Based on a true story, the Diamond Eye focuses on WW2's most lethal sniper, Mila Pavlichenko.

Mila's life revolves around her young son, until Hitler invades Russia and everything changes. Her friends are suddenly forced to seperate, and in to roles they thought they would never have. Mila must take up arms to save her country from the Fuhrer's destruction.

A novice at handling a rifle, Mila soon discovers that she has a rare gift, and through months of blood, sweat and tears, and the untimely death of some of her comrades, Mila becomes a deadly sniper. Soon her name is notorious and a casual topic of conversation becomes 'how many have you killed now?'

Success comes at a price, not only the loss of some of her dear friends, but also her personality, she is known only as a deadly killer, then thrust into a limelight that she doesn't need or want, sent on a campaign trail to the States. Suddenly she is being transported to America and meeting Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

The luxury of her surroundings is a world away from the front line, but all she wants to do is fight. She should feel safe in a country that isn't infiltrated by the enemy, but she can't help but feel uneasy. It must just be the unwanted attention ...

The Diamond Eye is an excellent historical novel, told from a really interesting angle. I have now read all of Kate Quinn's books and I think they get better each time. I can't wait until the next!

Another excellent read from Kate Quinn, yet again she combines real life events and characters and adds to the interest. This one as with previous books as a dual timeline element to add to the excitement.

However it feel strange reading about a Russian sniper days after the terrible events in Ukraine began but Putin hadn’t checked the publication dates. It did mean that the geographical references where even more key as I was reading it after hearing about some of the places in the news.

Highly recommend and thank you for letting me read an early ebook.

A stunning fictional telling of the story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a female Russian sniper from World War II who had 309 official Nazi strikes to her tally (and many more besides from general battle skirmishes). A good deal of the book is taken from her memoirs; there's a super afterword with fascinating photos, and also fictional additions making it a real nailbiter towards the end especially.
The prejudices that this woman had to overcome, even in Russia where it was much more normal for women to enter the forces than here, - but also expected to 'warm senior officers' bedrolls when required. Equality yet blatant sexism! She wasn't taking any of that. She conquered evey doubter, winning them over with her pure talent as a sharpshooter and on her own merits. Woefully undecorated compared to males inthe same line of duty, she eventually got recognition and awards.
The descriptions of staking out the shoot sites, the calcuations made, the ridicule she got for her methods of camoflage and the pure number of hours spent on her stomach in snowy situtions makes the mind boggle.
She even became an unlikely friend of Eleanor Roosevelt when she was sent on a mission to encourage Roosevelt to aid them against the Nazis. (Fact: Photos to prove it!)
I cried at the end of the book, and immediately started Googling! A wonderful book which I hope the timing of publication will not mar, Russian war heroes hardly being a popular topic currently.

Based on the real life memoirs of Mila Pavlichenko this is the story of a young mother and aspiring academic who learns to shoot accurately and enlists as a sniper as soon as the Germans invade and war starts, The scenes in the desperate defence of Odessa and Sevastopol have a particular resonance right now. Aside from the scenes of war it is a love story as Mila seeks to shed her awful first husband and falls in love on the front line. A third thread has her travelling to America to talk about her exploits as a sniper and hopefully persuade the USA to enter the war in Europe. An extended love story and a terrific thriller with a dramatic ending. Brilliant!

I loved this book. I think it has a great story, quite different from what I usually read and it kept me gripped right to the end. Great writing and the characters get under your skin. Highly recommended!

Kate Quinn is a gifted storyteller; woven around real people and events, she makes history come alive. I don’t know a great deal about the Russian/German aspect of WW2, other than what I’ve read about Stalingrad. There’s also resonance given the current precarious events in Ukraine and the detail doesn’t always make comfortable reading. And nor should it for those of us fortunate enough not to be directly involved; we need to understand just what it means to ordinary people.

This is the story of a female sniper. She’s had some difficulties but finds she has a talent with a rifle. It’s a truly astonishing story, very detailed in terms of how a sniper operates, which I found fascinating. Some readers may feel it slows the pace of the narrative, but I thought it added to the complexity of the character and the story. It’s skilfully plotted and often haunting. As expected, very well written and I’m grateful to the publisher for an advance copy via Netgalley.

