The Diamond Eye - Large Print by Kate Quinn (Paperback)

About the Book

"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."--

Book Synopsis

Don't miss the thrilling new novel from Kate Quinn, The Briar Club, coming July 9th!

New York Times Bestseller

The 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 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.

Review Quotes

"Remarkable...Kate Quinn is a master at crafting an intoxicating, well-balanced blend of immersive period details and deft character work. ...The Diamond Eye is a remarkable combination of immersive wartime storytelling, rich detailing and wonderful pacing. What really makes The Diamond Eye land, though, goes beyond Quinn's mastery of her chosen genre. This is, first and foremost, an exceptional character piece, a study of a woman who is a killer, a mother, a lover and, above all else, a survivor." - BookPage (starred review)
"Quinn (The Rose Code) specializes in centering strong women; each of her books exceeds expectations set by the previous title... Readers looking for a new and unique viewpoint of World War II with a mystery to solve and a light touch of romance will dive deep into this story." - Library Journal (starred review)
"Exciting...Historical fiction fans will be riveted." - Publishers Weekly
"Kate Quinn is an excellent storyteller, and she perfectly captures Mila's spirit and personality both on and off the battlefield... Don't miss this timely story about the immense power, strength and resilience of a Ukranian woman!" - BookReporter.com
"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
"Based on an amazing true story, The Diamond Eye is an explosive novel whose unforgettable librarian-sniper heroine and pulse-pounding plot will have readers staring down the barrel of a gun until the final page. Kate Quinn has hit the mark once again!" - Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author of A Most Clever Girl
"Kate Quinn has excelled in previous novels at transforming real-life historical biography into page-turning fiction. The Diamond Eye--combat novel, wartime love story, assassination thriller--in prose that shifts from lyrical to melodramatic as events demand, sets up and pulls off a double-barreled surprise-ending worthy of its larger-than-life inspiration."

- Wall Street Journal
"[A] gripping historical thriller." - The Big Thrill
"[A] thrilling novel. WWII heroines are having a moment, and this is a stellar example. Recommend it to all lovers of smart historical fiction [and] her inspiration for the hero of this powerful WWII tale, a librarian-turned-military-sniper, will appeal to an even greater audience." - Booklist (starred review)
"The Diamond Eye is sharply observed, multi-faceted and brilliantly alive--historical fiction at its best!" - Christine Wells, author of Sisters of the Resistance