Nice Girl Does Noir: A Collection of Libby Hellmann's Short Stories

Written by Libby Fischer Hellmann

Narrated by James Lewis and Robin Rowan

To read Libby Fischer Hellmann is to love Libby Fischer Hellmann. Her writing is tight, fast, and highly entertaining. But I had no idea Libby was so versatile. My first inkling of this came a few years ago, when I asked her to contribute a story to an anthology I was editing. Frankly, I didn't think she'd make the cut. While Libby doesn't shy away from being tough in her writing, her Ellie Foreman books were not what I'd call hard boiled, and my anthology was a collection of hit man stories. Boy, was I wrong. Her story, DETOUR, was pure, adrenalin-fueled noir, and wound up being one of the best of the book. She also edited the acclaimed anthology, CHICAGO BLUES. She's still great at the light-hearted suspense she's known for, but the stories in NICE GIRL DOES NOIR -- all previously published -- offer a wide variety of styles, tones, and topics. Funny. Dark. Poignant. Exciting. Surprising. And all unputdownable.

"I don't usually like short stories, but these are terrific! I roared through them. Hellmann had a good mix of Chicago historicals and contemporaries. My highest recommendation here."--Molly Weston, Meritorious Mysteries

"When Hellmann explores the less sunlit areas of Chicago, her canvas becomes not only more universal but has greater depth and emotional value. Aspiring short-story writers would do well to pay attention." --Naomi Johnson, The Drowning Machine

"Standouts include Libby Fischer Hellmann's clever twist on a redemption tale..." THE JADE ELEPHANT (in THESE GUNS FOR HIRE)--Publishers Weekly

"Her own contribution sets high standards..." Oline Cogdill, on YOUR SWEET MAN (in CHICAGO BLUES, 2007) --Oline Cogdill, Mystery Scene Magazine

"Hellmann's story is remarkable..." Janielle Martin, on THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING (in SISTERS ON THE CASE --The Eclectic Closet

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Red Herrings Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781938733079

Libby Fischer Hellmann

Libby Fischer Hellmann left a career in broadcast news in Washington, DC and moved to Chicago 35 years ago, where she, naturally, began to write gritty crime fiction. Twelve novels and twenty short stories later, she claims they’ll take her out of the Windy City feet first. She has been nominated for many awards in the mystery and crime writing community and has even won a few. With the addition of Jump Cut in 2016, her novels include the now five-volume Ellie Foreman series, which she describes as a cross between “Desperate Housewives” and “24;” the hard-boiled 4-volume Georgia Davis PI series, and three stand-alone historical thrillers that Libby calls her “Revolution Trilogy.” Last fall The Incidental Spy,  a historical novella set during the early years of the Manhattan Project at the U of Chicago was released. Her short stories have been published in a dozen anthologies, the Saturday Evening Post, and Ed Gorman’s “25 Criminally Good Short Stories” collection.  In 2005 Libby was the national president of Sisters In Crime, a 3500 member organization dedicated to the advancement of female crime fiction authors. More at http://libbyhellmann.com * She has been a finalist twice for the Anthony, three times for Foreword Magazines Book of the Year, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Daphne and has won the Lovey multiple times.