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The Last Page
Barbara Adams, head of the Windbrook Library in suburban Chicago, has died, apparently from a fall down the stairs to the library's basement. But when Julia Fairbanks, her closest friend's daughter starts to poke around, she finds troubling emails that indicate Barbara was not the victim of a heart attack, but a vicious killer instead. Can Julia find the murderer? Or will she end up on The Last Page? This breezy mystery is a novella, approx. 20,000 words. It also includes two short stories by the authors, both from the acclaimed crime fiction anthology, CHICAGO BLUES
Audiobook
First published July 17, 2011
43 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Libby Fischer Hellmann
78 books970 followersLibby Fischer Hellmann left a career in broadcast news in Washington, DC and moved to Chicago a long time ago, where she, naturally, began to write gritty crime fiction. She soon began writing historical fiction as well. Eighteen novels and twenty-five short stories later, she claims they’ll take her out of the Windy City feet first. She has been nominated for many awards in the mystery writing community and has even won a few. Her newest work is MAX'S WAR, her 6th historical saga. MAX, set before and during WW2, It will be released in April, 2024.
Libby began her career as an assistant film editor for NBC News in New York before moving back to DC to work with Robin McNeil and Jim Lehrer at N-PACT, the public affairs production arm of PBS. Retrained as an assistant director when Watergate broke, Libby helped produce PBS’s night-time broadcast of the hearings. She went on to work for public relations firm Burson-Marsteller in Chicago in 1978, where she stayed until she left to found Fischer Hellmann Communications in 1985.
Originally from Washington, D.C.—where, she says, “When you’re sitting around the dinner table gossiping about the neighbors, you’re talking politics”—Libby earned a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University and a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to writing, Libby writes and produces videos, and conducts speaker training programs in platform speaking, presentation skills, media training and crisis communications.
Libby’s best-selling novels have won widespread acclaim since her first novel, AN EYE FOR MURDER, which was nominated for several awards and described by Publisher’s Weekly as “a masterful blend of politics, history, and suspense”.
Libby is known for her portrayal of strong female characters. EYE introduced Ellie Foreman, a video producer and single mother who went on to star in five more novels in a series described by Libby as “a cross between Desperate Housewives and 24.”
Libby’s second series, also six novels now, follows Chicago PI Georgia Davis, a no-nonsense hard-boiled detective operating in the Northern suburbs and beyond.
In addition to her popular series, Libby has also written five standalone thrillers in diverse settings and historical periods that demonstrate her versatility as a writer. Readers will meet young activists during the late Sixties, a young American woman who marries and moves to Tehran, three women forced to make dire choices during WW2, and a female Mafia boss who chases power at the expense of love. And in A BEND IN THE RIVER, she takes a break from her thrillers to write an award-winning novel of two Vietnamese sisters trying to survive the Vietnam war. MAX is the upcoming 6th addition to the loosely-linked series she calls her "Revolution Sagas."
Libby began her career as an assistant film editor for NBC News in New York before moving back to DC to work with Robin McNeil and Jim Lehrer at N-PACT, the public affairs production arm of PBS. Retrained as an assistant director when Watergate broke, Libby helped produce PBS’s night-time broadcast of the hearings. She went on to work for public relations firm Burson-Marsteller in Chicago in 1978, where she stayed until she left to found Fischer Hellmann Communications in 1985.
Originally from Washington, D.C.—where, she says, “When you’re sitting around the dinner table gossiping about the neighbors, you’re talking politics”—Libby earned a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University and a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to writing, Libby writes and produces videos, and conducts speaker training programs in platform speaking, presentation skills, media training and crisis communications.
Libby’s best-selling novels have won widespread acclaim since her first novel, AN EYE FOR MURDER, which was nominated for several awards and described by Publisher’s Weekly as “a masterful blend of politics, history, and suspense”.
Libby is known for her portrayal of strong female characters. EYE introduced Ellie Foreman, a video producer and single mother who went on to star in five more novels in a series described by Libby as “a cross between Desperate Housewives and 24.”
Libby’s second series, also six novels now, follows Chicago PI Georgia Davis, a no-nonsense hard-boiled detective operating in the Northern suburbs and beyond.
In addition to her popular series, Libby has also written five standalone thrillers in diverse settings and historical periods that demonstrate her versatility as a writer. Readers will meet young activists during the late Sixties, a young American woman who marries and moves to Tehran, three women forced to make dire choices during WW2, and a female Mafia boss who chases power at the expense of love. And in A BEND IN THE RIVER, she takes a break from her thrillers to write an award-winning novel of two Vietnamese sisters trying to survive the Vietnam war. MAX is the upcoming 6th addition to the loosely-linked series she calls her "Revolution Sagas."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 28, 2015
This was really interesting as it was jointly written by 2 authors for a library fund raiser. Can't get any better than that for a reason to write. Their character, law school student Julia Fairbanks decides to investigate the death of head librarian Barbara Adams as she had reached out to Julia's Mother several times in an "urgent" manner. Julia decides it's murder and then goes about finding clues and solving the case. Some Nancy Drew aspects mixed in but I really liked it.
July 4, 2024
Barbara Adams, head of the Windbrook Library in suburban Chicago, has died, apparently from a fall down the stairs to the library's basement. But when Julia Fairbanks, her closest friend's daughter starts to poke around, she finds troubling emails that indicate Barbara was not the victim of a heart attack, but a vicious killer instead. Can Julia find the murderer? Or will she end up on The Last Page? This breezy mystery is a novella, approx. 20,000 words. It also includes two short stories by the authors, both from the acclaimed crime fiction anthology, CHICAGO BLUES.
November 7, 2018
This is a quick read. A librarian is found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs. The ruling is heart attack. However, the daughter of the librarian's best friend thinks there is more to this story. She investigates and finds that there are several who would have wanted this librarian gone from their world. After a few twists and a bit of danger to our heroine, the murderer is revealed.
June 8, 2019
This was a delightful novella. I didn't predict the ending and was able to get on board with most aspects of the novel. The authors did good work in researching aspects of libraries such as Friends of the Library etc. It was neat that it was produced with the intention of raising money for a specific library.
December 24, 2020
A very nice short mystery. Short enough that most characters' motivations are not particularly clear, yet the characters are well-defined. Once the reader figures out the code (I found it obvious), the villain is revealed, but the how and why take a bit longer.
This edition was accompanied by two other short stories, and I found both of the at least as good as this story.
This edition was accompanied by two other short stories, and I found both of the at least as good as this story.
July 15, 2023
Fun little whodunnit that I totally figured out - but in a, "Yes! I'm awesome!" way, not a "Duh! It's so obvious!" kind of way. Am I trying to get my reading numbers in by listening to a bunch of novella audiobooks? Um.....maybe....? Still, I did enjoy this one. So glad that library commissioned it!
February 2, 2020
No more Hellman and Walker for me
Dreadful depressing stories about the worst elements of police officers and other seemy underbelly. Not my preferred reading. Sorry I picked it from free books.
Dreadful depressing stories about the worst elements of police officers and other seemy underbelly. Not my preferred reading. Sorry I picked it from free books.
December 14, 2022
The clues in this murder mystery story were conveniently obtained, the denouement sudden, and wrapped up way too neatly - which I guess one should expect in a short story. It did have a couple of other stories (which were well written in my opinion), but they were not my taste.
November 9, 2017
The last page
The Last Page by Libby Fischer Hellmann, a collection of short stories was a pretty good read. I especially enjoyed the first story because I am a retired librarian.
The Last Page by Libby Fischer Hellmann, a collection of short stories was a pretty good read. I especially enjoyed the first story because I am a retired librarian.
October 14, 2018
Not bad. The language style was a little hard to get past but it was a cute little mystery. I really like the ending.
May 15, 2020
Didn't know what to expect - but, "I LIKED IT."
Short. and well done.
Short. and well done.
June 13, 2022
This book is for every booklover out there.
Enjoyed all the library references.
Enjoyed all the library references.
Read
July 20, 2022Interesting. Short stories
October 24, 2024
Audio Book - OK read, nothing to taxing
March 17, 2025
A bit dull with no action
Short stories don't hit my play list often. This feels like I'm missing the point. Each tale leaves me asking, where is the rest of story.
Short stories don't hit my play list often. This feels like I'm missing the point. Each tale leaves me asking, where is the rest of story.
May 18, 2016
The Last Page by Libby Fischer Hellmann and David J. Walker Narrated by, Mary Conway and James Lewis
In the short story The Last Page a not very well liked librarian, Barbara Adams, dies from what they are saying was a heart attack but she just happened to be standing at the top of the stairs when it happened, Julia’s mother & Barbara were friends and both think the death sounds suspicious so Julia decides to do some digging. I love a book that is set in a library and the author did a good job in researching the ALA’s privacy policy and the ins and outs of information available to librarians. All in all this was a good short cozy mystery and I would read others by this author and would read more with the character of Julia.
The narrator Mary Conway is new to me, it took me a little bit to get used to her voice it sounds a bit young yet has a roughness so for me it took a little to get used to, but by the end I was happy with her narration and would listen to others narrated by her.
Chicago Blues short story My Sweet Man &another story I didn’t catch the name of by, Libby Hellman and David J. Walker narrated by, James Lewis, both were way more gritty stories than the first one. The last story is extremely gritty and has a lot of language it was quite a departure from the first story being more of a cozy and the second one was more family secret type mystery, they seemed an odd pairing on the same audiobook. I enjoyed My Sweet Man but I think it would have been better without the final story.
The narrator James Lewis has a husky deep voice that I like, his voice is good for gritty mystery or noir would fit his voice well too. I would listen to more from this narrator.
All in all this short 3 hour audiobook is pretty good I really liked the first story, the second one was also good but the last one just didn’t do it for me. I would have rated this 4 stars if it had only been the first & second story but the third story brings it down to a three but will end up with 3 ½ stars for good narration. Would read more from this author and listen again to these narrators.
3 ½ Stars
I received this from the Audiobookjukebox and the author/publisher Fischer Hellmann Communications for a fair and honest review.
In the short story The Last Page a not very well liked librarian, Barbara Adams, dies from what they are saying was a heart attack but she just happened to be standing at the top of the stairs when it happened, Julia’s mother & Barbara were friends and both think the death sounds suspicious so Julia decides to do some digging. I love a book that is set in a library and the author did a good job in researching the ALA’s privacy policy and the ins and outs of information available to librarians. All in all this was a good short cozy mystery and I would read others by this author and would read more with the character of Julia.
The narrator Mary Conway is new to me, it took me a little bit to get used to her voice it sounds a bit young yet has a roughness so for me it took a little to get used to, but by the end I was happy with her narration and would listen to others narrated by her.
Chicago Blues short story My Sweet Man &another story I didn’t catch the name of by, Libby Hellman and David J. Walker narrated by, James Lewis, both were way more gritty stories than the first one. The last story is extremely gritty and has a lot of language it was quite a departure from the first story being more of a cozy and the second one was more family secret type mystery, they seemed an odd pairing on the same audiobook. I enjoyed My Sweet Man but I think it would have been better without the final story.
The narrator James Lewis has a husky deep voice that I like, his voice is good for gritty mystery or noir would fit his voice well too. I would listen to more from this narrator.
All in all this short 3 hour audiobook is pretty good I really liked the first story, the second one was also good but the last one just didn’t do it for me. I would have rated this 4 stars if it had only been the first & second story but the third story brings it down to a three but will end up with 3 ½ stars for good narration. Would read more from this author and listen again to these narrators.
3 ½ Stars
I received this from the Audiobookjukebox and the author/publisher Fischer Hellmann Communications for a fair and honest review.
March 17, 2012
Predictable.
The story is first introduced in the perspective of Barbara Adams, a hard-working, independent and mean librarian who loved books and worked her way to the top. She is staying late at the library doing something. She goes to the basement because she heard a suspicious noise, and next thing we knew, we get a first account of the murder that take place in the library.
Then we get introduced to Julia Fairbanks, a college student majoring in Law school. She loves criminology and wants to become a lawyer for crimes someday. Her mother, who is set to remarry a rich person named William Bryant, was close to the killed librarian and received disturbing messages from her friend minutes before she was killed. This arouses Julia's curiosities and prompts her to make further investigation regarding this. So she interviews people, tries to look for clues, and when she got it all together, got the shock of her life.
All I can say is that although it had its good moments, it was very predictable. I already knew who the killer was even before she figured it out. Not much mystery there... there are some colorful characters, but I do wish that the author tried to do some character development. I felt the ending was too abrupt. Julia I thought seemed a little bland, maybe too overly curious for her own good (but hey, nothing wrong with that). I only really liked JJ, the Janitor.
I think it would have been better if the author didn't suddenly leave the rest of the "suspects" alone after the first encounter. Julia interviewed them once and then... what? That's it? One gave her an alibi and the character didn't even tried to check if it was legit. I thought that these other characters were more interesting, but there were not enough disclosure about them. It's like she talked to them once and that's it. Doesn't work that way to me...
Overall, I rate this 3 out of 5. Not bad.
The story is first introduced in the perspective of Barbara Adams, a hard-working, independent and mean librarian who loved books and worked her way to the top. She is staying late at the library doing something. She goes to the basement because she heard a suspicious noise, and next thing we knew, we get a first account of the murder that take place in the library.
Then we get introduced to Julia Fairbanks, a college student majoring in Law school. She loves criminology and wants to become a lawyer for crimes someday. Her mother, who is set to remarry a rich person named William Bryant, was close to the killed librarian and received disturbing messages from her friend minutes before she was killed. This arouses Julia's curiosities and prompts her to make further investigation regarding this. So she interviews people, tries to look for clues, and when she got it all together, got the shock of her life.
All I can say is that although it had its good moments, it was very predictable. I already knew who the killer was even before she figured it out. Not much mystery there... there are some colorful characters, but I do wish that the author tried to do some character development. I felt the ending was too abrupt. Julia I thought seemed a little bland, maybe too overly curious for her own good (but hey, nothing wrong with that). I only really liked JJ, the Janitor.
I think it would have been better if the author didn't suddenly leave the rest of the "suspects" alone after the first encounter. Julia interviewed them once and then... what? That's it? One gave her an alibi and the character didn't even tried to check if it was legit. I thought that these other characters were more interesting, but there were not enough disclosure about them. It's like she talked to them once and that's it. Doesn't work that way to me...
Overall, I rate this 3 out of 5. Not bad.
December 30, 2011
When Barbara Adams is found dead in the basement of the library, everyone is happy to write it off as a heart attack/fall down the stairs. End of story. However, Julia Fairbanks a pre-law student and the daughter of Adams' best friend (really only friend) is not quite so sure. She can't get over wondering what Adams' urgent voicemails was referencing. Will curiosity kill the cat if Julia is not careful?
This novella was co-written by Libby Fischer Hellmann and David J. Walker they did a delightful job. At the end it includes a short story from each of them from Chicago Blues which are real page turners. I will certainly add Chicago Blues to my TBR list.
Not sure if this is exactly a cozy mystery, but I enjoyed it and certainly called me to my comfy chair wanting a spot of tea (LOL). Actually this was the first book I read on my Kindle iPhone app, finishing it while waiting in the car for a friend.
This novella was co-written by Libby Fischer Hellmann and David J. Walker they did a delightful job. At the end it includes a short story from each of them from Chicago Blues which are real page turners. I will certainly add Chicago Blues to my TBR list.
Not sure if this is exactly a cozy mystery, but I enjoyed it and certainly called me to my comfy chair wanting a spot of tea (LOL). Actually this was the first book I read on my Kindle iPhone app, finishing it while waiting in the car for a friend.
July 30, 2011
Are you lover of short stories? I must admit I prefer a novel---love the development of characters and plot, but there is something so infinitely desireable about a short story. Each word counts and the whole makes an exquisite tale. My good friend, Libby Fischer Hellmann and her friend, David Walker recently completed a novella titled The Last Page. She felt I would like it as it was set in a library and there is a murder. What's not to like, you ask?? Absolutely nothing. The characters are well drawn and the mystery is well-plotted. When head librarian Barbara Adams is murdered at the library late one night, clues from the vast amount of records she kept begin to focus the investigation. Hopeful writer Julia picks up the trail and soon finds herself fighting for her life. This small novella packs a lot into a small package.
July 24, 2015
Novella. What a wonderful, light breezy cozy mystery. The librarian in the town of Windbrook dies from a heart attack, and fall down a flight of stairs. Local law school student Julia has an inkling it's murder. The police have called it a heart attack and closed case. Julia investigates, and interviews several "Suspects". sooner or later she'll step on somebody toes. A very quick and interesting novella, "The Last Page", keeps you guessing right on up to the very end. Was it murder, or a heart attack ?. Some clever characters discover some old and buried secrets. Easily a book to read in one sitting. The pages fly by. Not usually a fan of novellas, but this one is excellent. The two short stories at the end of the book were pretty good too. Pick this one up. It's fun to read.
July 15, 2014
Libby Fischer Hellman and David J. Walker have written entertaining and suspenseful stories in this anthology. The narration by Mary Conway definitely added to my enjoyment. I was drawn to Julia in The Last Page. She is an intelligent woman who follows her instincts. I always read Nancy Drew as a child and this character made me feel that this is how Nancy would be all grown up. The library is the perfect setting for hidden secrets. The story was well plotted and filled with interesting suspects and motives. I enjoyed the Last Page and the other short stories included.
December 1, 2014
This was a fun story. It takes place in my favorite place, a library. Julia isn't sure that the death of Barbara Adams is an accident. Barbara apparently had a heart attack and feel down a flight of stairs leading to the basement. So she decided to do some investigation on her own, which of course doesn't go quite as planned.
I could easily see this becoming a series of some sort.
I could easily see this becoming a series of some sort.
March 6, 2014
This was more like a short story, but it was fun. I am a retired library director, so I enjoyed the library setting, even though the library director is a murder victim. It was originally written as a fundraiser for a local public library. It was quite enjoyable, and only took me a couple of hours to read.
January 7, 2012
Another Amazon.com find for my kindle. First book I read on the new device. The three short stories were well written. I liked that the authors took turns writing the chapters. Your Sweet Man was my favorite of the three short stories.
May 28, 2012
I only read the actual story "The Last Page" and haven't read the other short stories yet. It was cute. Entertaining enough for its length and probably could have made a really decent full length novel. Not a bad read for an afternoon at the lake or beach.
December 27, 2011
The Last Page was well-told and gripping. Watch out for the other stories, which included Very Strong Language; I didn't appreciate the surprise.
Read
December 30, 2011Not a bad mystery. Very short. There is also a short short story after this called My Sweet Man that is pretty good too. I got this free on kindle.
May 2, 2012
First story was really good, second story was ok and the last one just was a waste of time!
August 5, 2016
To easy to figure out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews