The Diamond Eye

By: Kate Quinn

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

The brand-new historical novel based on a true story from the best-selling author of The Rose Code and The Alice Network.

In the snowbound city of Kiev, aspiring historian Mila Pavlichenko’s life revolves around her young son—until Hitler’s invasion of Russia changes everything. Suddenly, she and her friends must take up arms to save their country from the Führer’s destruction.

Handed a rifle, Mila discovers a gift—and months of blood, sweat and tears turn the young woman into a deadly sniper: the most lethal hunter of Nazis.

Yet success is bittersweet. Mila is torn from the battlefields of the Eastern Front and sent to America while the war still rages. There, she finds an unexpected ally in First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and an unexpected promise of a different future.

But when an old enemy from Mila’s past joins forces with a terrifying new foe, she finds herself in the deadliest duel of her life.

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.

©2022 Kate Quinn (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"A remarkable story filled with heart, intrigue [and] breathtaking drama." (Allison Pataki, internationally best-selling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post)

"The most well-known sniper you’ve never heard of.... Quinn weaves humanity and emotional depth through the narrative." (Sarah Penner, internationally best-selling author of The Lost Apothecary)

"Lyudmila Pavlichenko’s journey from history student and mother to sniper and national hero is beautifully rendered...utterly absorbing." (Natasha Lester, internationally best-selling author of The Riviera House)

Unputdownable!

Captivating from first chapter - absolutely loved this book and both author and narrator did not disappoint. Highly recommend reading. The only negative was that it came to an end!!

Another exceptional work!

Yet another excellent work by Kate Quinn and expertly narrated by Saskia. By all accounts, the story is very close to exact happenings, with some brilliant tweaks by Kate to make it one you can't put down!

More heroines at last recognised

Really loved this book and have now begun to read about Lyudmila Pavlichenko. What an amazing woman! I'm glad this book has been written about her. Women's bravery, achievements, intelligence and dogged determination to overcome prejudice and daunting misogyny for centuries has begun to be peeled back and their stories and contributions to science, medicine, art, mathematics, exploration, so many fields, is at last being recognised. The Author's weaving of Lyudmila's story shows how hard it is to be female, intelligent, achieving against patriarchy. Thank you Kate Quinn. The reader was great. However I would have preferred an accent reflecting more Russian than American.

One of Kate’s best historical novels

I love historical novels, and this is one of the best , with a subject that is relevant to us now

Do not pick up this book unless you have the time to finish it in one sitting.

From the excellent research and brilliant writing comes one of Kate Quinn’s best books ever. I did not believe Kate Quinn could top the Alice Network, but, she has.
The narrator - one word, phenomenal!
The book looks at WWII, from a Russian point of view, and paints an incredible story.