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Ellie Foreman #1
An Eye for Murder
When her name and telephone number are found in the pocket of an elderly man who died in a small Chicago boarding house, single mother Ellie Foreman tries to find out what her connection is with the deceased, an investigation that leads deep into the heart of a mystery with roots more than fifty years in the past and to secrets hidden in the heart of Chicago's Jewish community. Original.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 20, 2002
444 people are currently reading
919 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 152 reviews
August 26, 2015
Audiobook
Narration - Karyn O'Bryant - Really Good!
She's a terrific story-teller with a really unique voice. Really Enjoyed listening to her and this whole book!
The story is one of those that I love where you appear to be listening to several different stories and are wondering why you are hearing each of them. As the story progresses, you find out how all of them are tied together, and in this story, they are really tied together in some fascinating ways!
The female MC is smart and strong, the mystery is intricate and spans decades, the "bad guys" reveal near the end added a touch of Scooby Doo to the mix, the romance is clean and left to the imagination, Loved Dad & the Daughter and the ex-husband is a giant ----!
The book has a really good blurb in regards to a few of the different story lines that you will follow as you try to put the pieces of this mystery together, so I won't regurgitate any of that information. I'll just say that if you like mysteries with a little suspense, some danger, a touch of violence and a dash of romance, then I think you'll like this - and the audiobook is terrific!
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from AudioBookBlast in exchange for an unbiased review.
Narration - Karyn O'Bryant - Really Good!
She's a terrific story-teller with a really unique voice. Really Enjoyed listening to her and this whole book!
The story is one of those that I love where you appear to be listening to several different stories and are wondering why you are hearing each of them. As the story progresses, you find out how all of them are tied together, and in this story, they are really tied together in some fascinating ways!
The female MC is smart and strong, the mystery is intricate and spans decades, the "bad guys" reveal near the end added a touch of Scooby Doo to the mix, the romance is clean and left to the imagination, Loved Dad & the Daughter and the ex-husband is a giant ----!
The book has a really good blurb in regards to a few of the different story lines that you will follow as you try to put the pieces of this mystery together, so I won't regurgitate any of that information. I'll just say that if you like mysteries with a little suspense, some danger, a touch of violence and a dash of romance, then I think you'll like this - and the audiobook is terrific!
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from AudioBookBlast in exchange for an unbiased review.
July 27, 2018
Book #1, in the Ellie Foreman mystery
This mystery is a blend of politics, history and suspense. It begins with an exchange between two men in Prague in 1944 and the story proceeds with the ramification to contemporary Chicago.
The main character is Ellie Foreman, a documentary filmmaker, who becomes an amateur sleuth when an old Jewish man she did not know dies and her address was found among his belongings. A string of murders and attempted murder follow and inquisitive Ellie pokes her nose into the mystery that will lead to links between Nazi war crimes and a present day politician running for office.
This debut story is very entertaining, a clever mystery puzzle that is somewhat funny. Both the multi-generational historical mystery and the political one are well- done. The author is good at putting clues and red herrings to intrigue us and to keep us on the edge of our seat, guessing and of course turning pages. The action is interesting and not overly-done: no shoot out and no graphic murders…smooth sailing….The narration and dialogue are in the everyday language. The romance needed a stronger push to get going and finally the rare sex scenes lacked enthusiasm….quite vanilla….maybe with time things will get hot… I like Ellie, she is likeable, a single mother with a deadbeat ex-husband, doing her best and she is surely entertaining….This cozy mystery is a fast read that nicely wraps up at the end.
This mystery is a blend of politics, history and suspense. It begins with an exchange between two men in Prague in 1944 and the story proceeds with the ramification to contemporary Chicago.
The main character is Ellie Foreman, a documentary filmmaker, who becomes an amateur sleuth when an old Jewish man she did not know dies and her address was found among his belongings. A string of murders and attempted murder follow and inquisitive Ellie pokes her nose into the mystery that will lead to links between Nazi war crimes and a present day politician running for office.
This debut story is very entertaining, a clever mystery puzzle that is somewhat funny. Both the multi-generational historical mystery and the political one are well- done. The author is good at putting clues and red herrings to intrigue us and to keep us on the edge of our seat, guessing and of course turning pages. The action is interesting and not overly-done: no shoot out and no graphic murders…smooth sailing….The narration and dialogue are in the everyday language. The romance needed a stronger push to get going and finally the rare sex scenes lacked enthusiasm….quite vanilla….maybe with time things will get hot… I like Ellie, she is likeable, a single mother with a deadbeat ex-husband, doing her best and she is surely entertaining….This cozy mystery is a fast read that nicely wraps up at the end.
October 16, 2018
A pretty decent first novel, a mystery going back to the Second World War, with a series of deaths dragging our professional videographer hero into a dangerous plot
August 18, 2014
For the first two thirds of An Eye for Murder, I was a bit confused as to how everything came together but I still was in love with what was going on. In fact, I read it in two days because that first part drew me through that fast. I loved the characters all the way through, and the plot lines were well balanced, though they didn't seem to be connecting much. Then I hit the last third of the book. BAM. Everything started to connect and the connections made sense, but it was the way that they all came out that didn't line up with me. Suddenly there were elements that didn't line up with what had happened through the rest of the book. Unfortunately, this made the climactic end scenes seem almost unreal, since I really couldn't see it escalating the way it did. In hindsight, I would have liked to see a little bit more build up to the end. Just a bit more to give justification to the ending. But for a first book in a mystery series, it wasn't half bad. In fact, I think I might read the second book just to see how the characters are doing. Because this book became all about the characters for me and not so much about the mystery. I wouldn't recommend this for all readers, but if you need a light mystery with awesome characters and don't mind the sudden spike at the end of the story, I'd give An Eye for Murder a try.
June 8, 2015
In the first book of the Ellie Foreman series, author Libby Fischer Hellmann has created another conflicted but creative protagonist. "An Eye For Murder" features a video producer who dabbles into mysteries and crime. Divorced with one daughter, Rachel, Ellie foreman is not a typical mystery sleuth. Ellie Ex-husband Barry has left Ellie in a difficult position financially to say the least. Ellie must scratch and claw for every video job she can muster up to make mends meet and raise Rachel. Barry on the other hand has no problem seeing his ex-wife and daughter drown into poverty. Marian Iverson, so called brand new type of Republican ( Tea Party no less !) candidate for Senate hires Ellie to create a campaign video. Ellie has severe reservations but being cash strapped has no choice. Soon Ellie is drawn into the death of Ben Sinclair, and murder of his landlord Ruth Fleishman. Back during WWII Sinclair was known as Ben "Skull" Skulnick. Ellie's father knew Skull back in the day. For answers Ellie has to find out what happened to girlfriend of her father and a man named Paul Iverson. Girlfriend Lisle Gottlieb, along with a man named Kurt Weiss seem to be the key. Lisle had dated both before marrying Weiss. Ellie is horrified working for Marian Iverson's Senate campaign, and former CEO of Iverson Steel. When David Linden arrives from Philadelphia to research his parents from the post WWII era trouble abounds. Ellie's house is ransacked, She's also tailed by two gangsters in a car. Before long Ellie is just overwhelmed not knowing who to trust let alone believe. When her father is beaten up by two thugs Ellie has nowhere to turn to. An incredible story that originates in 1944 and delves into some deep dark suspense, this book is impossible to put down ! I read last 148 pages in one sitting on back porch and used flashlight when outside light became too dull. I wasn't moving until I finished ! Once again Author Libby Fischer Hellmann's characters are riveting and exceptionally colorful. Real to life dialog added spark to the story immensely. Book is high octane roller coaster of reading as Ellie has her ups and downs. This is a series not to be missed. I liked author Hellmann's Ellie Foreman character much more than her Georgia Davis P.I. character. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quality mystery thriller. This one delivers from page one through to it's conclusion. 5 stars out of a possible 5 stars ! Run, don't walk to pick this one up ! Can't wait to dig into second Ellie foreman book !
January 1, 2016
The story starts in Prague war years and moves to the descendents of some of these people TBC
November 26, 2017
Book #64 for 2017
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: A debut novel
PopSugar's Ultimate Reading Challenge (max. 3):
- An espionage thriller
- A book set in two different time periods
- The first book in a series you haven't read before
GenreLand: November - Mystery
Mt TBR Challenge #19
Better World Books:
- A book set in a place you want to visit (Chicago, Prague)
- A book by a female writer
Follow the Clues: Trail 2, Clue 3
This one is hard to rate. I liked the intriguing premise. I'm a sucker for an inter-generational spy tale. Especially when there are Nazis to punch and/or kill. And the lens of Jewish Chicago was compelling. But I generally felt disoriented while reading this. It came out in 2002, and some of the tech and pop culture references felt right for that. Lots of other details, though, felt distinctly 20th-century. And while I didn't go through and do a timeline, there were quite a few dates and lives and milestones that I couldn't reconcile in my head, so they felt like an incoherent jumble as I was reading. So perhaps this book, once written, didn't get picked up by a publisher for quite some time, attempts were made to update it before publication, and it really needed one more thorough continuity edit that it didn't get.
It could probably have benefited from another general editing round as well. The dialogue felt stiff and self-conscious. Not horribly so, but enough to be distracting. I was also distracted by occasional weirdness of the "but that's not how that works" variety. Or were summer camps where the kids had unfettered access to fax machines an actual Thing in the '90s? And I'm told that there really are people who can tell at a glance who somebody is wearing, but that's just so bizarre to me, and it's not the sort of trait I expect in a Midwestern soccer mom. Well, okay, this Midwestern soccer mom also turns out to be an experienced shoplifter, but we don't find this out until what, halfway through the book, so now we're into pacing problems.
Ellie also seemed unusually dense too often for somebody who was presented as a pretty smart cookie. I had way too many "oh, c'mon" eyeroll moments while reading this.
Overall, though, I did like the book. The story and the settings were interesting, though I think I would have liked more of a look at the wartime action. I wouldn't recommend this to somebody who's going to nitpick like I've done here, but I think a lot of readers would really enjoy this book, particularly if they have an interest in Jewish Chicago.
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: A debut novel
PopSugar's Ultimate Reading Challenge (max. 3):
- An espionage thriller
- A book set in two different time periods
- The first book in a series you haven't read before
GenreLand: November - Mystery
Mt TBR Challenge #19
Better World Books:
- A book set in a place you want to visit (Chicago, Prague)
- A book by a female writer
Follow the Clues: Trail 2, Clue 3
This one is hard to rate. I liked the intriguing premise. I'm a sucker for an inter-generational spy tale. Especially when there are Nazis to punch and/or kill. And the lens of Jewish Chicago was compelling. But I generally felt disoriented while reading this. It came out in 2002, and some of the tech and pop culture references felt right for that. Lots of other details, though, felt distinctly 20th-century. And while I didn't go through and do a timeline, there were quite a few dates and lives and milestones that I couldn't reconcile in my head, so they felt like an incoherent jumble as I was reading. So perhaps this book, once written, didn't get picked up by a publisher for quite some time, attempts were made to update it before publication, and it really needed one more thorough continuity edit that it didn't get.
It could probably have benefited from another general editing round as well. The dialogue felt stiff and self-conscious. Not horribly so, but enough to be distracting. I was also distracted by occasional weirdness of the "but that's not how that works" variety. Or were summer camps where the kids had unfettered access to fax machines an actual Thing in the '90s? And I'm told that there really are people who can tell at a glance who somebody is wearing, but that's just so bizarre to me, and it's not the sort of trait I expect in a Midwestern soccer mom. Well, okay, this Midwestern soccer mom also turns out to be an experienced shoplifter, but we don't find this out until what, halfway through the book, so now we're into pacing problems.
Ellie also seemed unusually dense too often for somebody who was presented as a pretty smart cookie. I had way too many "oh, c'mon" eyeroll moments while reading this.
Overall, though, I did like the book. The story and the settings were interesting, though I think I would have liked more of a look at the wartime action. I wouldn't recommend this to somebody who's going to nitpick like I've done here, but I think a lot of readers would really enjoy this book, particularly if they have an interest in Jewish Chicago.
April 27, 2020
This was a free download from the author for signing up to her mailing list.
In 1944 Prague a secret meeting takeds place between two agents. Whatever passes between them sets in place a series of events decades later in modern day Chicago.
Ellie Foreman is a divorced mother of one balancing her life between home and her career as a corporate fim maker. Out of the blue she receives a letter from a stranger inviting her to look through the positions of an elderly and recently deceased gerntleman - Ellie's name is found on a scrap of paper and he has no other known relatives. But who is he? And why does someone she has never heard of know who she is? These are just ten first of a number of question that grow in perplexity, importance and danger for Ellie and a growing number of new and possibly dangerous acquaintances.
The mystery brings to a head a tale of murder and political intrigue that has lain dormant for many decades...
This is a decent first book in the Ellie Foreman series. At £1.99 it's fairly priced for a few days reading. A good plot, good characters and a bit of learning about Judaism and Chicago history to boot. Chicago is the only city I've ever been to in the US - I enjoyed popping back.
In 1944 Prague a secret meeting takeds place between two agents. Whatever passes between them sets in place a series of events decades later in modern day Chicago.
Ellie Foreman is a divorced mother of one balancing her life between home and her career as a corporate fim maker. Out of the blue she receives a letter from a stranger inviting her to look through the positions of an elderly and recently deceased gerntleman - Ellie's name is found on a scrap of paper and he has no other known relatives. But who is he? And why does someone she has never heard of know who she is? These are just ten first of a number of question that grow in perplexity, importance and danger for Ellie and a growing number of new and possibly dangerous acquaintances.
The mystery brings to a head a tale of murder and political intrigue that has lain dormant for many decades...
This is a decent first book in the Ellie Foreman series. At £1.99 it's fairly priced for a few days reading. A good plot, good characters and a bit of learning about Judaism and Chicago history to boot. Chicago is the only city I've ever been to in the US - I enjoyed popping back.
December 30, 2015
In Libby Fischer Hellman's An Eye for Murder, the first installment for the Ellie Foreman mystery series, she had combined historical fiction into this mystery debut. It all started for Ellie, a single mother with a daughter, when a lady sent her a letter out of the blue about her neighbor. From there, she discovered the identity of this man and discovered a death or two. That had sent Ellie on a wild ride to go back into time to WWII and locate the connection between the past and present. Unfurled into a high-powered political campaign, she was stuck into the heart of it, when there was attacks on her loved ones and close to her, leaving her life in peril. With her ex-husband's financial troubles and on the lam, she discovered love with a man that's connected to the case who traced his own family roots. She couldn't believe who was all behind it all and why the madness in the end with a surprise twist.
February 8, 2021
Well written, tightly packed plot with twists sadly lowered by a few F-bombs, masturbation scene, and other disturbances on the road to a terrific novel. Narrator, Karyn O’Bryan, is clear and pleasant.
Read
May 8, 2016Pretty good story. Not a topic I like, but a fair mystery component kept my attention.
May 12, 2020
I just finished An Eye For Murder. A page turner. The protagonist, Ellie Forman is a, for lack of a better term, film maker. Her big success to date was about the neighborhoods in Chicago, in particular, Lawndale.
I do want to state to one and all I know the author, Libby, not as a friend, or professionally, but as an acquaintance. My wife and I will usually go out with Libby when we come into Chicago. I live in Southern California, but grew up in Chicago. I have family and friends in and around ChiTown.
So I'm writing this review because I did get the book gratis on the condition that I review it. As it happened I promptly forgot about the book or the review until Libby reminded me. A couple of days ago.
As the story unfolds it is about a German-Jewish woman immigrant who came to this country, and Chicago in the late '30's. Islie Gottlieb and the search for her by a man, Ben Sinclair in the present.For those readers, or future readers, Chicago is (or was) neighborhood oriented. The prologue is in Prague, 1944. The story is set in Rogers Park and Lawndale.
The way Ellie, a woman I assume in her 40's gets sucked into the story is quite interesting. Along the way she looses her divorced husband, but finds her true love.
I liked this story because it kindled memories of Chicago. I knew Rogers Park as I lived in it for a year or so.
More than that Libby has written a tight thriller with great characters. The story has great pacing so I didn't ever think, "Will it never end?"
A couple of minor criticisms. The first was that Ellie, after drinking alcoholic drinks, falls asleep and, when she awakens with less than her usual sleep time, comments that the reason was that the alcohol changed to sugar. Alcohol doesn't change to sugar. On the other hand, it is a common belief, so that just could be part of Ellie's story.
The other error, I put this down to poor research, was stating that the OSS, "Organization of Special Services" is erroneous. the OSS was the Office of Strategic Service.
I do want to state to one and all I know the author, Libby, not as a friend, or professionally, but as an acquaintance. My wife and I will usually go out with Libby when we come into Chicago. I live in Southern California, but grew up in Chicago. I have family and friends in and around ChiTown.
So I'm writing this review because I did get the book gratis on the condition that I review it. As it happened I promptly forgot about the book or the review until Libby reminded me. A couple of days ago.
As the story unfolds it is about a German-Jewish woman immigrant who came to this country, and Chicago in the late '30's. Islie Gottlieb and the search for her by a man, Ben Sinclair in the present.For those readers, or future readers, Chicago is (or was) neighborhood oriented. The prologue is in Prague, 1944. The story is set in Rogers Park and Lawndale.
The way Ellie, a woman I assume in her 40's gets sucked into the story is quite interesting. Along the way she looses her divorced husband, but finds her true love.
I liked this story because it kindled memories of Chicago. I knew Rogers Park as I lived in it for a year or so.
More than that Libby has written a tight thriller with great characters. The story has great pacing so I didn't ever think, "Will it never end?"
A couple of minor criticisms. The first was that Ellie, after drinking alcoholic drinks, falls asleep and, when she awakens with less than her usual sleep time, comments that the reason was that the alcohol changed to sugar. Alcohol doesn't change to sugar. On the other hand, it is a common belief, so that just could be part of Ellie's story.
The other error, I put this down to poor research, was stating that the OSS, "Organization of Special Services" is erroneous. the OSS was the Office of Strategic Service.
November 9, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. There was so much going on that it kept the story interesting and I liked the main character, I met her in the author's Georgia Davis series and I am glad to see she has her own series. I like her home life and found it added to the story making the lead character more human, a soft side at home with her daughter but a toughness that she needs against the bad guys. Very enjoyable listen and will be looking out for more audio books in this series.
Ellie isn't famous but he documentary has made her recognisable so she isn't surprised that a dead man has her name in his effects after watching her show but what she is surprised to find is that with no family his elderly land lady wants her to take his things. An act of kindness leads to an out come that no one ever saw coming. Ellie's world turns upside down when she tries to return the box only to find a body, then her house is broken into and a young boy she meets at the library is gunned down. Is there a connection? And what does a photo found in the box and taken in 1944 have to do with anything? Things get weirder when she discovers a connection between her own father and the dead man. At the same time with her ex husband struggle to pay for his daughter Ellie agrees to film a documentary for a Republican running for a Senate seat and learns more about the candidate than she bargained for. Will the past catch up with the present? Because someone is determined that some secrets should stay buried in the past where they belong.
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job of building up the tension as the story unfolded and her voices for the characters were good.
Ellie isn't famous but he documentary has made her recognisable so she isn't surprised that a dead man has her name in his effects after watching her show but what she is surprised to find is that with no family his elderly land lady wants her to take his things. An act of kindness leads to an out come that no one ever saw coming. Ellie's world turns upside down when she tries to return the box only to find a body, then her house is broken into and a young boy she meets at the library is gunned down. Is there a connection? And what does a photo found in the box and taken in 1944 have to do with anything? Things get weirder when she discovers a connection between her own father and the dead man. At the same time with her ex husband struggle to pay for his daughter Ellie agrees to film a documentary for a Republican running for a Senate seat and learns more about the candidate than she bargained for. Will the past catch up with the present? Because someone is determined that some secrets should stay buried in the past where they belong.
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job of building up the tension as the story unfolded and her voices for the characters were good.
February 13, 2024
A videographer looks into a mysterious death and uncovers link to Nazi supporter - 4.5 stars
A divorced mom, Ellie Foreman, supports herself and her pre-teen daughter creating award-winning videos with a focus on Chicago. Investigating a curious request for help, Ellie is drawn into a search of Rosie the Riveter and a Chicago industrialist during the Second World War.
With her connections to the community, Ellie falls into a situation of checking out a suspicious death. She agrees to look into the personal remains of a recently deceased veteran, becomes the victim of a house break-in, and notices an older car with two occupants drive by her house; she seems to have plenty of reasons for concern.
Ellie's financial reserves are already strained, so when her ex-husband says that he won't be able to provide child support for a while, her anxiety skyrockets. As an independent contractor, Ellie's financial reserves are already strained so she reluctantly agrees to create a video campaign for a political candidate.
Ellie's father is helpful, even though he lives in an assisted living home, remembering friends from the Second World War. Angst rises as both Ellie and her father are assaulted for no apparent reason, not even robbery. Police are at best unhelpful. However, a mysterious man trying to trace his family's roots is convinced to work with Ellie and possibly learn more about his parents.
Before the story wraps up, there will be both contemporary and historical corruption before the various mysteries are resolved. This story will keep you guessing.
A divorced mom, Ellie Foreman, supports herself and her pre-teen daughter creating award-winning videos with a focus on Chicago. Investigating a curious request for help, Ellie is drawn into a search of Rosie the Riveter and a Chicago industrialist during the Second World War.
With her connections to the community, Ellie falls into a situation of checking out a suspicious death. She agrees to look into the personal remains of a recently deceased veteran, becomes the victim of a house break-in, and notices an older car with two occupants drive by her house; she seems to have plenty of reasons for concern.
Ellie's financial reserves are already strained, so when her ex-husband says that he won't be able to provide child support for a while, her anxiety skyrockets. As an independent contractor, Ellie's financial reserves are already strained so she reluctantly agrees to create a video campaign for a political candidate.
Ellie's father is helpful, even though he lives in an assisted living home, remembering friends from the Second World War. Angst rises as both Ellie and her father are assaulted for no apparent reason, not even robbery. Police are at best unhelpful. However, a mysterious man trying to trace his family's roots is convinced to work with Ellie and possibly learn more about his parents.
Before the story wraps up, there will be both contemporary and historical corruption before the various mysteries are resolved. This story will keep you guessing.
April 26, 2019
Chicago based filmmaker, single mother Ellie Foreman is thrown in a quandary when she receives a letter from a certain Ruth Fleishman claiming that she has found Ellie's name on a scrap of paper amongst the possessions of her recently deceased tenant nonagenarian Mr. Ben Sinclair.Mr Sinclair apparently did not have a family and Ellie has never heard of him.Curiosity brings Ellie at the doorsteps of Mrs Fleishman and she gets caught in the eddies of rapidly changing baffling incidents.
Is Ben Sinclair at all what he claimed to be ?What connection does he have with the infamous Nazi Dr Mengele and the current Republican candidate Marian Iverson ? And what is Ellie's father hiding from her.
In between raising her daughter Rachel single handedly, managing her work and dealing with a delinquent ex who fails to pay child support, Ellie takes on the role of an amateur sleuth and embarks on an investigation.It leads her to the innards of an international conspiracy covered up deep in the cannals of the Second World War that is threatening to spread its tentacles to the contemporary era upsetting the entire world order.
A heady concoction of suspense,history and politics with twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat,the plot keeps you hooked until the very end.
The first book in the Ellie Foreman series this fast paced thriller makes for a gripping read.
Is Ben Sinclair at all what he claimed to be ?What connection does he have with the infamous Nazi Dr Mengele and the current Republican candidate Marian Iverson ? And what is Ellie's father hiding from her.
In between raising her daughter Rachel single handedly, managing her work and dealing with a delinquent ex who fails to pay child support, Ellie takes on the role of an amateur sleuth and embarks on an investigation.It leads her to the innards of an international conspiracy covered up deep in the cannals of the Second World War that is threatening to spread its tentacles to the contemporary era upsetting the entire world order.
A heady concoction of suspense,history and politics with twists and turns that keeps you on the edge of your seat,the plot keeps you hooked until the very end.
The first book in the Ellie Foreman series this fast paced thriller makes for a gripping read.
July 23, 2018
This wasn’t the first book I’ve read in the series but it is the first in the Ellie Foreman series. I’m glad I read this but you don’t have to read it to follow the others. What I did like about it is you got a better idea of the main character Ellie Foreman in this book. The author gives you a introduction to some Jewish terms which I really enjoyed and she definitely did her homework on the war. The book was filled with mystery, a little thrill and a great background of War World II. All the characters were well written and true to their being.
The story starts with the Nazi era and then comes back to present day and an unusual dealing with a stranger. The landlord of this stranger send Ellie a note stating that she had found her name in her tenants possessions. This intrigues Ellie and off she goes to discover why he had her name and what did it mean. This brings Ellie into the world of politics and crime and she discovers the past and present of the WWII era. It is a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend this one and all the others.
The story starts with the Nazi era and then comes back to present day and an unusual dealing with a stranger. The landlord of this stranger send Ellie a note stating that she had found her name in her tenants possessions. This intrigues Ellie and off she goes to discover why he had her name and what did it mean. This brings Ellie into the world of politics and crime and she discovers the past and present of the WWII era. It is a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend this one and all the others.
June 3, 2025
This was a decent book. I realized about half the way through that the writer is a friend of a friend of mine. It's a murder mystery and as such not terribly far away from formula, but a fun read nonetheless.
As the subtitle suggests, a documentary filmmaker with some minor, local fame for a documentary on Chicago neighborhoods and she rather stumbles into an 'accident' that was really a murder - in fact a series of them.
Then she gets working with a republican candidate for office only to uncover a whole nightmare of facts - from her own aging father's first love, to a long-list friend who got involved with WW II politics in Germany, to involvement in horrifying science experiments led happily by one of Hitler's inner circle.
There's also a bit of a love story mingled within the plot. It's a good strong work. A fun read. Quality writing, putting us in the scene, albeit with a somewhat confusing subplot with her ex husband that seems tacked on to add further tension, though I'm not convinced that it was necessary as she did build tension without this.
As the subtitle suggests, a documentary filmmaker with some minor, local fame for a documentary on Chicago neighborhoods and she rather stumbles into an 'accident' that was really a murder - in fact a series of them.
Then she gets working with a republican candidate for office only to uncover a whole nightmare of facts - from her own aging father's first love, to a long-list friend who got involved with WW II politics in Germany, to involvement in horrifying science experiments led happily by one of Hitler's inner circle.
There's also a bit of a love story mingled within the plot. It's a good strong work. A fun read. Quality writing, putting us in the scene, albeit with a somewhat confusing subplot with her ex husband that seems tacked on to add further tension, though I'm not convinced that it was necessary as she did build tension without this.
October 27, 2022
An Eye for Murder was the second book by Libby Fischer Hellmann I have listened to or read, and it introduced me to Ellie foreman. This story is like a sweater, knitted from one single piece of yarn that appears to go in several directions, yet once pulled the whole sweater comes apart. However, in this story there are knots more stubborn than others and not everyone is as forthcoming as they might be. I enjoy thrillers that include historical elements especially when those elements are rooted in fact. Ellie Foreman is an interesting character, filled with personal demons yet the desire to find answers to questions that beg to be left alone. I look forward to seeing what the second installment in the Ellie foreman series offers. Karyn O’Bryant does an excellent job of bringing Ellie and the other characters to life. I received a review copy of the audio book from the author through Author Direct and chose to provide this review.
March 9, 2020
Libby seamlessly blends present and past World War II Nazi Germany to create a mystery that flows easily between characters. Ellie Foreman is a video producer who normally shoots corporate videos. She is approached by a political party to produce a campaign video for Marian Iverson. Ellie normally stays far away from political candidates. Suddenly in need of money, she signs up to produce the campaign video. Along the way, she learns things that seem unrelated - An old man's death, a son trying to learn more about his mother, a candidate's past and most perplexing of all, her father's knowledge, seem to be more and more related. It is a real mystery within a mystery and even her father is part of the puzzle. A real six degrees of separation story.
January 23, 2022
I'm not sure why, but I had a hard tie getting started with this book? It could of been because I had just finished a really exciting book the day before I started it?
I wonder if I had waited a few days if it would of grabbed me at the first or if it would of still started out really slow?
For me, it didn't start even getting my attention until I was about a third of the way through it. From there it picked up momentum and kept going.
The last few chapters were really good and finally had me turning the pages just to see what would happen next.
All in all it was a good story and I liked how it finally started weaving the distant past with the present.
It will leave you wondering what type of people we may have planted in high places?
I wonder if I had waited a few days if it would of grabbed me at the first or if it would of still started out really slow?
For me, it didn't start even getting my attention until I was about a third of the way through it. From there it picked up momentum and kept going.
The last few chapters were really good and finally had me turning the pages just to see what would happen next.
All in all it was a good story and I liked how it finally started weaving the distant past with the present.
It will leave you wondering what type of people we may have planted in high places?
September 25, 2022
A well written thriller and story of intrigue. Ellie is a documentary producer and is contacted by an old woman who had an elderly boarder who died. He left Ellie's name and without anyone else to contact, the woman reached out to Ellie. Ellie quickly gets drawn into a web that extends back to WWII. There is a lot happening in this book and the coincidental relationships cannot be ignored. It was exciting right to the end. I read this book, almost without putting it down. Well done.
I was given the opportunity to listen to the Audio version of this book. The narrator did an excellent job and was a pleasure to listen to.
I was given the opportunity to listen to the Audio version of this book. The narrator did an excellent job and was a pleasure to listen to.
November 30, 2018
Situated in Prague during World War II, this story begins with an American working with the resistance, which is what sets the events that will drag Ellie into a web of danger and intrigue.
This is a very well written book, with a main character who is interesting and flawed, and who grows along the story. The plot is intriguing, easy to follow but hard to unravel (which is how it should always be).
An excellent thriller, and a more than auspicious first book in the series. I will be reading the rest of it, that's for sure.
This is a very well written book, with a main character who is interesting and flawed, and who grows along the story. The plot is intriguing, easy to follow but hard to unravel (which is how it should always be).
An excellent thriller, and a more than auspicious first book in the series. I will be reading the rest of it, that's for sure.
February 17, 2020
Power is the one thing that can affect people, generations, and society ultimately. Power changes people which they can either use for good or bad. An Eye for murder address it very well.
It is my first read of this author and not my last. I read this book literally in one day. It flows easily, is understandable and I connected with the main character really well.
The suspense has a steady pace that kept me turning the pages. With many semi-plots within to really keep the reality of Ellie's life as it unfolds daily.
Really a great read all women readers will enjoy.
It is my first read of this author and not my last. I read this book literally in one day. It flows easily, is understandable and I connected with the main character really well.
The suspense has a steady pace that kept me turning the pages. With many semi-plots within to really keep the reality of Ellie's life as it unfolds daily.
Really a great read all women readers will enjoy.
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February 29, 2020What starts off as a murder mystery ends up being quite the story of espionage. The characters were mostly ordinary people who found themselves in the middle of something they did not realize was so much bigger than they imagined. It starts off with events that could happen to anybody, but then when a certain tan car keeps showing up we start getting an idea that something deeper is going on. Even when we know something is going on, the book still finds ways of surprising us. With its many twists and turns, this book was always interesting and engaging.
May 17, 2020
Ellie Foreman is a filmmaker in Chicago who becomes involved in a mystery when her name turns up in the pocket of a dead elderly man whom she does not know. The story really has its beginnings during WWII, combining spies and Nazis, and a message that needed to be delivered.
In ”present” day Chicago, Ellie is hired to make a documentary for a political campaign, and this film, plus the backstory mystery as well as several more murders, keeps the reader anxiously awaiting the ending. An easy, satisfying read.
In ”present” day Chicago, Ellie is hired to make a documentary for a political campaign, and this film, plus the backstory mystery as well as several more murders, keeps the reader anxiously awaiting the ending. An easy, satisfying read.
January 3, 2024
Very good read! A page turner. Lots of twists and turns. I love a mystery that hints at the solution but never gives it away completely. This one kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. The little bit of romance was sweet. I would give warning that there is some language that was inappropriate and some content that bordered on being inappropriate as well. Not sure I would read this author again for that reason. Sad because I really enjoyed the book overall. That is my reason for the rating of 4 stars instead of 5.
August 4, 2025
Oh what a tangled web we weave! Hellman has hit one out of the park on her first try. A divorced filmmaker with roots in Jewish Chicago tries to untangle a mystery of recent deaths that lead her to uncover a hidden family tree, a Nazi plot and find romance.
The plot kept my interest throughout, even though the protagonist, Ellie Foreman, seems oblivious to her acquaintances being murdered or seriously hurt. The book has an exciting ending, even if it is a bit farfetched. But this is a work of fiction, after all.
The plot kept my interest throughout, even though the protagonist, Ellie Foreman, seems oblivious to her acquaintances being murdered or seriously hurt. The book has an exciting ending, even if it is a bit farfetched. But this is a work of fiction, after all.
July 14, 2018
It was a well developed story. I loved the clash - on the one side was Ellie's loyalty to her client and the client's family and on the other was her desire to help David find his family history. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars was that I kept waiting for either Ellie or David to identify the important clue (as soon as it was mentioned, I knew it was the solution). The final twist caught me, though. Good one.
December 2, 2018
This book I could not put down. It's very much true to life. There are people in this world who just don't see the light. I still wonder if Barry will ever really get it together as a dad and financially. Thankfully Ellie didn't get stuck because of him except for maybe some attorney fees. David comes through as the good guy here. A very special thanks goes out to Libby Fischer Hellmann for letting me read this one!
December 18, 2020
Others might like it more than I did. I didn't like the interaction between the protagonist and the love interest. I did like reading about the job of making films. It's in that weird time when the internet was a bit new, so there is talk about not being allowed to use library computers to email. Some clues were obvious and frustrating that the characters were missing them, but also a couple twists.
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