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Severed
Dismembered fingers. Lives cut short. A local investigation will upset the tranquility of a small Louisiana town. Dr. Lula Logan has been asked by her former boyfriend, a detective with whom she had just broken up, to investigate the appearance of severed fingers left at police department headquarters. Then another dismembered finger surfaces at the home of a local producer/writer and his business partner. The writer has been AWOL, and no one knows where he is. As the investigation of the mysterious fingers deepens, we will learn that many people affiliated with the missing writer's production company, including his wife, have a stake in his disappearance. Notes, emails, and flower deliveries with written threats arrive, received by different individuals who want their involvement in the intrigue to remain undetected.
Set in a contemporary rural pocket of Northwestern Louisiana, [fictional] Nakadee is a university town with a population under 15,000. The citizens of Nakadee, whose ancestors have lived there for several hundred years, while trapped in its relative remoteness, are thankful for its quiet refuge. They purposefully wish to live life in the slow lane. The town is a mix of Creole, Cajun, Black and European inhabitants. Nakadee is a sleepy hollow (near Cane River country), and is likely to grow in leaps and bounds given an anticipated natural gas pipeline construction project which will change its moribund economy.
Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Lula Logan is reluctantly drawn into the forensic investigation concerning a severed finger left at the Nakadee Police Department by her ex-boyfriend, a police detective. She goes through the process of her forensic tasks in her lab: taking measurements of the amputated fingers, boiling the human tissue [a corpse is found in the woods with a gash in its head], and studying the striae of the bones to identify the type of injuries sustained by the victim. She must also try to identify the weapon or object that might have been used to kill the victim. Dr. Lula works closely with her colleagues, Aggie Sheaf, a Medical Examiner and "Tom-Tom," a Forensic Entomologist, both of whom become involved in the investigation.
The Entomologist's information helps uncover the mystery of the warring species of blowfly and black soldier fly maggots that cover the corpse found in the woods. The maggots hold the key to unlocking the mystery of which individual(s) among the small town's citizenry could be the killer(s). We will learn about the role that flies play in the process of decomposition, their relevance to poultry farm rendering stations used for animal carcass disposal, and which flies are attracted to which type of once-living remains.
Two members of the House of Representatives, Congressmen Matt Killian, who represents a powerful Hollywood constituency, and an up-and-coming Congressman, Ambrose Girabeaux, a black Republican, are trying to negotiate their votes concerning upcoming Markup legislation involving the Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, which Killian chairs. The congressmen are fighting over the entertainment industry which has sought Matt Killian's assurances that he will protect its interests. At the Markup, the two legislators will debate the practices of the industry.
The investigation will also reveal that power comes in all manifestations, sex being one of the most flagrant in the entertainment industry. Powerful men and women who are straight, gay, and pedophiles figure prominently in the playground of the entertainment gods, and they can also filter into the lives of people in rural outposts like Nakadee, too, as hungry and naIve innocents crave to become a part of Hollywood.
Set in a contemporary rural pocket of Northwestern Louisiana, [fictional] Nakadee is a university town with a population under 15,000. The citizens of Nakadee, whose ancestors have lived there for several hundred years, while trapped in its relative remoteness, are thankful for its quiet refuge. They purposefully wish to live life in the slow lane. The town is a mix of Creole, Cajun, Black and European inhabitants. Nakadee is a sleepy hollow (near Cane River country), and is likely to grow in leaps and bounds given an anticipated natural gas pipeline construction project which will change its moribund economy.
Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Lula Logan is reluctantly drawn into the forensic investigation concerning a severed finger left at the Nakadee Police Department by her ex-boyfriend, a police detective. She goes through the process of her forensic tasks in her lab: taking measurements of the amputated fingers, boiling the human tissue [a corpse is found in the woods with a gash in its head], and studying the striae of the bones to identify the type of injuries sustained by the victim. She must also try to identify the weapon or object that might have been used to kill the victim. Dr. Lula works closely with her colleagues, Aggie Sheaf, a Medical Examiner and "Tom-Tom," a Forensic Entomologist, both of whom become involved in the investigation.
The Entomologist's information helps uncover the mystery of the warring species of blowfly and black soldier fly maggots that cover the corpse found in the woods. The maggots hold the key to unlocking the mystery of which individual(s) among the small town's citizenry could be the killer(s). We will learn about the role that flies play in the process of decomposition, their relevance to poultry farm rendering stations used for animal carcass disposal, and which flies are attracted to which type of once-living remains.
Two members of the House of Representatives, Congressmen Matt Killian, who represents a powerful Hollywood constituency, and an up-and-coming Congressman, Ambrose Girabeaux, a black Republican, are trying to negotiate their votes concerning upcoming Markup legislation involving the Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee, which Killian chairs. The congressmen are fighting over the entertainment industry which has sought Matt Killian's assurances that he will protect its interests. At the Markup, the two legislators will debate the practices of the industry.
