartime sniper would be a studious young woman whose self-confidence had been damaged by her emotionally abusive ex. You truly see her evolve throughout the story as she gains an incredible amount of grit. She fights sexism from her peers and commanding superiors and simply uses it to become stronger. Not only does she rise in the ranks to lieutenant, she earns the respect of the men under her command at a time when women were barely tolerated on the front. She wanted to be seen as an individual whose talent helped to make a difference-the goal wasn't glory and acclaim. She managed to achieve both.
“I am death.” To over one hundred invaders, anyway.Not enough, the thought whispered.Too many, whispered an answering thought.
The "past" sections focused on the development of Mila as a sniper as well as the close personal relationships that molded her. Her best female friend Lena, her "shadow" sniper partner Kostia, and Kitsenko. There was a bit of a love triangle here that crops up, though it doesn't take over the real story in the forefront of the plot. A romance would have been difficult for countless reasons during that time. The life or death situations she endured every day took a huge toll on her emotionally until there wasn't much left to give. As well, getting involved with one of the men could wreak havoc on the friendships she had painstakingly built. It was a monumental risk with potentially devastating consequences. There really was no question in my mind whom Mila would choose if it did happen, because right from the start you feel the attraction between them. Mila tries to ignore as well as discourage what is budding before it gets a chance to grow. However, the persistent charm of her pursuer is not as easy to shoot down as the enemy in her crosshairs. This person gives her the total respect and acceptance she had always craved in her life as well as unconditional love. It's something that she's smart enough to know is a gift that many never find and she takes the leap, putting her vulnerable heart on the line.
When you're reading a wartime story, you would expect a lot of tragedy and hardship, and yes, there was much of that here. But there was also a lot of inspiration to discover from the heroes so often forgotten throughout history. That's the key thing I took out of this novel. Where there is extreme adversity, you can find spectacular courage to make you feel proud of the persevering human spirit. The dichotomy of the Nazi's grisly crimes and the heart of those who stood courageously for freedom is a striking glimpse of human nature. Kate Quinn always manages to give us the hope without abandoning the harshness it took to get there. I admire her skill in crafting her story as well as honoring female heroes with her detailed research. If you love war novels based on real life events and people, you can't go wrong with this author. I urge you to give her a chance because you will surely reap the rewards of her words.
I hadn’t asked for any of this.I wanted to stay home, cuddle my son,finish my damned dissertation.I didn’t necessarily want the other side dead;I only wanted them gone.But they weren’t going,and so help me, I would settle for dead.
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