Libby Fischer Hellmann: Author of EASY INNOCENCE, A Novel of Suspense

Removed from the gritty streets of Chicago, the residents of the North Shore sleep easily in their million dollar homes. Easily, that is, until a local girl is discovered bludgeoned to death in the woods. Quick to blame the man with the bat, the North Shore returns to its version of normalcy. But the accused's sister isn't so willing to forget and hires Georgia Davis—former cop and newly-minted PI—to look into the incident. What Georgia finds hints at a much different, darker answer. It seems that some privileged, preppy schoolgirls on Chicago's North Shore have learned just how much their innocence is worth to hot-under-the-collar businessmen. And while these girls can now pay for Prada, iPhones, and Jimmy Choos with their earnings, they don't realize that their new business venture may end up costing them more than they can afford...
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"Libby Hellmann can get into the mind of a character, whether the character is a mentally ill man or a teenage girl. I kept reading after the first brutal and fascinating pages because I... wanted to know what would happen to the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly people. PI Georgia Davis, the no-nonsense heart of this tale, is an original who cuts through the surface of the wealthy Chicago suburban North Shore and finds a darkness I didn't see coming. This is good stuff, very good stuff."
—Stuart M. Kaminsky, Grand Master, Mystery Writers of America

"Hellmann's done her homework here and it shows: the writing is assured, the voices authentic, and the understanding both of criminal investigations and relationships among cops, lawyers and prosecutors come to life with great urgency. Her PI, Georgia Davis, works the affluent suburbs north of Chicago, fertile territory for crime that's lain fallow far too long. Davis' arrival on the mean streets is long overdue."
—Sara Paretsky, author of the V.I. Warshawski series and Bleeding Kansas

"Easy Innocence grabs you and doesn't let go. Hellmann's cool style and sleight-of-hand plotting draw you in deep before you know what's happened. This one will keep you up at night."
—SJ Rozan, author of In This Rain

"Hellmann brings to life the reality of hazing and bullying among teenage girls in a story with enough twists and turns to keep you reading to the end. Highly recommended."
—Library Journal (starred review)

"Just what's needed in a mystery... Depth of characterization sets this new entry apart from a crowded field."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Exciting plot development and a strong heroine... If you enjoy gritty noir mysteries, this one is highly recommended."
—Midwest Book Review

"A fast-paced mystery... (Georgia) is a principled, compassionate character, determined to do the right thing, even if it doesn't follow conventional assumptions..."
—Booklist

Easy Innocence is Crime Fiction Dossier's Book of the Week (March 24)!

"Hellmann's vast knowledge of the area and ability to dive deep into her characters give her the authority needed to create a suspenseful and gripping story... Easy Innocence is a tough act to follow."
—CrimeSpree Magazine

"There's a new no-nonsense female private detective in town: Georgia Davis, a former cop who is tough and smart enough to give even the legendary V.I. Warshawski a run for her money... Hellmann knows how to distill the essence of a character in a few unadorned but dead-right sentences."
—Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune | Read full review

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