With a Foreword by William Kent Krueger:Short stories are the poetry of prose. They are precise, cut to the bone, every word a necessity. Not many authors develop that control. Libby Fischer Hellmann has the hand of a master. The stories in this first volume of Nice Girl Does Noir have all been published previously in traditional venues. They’re unified by the presence of two remarkable women: Ellie Foreman and Georgia Davis. Anyone familiar with Libby’s novels knows these names. The two characters are different in history, family, appearance, and outlook, but they’re alike in the ways that matter. They care about justice. They’re fiercely protective of those they love. They can’t let a mystery go uninvestigated nor a crime unsolved. And they’re always struggling to be better than they fear they are. 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—bigotry and politics in her award-winning debut effort “The Day Miriam Hirsch Disappeared”, greed in “Common Scents”, deadly desire in “A Winter’s Tale”—and with prose too damn good to resist, she seduces us inside. So you should probably take this 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.CONTENTS:Approx 24,000 wordsTHE DAY MIRIAM HIRSCH DISAPPEARED, 2000 An Ellie Foreman StoryCOMMON SCENTS, 2004A Georgia Davis StoryTHE LAST RADICAL, 2001An Ellie Foreman StoryA WINTER’S TALE, 2005An Ellie Foreman StoryTHE MURDER OF KATIE BOYLE, 2009A Georgia Davis/Ellie Foreman StoryREVIEWS (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)ABOUT THE AUTHORAward winning author Libby Fischer Hellmann writes two crime fiction series. Two novels, EASY INNOCENCE (2008) and DOUBLEBACK (2009) feature Chicago P.I Georgia Davis. In addition Libby has published four novels featuring Chicago video producer and single mother Ellie Foreman. The first, AN EYE FOR MURDER, was an Anthony nominee for Best First. Libby has also published over 15 short stories (now in NICE GIRL DOES NOIR) and edited the acclaimed crime fiction anthology CHICAGO BLUES. Look for her new stand alone thriller, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE, December, 2010.