Libby Fischer Hellman: DOUBLEBACK Launch Party

Libby Hellman

In North Shore resident’s Libby Fischer Hellman’s latest novel “DOUBLEBACK,“ Georgia Davis, former cop turned P.I., and Ellie Forman, video producer and sometime sleuth, join forces on the trail of a shadowy security company. As part of the book launch party on Sunday, October 11 at the Hanson Brother’s Tavern, Hellman gave away copies of the short story, “The Murder of Katie Boyle.” The story recounts how Georgia met Ellie. Here’s an excerpt:

(Georgia is still a cop and Matt Singer is a detective. They are very close friends!)

“So, what did you think of Ellie Foreman?” Matt asked.
“In what way?”
“Any observations? Was she a reliable witness? Was she hiding anything?
Georgia felt her brow furrow. “She was okay, I guess. One of those North Shore women.”
“What does that mean?”
She could tell from his tone he was edgy. She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Sweetheart, you can’t keep that chip on your shoulder. Just because you didn’t grow up here. I didn’t either.”
She looked over. “That’s not true. Skokie is on the North Shore.”
“By a whisker.”

Maybe (and I’m not promising anything) Hellman will pass out the story at her appearance on Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 PM at the Northfield Public Library, 1785 Orchard Lane, along with Theresa Schwegel and Kevin Guilfoile.

At last Sunday’s Doubleback launch party, Hellman greeted her fans, friends (and the occasional afternoon barfly) at the door of the Hanson Brother’s tavern, while Louie Zagoras and his band cranked out covers of Dylan, Steve Miller, Spencer Davis and Hendrix. Hellman signed books and for every book purchase you got a free drink coupon. We bought several books.

Here’s some very (Agelessly) home-made video of the liveliest book-signing WE’VE ever been to:

So, what with the free drinks, the chips with melted cheese and the music, I didn’t have a chance for an in-depth interview. But here’s what I found out:

Hellman began writing fiction as part of a writer’s group in 1996. Her first novel was published in 2002 and she is still in the same group.

Libby Hellman book sculpture by Michael Todd Smith - michaeltoddsmith.com

Hellman has always been into suspense fiction. Her faves included Ludlum and LeCarre.  Her mother turned her on to Jeremiah Healy and his Shamus award winning novel “The Staked Goat.” While thrillers always portend the catastrophic end of the world, detective fiction explores a grittier world that Hellman likes her characters to inhabit.

Libby Fischer Hellman is a “made” blogger. She blogs for “The Outfit,” a collective of Chicago Crime Writers.

And on a personal note, I love the local references in Hellman’s books – Old Orchard, Happ Road, Winnetka, the thinly disguised “Newfield” High School, and others.