The investigation will also reveal that power comes in all manifestations, sex being one of the most flagrant in the entertainment industry. Powerful men and women who are straight, gay, and pedophiles figure prominently in the playground of the entertainment gods, and they can also filter into the lives of people in rural outposts like Nakadee, too, as hungry and naIve innocents crave to become a part of Hollywood.
358 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2015
8 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 20, 2016
Dr. Lula Logan is a single black female forensic Anthropologist living and working in a very small Louisiana town.
She is contacted by her ex-boyfriend, Detective Devon Lemonde to help in the investigation of the severed fingers found on the steps of the police station.
There is so much to this story. It is a mystery .. there are bodies involved ... but the most interesting aspect is a view of race in southern America .. especially when it comes to a professional black woman.
It's very well written, the plot is intriguing. The characters are finely drawn. There are several extremely interesting suspects. Lula is going to come to realize that everyone has secrets..and small towns can hold very large secrets.
Many thanks to the author and Word Slinger Publicity who provided a copy of SEVERED in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
She is contacted by her ex-boyfriend, Detective Devon Lemonde to help in the investigation of the severed fingers found on the steps of the police station.
There is so much to this story. It is a mystery .. there are bodies involved ... but the most interesting aspect is a view of race in southern America .. especially when it comes to a professional black woman.
It's very well written, the plot is intriguing. The characters are finely drawn. There are several extremely interesting suspects. Lula is going to come to realize that everyone has secrets..and small towns can hold very large secrets.
Many thanks to the author and Word Slinger Publicity who provided a copy of SEVERED in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
June 27, 2016
An excellent story with a most interesting main character. As an added bonus, I didn't notice a single typo anywhere in the novel. Well done!
March 8, 2017
Severed, A Novel is a crime thriller charbroiled in a damning indictment of American society with a side of biting cultural and social commentary on the menu.
Although “Severed” is a crime thriller and an entertaining whodunit, I recommend it as a self-help book to readers who are seeking to get out of their own way to become their best by validating their own talent.
Often, we will seek validation from others to feel good about ourselves without recognizing the destruction that we leave in our wake.
We’ll leave our noble causes by the wayside to join in on something that isn’t worthy of our time just win the approval from someone who doesn’t matter.
“Severed” allows us to experience the ramifications of the decisions we make, especially when the means never justify the end.
“Severed” forces the reader to separate goals from motives and determine which goals serve the greater good and which serve the weakened ego. The latter, we learn, always brings chaos, death and destruction whereas the former adds meaning to our lives and advances civilization.
Visit the novelist, VL Towler at SeveredaNoveldotcom
Although “Severed” is a crime thriller and an entertaining whodunit, I recommend it as a self-help book to readers who are seeking to get out of their own way to become their best by validating their own talent.
Often, we will seek validation from others to feel good about ourselves without recognizing the destruction that we leave in our wake.
We’ll leave our noble causes by the wayside to join in on something that isn’t worthy of our time just win the approval from someone who doesn’t matter.
“Severed” allows us to experience the ramifications of the decisions we make, especially when the means never justify the end.
“Severed” forces the reader to separate goals from motives and determine which goals serve the greater good and which serve the weakened ego. The latter, we learn, always brings chaos, death and destruction whereas the former adds meaning to our lives and advances civilization.
Visit the novelist, VL Towler at SeveredaNoveldotcom
April 18, 2016
Anyone looking for a study on how to write brilliant character led fiction, read Severed. Without a doubt one of the best books I have read in a long time it has one of the strongest opening chapters I have ever read. A few words in and it's so well described, the dialogue so good and the characters so strong that I could imagine myself in real life surround by the events as they unfolded. The other thing is that there is plenty of clever humour used throughout the book. Some author’s get it totally wrong V L Towler gets it bang to rights every time. It easy to wax lyrical when you feel you have read an exceptional book but it really was that good.
June 20, 2016
This is a complex, multi-layered story; not a genre I typically read, so I'm taking it slow. I'm finding that the characters are well developed and the social commentary is thoughtfully presented without being strident. I'll be reporting back when I'm finished!
May 30, 2022
I was very excited to find a mystery set in Louisiana. The setting and culture(s) make for an engaging story. The plot was unpredictable, with new complications and developments to throw the investigation (and reader's predictions) in many different directions.
I had a bit of trouble sorting some characters out--there were a few too many for my tastes. I know that's totally subjective, but there were times when I was a bit confused on where (or if) a character had been introduced previously. As I got to know the characters, it was easier to keep them straight in my head. And, of course, there's the tradeoff of needing enough characters to be able to pull off a successful murder mystery while keeping the audience guessing.
I was partially drawn to this book because of its description of the town's residents. It's exciting to see Cajuns in novels, and the author was able to get the reader to understand how the different groups interact. At times, it was a bit more telling than showing, particularly in the discussion of race relations. The information is good, and I agree with the author's assessment. It just sometimes seemed like we were taking a break from the narrative to learn about the history of racism. It may be possible to intertwine this a bit more smoothly at times. And, with all of that said, I (European/Cajun ancestry) did gain some insight into how some groups perceive themselves and each other--some subtleties in conversation and interactions.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I was kept guessing right until the end, and the author clearly had some good knowledge about the subject matter. The relationships are complicated, which makes sense for a small southern town and provides some good conflict. It's outside of the genres I usually read, and it was a nice change--the sort of book I should read more often.
I had a bit of trouble sorting some characters out--there were a few too many for my tastes. I know that's totally subjective, but there were times when I was a bit confused on where (or if) a character had been introduced previously. As I got to know the characters, it was easier to keep them straight in my head. And, of course, there's the tradeoff of needing enough characters to be able to pull off a successful murder mystery while keeping the audience guessing.
I was partially drawn to this book because of its description of the town's residents. It's exciting to see Cajuns in novels, and the author was able to get the reader to understand how the different groups interact. At times, it was a bit more telling than showing, particularly in the discussion of race relations. The information is good, and I agree with the author's assessment. It just sometimes seemed like we were taking a break from the narrative to learn about the history of racism. It may be possible to intertwine this a bit more smoothly at times. And, with all of that said, I (European/Cajun ancestry) did gain some insight into how some groups perceive themselves and each other--some subtleties in conversation and interactions.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I was kept guessing right until the end, and the author clearly had some good knowledge about the subject matter. The relationships are complicated, which makes sense for a small southern town and provides some good conflict. It's outside of the genres I usually read, and it was a nice change--the sort of book I should read more often.
March 6, 2018
Severed by VL Towler is the perfect book to reading during this month (March). This novel features a black educated woman who is plunged into a big murder investigation. From politics to the crazy locals, Dr. Lula and her ex-boyfriend will have their hands full. The cultural aspects of the different characters inside this fictional town was fun to read. Louisiana is the best place for this kind of chaos and murder to happen. It felt real. A lot of racial issues were brought into this story. Blacks versus whites etc. and the danger is enough to cause a sense of fear... chills running down my back. Here, unlike most stories a black person is behind the danger...and Dr. Lula will find her life in danger. Survival, forensics, and chasing after a killer kept me entertained. I cannot wait to see what happens next. Overall, the plot was good (3.5-stars), the intrigue and suspense (4-stars each), the characterization is spot on (5-stars).
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary.
July 19, 2017
Our book club read. A thrilling whodunit all the way to the disappointing end.
October 2, 2016
Couldn't get past the first few chapters. Bad, forced writing.
March 3, 2018
A detailed, descriptive, AMAZING, nail biting, and thought provoking novel is written with a depth of intelligence, research, history, wisdom, experience, and truth which can only be told by an author, in such a way, to reach every reader. And all walks of life. When I read, 'Severed', I took my time, enjoyed each twist and turn, researched historical facts in which I had myself forgotten about. It kept me feeling like I couldn't wait to find out the next piece.
My favorite character was Lula the Forensic Anthropologist. Author V.L. Towler used excellent description to allowing me to feel like I was actually in the story witnessing the characters and happenings. In 'Severed', Dr. Lula Logan is an absolutely beautiful, confident black woman who is has the intelligence and wisdom to survive within any environment. However, by racism and bigotry. She acquired all the accolades of peers, both male and female. Shes the best and only one available. Yet 'still' not good enough. An ailment blacks face daily. Her education, wisdom, intuition, and discernment and beauty is what set her apart. I loved her Lula's sassiness! Her intelligence. Her fight. Her endurance. She fought and pursued through the distraction to find the TRUTH. She didn't allow the SYSTEM to dictate what the truth was going to be.
This novel. Is A MUST READ FOR AGES 13+. This is realistic and touches everyone life---from the ground up!!..
I 💘 LOVE(D) THIS NOVEL. More importantly I appreciate it. It confirms our everyday struggle in this world the seen and unseen, as a black female. I am reading it again....
I bought another and encouraged several people to read and keep in library. I am suggesting it as a High School Novel. I am putting it on my facebook page as a
A MUST READ!!!!!
Jas.Business@live.com
My favorite character was Lula the Forensic Anthropologist. Author V.L. Towler used excellent description to allowing me to feel like I was actually in the story witnessing the characters and happenings. In 'Severed', Dr. Lula Logan is an absolutely beautiful, confident black woman who is has the intelligence and wisdom to survive within any environment. However, by racism and bigotry. She acquired all the accolades of peers, both male and female. Shes the best and only one available. Yet 'still' not good enough. An ailment blacks face daily. Her education, wisdom, intuition, and discernment and beauty is what set her apart. I loved her Lula's sassiness! Her intelligence. Her fight. Her endurance. She fought and pursued through the distraction to find the TRUTH. She didn't allow the SYSTEM to dictate what the truth was going to be.
This novel. Is A MUST READ FOR AGES 13+. This is realistic and touches everyone life---from the ground up!!..
I 💘 LOVE(D) THIS NOVEL. More importantly I appreciate it. It confirms our everyday struggle in this world the seen and unseen, as a black female. I am reading it again....
I bought another and encouraged several people to read and keep in library. I am suggesting it as a High School Novel. I am putting it on my facebook page as a
A MUST READ!!!!!
Jas.Business@live.com
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews