What do you think?
Rate this book
Toxic Ink: A 1970s Small Town Mystery
Retired crime reporter Frank Ellis seeks a peaceful retirement in the serene town of Mayfield, Virginia. To make ends meet, Frank joins the Mayfield Weekly newspaper as a part-time gig. Before he can even settle in, a series of mysterious deaths linked to the local college's creative writing program shatters his dreams of tranquility.
As Frank investigates, suspicion falls on the eccentric faculty, a mix of writers in genres ranging from historical romance to science fiction. The stakes rise when Frank's sister, Ash, a professor at the college, becomes a potential target. Is the killer wise enough to see that beneath Frank's folksy exterior lies a keen mind honed by years of chasing crime stories?
Haunted by his past, Frank finds unexpected allies in a quirky true crime reading club from his apartment building. Toxic Ink is a character-driven mystery that delves into the complexities of trust, redemption, and the weight of secrets.
Can Frank outsmart the killer, or will the town's mysteries remain buried? Join Frank Ellis on a journey through 1975 small-town Virginia, where every character has a story.
Featuring extensive X-ray entries that bring to life everything from local landmarks to colorful residents, immerse yourself in a richly detailed world where even the town's century-old curmudgeon and the mysterious depths of Mayfield Pond have fascinating stories to tell.
As Frank investigates, suspicion falls on the eccentric faculty, a mix of writers in genres ranging from historical romance to science fiction. The stakes rise when Frank's sister, Ash, a professor at the college, becomes a potential target. Is the killer wise enough to see that beneath Frank's folksy exterior lies a keen mind honed by years of chasing crime stories?
Haunted by his past, Frank finds unexpected allies in a quirky true crime reading club from his apartment building. Toxic Ink is a character-driven mystery that delves into the complexities of trust, redemption, and the weight of secrets.
Can Frank outsmart the killer, or will the town's mysteries remain buried? Join Frank Ellis on a journey through 1975 small-town Virginia, where every character has a story.
Featuring extensive X-ray entries that bring to life everything from local landmarks to colorful residents, immerse yourself in a richly detailed world where even the town's century-old curmudgeon and the mysterious depths of Mayfield Pond have fascinating stories to tell.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
J. Michael Hunter
8 books5 followersJ. Michael Hunter is an author of mystery novels and nonfiction works on history and culture. Mike's love of mysteries began as a child reading The Three Investigators series by Robert Arthur. Those mystery adventures ignited a spark within him. Soon after, he read as many of Agatha Christie's mysteries as he could get his hands on, and the allure of mystery writing took hold. After taking writing courses, Mike began writing mystery novels, nonfiction articles, and books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 12, 2025
The storyline, a retired crime reporter and recent widower moves to small town America to start fresh and be near his sister, is quite enjoyable and is well told. Of course, his life can't possibly stay low key and in spite of himself and his desire to stop working crime reporting, he becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious murders. A fun read and some fun characters.
I had a very difficult time with his 'folksy' way of speaking and his poor grammar. He just left a newspaper reporting job in Philadelphia and his oral vocabulary is full of 'aints' and 'consarnits' and other ridiculous expressions. He can do better, and I found it quite offputting. And his new friends in his apartment building? Jade speaks like she just strolled out of the '60's, Edna's vocabulary is full of quirky utterances (er-yuh and the like). And his new boss, Val (editor of the local paper), follows almost every statement with 'I really do'. I am guessing that the author thought this to be charming but I found it awkward and distracting. I'd like to say I'll read the next in the series, but......I don't know. So - I'd give the story 4 1/2 stars but the awkward dialogue 2 stars, I settled on 3 overall.
The ARC was provided by BookSirens and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
I had a very difficult time with his 'folksy' way of speaking and his poor grammar. He just left a newspaper reporting job in Philadelphia and his oral vocabulary is full of 'aints' and 'consarnits' and other ridiculous expressions. He can do better, and I found it quite offputting. And his new friends in his apartment building? Jade speaks like she just strolled out of the '60's, Edna's vocabulary is full of quirky utterances (er-yuh and the like). And his new boss, Val (editor of the local paper), follows almost every statement with 'I really do'. I am guessing that the author thought this to be charming but I found it awkward and distracting. I'd like to say I'll read the next in the series, but......I don't know. So - I'd give the story 4 1/2 stars but the awkward dialogue 2 stars, I settled on 3 overall.
