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Ellie Foreman #4
A Shot to Die For
In this fourth title in the Ellie Foreman mystery series, A Shot to Die For, the Chicago documentary filmmaker finds herself in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, producing a video for a popular resort. She is soon drawn into the history of a wealthy and prominent family deeply rooted in its magnificent mansion on the shores of the lake. Ellie, a divorced single mom, finds the issues of trust and loyalties reflect the turmoil of her own life, and soon is wading waist-deep into murder....
Evocative and intelligently crafted, this is a fine addition to an Anthony Award-nominated series that began with An Eye for Murder, A Picture of Guilt, and An Image of Death.
Evocative and intelligently crafted, this is a fine addition to an Anthony Award-nominated series that began with An Eye for Murder, A Picture of Guilt, and An Image of Death.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2005
32 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Libby Fischer Hellmann
79 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 29, 2018
a decent enough murder mystery but the narrative drags a little at points in the story - could have been a shorter sharper book
February 27, 2022
I loved this book, so much is going on you just have to grip your seat and hold on tight as it takes you on a ride full of twists. I love the characters. Ellie is a great main character who is likeable, capable, caring and at the same time slightly damaged and uncertain. I like her job, as a filmmaker it leads to some interesting and unusual locations, which work great for the story. Her complicated home life adds even more drama but it was the mystery that I really enjoyed. The fact that one case lead to the solving of another and the twist both investigations take the more she learns. It certainly never had time to get boring and lead to a fun guessing game of who was guilty and why. A great mystery and just one of many from a talented author that never fails to impress and entertain.
When returning from scoping out a new hotel that wants a promotional video made, Ellie stops at a rest stop and can't help over hear a girl having an argument. Ellie starts up a conversation only for a truck to bring it to a sudden and deadly stop. The shooting is very familiar to a simular occurrence a few months ago. Is a sniper lose? After a surprise visit from the dead woman's family wanting to know more about her finale moments, Ellie can't help but to start asking questions. Especially as the location she is filming at has a connection to the dead woman and a very rich family, a family that has already suffered a personal tragedy. When a third sniper victim is found Ellie starts to question if all three murders are connected. Can Ellie trust the police chief to get to the bottom of the deaths? Or will his connection to the family get in the way?
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
When returning from scoping out a new hotel that wants a promotional video made, Ellie stops at a rest stop and can't help over hear a girl having an argument. Ellie starts up a conversation only for a truck to bring it to a sudden and deadly stop. The shooting is very familiar to a simular occurrence a few months ago. Is a sniper lose? After a surprise visit from the dead woman's family wanting to know more about her finale moments, Ellie can't help but to start asking questions. Especially as the location she is filming at has a connection to the dead woman and a very rich family, a family that has already suffered a personal tragedy. When a third sniper victim is found Ellie starts to question if all three murders are connected. Can Ellie trust the police chief to get to the bottom of the deaths? Or will his connection to the family get in the way?
I was given this free review copy book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
April 28, 2020
I've read one other Ellie Foreman book so I was familiar with some of the characters in the book. You do not need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one.
Ellie is on her way home from scoping out areas for a video that she is producing. At the rest stop (Oasis in this book), she strikes up a brief conversation with a woman who had been speaking to someone on a borrowed cell phone. Moments later the woman is shot dead by a sniper. Is the killing related to a prior sniping? If not, why was she killed? Who was her boyfriend and did he either kill her or arrange to kill her?
After the police continue to reach out to Ellie for more information and the victim's sister and mother come to visit Ellie to find out about the victim's last words, Ellie decides to start investigating on her own. The video she is making turns out to be located in the victim's home town so Ellie has reason to visit and speak to people who have lived there for years.
There appears to be a mystery developing, and there are interesting twists that Ellie uncovers. Who was the sniper? Who may have wanted the victim dead? Who is covering up history?
I enjoyed the story. There are descriptions of violence in the book so it may not be for everyone, but I think most readers wouldn't have issues with it.
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator did an excellent job.
Ellie is on her way home from scoping out areas for a video that she is producing. At the rest stop (Oasis in this book), she strikes up a brief conversation with a woman who had been speaking to someone on a borrowed cell phone. Moments later the woman is shot dead by a sniper. Is the killing related to a prior sniping? If not, why was she killed? Who was her boyfriend and did he either kill her or arrange to kill her?
