Short stories are the poetry of prose. Mistakes, in a novel, can be buried. In a short story, they stand out like roaches on a sugar cookie. Short stories are precise, cut to the bone, every word a necessity. A novel may go far afield, but a great short story requires unbelievable restraint. Not many authors develop that control. Libby Fischer Hellmann has the hand of a master.

Take it from a guy who knows her well: Libby is a nice girl. But she writes noir with a savvy edge honed on the hard, dark knowledge of the evil possible in us all. With each story she opens a door to a room that holds a demon—and with prose too damn good to resist, she seduces us inside. So you should probably interpret this introduction not only as an invitation but also as a warning. If you choose to read on, I can guarantee that Libby's stories will take you places nice people don't often go.

William Kent Krueger

Series Stories:

The Day Miriam Hirsch Disappeared

Common Scents

The Last Radical

A Winter's Tale

The Murder Of Katie Boyle

Chicago Then And Now:
Your Sweet Man
The Jade Elephant
Dumber Than Dirt
The Whole World Is Watching

Other Places, Other Times:
House Rules
Detour
The Rainforest Messiah
High Yellow
A Berlin Story
Josef's Angel

REVIEWS (SHORT STORIES)

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

"Her own contribution sets high standards…" Oline Cogdill, Mystery Scene on YOUR SWEET MAN (in HELL OF A WOMAN)

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

You can read the 1st page of each story at Libby Hellmann's website.

Spécifications