This is the third novel written by Kate Quinn that I’ve been privileged to read. This is exactly what I’ve come to expect, intelligent, well written war based fiction (although it is based on a true story). Lyudmila is a young Russian girl, an academic at the outset of the conflict with the Nazis, but having trained as a marksman in years previous, she becomes a sniper - and a very good one at that. Having said all this, I did find the novel heavy going at times - not sure why, but feel definitely that it was me and not the book as is sometimes the way (as all real readers can attest to).

A female Ukrainian sniper fighting for the USSR against the Nazis - oh how times have changed.

If you approach this as a historical study - and perhaps read the epilogue first - then it would be a more satisfying read. I came at it wanting a story and characters, and was a bit overwhelmed with the sniper details. To be fair I really enjoyed the war and love interest elements, I found the US tour to be a bit of a drag, and a little too fanciful. It did seem to go on for a long old time, perhaps a but more editing of the latter stages would make for a tighter story.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn is set during World War 2. I really enjoyed this book, particularly the central character. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

After reading The Rose Code and loving it I sought out all Kate’s back catalogue. I particularly loved the Rome novels. I was so happy to have a copy of her new novel Diamond Eye to review. It’s a great book. Intelligently written and well researched. It did not disappoint. It’s a new angle on WW11 and I thoroughly recommend.

WOW 🤩 What can I say but pure Brilliance!! Gripping from the first page until the last ! Based on a true story, how the author has merged fact and fiction is genius. Definitely one of my best reads , can’t recommend this book enough

Thank you @netgalley & @harpercollinsuk for sending me an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review! I also preordered this book as I needed a physical copy too’ 😂

Kate Quinn is my favourite historical fiction writer and I couldn't wait to get my hands on her latest work.

This was another incredibly well researched story and one that was very interesting to read as the main character is based on a real Ukrainian female sniper! How cool is that?

The story of Mila Pavlichenko, a young single mother studying to be a historian, is really fascinating. A certified markswoman, she doesn't hesitate for a second to join the Russian army when Hitler invades her country. Although she regrets being separated from her son, she thrives as a sniper and becomes a national heroine after killing more than 300 Germans.

Much of the story takes place on the battlefield and we follow her in the most desperate situations, where she always shows courage and perseverance that earns her the respect and admiration of her men!

Quinn masterfully weaves in a couple of love stories and an assassination plot which was very intriguing to read, as well as a welcome reprieve from the front line war aspects.

I loved reading about Mila’s propaganda tour of the United States and the unusual friendship she forms with the First Lady!

This was not Quinn's usual book about World War II, as most of the story comes from Pavlichenko's memoirs. And I think that may have contributed to making it almost too detailed, especially the long chapters explaining the battles. With the current situation in Ukraine, some parts were hard to read!

This may not be my favourite Quinn book, but it is still an excellent read that any historical fiction lover should grab!

Based on the true story of the extraordinary Russian lady sniper,
Lyudmila Pavlichenko, Kate Quinn has the remarkable ability to give any noted historical character or event a relatable human side. Set mainly on the Russian front as the Red Army desperately tried to quell the onslaught from Hitler’s unrelenting forces, Mila, a young mother who had already encountered difficulties in her life, finds herself directly facing the enemy. With her newly acquired skills with a rifle, she realises how good she is in comparison to her fellow soldiers but struggles to be accepted as a woman sniper and encounters sexism and resentment not least from her estranged husband. This story is vividly descriptive of battle scenes, human compassion in the face of adversity and absolute hardship and cruelty and makes for a compelling read. Add a mystery marksman aiming to assassinate President Roosevelt into the mix and this book truly has everything. Kate Quinn is a gifted author with a passion for making historical events come alive. This is the third book I have read by this incredible author and I actually dislike reading about history and wars but I will always look forward to reading any from Kate Quinn. Diamond Eye is quite lengthy but each page a masterpiece of engaging prose and does not disappoint on any level.

Kate Quinn has done it again with The Diamond Eye. I have read and loved her previous historical fiction books. This one didn't disappoint. Set alternately in Russia/Ukraine and the US, during WW2, this book tells the gripping true story of the female sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Quinn is so good at making a story tense, thrilling and edge of your seat / can't-stop-reading exciting. It is also very moving and inspiring.
Fabulous book.
With grateful thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and Kate Quinn.

As ever Kate Quinn’s latest historical novel is well researched and engrossing. It is the story of Ukrainian girl sniper, Mila Pavlichenko and has special poignancy when one thinks of the current events in the Ukraine.
Mila is a single mother, research student and a trained marksman so when the Nazis invade her homeland she immediately joins the Red Army in order to defend her country and make her young son proud of her.
The book details her life as a sharp shooter for the army as well as her romance with one of her fellow soldiers.
There is also a lot about her tour of the USA in 1942 when she was trying to encourage the Americans to open a second front and help her compatriots to beat the “Hitlerites”
An unlikely friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt and a plot to assassinate the President is also part of the story.
The Diamond Eye is an exciting and interesting examination of one woman’s desire to help defend her country- the Red Army accepted female recruits as well as male unlike most other European armies at the time.
I’d never heard of Mila or her exploits but when I read the author’s postscript I was surprised to discover that she was a real person and that Kate Quinn had merely adapted her story into a fictionalised account of her life. Not only was this book an enjoyable read but I also learnt something about a brave woman who had actually existed but had been lost to history!
Definitely a book to be recommended- if you’ve enjoyed the author’s earlier books you will love this. If you haven’t read any I guarantee you will want to after finishing The Diamond Eye.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for my arc.

What a book! What a writer! I loved it and was drawn into a completely different world that kept me riveted - fantastic - well done!

Fantastic book! I really enjoyed Kate Quinn's previous book, The Rose Code, but this was even better. Really interesting story about the Soviet experience in the Second World War which I didn't know much about and a wonderful main character. Particularly fascinating as it's set in Ukraine which is very much in the news at the moment.. And even better, once I got to the end I realised that the character was a real person and although the account is fictionalised, much of it is true to what is known about her and her war.

What an amazing story, what a lady, what a novel!

Kate Quinn brings to life a heroin of the Second World War, Lyudmila Pavlichenko. Lyudmila, from Kiev in (then) Russia, was a mother very young and wanted to get a good life for her and her son, studying history. She attended a shooting school and when the war started, she decided to join the fight and convinced her superiors to let her use her skills as a sniper. She excelled and got given the nickname "Lady Death". This earned her the recognition by the Russian officials and she embarked on a tour in the US in 1042 to advocate with the Allies for their help to Russia by opening a second front. She became friends with Eleanor Roosevelt, a friendship that lasted a lifetime. She did not return to the front but continued to train snipers during the war.

This book is written as a memoir by Lyudmila. And indeed she did write her memoirs which the author has researched and built the novel upon. The writing is beautiful and deep, and really conveys her skill, tenacity in the fight, thoughts, feelings, grief, pain and hope in a way that makes her feel so real and close to the reader. The author's notes provide interesting insights about her life and about the choices she has made to fictionalise some parts of the story.

It was really an experience to read this book at the time of war in Ukraine. The resilience and combativity of Lyudmila, and the advocating to other nations for help, it all felt so real. One wonders what Lyudmila would have thought of our times.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thank you to the author for bringing to life such an interesting lady.

What an amazing story. Based on fact and real people but woven through with fiction this is a brilliant historical novel. I was fascinated from beginning to end and could not put this book down. Thoroughly recommended.

Kate Quinn writes excellent historical fiction and the Diamond Eye is another gripping, well researched, and compelling story by this author.
I didn't know anything about Lyudmila Pavlichenko and I was glad to get to know this extraordinary woman who faces the issue of everyday life but who's also a sniper with more than 300 killings under her belt.
The story is set during WWII and it's well researched as usual. Lyudmila Pavlichenko was Ukrainian and this may sound weird due to the ongoing war.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine