A Barnes & Noble Nook Indie Favorite!
“Hellmann expertly marries heaps of historical detail with a thoughtful illustration of the dangers of nationalism. This ranks with the author’s best
work.” —Publishers Weekly
“Meticulously, enviably researched, with an unerring eye for detail. It’s the 20th century at its worst, and it’s a story everyone should know, everyone
should read.” —John Lawton, author of the Joe Wilderness series
“Intense and suspenseful… gripping… This thriller will resonate with history enthusiasts but also anyone seeking stories about standing up against
hate.” —BookLife Reviews (Editor’s Pick)
A new historical epic set before and during WW2
Max’s War: The Story of a Ritchie Boy
Order it Now (Widely Available)
As the Nazis sweep across Europe, Jewish teen Max and his parents flee persecution in
Germany for Holland, where Max finds friends and romance. But when Hitler invades in 1940, Max escapes to Chicago, leaving his parents and friends behind. When he learns of his parents’ murder in Sobibor, Max immediately enlists in the US Army. After basic training he is sent to Camp Ritchie, Maryland, where he is trained in interrogation and counterintelligence.
Deployed to the OSS, Max carries out dangerous missions in Occupied countries. He also interrogates German POWs, especially after D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, where, despite life-threatening conditions, he elicits critical information about German troop movements.
Post-war, he works for the Americans in the German denazification program, bringing him back to his Bavarian childhood home of Regensburg. Though the city avoided large-scale destruction, the Jewish community was decimated. Max roams familiar yet strange streets, replaying memories of lives lost to unspeakable tragedy. While there, however, he reunites with someone from his past, who, like him, sought refuge abroad. Can they rebuild their lives… together?
This epic story about a Ritchie Boy is Libby Hellmann’s tribute to her late father-in-law who was active with the OSS and interrogated dozens of German POWs.
AUTHOR
With 18 titles and over 25 short stories under her belt, Libby has been writing her way around the crime fiction genre. She has published an amateur sleuth series, a private eye thriller series, a police procedural, 5 stand-alone historical novels, and even a cozy novella. She loves listening to and telling stories.
SPEAKER
Libby has developed several interactive workshops on the craft of writing as well as how to publish and promote. She is often invited to give keynote presentations at events and conferences – she enjoys helping others tell their stories.
BROADCASTER
Libby has hosted Second Sunday Books, a monthly interview podcast via Authors on the Air. She has also hosted a monthly streaming video show called SOLVED! She interviews crime fiction authors, historical fiction and women’s fiction authors, as well as experts in criminal law, forensics, and cybersecurity, to bring you their stories. Past shows are available on her YouTube channel and this website.