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Murder So Wrong
New journalism grad, Tommy Jacks, hires on as a political reporter with a struggling paper caught in the middle of an ugly newspaper war. Intrigue, love and tragedy follow. Set in the 1960s, Tommy Jacks first day at work ends with a competing reporter's body being found on the state capitol grounds. Who murdered the reporter and why? This is not Jacks job but he cannot help himself he's a Muckraker and must find out what happened.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2017
371 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
Ted Clifton
21 books73 followersAward-winning author Ted Clifton has written mystery novels which feature the settings of New Mexico and Oklahoma, places where Ted spent considerable time.
One of his books, The Bootlegger’s Legacy, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin award and the CIPA EVVY award.
He currently has three mystery series: Pacheco and Chino, the Muckraker Mystery series and the Vincent Malone series. The first book, Santa Fe Mojo, from the Malone series was just published.
Today, Ted resides in Denver with his wife and grandson, after many years living in the New Mexico desert.
One of his books, The Bootlegger’s Legacy, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin award and the CIPA EVVY award.
He currently has three mystery series: Pacheco and Chino, the Muckraker Mystery series and the Vincent Malone series. The first book, Santa Fe Mojo, from the Malone series was just published.
Today, Ted resides in Denver with his wife and grandson, after many years living in the New Mexico desert.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 8, 2018
This is an intriguing beginning to the Muckraker Mysteries, with a tenacious young man ready to be a gritty journalist. Tommy Jacks has just graduated college in the tumultuous late ’60’s when our country was rocked with the war in Viet Nam, racial discrimination and riots, and secrets in the political structure that were about to have the covers ripped away. It is a refreshing, different look at the 60’s from the heart of the Bible belt.
Tommy is a “stringer” for the second newspaper in Oklahoma City, selling his articles on the political beat at the state capital. He was willing to pull back the covers of politicians, the murder of a young journalist from the “other newspaper”, and the truth behind a deceased father of a friend who the police claimed committed suicide.
Tommy’s father has been in prison for a few years. Since he had pled guilty to the charges, Tommy chose to not visit Ray Jacks. As he tried to discover who killed the two men, one of his contacts was an old friend of his father. Taylor Albright was an early-60’s era muckraker; decades after the original movement, Tommy is on his way to becoming like him. Taking many of Taylor’s suggestions to heart, Tommy’s life is quickly changing in ways that couldn’t become undone.
To me, the novel seemed to start slow, even though the stage was being set with characters and activities that sent the reader back from 1968 into the very busy backstory of 1962. And that backstory was necessary to set an even bigger stage, because it is now Tommy’s time to learn. Some lessons will be painful, others gentle and pleasant.
The characters are defined well. The reader learns about Tommy as the novel progresses, and we get to know the politicians and journalists as introduced. I grew to like Tommy as I learned about his background and who he is becoming despite his background. We also have a ring side seat to watch him learn how to work within the structure of the newspaper while searching for truth in the hierarchy of the legislature and the news business. Tommy seems like a good guy, transparent in an industry that is anything but. I also liked both Tracy and Judy, both of whom became very important to Tommy throughout the story.
When I first saw this novel, I thought it was a cozy mystery. In many ways it is, except for the vulgar language liberally sprinkled throughout. Other than that, and the relatively slow start (in my opinion only), the novel is well-structured with a protagonist that I wanted to stand up and cheer for by the end. There are several plot twists that change the direction of the novel and Tommy’s life going forward. The end is satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. I recommend this to those who like historical mysteries, as well as those including journalism and politics at the state and local level.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher and Goodreads First Read contest, and here is my honest review.
Tommy is a “stringer” for the second newspaper in Oklahoma City, selling his articles on the political beat at the state capital. He was willing to pull back the covers of politicians, the murder of a young journalist from the “other newspaper”, and the truth behind a deceased father of a friend who the police claimed committed suicide.
Tommy’s father has been in prison for a few years. Since he had pled guilty to the charges, Tommy chose to not visit Ray Jacks. As he tried to discover who killed the two men, one of his contacts was an old friend of his father. Taylor Albright was an early-60’s era muckraker; decades after the original movement, Tommy is on his way to becoming like him. Taking many of Taylor’s suggestions to heart, Tommy’s life is quickly changing in ways that couldn’t become undone.
To me, the novel seemed to start slow, even though the stage was being set with characters and activities that sent the reader back from 1968 into the very busy backstory of 1962. And that backstory was necessary to set an even bigger stage, because it is now Tommy’s time to learn. Some lessons will be painful, others gentle and pleasant.
The characters are defined well. The reader learns about Tommy as the novel progresses, and we get to know the politicians and journalists as introduced. I grew to like Tommy as I learned about his background and who he is becoming despite his background. We also have a ring side seat to watch him learn how to work within the structure of the newspaper while searching for truth in the hierarchy of the legislature and the news business. Tommy seems like a good guy, transparent in an industry that is anything but. I also liked both Tracy and Judy, both of whom became very important to Tommy throughout the story.
When I first saw this novel, I thought it was a cozy mystery. In many ways it is, except for the vulgar language liberally sprinkled throughout. Other than that, and the relatively slow start (in my opinion only), the novel is well-structured with a protagonist that I wanted to stand up and cheer for by the end. There are several plot twists that change the direction of the novel and Tommy’s life going forward. The end is satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. I recommend this to those who like historical mysteries, as well as those including journalism and politics at the state and local level.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher and Goodreads First Read contest, and here is my honest review.
March 6, 2018
This book starts off as a romp with lots of humor dealing with people who wish to do good for society pitted against those more interested in personal gain rather than to serve. I had to look up the word Muckracker. It is one who publishes scandal and allegations of corruption among political and business leaders. There you have it. This book is about the. newspaper business and out hero ,Tommy Jacks, is a neophyte beginning his job at the OK Journal in OK City trying to get a scoop at the Capitol when a murder occurs. When the timeline goes back to the time of Tommy' s father, it loses some of its intensity. The murder is somewhat incidental. What this book is good at is telling us what the life of a journalist is like
March 3, 2021
I have read 4 other books by this author (including the Vincent Malone Sereies)and thoroughly enjoyed them. They were well written with likeable characters and lots of interesting interaction between them.
I guess this one would be considered a journalistic/political thriller. It just seemed to be a bit wordy and the plot was hard to follow.
The book did start off well. As it progressed the plot line became a bit of a stretch, feeling forced to make the dots connect. It just seems that I could not follow the dots. I probably will not read any of the others in this Muckraker Series, but have not given up on this author.
I guess this one would be considered a journalistic/political thriller. It just seemed to be a bit wordy and the plot was hard to follow.
The book did start off well. As it progressed the plot line became a bit of a stretch, feeling forced to make the dots connect. It just seems that I could not follow the dots. I probably will not read any of the others in this Muckraker Series, but have not given up on this author.
April 4, 2018
1960’s Oklahoma. Crooked politics, crooked newspapermen, dead bodies piling up. The focus alternates between Tommy Jacks, a young reporter, and his father Ray Jacks, serving time in prison. The book starts off well, with crisp writing and reasonably credible plot and interesting characters. Unfortunately, as the book progresses the plot line is a bit of a stretch, feeling forced to make the dots connect.
September 19, 2020
Good story about Oklahoma politics and the Press
An engaging story. Well written, good characters.Made me think about the value of newspapers and good reporters. Will read more by this author.
An engaging story. Well written, good characters.Made me think about the value of newspapers and good reporters. Will read more by this author.
November 27, 2017
Good
the story of how a young reporter got into political reporting and how he uncovered some very dirty politicians and there supporters.
the story of how a young reporter got into political reporting and how he uncovered some very dirty politicians and there supporters.
November 27, 2018
Tommy, is hoping to land a job with the OK Journal newspaper, Fred knew his father. His goal was to fight corruption and help makes amends for what his father did.
September 19, 2019
Bizarre flash back
Interesting story. Loved the way it was written. It seemed a little bizarre written in the early 60's. Not sure if I liked the ending..
Interesting story. Loved the way it was written. It seemed a little bizarre written in the early 60's. Not sure if I liked the ending..
December 28, 2019
Different
Good writing, but a little melodramatic and a touch maudlin. The political bias is evident from the first page, though
Good writing, but a little melodramatic and a touch maudlin. The political bias is evident from the first page, though
January 11, 2020
Politics and daily living
Hard to get in to this book. Confusing felt like it was all over the place. Glad it was the first book In the series .
Hard to get in to this book. Confusing felt like it was all over the place. Glad it was the first book In the series .
February 4, 2020
Murder so wrong
Not what I normally read it was hard for me to get into was hard to follow the characters changing plots
Not what I normally read it was hard for me to get into was hard to follow the characters changing plots
April 1, 2018
I tried, I really tried but I just couldn't finish this.
February 19, 2023
Thanks to Goodreads for this win.
It was well-written but didn't hold my interest. I'm not a big reader of male authors or politics or newspapers and probably this is the first I've read one like this. I guess I thought it would be something totally different from my usual type of read. It is set in the 1960s and there's no indication of that unless you read the chapter titles.
It was well-written but didn't hold my interest. I'm not a big reader of male authors or politics or newspapers and probably this is the first I've read one like this. I guess I thought it would be something totally different from my usual type of read. It is set in the 1960s and there's no indication of that unless you read the chapter titles.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews