Final Cycle (Logland Mystery Series Book 2)

Final Cycle
By Elaine L. Orr

Marti and Nick have inherited The Bully Pulpit Diner in Logland, Illinois, and they've learned some customers are toxic. 






ISBN-10: 1948070170
ISBN-13: 978-1948070171
Lifelong Dreams Publishing
Paperback: 273 pages
December 23, 2018
Genre: Mystery
Series: Logland Mystery Series (Book 2]


When Marti heads to the laundromat to retrieve clean linens, she finds the body of town grouch Louella Belle Simpson cycling through the dryer. Louella Belle has racked up a lot of ill will by constantly voicing her opinions on Logland inhabitants' weight and food consumption. Chief Elizabeth Friedman has few clues and little help from the alarmed Logland residents. When a second body turns up in the senior citizen apartment parking lot, it seems the killer wants to silence anyone who's a threat. And then someone goes after Skelly, the medical examiner who likes to needle the chief. As Elizabeth and the small Logland police force wade through suspects and clues, they learn some poignant facts that serve as a reminder of why we need to reach out to people who aren't easy to help. Join the eclectic mix of Logland characters as they try to solve a murder and celebrate Christmas. A good mystery for any time of year.

Although this is a procedural, rather than the cozies I often review, I know it will appeal to the same audience. It takes place in a small town where everyone knows each others' business. The characters have distinct personalities. One twist is that the police chief is a woman, who has not been around town as long as her seasoned officers, who, I may add, remind me a bit of the television show In The Heat of the Night. I really like Elizabeth and admire her tact and patience.
The victim may not be the most hated person in town, but she was the loudest and perhaps most annoying. People had to admit that she did accomplish some good things as a teacher and lunch lady, even if they hated her tactics. Imagine their surprise at her will!
While Louella Belle spoke out against what she saw being done wrong, there are other crimes being done almost in plain sight. Can Chief Elizabeth solve this crime spree, save her cat, and enjoy a holiday season?
A nicely paced, escape read to be enjoyed by all.






Elaine L. Orr writes three mystery series. The Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, set at the Jersey shore, includes "Behind the Walls," which was a finalist for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. In the River's Edge mystery series, Iowa nice meets murder. "From Newsprint to Footprints," was followed by "Demise of a Devious Neighbor." The latter was a 2017 Chanticleer finalist. "Tip a Hat to Murder," the first in the Logland mystery series, was followed by "Final Cycle." A police procedural with a cozy feel

Elaine also writes plays and novellas, including the one-act, "Common Ground," published in 2015. Her novella, "Biding Time," was one of five finalists in the National Press Club's first fiction contest, in 1993. "Falling into Place" is a novella about family strength as a World War II veteran rises to the toughest occasion. "In the Shadow of Light" brings the tragedies of the U.S. Mexico border to life through the eyes of children and their parents.

Elaine conducts presentations on electronic publishing and other writing-related topics. Nonfiction includes "Words to Write By: Getting Your Thoughts on Paper" and "Writing When Time is Scarce and Getting the Work Published."


A member of Sisters in Crime, Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994. She graduated from the University of Dayton with a BA in Political Science and from the American University with an MA in Government. She worked for GAO and the National Academy of Public Administration for many years, and for two Iowa members of the U.S. House of Representatives -- one Republican and one Democrat.

Elaine did some journalism course work at the University of Maryland and has taken fiction courses from The Writer's Center in Bethesda, MD, the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival, and Georgetown University's Continuing Education Program. She is a regular attendee at the Magna Cum Murder in Indianapolis and the Book Bums Workshop in West Liberty, Iowa. She has served as a preliminary judge for the Raleigh Fine Arts high school literary awards (2016-19).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Three Days To Forever ~ Lauren Carr

A Fanciful Twist's 8th Annual Virtual MAD TEA Party Extra special, as it is the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland ♥

Alicia Connected: Tricked with Treats by Derek Fisher