Allen Eskens
May 1, 4:00

Allen Eskens, a Minnesota author with many fans at the store, will be with us to talk about his new book, The Quiet Librarian. (Note that it’s a rare weekday event.)

Here’s Lee’s review:

This is really, really good … one of those “I could not put it down” books.

Hana Babic is a middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants to be able to live without disturbance. She appears a bit dowdy, with her worn cardigan sweaters and long skirts, and she performs her work without fanfare.

When she learns that her best friend has been murdered, she knows that danger is coming from their shared past as young militia members fighting with the Bosniak forces against the Serbs in the early 1990s. In fact, she was not just a soldier: She was the much-feared Night Mora, with a huge bounty on her head. Now, she must leave the quiet librarian behind.

This is an outstanding novel of historical fiction, as the chapters alternate between Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Minnesota. And it is also an excellent mystery and thriller.

3rd St. Festival

Author Fest, our annual celebration of Minnesota writers, is getting a new name, time of day, location, and a broader focus. It will be 3rd St. Festival, 1:00 to 5:00 on June 21, smack dab in the middle of 3rd St.! We’re now recruiting Minnesota authors to participate. If you are an author, or if you know an author you’d like us to invite, contact Sally at Sally@beagleandwolf.com. We’ll be glad to share our guidelines for inclusion.

Registration is also open for Fall Retreats
October 24–26 and October 31–November 2

Our fall retreats are a gift you give yourself, a chance to get away for a relaxing weekend, talking about books with a great group of women and eating food someone else has prepared, all at a leisurely pace. A $100 deposit will hold your spot and will be applied to the cost of the event, which is $395.

Our theme is “What IS It About Sisters?” and we’ll all read these books ahead of time.

The first retreat is full, but there are spots for the second weekend.

The Village Weavers
Myriam J.A. Chancy
Available in paperback April 29, 2025

A Good Life
Virginie Grimaldi
Available in paperback May 20, 2025

Blood Sisters,
Vanessa Lillie