Audiobooks by Libby Fischer Hellmann

Max's War: The Story of a Ritchie Boy Audiobook

"A sweeping World War 2 saga in which a young German Jew flees Europe, emigrates to America, and joins the Army to fight Nazis As the Nazis conquer Europe, Jewish teen Max and his parents flee German persecution to Holland, where Max finds true friends and a life-altering romance. But when Hitler invades in 1940, Max escapes to Chicago, leaving his parents and friends behind. When he learns of his parents' murder, Max immediately enlists in the US Army. After basic training he is sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland, where he is trained in interrogation and counterintelligence. Deployed to the OSS, Max carries out dangerous missions in Occupied countries. He also interrogates German POWs, especially after D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, where, despite life-threatening conditions, he elicits critical information about German troop movements. Post-war, he works for the Americans in the German denazification program, bringing him back to his Bavarian childhood home of Regensburg. Though the city avoided large-scale destruction, the Jewish community was decimated. Max roams familiar yet strange streets, replaying memories of lives lost to unspeakable tragedy. While there, however, he reunites with someone from his past, who, like him, sought refuge abroad. Can they rebuild their lives… together? This epic, suspenseful coming of age and war story is Libby Hellmann’s tribute to her late father-in-law who was active with the OSS and interrogated dozens of German POWs. Sure to captivate readers of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, Max’s War delves into events that occur during periods of extreme conflict when hate seems to be winning."

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Derek Shetterly (Narrator)

Audiobook

Virtually Undetectable: An Ellie Foreman Mystery

"Trawling through the lawless corners of the dark internet is the last thing respectable bank manager, Rachel Foreman, expected to be doing. But she’s just been fired after falling for a cyber-scam, resulting in the identity-theft and online targeting of a female Fortune 500 CEO, accused, among other things, of the murder of a disgruntled former employee. Lucky for Rachel, her mother is renowned investigator Ellie Foreman. In an effort to find out who’s targeting the CEO and to salvage what’s left of Rachel’s reputation, both mother and daughter trail shadowy hackers and ruthless cyber-criminals through an increasingly dangerous web of deception that threatens both mother and daughter's lives. If you've enjoyed thrillers like Harlan Coben's 'Run Away', you'll love this pulse-pounding crime thriller novella from Libby Fischer Hellmann."

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Nan Mcnamara (Narrator)

Audiobook

DoubleBlind: A Georgia Davis Novel of Suspense

"With little work during the pandemic, Chicago PI Georgia Davis agrees to help the best friend of fellow sleuth, Ellie Foreman. Susan Siler’s aunt died suddenly after her Covid booster, and Susan’s distraught mother wants the death investigated. However, Georgia’s investigation is interrupted by a family trip to Nauvoo, Illinois, the one-time Mormon heartland. It’s there that her life unexpectedly intersects with the runaway spouse of a Mormon Fundamentalist. Back in Evanston, after Georgia is almost killed by a hit and run driver, she discovers that she and the escaped woman look remarkably alike. Is someone trying to kill Georgia because of her death investigation? Or is it a case of mistaken identity? And how can Georgia find her doppelganger before whoever wants them both dead tries again? "

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Daniela Acitelli (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Bend In the River: Two Sisters Struggle to Survive the Vietnam War

"In 1968 two young Vietnamese sisters flee to Saigon after their village on the Mekong River is attacked by American forces and burned to the ground. The sole survivors of the brutal massacre that killed their family, the sisters struggle to survive but become estranged, separated by sharply different choices and ideologies. Mai ekes out a living as a GI bar girl, but Tam’s anger festers, and she heads into jungle terrain to fight with the Viet Cong. For nearly ten years, neither sister knows if the other is alive. Do they both survive the war? And if they do, can they mend their fractured relationship? Or are the wounds from their journeys too deep to heal? In a stunning departure from her crime thrillers, Libby Fischer Hellmann delves into a universal story about survival, family, and the consequences of war."

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Robin Rowan (Narrator)

Audiobook

P.O.W.: A Story About World War II At Home

"As World War II rages across Europe and the Pacific, its impact ripples through communities in the heartland of America. Mary-Catherine, a farm girl, is locked in a dangerous love triangle with two Germans soldiers held in an Illinois POW camp in the Chicago suburbs. Mary Catherine is sure she's in love, but could the German POW have other plans for their relationship? Originally written for War, Spies, and Bobby Sox, P.OW, Is now available as a standalone novella and audiobook."

Libby, Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Derek Shetterly, Diane Piron-Gelman, Hellmann (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Incidental Spy: A Story About World War Two at Home

"Young Lena Bentheim is forced to flee Nazi Germany for Chicago in 1935, leaving her family and boyfriend behind. After learning English, she eventually finds a new life as a secretary in the Physics Department of the University of Chicago. She meets and marries another German refugee scientist and has a child. Then tragedy strikes, and Lena is forced to spy on the nuclear fission experiments at the U of Chicago. A novella set in the early years of the Manhattan Project, The Incidental Spy is another fascinating historical thriller by Libby Fischer Hellmann, author of the highly acclaimed stand-alone thrillers Set the Night on Fire, A Bitter Veil, and Havana Lost. 'Hellmann writes a captivating story of spies and espionage that will keep you guessing until the very end.' Amazon Customer 'Libby Fischer Hellmann is an author to put on your 'do not begin reading at night' list unless you don't have to get up early the next morning.' Teri B. :An entertaining and a thought-provoking read…The author’s passion for the topic also shines throughout the book'. Brian Johnson, Public Libraries Online"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Diane Piron-Gelman (Narrator)

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High Crimes: Chicago PI Investigates a Murder with 42,000 Suspects

"'HIGH CRIMES is the P.I. novel for our moment, not just because of its backdrop of political tension, but because of the resilient strength of its characters. Georgia Davis is a terrific lead, and Libby Fischer Hellmann calls on her own journalism background to add layers of realism to this all-too plausible plot.' Michael Koryta, NYT bestselling author of HOW IT HAPPENED “In this ripped from the headlines and rocket-paced thriller, Libby Fischer Hellmann is at the top of her game. You won’t stop turning the pages, gripped by every twist and turn. And the tough, smart Georgia Davis is sure to take her place among the top female PIs in crime fiction.” Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of UNDER MY SKIN “Entertaining…(Georgia is) a shrewd investigator… for readers who watch the nightly news with dismay, the novel offers a satisfying alternate reality.” Publishers Weekly How do you solve a murder when there are 42,000 suspects? That’s the task facing Chicago PI Georgia Davis, hired to hunt down those behind the assassination of Resistance leader Dena Baldwin at a demonstration fourteen months after the 2016 election. The gunman, on a nearby hotel rooftop, dies within minutes of the shooting. As Georgia sifts through Dena’s 42,000 Facebook followers, she discovers that unknown enemies hiding behind fake profiles have infiltrated the group. She finds others who will do whatever it takes—including murder—to shield right-wing, wealthy elites. Threats and bruises have never frightened Georgia, but she’s side-swiped by the sudden reappearance of her mother, who abandoned her when she was a child. Can she survive a family crisis at the same time she pursues killers whose only goal is to protect themselves?"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Eva Kaminsky (Narrator)

Audiobook

Jump Cut: An Ellie Foreman Mystery

"Chicago video producer Ellie Foreman has been absent from thriller author Libby Fischer Hellmann's repertoire for almost a decade. Now, in Jump Cut, she's back...and is soon entangled in a web of espionage, murder, and suspicion that threatens to destroy what she holds most dear. Hired to produce a candy-floss profile of Chicago-based aviation giant Delcroft, Ellie is dismayed when company VP Charlotte Hollander trashes the production and cancels the project. Ellie believes Hollander was spooked by shots of a specific man in the video footage. But when Ellie arranges to meet the man to find out why, he is killed by a subway train before they can talk. In the confusion, she finds a seemingly abandoned pack of cigarettes with a flash drive inside that belonged to the now-dead man. Ellie gets the drive's contents decrypted, but before long discovers she's under surveillance. Suspecting Delcroft and the ambitious Hollander are behind it, she's unconvinced when Hollander tells her the dead man was a Chinese spy. Ellie and her boyfriend, Luke, try to find answers, but they don't realize how far they have ventured into the dangerous echelons of hidden power - where more lives are on the line - including their own. Exceptional… offers no easy solutions to the various security threats America faces today… As Hellman’s convincing, conflicted characters face impossible choices, the tension is real and memorable. Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW Hellmann’s writing sparkles…plenty of suspense in this richly detailed thriller, but Hellmann’s characteristic wit and warmth are evident, too. Booklist, Amy Alessio After a long hiatus, Hellmann returns to her Chicago-based sleuth with a chilling tale that may be all too close to the truth. Kirkus Reviews"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Nan Mcnamara (Narrator)

Audiobook

War, Spies, and Bobby Sox: Stories About World War Two At Home

"As World War II rages across Europe and the Pacific, its impact ripples through communities in the heartland of America. A farm girl is locked in a dangerous love triangle with two Germans soldiers held in an Illinois POW camp. Another German, a war refugee, is forced to risk her life spying on the developing Manhattan Project in Chicago. And espionage surrounds the disappearance of an actress from the thriving Jewish community of Chicago's Lawndale. In this trio of tales, acclaimed thriller author Libby Fischer Hellmann beautifully depicts the tumultuous effect of war on the home front and illustrates how the action, terror, and tragedy of World War II was not confined to the front lines. 'Libby Hellmann’s prose is powerful. Every part of her WW II era yarns are methodically researched, taut, twist-filled and colorful with well developed supporting characters. A gripping performance.’Charles J. Masters, 'Gliderman of Neptune, The American D-Day Glider Attack' “Well-crafted and interesting…strong emotion and a sense of threat carry the story along.' Historical Novel Society “Libby Fischer Hellmann is one of the few authors who can surprise me nearly every time I pick up one of her books. Here, the surprise comes in her clear understanding of the World War II homefront, almost as though she had lived it herself.” Buried Under Books, Lelia Taylor 'Libby Fischer Hellman powerfully illustrates what individuals could have faced while living in such perilous times. This is an engaging read with much food for thought.' Judi Gigstad, BookReporter 'Fast-reading and well told, the three tales are intriguing, smoothly written and enjoyable. (5 Stars)' Theodore Feit, Vine Voice"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Derek Shetterly, Diane Piron Gelman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Set The Night On Fire: A '60s Crime Thriller

"Lila Hilliard returns home to Chicago for the holidays only to find someone is stalking her. Her father and brother are trapped in a fire, and a man on a motorcycle tries to shoot her. As she desperately tries to figure out who is after her and why, she uncovers information about her father’s past indicating he was part of the volatile movement of young people during the late Sixties. Which means her parents were not the people she thought they were. Part thriller, part historical novel, part love story, Set The Night on Fire tells an extraordinary tale about the stormy late Sixties, and a group of idealists who were sure they would change the world. A tremendous book—sweeping but intimate, elegiac but urgent, subtle but intense. This story really does set the night on fire. Lee Child A top-rate thriller that taps into the antiwar protests of the 1960s… A jazzy fusion of past and present, Hellman’s insightful, politically charged whodunit explores a fascinating period in American history. Publishers Weekly A brilliantly-paced thriller, transitioning seamlessly from modern-day Chicago to the late ’60s. First-rate characterization… Best to start early in the day, as it is easy to stay up all night reading it. Foreword Magazine Electric… a marvelous novel. RT Book Reviews Haunting… Rarely have history, mystery, and political philosophy blended so beautifully… could easily end up on the required reading list in college-level American History classes. Betty Webb, Mystery Scene"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Diane Piron Gelman (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Picture of Guilt: An Ellie Foreman Mystery

"The big news story in Chicago is the murder trial of Johnny Santoro, a dock worker whose girlfriend has been killed. Most Chicagoans are betting on a quick guilty verdict, but Ellie Foreman has doubts about his complicity—Santoro is strangely familiar to her. Checking back to the outtakes of a video project in progress while the murder took place, Ellie finds evidence that could save Santoro from a lifetime behind bars. It seems the perfect alibi, but the tape is compromised by radio interference and Santoro goes to jail.Almost immediately, Ellie’s world begins to shift: a suspicious vehicle follows her, the Chicago mob shows up, and the FBI wants to question her. She doesn’t have answers, but she has questions of her own about the radio transmissions. Everything indicates that someone wants something from her, something bigger than the Santoro case. If only she could figure out what it is... A Picture of Guilt follows Ellie’s award-winning debut in the crime thriller An Eye for Murder. Smart and exciting… Hellmann knows what people are willing to die for and that knowledge makes her work shine. Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune Hellmann owes a debt to fellow Chicagoans Sara Paretsky (complex plotting) and Barbara D’Amato (excellent research) – but she’s the brash young thing making this formula new again. I can’t wait for the next book. Robin Agnew, Aunt Agatha's Hellmann has surpassed herself. Well-crafted, intense and exciting, right up to the last page… a must read. Midwest Book Review This sequel to AN EYE FOR MURDER has it all – action, excitement, increasing tension – with the usual family complications. Library Journal"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Nan McNamara (Narrator)

Audiobook

ToxiCity: A Prequel: The Georgia Davis Series #3

"A prequel to Libby Fischer Hellman’s Georgia Davis PI series. A dark thriller and police procedural from best-selling crime writer Libby Fischer Hellmann. When three bodies turn up in rapid succession, all in landfills or waste disposal dumpsters, rookie cop Georgia Davis is drawn into the investigation. Teaming up with her detective boyfriend Matt and his friend Detective Sergeant John Stone, Georgia must work out who’s responsible for the killings, but there’s little evidence to go on. Complicating the situation is the daughter of a real estate mogul, who also happens to have her eye on Matt. Fans of Hellmann’s Deftly weaving emotional pressure into an engaging plot ToxiCity is a must-read addition to the libraries of crime fiction enthusiasts the world over. Toxicity is as gritty as it is spellbinding. It draws the reader inexorably into a web of deceit, heart-crushing loss, and righteous fury… A stunning and satisfying conclusion. J. Carson Black, Best-selling author of Darkness on the Edge of Town Anybody that loves police procedurals written tautly, with grit and a healthy dose of noir, will love this one…her Georgia Davis series may just be one of the best crime thriller series being written today. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer Lovers of Hellmann’s novel, Easy Innocence, will enjoy learning how heroine Georgia Davis survived her Chicago cop rookiehood. Chicago Tribune I was blown away once I began reading. I literally couldn’t put the book down… Think CSI meets Erin Brockovich… F. Murrell Hellmann writes with the economy and emotional punch of classic crime novelists like Lawrence Block. And she has created a perpetrator who is complex, realistic and completely unexpected…Peg Rorbarchek"

Libby Fischer Hellmann (Author), Beth Richmond, Derek Shetterly (Narrator)

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