After the police continue to reach out to Ellie for more information and the victim's sister and mother come to visit Ellie to find out about the victim's last words, Ellie decides to start investigating on her own. The video she is making turns out to be located in the victim's home town so Ellie has reason to visit and speak to people who have lived there for years.
There appears to be a mystery developing, and there are interesting twists that Ellie uncovers. Who was the sniper? Who may have wanted the victim dead? Who is covering up history?
I enjoyed the story. There are descriptions of violence in the book so it may not be for everyone, but I think most readers wouldn't have issues with it.
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator did an excellent job.
November 5, 2019
A Shot to Die For (Ellie Foreman Mysteries, Book 4), my twelfth read/ listen from author Libby Fischer Hellman. I was given a book by the author and after having read it I decided to read more by this author. I'm glad I did. I'm a character reader, I get into the characters, their story, who/what they are. The author does a great job of developing Elle Foreman quickly & thoroughly. The significant characters in her writing are developed similarly along the way. Outstanding read! What other blurbs can I use to describe these books? This book is in all senses of the word, a thriller, from beginning to end. That’s it, no more spoilers from me though if there are more books about this character I can not wait to read them. Oh well, buy the book, read the books, get into a good author and some good characters as I have. I have to mention the good job that narrator Mary Conway did. I was given an Audible copy of this book & I’m voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
April 27, 2020
Ellie Foreman is standing right next to a woman who gets killed by a sniper driving a green truck. The rest of the book is Ellie slowly gathering information and chipping away at people until she finally figures out who did the killing. I really enjoyed the book. I listened to it as an audio book and the narrator did a great job of reading the book. I like Ellie. Her curiosity and drive to see justice done really carries the book. The author does a great job of drawing the characters to where they seem like real people after a while, people I have gotten to know. This is a great series and I look forward to reading more about Ellie and her mystery solving skills.
September 15, 2017
This is an intricately woven mystery, spoiled slightly by Ellie's seemingly obligatory romantic escapades. The motivations of some of the characters are somewhat suspect as well. But the story is engaging and suspenseful.
Mary Conway's performance is quite satisfactory. She pays some attention to giving the characters distinctive and appropriate voices. I continue to enjoy this series.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Mary Conway's performance is quite satisfactory. She pays some attention to giving the characters distinctive and appropriate voices. I continue to enjoy this series.
NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 29, 2021
I received this audibook in exchange for a review. A crime thriller with Ellie Foreman who is in the wrong place at the right time. A murder happens right next to her literally. Ellie can't leave it alone and gets involved in solving the mystery all while filming about the lodge she ends up involved in the middle of it all. So many twists and turns, good luck figuring out who did it!
May 13, 2020
3.5 stars. Fast paced, especially in the beginning. Good strong characters, believable plot, and an interesting premise. Enjoyed this book.
October 30, 2022
Best in the series.
November 26, 2022
Who killed Daria and why??? All because of a murder thirty years ago??? I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.
December 21, 2013
The fourth Ellie Foreman adventure demonstrates that the author knows what she’d doing. One of the realities of life in traditional mysteries featuring protagonists who are not members of professional law enforcement, is that even cops don’t deal with murder all that often. There are, however, all sorts of amateur detectives who jump right in as the bodies fall all around. Fischer Hellmann avoids that tired construct by placing her video producer, Ellie Foreman, in a variety of normal situations with abnormal consequences. Keeps thing fresh and interesting.
What’s more, as in this case, Ellie Foreman doesn’t just jump in when a woman sitting nearby at a highway rest stop is abruptly murdered at a distance from an unseen location. That’s intriguing enough, but Ellie wisely tells her story to the responding cops and leaves. But then the slain woman’s family tracks Ellie down and importunes her to help find the killer. Another death ensues and Foreman is drawn deeper into a different part of the scene where she is already legitimately producing a video for an upscale client.
The locale of the novel is the seriously upscale Lake Geneva resort area north of Chicago. Long known for its history of attracting the wealthy and the questionable who have homes around the lake, a Playboy Nightclub, and of course, all those service personnel who are so necessary to the lifestyle of the rich and infamous.
The author nicely sets up an interesting mix of characters from high and low classes and the conflicts among them that sometimes arise. But this is not “Upstairs and Downstairs,” genteel and very British as that television series was. This story is American to the core and Ellie Foreman soon finds herself knee-deep in family secrets, along with old and new animosities. Tension rises gently but steadily though the pages and the mystery has some nice twists and turns. As with all her novels, Hellmann has a good ear for dialogue and a finely focused eye for the settings of her books.
September 9, 2016
Ellie Forman stops at a highway rest stop on her way home from shooting a video at Lake Geneva. She chats with a woman who is is in some distress because her ride hasn't picked her up as expected. In moments, the woman is dead, shot by a sniper while Ellie is standing right beside her.
The shooting is nearly identical to another sniper killing at a different rest stop a few months prior. The woman killed was Daria Flynn, a sous chef at The Lodge in Lake Geneva.
Ellie promises her father, her daughter Rachel, her co-worker Mack, and her friend Susan that she is not getting involved.
That lasts until Irene and Kim Flynn, Daria's mother and sister, come to visit to ask her detailed and persistent questions about Daria's last words, and who Daria was talking to on a borrowed cell phone right before her death. After that, she starts getting way too involved with the investigation, and the local gossip and painful history of the Sutton family, one of the wealthiest families in wealthy Lake Geneva.
For those who read the series in the same slightly random order I have been, this is of course where she meets Luke Sutton and Jimmy Saclarides (Lake Geneva Chief of Police), who will figure in later Ellie Forman and Georgia Davis books.
Ellie is digging into what turns out to be a much older and messier mystery than it first appears, and at the same time she's charting unsettled new waters in her home life. Ex-husband Barry has been seeing the same woman for the last six months, an unprecedented record, and Rachel is developing a relationship with Julia and her two young children. There's lots of insecurity and uncomfortable jealousy in that for Ellie.
It's interesting, it moves, and there's good character development. Recommended.
I received this audiobook as a gift from the author.
The shooting is nearly identical to another sniper killing at a different rest stop a few months prior. The woman killed was Daria Flynn, a sous chef at The Lodge in Lake Geneva.
Ellie promises her father, her daughter Rachel, her co-worker Mack, and her friend Susan that she is not getting involved.
That lasts until Irene and Kim Flynn, Daria's mother and sister, come to visit to ask her detailed and persistent questions about Daria's last words, and who Daria was talking to on a borrowed cell phone right before her death. After that, she starts getting way too involved with the investigation, and the local gossip and painful history of the Sutton family, one of the wealthiest families in wealthy Lake Geneva.
For those who read the series in the same slightly random order I have been, this is of course where she meets Luke Sutton and Jimmy Saclarides (Lake Geneva Chief of Police), who will figure in later Ellie Forman and Georgia Davis books.
Ellie is digging into what turns out to be a much older and messier mystery than it first appears, and at the same time she's charting unsettled new waters in her home life. Ex-husband Barry has been seeing the same woman for the last six months, an unprecedented record, and Rachel is developing a relationship with Julia and her two young children. There's lots of insecurity and uncomfortable jealousy in that for Ellie.
It's interesting, it moves, and there's good character development. Recommended.
I received this audiobook as a gift from the author.
August 24, 2015
The fourth book in the Ellie Foreman series from author Libby Fischer Hellmann, "A Shot To Die For", is a fast paced thriller that rebounds nicely from third book in series. I thought the third book dropped off somewhat from first two books. Ellie Foreman, video producer extraordinaire, wrapping up at a shoot one day sees a woman murdered standing right next to her. The woman, Daria Flynn is killed as a green truck passes by and killer with long range rifle guns her down. When the mother and sister of the murdered girl come visit Ellie for more information Ellie's warning bells begin ringing. Before long Ellie is drawn into a 30 year old semi-cold case and a dysfunctional rich family's squabbles. The Sutton family have 30 year old dirty laundry they keep quiet with an iron fist. However, Luke Sutton, a pilot takes a shine to Ellie. Ellie and David's relationship is a broken mess.So Ellie really goes out of her way to help out Luke wherever possible. With some pretty good twists and turns to keep the plot moving quickly, this was a very enjoyable read. All of author Libby Fischer Hellmann's characters come off life like and even tragically likable. I would have to say I enjoyed author Hellmann's Georgia Davis series somewhat more than the Ellie Foreman Series. Still Libby Fischer Hellmann is one of my very favorite writers. I'd highly recommend this book/ series for those who enjoy a well done series with some outstanding characters. I gave it 4 stars out of a possible 5 stars. I thought the end was kinda fumbled. But don't let me discourage you from digging into either the Georgia Davis or Ellie foreman Series'. They are enjoyable and fun reading from a pretty good story teller.
November 22, 2010
Ellie Foreman a documentary filmmaker from Chicago .Finds herself in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin after returning from a video shoot at the Lodge, a newly renovated, upscale resort, Ellie befriends a women who claims her ride abandoned her at the rest stop. But when a pickup truck pulls up, the rear window opens and the women is shot dead. Ellie is not eager to get involved. When the victims family arrives and begs for information and the second shooting occurs, Ellie decides to poke around on her own. She is soon drawn into the history of a prominent and wealthy family. Who lives in a magnificent mansion on the shores of the lake, and they are surriunded by an elaborate web of lies, murder, and family secrets that have plagued them and the town for years- secrets that now place Ellie in the killers crosshairs!
November 22, 2015
Is it a compliment, in some twisted way, when a reader gets so invested in a book series that she wants to go punch the author in the face (figuratively...or not...) for ending the series on a cliffhanger...and then not writing anything else about it for ten years!? I mean, come on!!
Mind you, I have heard there will be another Ellie Foreman book in 2016, more than ten years after this last book. I hope this is the case! And, for the love of God, there better be answers about what happened at the end of Book Four!
Mind you, I have heard there will be another Ellie Foreman book in 2016, more than ten years after this last book. I hope this is the case! And, for the love of God, there better be answers about what happened at the end of Book Four!
July 5, 2008
Libby's mysteries are wonderful - all the ones I have read are set on the Northshore of Chicago and they are wonderful - the topics are always current and they are fast reads with wonderful twists. If you know the Northshore, you will enjoy the settings as they are all recognizable and you will feel like the stories are going on right in your neighborhood. This makes them that much more believable.
July 15, 2013
I read this because it is set in the North Shore of Chicago which is where I live and Lake Geneva which is a nearby vacation spot. There were a few things that really annoyed me about this book, the main character was not very likable or believable. And there was a strange subplot with a mid Eastern gardener that seemed unnecessary and contrived. But overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a good mystery. Quick read - finished in less than 24 hrs.
December 27, 2020
Ellie is a video corporate producer stopping at a rest stop, overhears a woman talking to her boyfriend, next seconds a sniper has killed her and off he goes in a green pickup. Then more are killed in this Chicago area.
Ellie is doing a video in the area and with pieces of the conversation starts to investigate. Good narration and story. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Ellie is doing a video in the area and with pieces of the conversation starts to investigate. Good narration and story. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
November 27, 2013
I'll admit that amateur sleuths are not really my favorite crime-fighters, but this one's better than average in the plotting and the use of setting. Ellie's impetuous nature works well to explain why she just can't stay away, although I think the conceit will be hard to sustain long term.
March 11, 2016
Engrossing and Very Well Written
A masterpiece assembled with individuals from three families who have connections and history unknown to Ellie Foreman until she helps to gather the information.
A masterpiece assembled with individuals from three families who have connections and history unknown to Ellie Foreman until she helps to gather the information.
October 2, 2008
Love that is includes so much from north suburbs of chicago. Fun mystery read.
November 30, 2014
Great story! Nicely plotted and complex. And Ellie's involvement in this crime is believable. Minor cliff hanger ending, which always drives me crazy.
June 26, 2010
I found the protagonist very believable and intelligent, the mystery interesting, and the action well-paced.
July 10, 2010
Libby writes a great story ... and gets the details right (especially if you know the area. And I can't go past that oasis without thinking of the opening scene!
September 6, 2010
Two words....Bo. Ring.
May 28, 2011
eas mystery to read. and she came to my small town library
July 4, 2011
I liked reading this book because I live in the area but felt the main character was unbelievable some of the time. A little too involved in the crimal investigation.
July 17, 2012
Caught my attention in chapter one, but had a predictable ending.
January 31, 2016
I really liked this one. It had lots of surprises & interesting characters. Part of a series that my library doesn't have! Bummer.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews