High Crimes: A Murder with 42,000 Suspects

Libby Fischer Hellmann

Nov 2018 · The Georgia Davis PI Series (Ebooks) Book 5 · The Red Herrings Press

About this ebook

High Crimes is #5 in the Georgia Davis PI Series

How do you solve a murder when there are 42,000 suspects?

That’s the task facing Chicago PI Georgia Davis, hired to hunt down those ultimately responsible for the assassination of Resistance leader Dena Baldwin at a demonstration fourteen months after the 2016 election. The gunman, on a nearby hotel rooftop, dies within minutes of the shooting. 

"HIGH CRIMES is the P.I. novel for our moment, not just because of its backdrop of political tension, but because of the resilient strength of its characters. Georgia Davis is a terrific lead, and Libby Fischer Hellmann calls on her own journalism background to add layers of realism to this all-too plausible plot.” Michael Koryta,NY TImes Bestselling Author of HOW IT HAPPENED

As Georgia sifts through Dena’s 42,000 Facebook followers, she discovers that unknown enemies hiding behind fake profiles have infiltrated the group. She finds others who will do whatever it takes—including murder—to shield right-wing, wealthy elites. When Georgia begins piecing together the facts, relatives of both victims mysteriously disappear, and the danger escalates.

"In this ripped from the headlines and rocket-paced thriller, Libby Fischer Hellmann is at the top of her game. You won’t stop turning the pages, gripped by every twist and turn. And the tough, smart Georgia Davis is sure to take herplace among the top female PIs in crime fiction.” Lisa Unger , NY TImes Bestselling Author of UNDER MY SKIN

Threats and bruises have never frightened Georgia, but she’s side-swiped by the sudden reappearance of the mother who abandoned her when she was a child. Can she survive an emotional family crisis at the same time she pursues killers whose only objective is to protect themselves?                                      

"More than just a murder investigation, but even if you ignore the broader truths, it’s a fun read. How Hellmann managed to write this novel as if it was pulled from today’s headlines is beyond me. Maybe she has a time machine. I highly recommend it.” Pat Balester, Picks by Pat

If you love Michael Koryta, Lisa Unger, and Sara Paretsky, you'll love Libby Hellmann's Compulsively Readable Thrillers.

Ratings and reviews

High Crimes by Libby Fischer Hellmann is the latest edition to The Georgia Davis PI series. Georgia Davis is hired by Erica Baldwin Stewart to find out more about her daughter, Dena’s death. The family received an anonymous email several weeks after her assassination and it bothers them. Dena Baldwin was the leader of ResistanceUSA, a group against the current president with 42,000 followers. Dena was vocal against the current regime and their practices. At a demonstration in Grant Park in Chicago, Dena was assassinated and the gunman, Scott Allen Jarvis, was found dead on a nearby rooftop. Georgia’s search for the truth takes her on a perilous journey. She soon learns that someone does not want the truth to come to light, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their secrets hidden. While handling the case, Georgia’s mother reenters her life. It brings up the old feelings of resentment, abandonment and jealousy. Georgia’s case takes a dangerous turn when people begin disappearing. Her quest for the truth could find Georgia paying the ultimate price. If you have not read the previous books in The Georgia Davis PI series, I recommend beginning with Easy Innocence (the first book). I have not read any of the other novels in this series, and I felt I was missing key details on Georgia. I was not able to get into High Crimes (I ended up reading two other books while attempting to wade through High Crimes). I felt it lacked continuity and an ease. It jumped around to various characters and time periods which I found confusing. I tried to like Georgia, but it did not happen. I especially disliked her sister, Vanna. I found her self-centered and whiny. High Crimes contains an intriguing mystery with various twists that will surprise readers. It is the best part of the book. The writing is extremely detail oriented. Some of the extraneous information could have been eliminated. High Crimes takes punches at our current administration. It is obvious that the author is not a fan of the current president. If you are looking for an escape from all the political goings on in the news, then High Crimes is not the book for you. There is a significant amount of foul language (which I find offensive and unnecessary) and there is intimacy between couples (fair warning) that I was not expecting. As you can tell, I am not the right audience for High Crimes. However, that is the beauty of people and books. We are all unique and like different things. I suggest you obtain a sample of High Crimes to see if it is the right fit for you.

About the author

Libby Fischer Hellmann left a career in broadcast news in Washington, DC and moved to Chicago over 35 years ago, where she, naturally, began to write gritty crime fiction. Fifteen 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 and crime writing community and has even won a few. She has been a finalist twice for the Anthony and four times for Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year. She has also been nominated for the Agatha, the Shamus, the Daphne, and has won the IPPY and the Readers Choice Award multiple times.

Her novels include the now five-volume Ellie Foreman series, which she describes as a cross between “Desperate Housewives” and “24;” the hard-boiled 4-volume Georgia Davis PI series, and four stand-alone historical thrillers set during Revolutionary Iran, Cuba, the Sixties, and WW2. Her short stories have been published in a dozen anthologies, the Saturday Evening Post, and Ed Gorman’s “25 Criminally Good Short Stories” collection. 

Libby hosts a TV author interview show and conducts writing workshops at libraries and other venues. She was the national president of Sisters In Crime, a 3500 member organization dedicated to the advancement of female crime fiction authors. Her books have been translated into Spanish, German, Italian, and Chinese. All her books are available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats.

 More at https://libbyhellmann.com