Kindle Price: $0.99

Save $16.96 (94%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the authors

Judith Newton
Follow
J.L. Newton
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Oink: A Food For Thought Mystery Kindle Edition

by J.L. Newton (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.1 3.1 out of 5 stars 57 ratings
See all formats and editions
Pigs, poisoned cornbread, a feminist network, and a university tainted by corporate values. First in the Emily Addams Food for Thought Series.
One of the 18 funniest books to come out this spring. MediaBookBub.Com

Emily Addams, foodie professor of women's studies at Arbor State--a land grant university in Northern California--finds herself an unlikely suspect in the poisoning of a man she barely knows: Professor Peter Elliott of Plant Biology, the hotshot developer of a new genetically modified corn.

How did her cornbread end up in his hand as he lay in the smelly muck of a pig's pen?

As Emily and her colleagues try to identify who and what has poisoned Peter, they also struggle to keep a new and corporate-minded administration from defunding the women's and ethnic studies programs.

In the process of solving the mystery, Emily and her network deepen their ties to each other--and uncover some of the dark secrets of a university whose traditionally communal values are being polluted by a wave of profit-fueled ideals.

Oink comes with recipes.

-It has been said that the comic campus novel is no more (things in higher education are verging on the tragic), but Oink proves otherwise.-
--Maggie Berg and Barbara K. Seeber, authors of The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy
Previous page
  1. Print length
    249 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    She Writes Press
  5. Publication date
    April 18, 2017
  6. File size
    3272 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

2018 National Indie Excellence Awards Winner in Humor 2017 USA Best Book Awards in Fiction: Cross-Genre 2017 Mystery an Mayhem Book Awards Shortlist “ Intriguing and full of twists, it’s hard to find fault with the author’s theme of communal empowerment, her love of food, and her frequent instructional asides. A highly educated foodie’s dream, this tale delivers a unique take on both the campus and mystery genres.”
―Kirkus

“It has been said that the comic campus novel is no more (things in higher ed are verging on the tragic), but Oink proves otherwise. A witty combination of a campus novel, a murder mystery, a debate about GMOs, and a recipe book, Oink is a celebration of community connected to the joy of food and fellowship. At a time when collegiality is on the decline because of the corporatization of higher education, Newton’s light-hearted novel makes the serious point that collegiality is important not only personally but also politically.”
―Maggie Berg and Barbara K. Seeber, authors of The Slow Professor: Challenging the Culture of Speed in the Academy

“Fans of the cozy mystery will love a plot that keeps on twisting until the end and the bonus of recipes for good things eaten in this novel. But what distinguishes Oink is its insightful and often beautiful creation of the academic characters and settings at a formerly agricultural California university. Amid vivid, evocative glimpses of an agrarian Central Valley built-scape nonhuman living things loom and fly [overhead] as humans pursue and are pursued by each other. Oink satisfies in multiple ways.”
―Elizabeth Harris, author of Mayhem: Three Lives of a Woman

“This entertaining GMO mystery novel aptly describes the laid back atmosphere of a small town ag university. Newton, a former professor, captures the distinct traits of academics from both the sciences and humanities. A good read that is both humorous and thoughtful.”
―Pamela C. Ronald, co-author of Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and The Future of Food

“Oink takes readers on a lively romp through campus politics and interpersonal intrigue. Food themes abound in this engaging and well-crafted mystery which combines concerns about genetic engineering and pesticides with reflections upon the satisfactions of building community through sharing food and food stories. Recipes are included.”
―Janet A. Flammang, author of Table Talk: Building Democracy One Meal at a Time

“A fabulous fictional voyage through the new landscape of contemporary food culture in the Academy with the intrigue of mystery to boot. It's rich in surprises and recipes (you don't want to miss the blini or the cupcakes!)”
―Michael W. Twitty, author of The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African-American Culinary History in the Old South

“Oink is a page-turnin' who-done-it set in a university town in the 1990s. Newton highlights the political turmoil of the times as reflected in the role of women's and ethnic studies within the campus hierarchy and the ethics and risks of corporate-agriculture-funded research into the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Newton, an adept storyteller, deftly weaves her way between town and gown, knowing well the annual rhythm of the beloved local farmers market. Throughout it all, she provides delicious recipes based on corn, cornbread in particular, about which I can only say cornbread plays a Best Supporting Role in the mystery.”
―Ann M. Evans, author of Davis Farmers Market Cookbook/i>, former Mayor, City of Davis.

About the Author

J. L. Newton is Professor Emerita at a land grant university. She is at work on another mystery and lives in California where she tends her garden and cooks for family and friends. You can contact her at jnjocals@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/TastingHomeComingOfAgeInTheKitchen, and on Twitter: @jnewton70.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01MYA6TU2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ She Writes Press (April 18, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 18, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3272 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 249 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.1 3.1 out of 5 stars 57 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Judith Newton

    Judith Newton

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Judith Newton is Professor Emerita in Gender, Sexuality, and Womens Studies at U.C. Davis. While at Davis she directed her program and the Consortium for Women and Research.

    Newton is the author and co-editor of five works of non fiction on nineteenth-century British women writers, feminist criticism, women's history, and men's movements.

    Her memoir, Tasting Home: Coming of Age in the Kitchen, was published with She Writes Press in 2013 and won twelve independent press awards.

    Her debut novel, Oink. A Food for Thought Mystery, will appear April 18, 2017 and has been named one of the funniest books coming this spring by BookBub.Com.

    She is currently at work on the second in the Emily Addams/ A Food for Thought Mystery series. She lives in the East Bay of California where she tends her garden and cooks for family and friends.

    See more on the author's page
  2. J.L. Newton

    J.L. Newton

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1 out of 5
57 global ratings
Professors, perfidy, poison, and a friendly protagonist who cooks
5 Stars
Professors, perfidy, poison, and a friendly protagonist who cooks
This charming mystery depicts the corporatization of university life and its concomitant impact on curriculum, campus culture, and human relationships at all levels. Clashes in values and differences in character cause all manner of shenanigans, resulting in a poisoning. Our warm and wise protagonist, Emily, is a suspect who takes it upon herself to forge alliances and uncover the truth, with a lot of good food along the way. A tasteful, thought provoking read that satisfies on many levels. A wonderful book to give as a gift.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Romalyn Tilghman, Author, To the Stars Through Difficulties
5.0 out of 5 stars Gobbled it up
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
Newton captures the land grant college, its faculty and politics, making it the perfect scene for a potential murder. Like Agatha Christie, she develops a cast of characters with diverse motives who just might've done the deed. Yet this cozy is completely contemporary, with modern concerns such as the need to diversify faculty and the role of GMOs in our food. Sprinkled throughout her spot-on descriptions of scenery and personalities are recipes for corn-based dishes, keeping the reader salivating. In the end, she's cooked up quite a meal of a mystery, perfectly seasoned and most satisfying.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Joan B.
2.0 out of 5 stars If you like wrll written mysteries with goid dialog and well developed characters, skip this one
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
Tedious and self conscious writing, in a convoluted plot. The best thing about the book are the recipes.
Helpful
 Report
pixiechick
1.0 out of 5 stars Boring
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
If I could give this less than one star I would. A poorly written book with shallow one-dimensional characters. I also found it incredibly boring. The main character was tiresome and her justification for trying to solve the crime herself just didn't hold water. She was no more or less a suspect than several other characters in the book, and the plot was at equal times predictable and completely implausible. I paid 69 cents for this book and it was too much. I would not read another book by this author.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Carole Bumpus, Author
4.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought for our present-day conundrums
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
OINK – BY J. L. NEWTON
Oink is a delightful mystery which carries the reader inside an attempted murder on a university campus – with corn bread. With wit, wisdom, and wonderful recipes, Newton weaves into her main character, Emily Addams, a sense of justice, despair, and frustration within a system of agrarian university politics. A single mother struggling to make ends meet as a professor whose own job is dangling over the chopping block, she instead plops onto that same block delicious, luscious, I better-rush-to-the-kitchen-to-prepare-this recipes! Whimsical, thoughtful, but with keen insight into the details of the culture of her characters, Newton also gives us ‘food for thought’ for our present-day conundrums. Looking forward to her next works—and recipes. Carole Bumpus, Author of the novel, A Cup of Redemption and also Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Partner
3.0 out of 5 stars Oink, Danger in the Food World J.L. Newton
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2017
Verified Purchase
. Oink by J.L. Newton - May 2017 - 3 Stars

This is a wonderful book and well worth reading. The subject matter is very timely and topical. It deals with the corporate takeover of the food business in the U.S. This story shows clearly how colleges and universities are becoming servants of the corporations. This is causing a big change in the priorities of the education world and is reshaping the curriculum from a humanistic one to a commercial one. So the story here is about an incident that happens in a quiet Midwestern university as a result of the pressure of the corporate takeover and the resultant shift away from a culture of learning and growth to one of a servant class for education. Very important and well told. Easy to understand and hopefully will prompt action or at least knowledge of anyone who reads it. Get it and read it just for the content. Share it. Give it as gifts. The actual telling of the story needs a lot of editing still. It is slow, has no momentum, doesn’t have characters that are real enough to care about. There is no one you really want to win here or to be defeated. The people aren’t real enough for that. There are lots of identifiable types in this book and you will acknowledge to yourself that the author had an intimate understanding of the world of education and life in a university town. The book has a little too much food culture for me and not enough drama. I found the book easy to read but not compelling. I would buy another book from J.L. Newton as I am sure she will develop her storytelling skills and her writing style will get edgier and more on point. This book did make me mad but did not make me cry. I wanted a book that had motion from the first chapter to the end. But don’t we all??
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Sheridan Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars I love the writing
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
I’m finding this mystery novel very enjoyable. In fact I sometimes make myself switch to a New Yorker article because I don’t want to finish reading the book. I love the writing, the twists and turns of the mystery, the commentary on university politics and the fun corn theme woven into it all. There is a sense of appreciation and enjoyment of life’s daily events that makes the reading experience wonderfully pleasurable.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
A lot of story about a little.
Helpful
 Report
jnd123
1.0 out of 5 stars boring, lacked suspense and character development
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book was shallow, boring, lacked suspense and character development, was in no way titillating or exciting, and was incredibly anticlimactic. It's one for the super light fluff lovers. I considered it a waste of my time.
Helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report