The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

THE DIAMOND EYE is the latest work of historical fiction from Kate Quinn (The Alice Network, The Rose Code and more). Based on a true story, this novel shares the adventures of a female WWII sniper, Lyudmila "Mila" Pavlichenko, credited with 309 kills. I particularly liked the cynical comments about the Russian military and about propaganda in general which were sprinkled throughout. Many chapters even begin with memoir excerpts like this: “My memoir, the official version: On the morning of the second day of October, our mighty military machine moved crisply into action at Tatarka, organized and efficient. … My memoir, the unofficial version: it was about as organized and efficient as a monkey shit-fight in a zoo.”  

In addition to Pavlichenko’s military exploits, Quinn has crafted tales of Mila's travels in the United States, including time as the first Soviet citizen invited to stay at the White House. The fictionalized tête-à-têtes with Eleanor Roosevelt offer an interesting contrast to the military exploits as does the mystery associated with an assassination attempt on FDR. Ultimately, that turns into a very exciting chase near Rock Creek Parkway. THE DIAMOND EYE received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal. Pick up this title (or listen to the excellent audiobook version) if you like strong heroines and historical fiction.