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The 2026 All Iowa Reads selection for adults is The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens.
Back to topAbout the Book
Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.
Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.
Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.
Book Discussion Questions
- What were your initial expectations based on the title and early chapters? Did the book meet or change those expectations?
- Before reading, what, if anything, did you recall about the war in Bosnia during the 1990s?
- How did Hana’s relationship with her brother shape how she interacted with Dylan?
- What is the significance of the blue marble?
- What did you think about Hana and David’s personal connection, and how it impacted the story?
- This story deals with several types of trauma. How do Hana and Amina, who have similar experiences, deal with their traumas differently?
- How did secrets or withheld information shape relationships in the novel? Were the characters justified in keeping those secrets?
- Babo tells Hana that men have the capacity for good as well as evil. What is right and what is wrong is written on our hearts, but when there is war, men follow what they choose to follow and rationalize the evil that they do. Are there parallels to this sentiment in any current situations?
- Silence plays a symbolic role in the book. How does “quiet” shape the characters’ emotional or moral journeys?
- Were you surprised by the reveal of “iblis”?
- Did you enjoy the dual timelines to tell Hana’s stories? Was one more compelling than the other? Does this method help tell the stories of Hana and of the Night Mora?
All Iowa Reads Promotional Items
Libraries and book discussion groups can use the promotional items created by the State Library to promote the All Iowa Reads program and discussion events. Access a Google Drive folder with 2026 promotional items, including images, press release template, printable poster, and social media graphics:
Canva Poster Templates: Customizable poster templates have also been created for library use. 2026 Canva Templates
About Author Allen Eskens
Allen Eskens grew up in the wooded hills of Missouri and, after high school, migrated north to pursue his education. He acquired a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Minnesota, and a Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law. He honed his creative writing skills in the M.F.A. program at Minnesota State University and took classes at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival and the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Allen is the bestselling author of The Life We Bury, The Guise of Another, The Heavens May Fall, The Stolen Hours, Forsaken Country, and Saving Emma. The Quiet Librarian is his latest novel.
He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Minnesota Book Award, Left Coast Crime Award, and Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar® Award, Thriller Award, Anthony Award and Nero Award. His books have been translated into 23 languages.
Back to topFind Copies of The Quiet Librarian to Borrow
Find out which Iowa libraries have copies of the book to borrow, or find out how to request sets for discussion groups.
Find in Iowa Public Libraries:
- Contact your local public library or search their online catalog for copies to borrow.
Find on Bridges: Iowa's eLibrary:
Multiple Copies for Discussion Groups:​​​​​
- For libraries: Each of the six District Offices for the State Library offers a book discussion set for libraries to borrow. Contact your local district office to request a set.