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Logland Mystery #2
Final Cycle
When Marti, one of the new owners of the Bully Pulpit Diner, heads to the laundromat to retrieve clean linens, she did not expect to find 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 residents' 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 looks as if Christmas will be far from merry this year.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 23, 2018
25 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Orr
41 books263 followersAlso published as Elaine L. Orr
Elaine L. Orr has authored 35 works of fiction, including four mystery series. They include the fourteen-book Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, which is set at the Jersey shore. "Behind the Walls" was short-listed for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. "Demise of a Devious Neighbor," second of the River's Edge series, set in Iowa, was a Chanticleer shortlister in 2017.
The Western Maryland mountains host the five-book Family History Mystery Series, which began with "Least Trodden Ground." The "Unscheduled Murder Trip" received a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2021. Small-town Illinois is the setting for the Logland Series, which features Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman -- 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" is the fictional story of Corozón and her family, who are separated at the U.S./Mexico border.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994.
Elaine L. Orr has authored 35 works of fiction, including four mystery series. They include the fourteen-book Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, which is set at the Jersey shore. "Behind the Walls" was short-listed for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. "Demise of a Devious Neighbor," second of the River's Edge series, set in Iowa, was a Chanticleer shortlister in 2017.
The Western Maryland mountains host the five-book Family History Mystery Series, which began with "Least Trodden Ground." The "Unscheduled Murder Trip" received a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2021. Small-town Illinois is the setting for the Logland Series, which features Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman -- 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" is the fictional story of Corozón and her family, who are separated at the U.S./Mexico border.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 23, 2020
Very interesting cosy mystery
Finding a dead body in a laundromat was a harrowing experience for Marti. There were no clues to how the body of Louelle Belle was dumped at the laundromat. Elizabeth has to find the answers before the other residents of the place panic. Unfortunately another murder occurs unexpectedly and then Elizabeth has to find the murderer real fast.
The cosy mystery was interesting at all levels.
I could easily identify with Elizabeth and even with the dead woman – Louella Belle, but what surprised me was the murder mystery itself. It was complicated and multi-layered and was structured well, leading to a satisfying conclusion with a perfect twist. Enjoyed it.
Finding a dead body in a laundromat was a harrowing experience for Marti. There were no clues to how the body of Louelle Belle was dumped at the laundromat. Elizabeth has to find the answers before the other residents of the place panic. Unfortunately another murder occurs unexpectedly and then Elizabeth has to find the murderer real fast.
The cosy mystery was interesting at all levels.
I could easily identify with Elizabeth and even with the dead woman – Louella Belle, but what surprised me was the murder mystery itself. It was complicated and multi-layered and was structured well, leading to a satisfying conclusion with a perfect twist. Enjoyed it.
December 30, 2018
The second book of the Logland series is a police procedural. Louella Belle, a retired senior citizen is found dead in a dryer of the local laundromat. There are no clues as to how Louella was placed in the machine. Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman must find An answer before Christmas to calm the fears of the residents. Before Elizabeth has an answer, a witness is found stabbed in the parking lot of the senior retirement building. This is upsetting for the community and Elizabeth's small police force is busy following clues that lead to the local College. Does Elizabeth find the answer bringing back security to the community? I highly recommend this book and series.
December 26, 2018
I love this new series of Elaine Orr's. When the body of the most annoying woman in town is found in a clothes dryer in the local laundromat, police chief Elizabeth Friedman has plenty of suspects. Only solving the mystery will bring holiday cheer and security back to the small town. Elizabeth is a wonderful main character--a sensible and competent law enforcement officer who must juggle the local politics, a diverse force and eccentric small town characters to solve the crime.
March 10, 2019
This is an interesting cozy mystery by a new-to-me-author, and I will probably read more of her novels in the future. The mystery is a bit of a challenge to solve, the characters are interesting, and I found it intriguing to watch the police try to solve who the bad guy(s) might be.
Louella Belle was retired from teaching at the local high school, health and home ec classes. She was also a stickler for nutrition, to the extent of leaving children crying in the grocery store as she told their mothers that the food she was getting for them was junk. She posted signs about nutrition, complained that the diner didn't have the nutritional value of meals on the menu, and who was too overweight in her eyes. While she had made a number of enemies, one wouldn't think anybody would want to kill the elderly lady. But someone did, leaving her broken, partially wet body in a huge dryer in the laundromat with the tableclothes that the diner co-owner had been cleaning there.
Elizabeth has been the police chief in the small town of Logland for a few years. She is intelligent and cares about her staff and those in the town. A murder, just days before Christmas, was mind-boggling, and when a second murder occurred just days later, it stunned the community as the second person was very well-liked. Other crimes, such as sailing threats thru the window of the police chief's apartment and theft of several bicycles, were occurring at the same time.
The names of some of the characters was off-putting at first, such as Buttons, Dingle, or Herbie Hiccup. The characters each had unique identifiers but I didn't seem to have an attachment to any one character until getting to know Elizabeth a little more.
The story was interesting once getting through the first couple chapters, and I grew to like Elizabeth and her as yet unnamed stray cat. The plot moved along quickly, driven by the work of the police chief and her officers. While I didn't figure out who killed the two people or did the various acts of vandalism, it was shown, one step at a time, as the police continued to investigate, and included surprises. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy humor with their police procedurals or cozy mysteries, hard to uncover bad guys, and a hard-working police force.
From a grateful heart: I received an eArc of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Louella Belle was retired from teaching at the local high school, health and home ec classes. She was also a stickler for nutrition, to the extent of leaving children crying in the grocery store as she told their mothers that the food she was getting for them was junk. She posted signs about nutrition, complained that the diner didn't have the nutritional value of meals on the menu, and who was too overweight in her eyes. While she had made a number of enemies, one wouldn't think anybody would want to kill the elderly lady. But someone did, leaving her broken, partially wet body in a huge dryer in the laundromat with the tableclothes that the diner co-owner had been cleaning there.
Elizabeth has been the police chief in the small town of Logland for a few years. She is intelligent and cares about her staff and those in the town. A murder, just days before Christmas, was mind-boggling, and when a second murder occurred just days later, it stunned the community as the second person was very well-liked. Other crimes, such as sailing threats thru the window of the police chief's apartment and theft of several bicycles, were occurring at the same time.
The names of some of the characters was off-putting at first, such as Buttons, Dingle, or Herbie Hiccup. The characters each had unique identifiers but I didn't seem to have an attachment to any one character until getting to know Elizabeth a little more.
The story was interesting once getting through the first couple chapters, and I grew to like Elizabeth and her as yet unnamed stray cat. The plot moved along quickly, driven by the work of the police chief and her officers. While I didn't figure out who killed the two people or did the various acts of vandalism, it was shown, one step at a time, as the police continued to investigate, and included surprises. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy humor with their police procedurals or cozy mysteries, hard to uncover bad guys, and a hard-working police force.
From a grateful heart: I received an eArc of this novel, and this is my honest review.
March 26, 2019
I have found a new mystery author to love. Mystery is my favorite genre. It has been since I was in elementary school. When we are preparing for state testing, I usually agree to guest posts only. So why take on a book by an unfamiliar author? I read the premise of the book and was intrigued by a body found in a dryer. Especially since she was not well liked. Then there is the mention of a second murder. I needed to know how they connected, if they did. This author is so talented that I had the wrong person pegged all the way through. The characters are well thought out. I would recognize them on the street from the way they are portrayed. The setting is so realistic I asked my husband if it was a real place, then looked it up online. It could be any number of small towns in southern Illinois. To me this is a author who has definitely done some research to make the reader feel a part of that world. This is the second book in the "Logland Mystery Series". I have not yet read the first one, "Tip a Hat to Murder." It is next on my reading list. You don't have to read them in order as they read well as stand-a-lone books. The third one in the series, "Final Operation", comes out June 7th. This will make a nice and early birthday gift to myself. Yes, I did pre-order it. I look forward to checking out some of this author's other books.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
March 5, 2019
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.
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.
September 2, 2025
Louella Belle Simpson, a retired health teacher, badgers all the people she meets about their weight and their dietary choices. This makes her not the most popular person in Logland, Illinois. Still, it's surprising when her body is found in one of the dryers at the local laundromat about a week before Christmas. It's even more surprising when another senior citizen is murdered a few days later. The local police, who rarely have to deal with a murder, have their hands full.
In the entertaining story of the investigation. told from the point of view of chief Elizabeth Friedman, we meet a colorful cast of characters who inhabit a quirky small town.
In the entertaining story of the investigation. told from the point of view of chief Elizabeth Friedman, we meet a colorful cast of characters who inhabit a quirky small town.
February 8, 2019
With everyone thinking more about Christmas and their plans for the holidays than anything else, the death of one of the residents in the town causes concern. Although she wasn't well liked no-one can think of a reason to murder her. When a second murder occurs everyone starts trying to see connections, but are they?
Although the second in the Logland series this book can easily be read as a stand alone. The characters are well developed and distinctive, and the small town feel comes through.
I received the book for free from ebook discovery. This is my honest, freely given review.
Although the second in the Logland series this book can easily be read as a stand alone. The characters are well developed and distinctive, and the small town feel comes through.
I received the book for free from ebook discovery. This is my honest, freely given review.
February 22, 2019
Great book two!
It’s right before Christmas on Logland and there seems to be a crime spree happening. Police chief Elizabeth Friedman and her officers are having a devil of a time figuring out who done it. Lots of unexpected motives and secrets come to light as the investigation moves forward. A lovely mystery puzzle with a hint of romance to come. A very enjoyable read! I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
It’s right before Christmas on Logland and there seems to be a crime spree happening. Police chief Elizabeth Friedman and her officers are having a devil of a time figuring out who done it. Lots of unexpected motives and secrets come to light as the investigation moves forward. A lovely mystery puzzle with a hint of romance to come. A very enjoyable read! I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
August 31, 2019
I always enjoy Elaine Orr's books, and I am particularly drawn to smalltown police chief Elizabeth Friedman. Her staff, her townfolk, her way of going about solving crime appeals to me. The pacing never drags as finding a murderer counts down to Christmas. The motivation is a bit of a puzzle, which provides a nice complication for the reader to think about.
January 29, 2019
Love this series. Elizabeth and her staff make a great team. This book is set the week of Christmas. The book will have your attention throughout. Love all of Elaine Orr's series. Can't wait for book 3in this series... especially being set in IL.
February 3, 2019
A small college town is the scene of an unusual discovery.
But what should be reasonably simple becomes very complicated.
And then another death follows...
A well written cozy
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
But what should be reasonably simple becomes very complicated.
And then another death follows...
A well written cozy
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. This is my honest review.
February 9, 2019
This is a police procedural more than a mystery, and the plot is pretty basic. The story and characters are very good, however, so well worth a read.
March 4, 2020
Cute cozy mystery about life in a small town in Illinois. Murder seems to suddenly begin to happen in this town.
March 20, 2019
http://openbooksociety.com/article/fi...
Final Cycle
Logland Mystery #2
By Elaine Orr
ISBN 9781948070164
elaineorr.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When Marti, one of the new owners of the Bully Pulpit Diner, heads to the laundromat to retrieve clean linens, she did not expect to find 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 residents’ 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 looks as if Christmas will be far from merry this year. (From Goodreads)
Review:
Final Cycle is second in the small-town Midwest series, Logland Mystery. We see the action through the eyes of the chief of police, Elizabeth Friedman. The first murder was of a woman that most people didn’t like, and seeing how the police department came up with suspects was interesting. The characters are an eclectic mix of police, seniors, college students, and even the local homeless man, who are minimally defined as needed for their roles.
Louella Belle Simpson irritated everyone with the exception of the students she helped provide summer lunches for. She was a retired home-economics and health teacher from the high school, and a huge believer in nutritious meals that don’t include sugar, carbs, or junk food. So much so that she would stop shoppers at the grocery store to tell them to take sugary cereals or candy out of their carts, tell people when they or their kids were overweight, or post a picture of the assistant middle-school principal’s children with their faces vaguely blurred but identifiable and her nutrition suggestions. It is no wonder that, the Monday before Christmas, Louella was found dead in the dryer used by Bully Pulpit Diner co-owner, Marti, for diner linens. Nobody knew why Louella Belle was there, so trying to even find who might be in the laundromat at the same time was a mess.
Two people in the laundromat that afternoon were Grace Whittle and Stanley Buttons who live at the senior living apartments, but neither saw Ms. Simpson there before leaving. Two college students, nicknamed Just Juice and Herbie Hiccup who were not the sharpest tools in the shed, arrived just before Stanley left. They in turn saw Blake Wessley from the Dollar General store. Blake is also a college student, angry that he had to move out of the frat house when it was shut down due to their various activities. Elizabeth saw a half-rusted bicycle in the alley behind the nearby tattoo parlor and sees the next day, it is reported stolen by Finn Clancy, the local homeless guy who has no visible means of support.
Skelly, a local doctor, medical examiner, and friend of Elizabeth’s thinks someone pushed Ms. Simpson hard enough that she fell, causing a neck fracture. There was a minute amount of water in her lungs; someone may have dunked her head and shoulders in the huge laundry tub before hiding her in the dryer.
Two days later, a pair of bricks is tossed through the window of Elizabeth’s apartment with a warning note attached and leading the stray tortie cat that adopted her to escape. Later that day, a well-liked senior living complex resident is found murdered in the parking lot of the complex. While that murder and Louella’s may be connected due to his being in the laundromat, it might not be related at all, even though two murders in one week is unheard of in Logland, Illinois. A couple brief days later, Skelly is attacked in his office/ lab at the hospital and left with a concussion. Someone is really nervous, and a couple bricks short of a load if they think they can deter the police and ME.
The characters were interesting, but other than Elizabeth and Louella Belle, I didn’t feel I got to know anyone else at more than a very surface manner. I could picture several of the characters from physical descriptions, but didn’t feel I actually knew anyone else, except possibly Skelly. Elizabeth has a compassionate heart as evidenced by her wonder of what happened to some folks for them to lead their current lives and some of her reactions to discoveries about them.
This is the first cozy mystery I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be the last. The crises of murder and mayhem drew me in to the story, especially as so much occurred in such a short time. The mysteries are a bit of a challenge, and the solutions were unfolded well. There are unexpected plot twists, including the second murder. I was surprised by the complete resolution to the crimes, and liked the pace at which it was revealed. I highly recommend this cozy mystery to those who appreciate college town cozy mysteries with unique solutions sprinkled liberally with humor and descriptions of the area.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Final Cycle
Logland Mystery #2
By Elaine Orr
ISBN 9781948070164
elaineorr.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When Marti, one of the new owners of the Bully Pulpit Diner, heads to the laundromat to retrieve clean linens, she did not expect to find 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 residents’ 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 looks as if Christmas will be far from merry this year. (From Goodreads)
Review:
Final Cycle is second in the small-town Midwest series, Logland Mystery. We see the action through the eyes of the chief of police, Elizabeth Friedman. The first murder was of a woman that most people didn’t like, and seeing how the police department came up with suspects was interesting. The characters are an eclectic mix of police, seniors, college students, and even the local homeless man, who are minimally defined as needed for their roles.
Louella Belle Simpson irritated everyone with the exception of the students she helped provide summer lunches for. She was a retired home-economics and health teacher from the high school, and a huge believer in nutritious meals that don’t include sugar, carbs, or junk food. So much so that she would stop shoppers at the grocery store to tell them to take sugary cereals or candy out of their carts, tell people when they or their kids were overweight, or post a picture of the assistant middle-school principal’s children with their faces vaguely blurred but identifiable and her nutrition suggestions. It is no wonder that, the Monday before Christmas, Louella was found dead in the dryer used by Bully Pulpit Diner co-owner, Marti, for diner linens. Nobody knew why Louella Belle was there, so trying to even find who might be in the laundromat at the same time was a mess.
Two people in the laundromat that afternoon were Grace Whittle and Stanley Buttons who live at the senior living apartments, but neither saw Ms. Simpson there before leaving. Two college students, nicknamed Just Juice and Herbie Hiccup who were not the sharpest tools in the shed, arrived just before Stanley left. They in turn saw Blake Wessley from the Dollar General store. Blake is also a college student, angry that he had to move out of the frat house when it was shut down due to their various activities. Elizabeth saw a half-rusted bicycle in the alley behind the nearby tattoo parlor and sees the next day, it is reported stolen by Finn Clancy, the local homeless guy who has no visible means of support.
Skelly, a local doctor, medical examiner, and friend of Elizabeth’s thinks someone pushed Ms. Simpson hard enough that she fell, causing a neck fracture. There was a minute amount of water in her lungs; someone may have dunked her head and shoulders in the huge laundry tub before hiding her in the dryer.
Two days later, a pair of bricks is tossed through the window of Elizabeth’s apartment with a warning note attached and leading the stray tortie cat that adopted her to escape. Later that day, a well-liked senior living complex resident is found murdered in the parking lot of the complex. While that murder and Louella’s may be connected due to his being in the laundromat, it might not be related at all, even though two murders in one week is unheard of in Logland, Illinois. A couple brief days later, Skelly is attacked in his office/ lab at the hospital and left with a concussion. Someone is really nervous, and a couple bricks short of a load if they think they can deter the police and ME.
The characters were interesting, but other than Elizabeth and Louella Belle, I didn’t feel I got to know anyone else at more than a very surface manner. I could picture several of the characters from physical descriptions, but didn’t feel I actually knew anyone else, except possibly Skelly. Elizabeth has a compassionate heart as evidenced by her wonder of what happened to some folks for them to lead their current lives and some of her reactions to discoveries about them.
This is the first cozy mystery I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be the last. The crises of murder and mayhem drew me in to the story, especially as so much occurred in such a short time. The mysteries are a bit of a challenge, and the solutions were unfolded well. There are unexpected plot twists, including the second murder. I was surprised by the complete resolution to the crimes, and liked the pace at which it was revealed. I highly recommend this cozy mystery to those who appreciate college town cozy mysteries with unique solutions sprinkled liberally with humor and descriptions of the area.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews