The Day Miriam Hirsch Disappeared (Ellie Foreman 0.5), my 11th read from author Libby Fischer Hellman & the short prequel to the Ellie Foreman series. That’s it, no more spoilers from me though I can see more about this character in the future. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018). ( )

This is a short period piece about two Jewish teenagers in 1930s
Chicago, a pretty actress, and a neighborhood hoodlum. It captures
the feeling and the language of the era.
( )

Like a musical score that goes back at the conclusion to its first note, this story is perfectly played out between its opening note, "The day Miriam Hirsch disappeared was so hot your could almost see the sidewalk blister," and its ending note, "Other things were fast taking precedence. Hitler annexed Austria, and the news coming out of Europe was grim. No one seemed to remember the day Miriam Hirsch disappeared." Inspired by photographs from a book called, The Jews of Chicago, here is a return to the city of Chicago during the 1930s. This short read is the prequel to four Ellie Foreman novels, which became a prequel to the Georgia Davis series. For me, this turn of events gives us insight into the creative process, where each project is a stepping stone to the next one.

The story is a snapshot of two teenage boys--the narrator and Barney--growing up in two very different families. "We were cultured, assimilated. They were rabble... We were merchants, doctors, lawyers. They worked in factories, sweat shops, and, well, restaurants." Told in a conversational tone in the first narrative, the story vividly captures the locale and the feel of the era, in a way that is integral to the story. "The first time I saw Miriam, Barney and I were wolfing down brisket sandwiches in the restaurant; I could feel gravy dribbling past my chin." Not long after that, her body is found. "The cops identified her by her purse."

What more can you ask for, when faced with a beautiful girl and a crime to be solved? Highly recommended.

Five stars. ( )