The ARC was provided by BookSirens and the publisher, the opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
January 16, 2025
Frank Ellis, a former crime reporter, is recently widowed. He's leaving his big-city crime reporting job to live in Mayfield, Virginia - enjoy the quiet life, be closer to his sister Ash. He takes a part-time job at the local newspaper - the bills still have to get paid, after all - but he turns down the crime beat. Old habits die hard, though, and when people associated with the local college's creative writing program start turning up dead, he's drawn toward the investigation. And when his sister appears to be a target, he knows he's got to get to the bottom of things.
At first I wasn't quite sure how I'd feel about this book. Even before he was widowed, Frank was a little on the curmudgeonly side. I understood that he wasn't thrilled with his move to Mayfield, but when his neighbors came to introduce themselves and welcome him to the apartment complex, he verged on rude sometimes. I guess that's plausible for someone not used to small-town bonhomie, but it was a little off-putting. Thankfully, Frank began to adjust to his neighbors and even started thinking of them as - dare I say? - friends.
The time period the story takes place in is the 1970s, and if you aren't at least passingly familiar with it, you might want to brush up on some of the slang. Jade, one of Frank's neighbors, sounds like she's fluent in the lingo, with a few side trips into the 1960s. It sometimes took me a minute to wrap my brain around what she was saying. I adjusted, though!
The mystery more than made up for my nitpicky problems, though. J. Michael Hunter gives us a puzzle where the answer isn't readily obvious. There are two people dead, but what connects them other than the college creative writing program? Why were they targeted, and why might Ash be next in the killer's sights? Frank and friends have to dig deep, and they take the reader on quite a ride as they do! The killer's identity was quite a surprise to me, and I do love a mystery that keeps me guessing.
A charming small-town setting, an accurate grasp on the story's time period, and a thoroughly engaging mystery makes for an enjoyable read, and one I recommend for mystery lovers! I hope there are more adventures with Frank yet to come.
I received a copy of this book from the author through Reedsy Discovery. This review was first published there.
At first I wasn't quite sure how I'd feel about this book. Even before he was widowed, Frank was a little on the curmudgeonly side. I understood that he wasn't thrilled with his move to Mayfield, but when his neighbors came to introduce themselves and welcome him to the apartment complex, he verged on rude sometimes. I guess that's plausible for someone not used to small-town bonhomie, but it was a little off-putting. Thankfully, Frank began to adjust to his neighbors and even started thinking of them as - dare I say? - friends.
The time period the story takes place in is the 1970s, and if you aren't at least passingly familiar with it, you might want to brush up on some of the slang. Jade, one of Frank's neighbors, sounds like she's fluent in the lingo, with a few side trips into the 1960s. It sometimes took me a minute to wrap my brain around what she was saying. I adjusted, though!
The mystery more than made up for my nitpicky problems, though. J. Michael Hunter gives us a puzzle where the answer isn't readily obvious. There are two people dead, but what connects them other than the college creative writing program? Why were they targeted, and why might Ash be next in the killer's sights? Frank and friends have to dig deep, and they take the reader on quite a ride as they do! The killer's identity was quite a surprise to me, and I do love a mystery that keeps me guessing.
A charming small-town setting, an accurate grasp on the story's time period, and a thoroughly engaging mystery makes for an enjoyable read, and one I recommend for mystery lovers! I hope there are more adventures with Frank yet to come.
I received a copy of this book from the author through Reedsy Discovery. This review was first published there.
January 18, 2025
★★★.5
Frank Ellis, recently widowed, decides he needs a fresh start. He leaves Philadelphia, where he was a well-known crime reporter who frequently assisted the police in solving cases, and moves to Mayfield, Virginia. The small town promises a slower pace, and Frank thinks it’s time to shift from crime reporting to covering local news and human interest pieces. The Mayfield Weekly, a small local paper published once a week (as the name suggests), seems perfect for this part-time gig.
Val, his new boss at the paper, is thrilled Frank is joining her, especially now that there has been a murder. The local police surely need all the help they can get (though they might not realize it), and who better to step in than Frank himself? When Val discovers Frank wants nothing to do with crime reporting, she sends him to interview a well-known author at Mayfield College, where Ash, Frank's sister, works. Frank has barely introduced himself to the interviewee when it becomes clear that another murder has occurred.
In typical small-town fashion, the locals seem to know as much about the murder as the police—perhaps even more. Frank soon realizes he cannot quit crime reporting as easily as he thought. Under the guise of collecting information for eulogies, he begins speaking with the college staff and quietly starts his own investigation. Old habits die hard…
”My cozy mystery has taken a hairpin turn into a suspense thriller, and I never saw it coming.“
This is the perfect way to describe this story. It starts off quite cozy with Frank’s move to serene Mayfield, VA, until bodies start dropping left and right! The mystery is intricately plotted and a bit of a slow burn until about 70%, when the plot begins to unravel. The writing took some getting used to for me, but it lends authenticity to the story, taking place in the 1970s and in a rural small town setting.
If you enjoy stories like The Thursday Murder Club series, you’ll enjoy this in all its grooviness! Thank you BookSirens and J. Michael Hunter for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
Frank Ellis, recently widowed, decides he needs a fresh start. He leaves Philadelphia, where he was a well-known crime reporter who frequently assisted the police in solving cases, and moves to Mayfield, Virginia. The small town promises a slower pace, and Frank thinks it’s time to shift from crime reporting to covering local news and human interest pieces. The Mayfield Weekly, a small local paper published once a week (as the name suggests), seems perfect for this part-time gig.
Val, his new boss at the paper, is thrilled Frank is joining her, especially now that there has been a murder. The local police surely need all the help they can get (though they might not realize it), and who better to step in than Frank himself? When Val discovers Frank wants nothing to do with crime reporting, she sends him to interview a well-known author at Mayfield College, where Ash, Frank's sister, works. Frank has barely introduced himself to the interviewee when it becomes clear that another murder has occurred.
In typical small-town fashion, the locals seem to know as much about the murder as the police—perhaps even more. Frank soon realizes he cannot quit crime reporting as easily as he thought. Under the guise of collecting information for eulogies, he begins speaking with the college staff and quietly starts his own investigation. Old habits die hard…
”My cozy mystery has taken a hairpin turn into a suspense thriller, and I never saw it coming.“
This is the perfect way to describe this story. It starts off quite cozy with Frank’s move to serene Mayfield, VA, until bodies start dropping left and right! The mystery is intricately plotted and a bit of a slow burn until about 70%, when the plot begins to unravel. The writing took some getting used to for me, but it lends authenticity to the story, taking place in the 1970s and in a rural small town setting.
If you enjoy stories like The Thursday Murder Club series, you’ll enjoy this in all its grooviness! Thank you BookSirens and J. Michael Hunter for an early copy. All opinions are my own.
January 13, 2025
I was puzzled after reading the first few chapters of Toxic Ink. The cover of the advance reader copy stated the book was a 1970s cozy mystery. If so, it was unlike any other cozy mystery I've read. There were no older women who, living in a small town, found themselves embroiled in mysteries somehow related to their hobbies or occupations: knitting, baking, running a B & B or library, farming, etc.
Frank Ellis is a recently retired newspaperman whose wife passed away from cancer. Following through with their plans made before her diagnosis and death, Frank finds himself in Mayfield, Virginia, working for the weekly newspaper and embroiled in mystery.
I enjoyed TOXIC INK. I've worked for a small-town weekly. Best group of people I ever worked with. The characters who populate Frank's new world provide balance to his curmudgeonly attitude in addition to helping him navigate the community. Author J. Michael Hunter gives Frank Ellis a future after his beloved wife's death in this series that is firmly set in the past. I will be looking forward to the second book in the series.
I received an advance review copy from the author through BookSirens, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.
Frank Ellis is a recently retired newspaperman whose wife passed away from cancer. Following through with their plans made before her diagnosis and death, Frank finds himself in Mayfield, Virginia, working for the weekly newspaper and embroiled in mystery.
I enjoyed TOXIC INK. I've worked for a small-town weekly. Best group of people I ever worked with. The characters who populate Frank's new world provide balance to his curmudgeonly attitude in addition to helping him navigate the community. Author J. Michael Hunter gives Frank Ellis a future after his beloved wife's death in this series that is firmly set in the past. I will be looking forward to the second book in the series.
I received an advance review copy from the author through BookSirens, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.
January 15, 2025
First, may I say that the title and cover art for this book is spot on! They both drew my interest right away. "Toxic Ink, A 1970's Small Town Mystery", by J. Michael Hunter, is a witty, well designed cozy mystery. It kept my attention and did not disappoint. I do, however, feel that the book needs more editing. There were some chapters that did not feel that they were necessary for the plot and possibly were added as more "fillers". I also found that the constant use of similes throughout the book became a distraction. Also, I appreciated the use of colloquialism and slang by some of the characters while others presented as overdone. It was such a well designed mystery and I enjoyed many of the characters so much that I could not give this book less than 4 stars. If the author offered more insight into the setting, cleaned up the similes, and put more of a spot light on the where the main character is living (the tenants are a kick!), I would definitely have given this book a 5 star. Overall, it is worth the read and would make a great companion book for travel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 26, 2024
I’m always excited to receive an ARC so I can read and review the book before it goes on sale.
I loved the basic premise of this book - recent widower seeking life changes moves to friendly small town. Then murders start happening. . . The crime and its solution are reasonably satisfying. But the use of language bothered me.
The main character, Frank Ellis, is a curmudgeon who guards his privacy closely, and is semi-retired from a career as a newspaper crime writer. He puts on a crusty persona and adopts a folksy way of speaking scattered with “aint’s” and bad grammar, and I just don’t buy it. The man made his living with words, and was apparently very good at it. I don’t believe someone to whom words and language are important would think and speak so ungrammatically.
For example: “ Finally, I can't stand it no more. My gut's telling me it's time to do some investigating, and my gut ain't usually wrong about such things.”
I loved the basic premise of this book - recent widower seeking life changes moves to friendly small town. Then murders start happening. . . The crime and its solution are reasonably satisfying. But the use of language bothered me.
The main character, Frank Ellis, is a curmudgeon who guards his privacy closely, and is semi-retired from a career as a newspaper crime writer. He puts on a crusty persona and adopts a folksy way of speaking scattered with “aint’s” and bad grammar, and I just don’t buy it. The man made his living with words, and was apparently very good at it. I don’t believe someone to whom words and language are important would think and speak so ungrammatically.
For example: “ Finally, I can't stand it no more. My gut's telling me it's time to do some investigating, and my gut ain't usually wrong about such things.”
January 27, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this title for free provided by Booksirens and this review is being provided voluntarily without reservation. Overall this was a good read, story had suspense, twists and turns like a good cozy mystery should. It was a bit different in that it follows a retired man to his new chapter in a new town. Character development was good. The plot is good, although I figured out who the culprit was early on, I still found it entertaining. The story did loose my interest partly way through, not sure if it was because I thought I knew who the killer was or if I got lost in some of the tension between the main character, Frank, doing what he was good at, crime reporting, and writing puff pieces in his new job. But I was able to make it through and it ended well. I would consider reading the next installment in the Frank Ellis saga as it was overall good and the character is interesting.
January 8, 2025
Firstly, I nearly skipped past this book because I did not like the cover, but I read the blurb which was enough to get me interested.
Enjoyable read with quirky and whimsical characters, that change Frank Ellis after the death of his wife. J Michael Hunter brings the town that Frank moves to be near his sister to life and introduces his niece, a force to be reckoned with.
Some creative writing abounds and helps us get thru the events until the murderer is found.
Thankyou, an enjoyable read over a few days.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Enjoyable read with quirky and whimsical characters, that change Frank Ellis after the death of his wife. J Michael Hunter brings the town that Frank moves to be near his sister to life and introduces his niece, a force to be reckoned with.
Some creative writing abounds and helps us get thru the events until the murderer is found.
Thankyou, an enjoyable read over a few days.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 8, 2025
I quite enjoyed this. It seemed a bit slow to get going but once things started rolling for Frank, the excitement and intrigue ramped up. Frank is quite an ornery character who is struggling to get used to life in a new town following the death of his wife. His well-meaning and friendly neighbours are proving too much but come in useful as the story progresses.
I enjoyed the quirkiness of the characters here and the whole seventies setting. I found myself reading the story with a smile on my face. Now that things are looking better for Frank, I look forward to the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the quirkiness of the characters here and the whole seventies setting. I found myself reading the story with a smile on my face. Now that things are looking better for Frank, I look forward to the next in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews