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Arly Hanks #4
Madness in Maggody
When someone poisons the tamale sauce intended for the grand opening of Jim Bob's Super Saver store, everyone in Maggody, Arkansas, is certain there is a maniac on the loose, and Chief of Police Ariel "Arly" Hanks must investigate. Original.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
194 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Joan Hess
115 books337 followersJoan Hess was the author of both the Claire Malloy and the Maggody mystery series. Hess was a winner of the American Mystery Award, a member of Sisters in Crime, and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. She lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Joan Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym of Joan Hadley.
Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds
. The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories
. Malice Domestic
. Deadly Allies
. Sisters in Crime
Joan Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym of Joan Hadley.
Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds
. The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories
. Malice Domestic
. Deadly Allies
. Sisters in Crime
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 12, 2023
Before reading this book, I was unfamiliar with Joan Hess and her Arly Hanks mystery series. Madness in Maggody is, I hope, my intro into a special writer and her smart, sarcastic character.
Arly is a small town woman, who dreams of being in Italy, but ends up instead in her hometown as the chief of police. The small town is very small town. Full of gossip to the extreme. Worries from some about advancing the town and how that may hurt the current community. Many residents are narrow-minded to the extreme, so no wonder Arly dreams of greener pastures.
The book is quirky. It’s the only book I’ve read that combines first and third person narratives, which is a little strange, I must say. Arly isn’t as developed as a character as I’d have hoped. Besides hearing her first person narrative which gives us a little insight into her internal world, we don’t learn much else about her.
The book and characters remind me of the brilliant Fannie Flagg and her fantastic books — all about small town rural south just like Hess writes about. Both have wicked senses of humor. I found myself several chuckling aloud at the antics of Arly’s neighbors.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
Arly is a small town woman, who dreams of being in Italy, but ends up instead in her hometown as the chief of police. The small town is very small town. Full of gossip to the extreme. Worries from some about advancing the town and how that may hurt the current community. Many residents are narrow-minded to the extreme, so no wonder Arly dreams of greener pastures.
The book is quirky. It’s the only book I’ve read that combines first and third person narratives, which is a little strange, I must say. Arly isn’t as developed as a character as I’d have hoped. Besides hearing her first person narrative which gives us a little insight into her internal world, we don’t learn much else about her.
The book and characters remind me of the brilliant Fannie Flagg and her fantastic books — all about small town rural south just like Hess writes about. Both have wicked senses of humor. I found myself several chuckling aloud at the antics of Arly’s neighbors.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
January 7, 2025
Mayor Jim Bob and a partner open a new Supersaver grocery store and food patio, threatening small businesses in Maggody. He forms a Little League team to advertise the store. Arly's mother counters with her own team of athletically inept children and cons Arly into coaching it. At the grand opening of the store, complete with free samples, major food poisoning and product tampering creates a barf-fest on the patio and sends several people to the hospital. Arly has to follow the gossip and rumor mill, with ever-changing and expanding stories, to identify who wants the store to fail. Many likely suspects, including her mother.
May 14, 2020
I'm working my way through the "Arly Hanks" mysteries, and they're lots of fun. The audiobook versions are a special treat, with the great Arkansas accents and voices. This particular audiobook was just great, with a great plot to go with the wonderful characters.
September 19, 2017
Madness in Maggody - Arly Hanks 4
In A Nutshell:If there were a category of zany mystery this book would fit right in it. A new superstore is opening but it threatens the livelihood of several local businesses. Including Arly's mothers. However, too many townsfolk become ill at the opening. Then one dies. So, which rival is responsible for the poisoning if any?
The beginning of the book was a little difficult to read but I am starting at book 14. I suggest you persevere because it is a good story.
The book is zany and the characters a rich cast of crazy folk. And although the stories centre around Arly Hanks, in this story, the star is Suzy Sqeezum. The characters are well developed and have I mentioned 'outrageous.' Ruby Bee, who it transpires is Arly's mum, needs a series of her own.
However, the book is not all laughter and amongst the humour lies a darker tale Hess tells well. I laughed out loud, but I was also arrested. I think you will be too.
Enjoyable, sobering and recommended.
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Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next oneor reread ?: Yes
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A great read. A prominent example of the genre
In A Nutshell:If there were a category of zany mystery this book would fit right in it. A new superstore is opening but it threatens the livelihood of several local businesses. Including Arly's mothers. However, too many townsfolk become ill at the opening. Then one dies. So, which rival is responsible for the poisoning if any?
The beginning of the book was a little difficult to read but I am starting at book 14. I suggest you persevere because it is a good story.
The book is zany and the characters a rich cast of crazy folk. And although the stories centre around Arly Hanks, in this story, the star is Suzy Sqeezum. The characters are well developed and have I mentioned 'outrageous.' Ruby Bee, who it transpires is Arly's mum, needs a series of her own.
However, the book is not all laughter and amongst the humour lies a darker tale Hess tells well. I laughed out loud, but I was also arrested. I think you will be too.
Enjoyable, sobering and recommended.
Connect with me on Twitter
Follow my blog on Bloglovin’
Book Rating
Sexual Content: U
Language: U
Violent: U
Would I read the next one
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A great read. A prominent example of the genre
October 28, 2021
“Madness in Maggody” is a fast and light read, hiding a dark secret right up to the end.
The usual cast is trotted out, as are the set pieces associated with the series.
Arly is in typically cynical form and spending more dream time than ever roaming through Europe.
The opening of the new Jim Bob's store, Supersaver Buy 4 Less, is ruined by an outbreak of food poisoning. There's a lot of vomiting but, luckily, no-one dies.
A second poison attack sees one dead.
It's a classic case of misdirection, as Arly herself points out when she solves the crime.
I think I'll pull down the shutters on the series for a while as this episode in particular emphasised for me the complete lack of character development from books one through four.
A solid 3 Stars.
The usual cast is trotted out, as are the set pieces associated with the series.
Arly is in typically cynical form and spending more dream time than ever roaming through Europe.
The opening of the new Jim Bob's store, Supersaver Buy 4 Less, is ruined by an outbreak of food poisoning. There's a lot of vomiting but, luckily, no-one dies.
A second poison attack sees one dead.
It's a classic case of misdirection, as Arly herself points out when she solves the crime.
I think I'll pull down the shutters on the series for a while as this episode in particular emphasised for me the complete lack of character development from books one through four.
A solid 3 Stars.
April 15, 2020
One of her more humorous books in a line of those. Story is convoluted with the main line being a new supermarket opening with one of the two investors being from out-of-town along with a youth baseball team being a vehicle to weave together many of the characters.
July 19, 2020
Enjoyed the books and the characters, but one of the things that drives me wild is the "making a phone call" to an unnamed character and the protagonist knowing who the perpetrator is. That information has to be shared with the reader.
April 17, 2022
It is always entertaining when Brother Verber gets his well deserved comeuppance. But, this installment was darker than the previous chapters and took some of the shine off of the overall good natured series.
November 6, 2017
Good quick read for a rainy day. Comical characters keep the storyline going.
December 7, 2017
A fun, lighthearted romp with just a little bit of a dark twist.
September 11, 2018
I listened to this one - light and the characters are so amusing. Props to the reader of the audio!
May 27, 2020
silly but fun
July 11, 2020
98% absolutely hilarious:-)
2% very sad and troubling truth about the way communities want to avoid the unpleasantness of life.
2% very sad and troubling truth about the way communities want to avoid the unpleasantness of life.
January 4, 2022
Entertaining, though not terribly intriguing.
November 20, 2022
This type of humor is not to everyone's taste, but for some reason this type of quirkiness went down very well with me, and there was a surprise twist at the end.
March 29, 2023
Hess wrote some very fun books. I miss her wit.
March 19, 2024
Probably my favorite book in the Maggody series, absolutely laugh-out-loud funny at times, with a small town setting and characters that are so well developed that you feel like you know them.
August 26, 2025
Rumours in a small town create havoc but hide the real secret.
March 30, 2020
Light, funny break from the more serious mysteries. Especially funny if you are a Southerner.
May 20, 2020
Content warning for a mass puking scene, some other things that would be spoilers.
This one has funny bits while also poking at the economics of the small-town businesses. However the final solution is on the darker side for a cozy. I didn’t figure it all out, but I wasn’t particularly happy about that.
This one has funny bits while also poking at the economics of the small-town businesses. However the final solution is on the darker side for a cozy. I didn’t figure it all out, but I wasn’t particularly happy about that.
February 22, 2017
I like Maggody books, they're fast reading, the story is entertaining, and they take place in Arkansas, which is where I live.
October 27, 2011
I've read some of other's reviews on this book and they seemed to be mixed (which is with all books, some like them some don't) I very much enjoyed the 4th Ozarks Mystery, everyone in Maggody finally gets what's coming to them in terms of lying and flapping their gums. The Mayor is opening a Super Saver store in town which has the possibility of putting a lot of self employed residents out of business. When the Grand Opening happens, half the town gets food poisoning and Arly shuts the store down. Now she needs to find out the crazed maniac who is lacing packages of sweets and the deli food with poison before someone dies. I enjoy the people of Maggody, but I have to say Brother Verber really gets on nerves with his never ending excuse of reading smut magazines as "research". The ending to this one was a very surprising twist also. Never thought something like that would happen in Maggody. All in all, I thought it was an excellent read. I can't wait to see what happens with these residents in book 5 now that certain secrets are out.
February 10, 2017
Joan Hess writes clear, hilarious characters! I love this small town and its foibles. The whole series is super fun to read.
September 30, 2016
It's the grand opening of Jim Bob's SuperSaver Buy 4 Less and dozens of small town Maggody's people have been poisoned. It's up to Chief of Police Arly Hanks to find out who doesn't want Jim Bob's store to succeed. The "Ozark's Murder Mystery" cozy mystery series are so funny. Arly is back to her old redneck town to lick her wounds from her messy divorce. Very funny and a great cast of characters!
August 28, 2020
I think a town like this should have warning signs. Full of really weird characters, a few of whom I'd like to never read about again ie. Bother Vetbet but the author has done a goid job of fleshing them all out as the series progresses. I'd like to see some of them learn their lesson and change/grow but we'll see.
November 13, 2016
Hilarious cozy mystery with a cast of kooky characters. Arly Hanks has returned to her small hometown of Maggody after a difficult divorce and has taken a job as the town's deputy. There is never a dull moment in Maggody so when the opening of a new supermarket goes belly up it's up to Arly to see who's behind the sabotage. Fun book with plenty of laughs!
May 24, 2012
A new grocery (with deli & fresh produce) store, together established businesses feel threatened, meanwhile a championship baseball team gets organized w/Jim Bob, Hizzoner, Buchanan & Arly on opposite side.
October 28, 2007
This series is hillarious- set in Arkansas and has every cliched southern character you can imagine.
January 16, 2008
This was my first "fun" read of the year. I really enjoyed it. It was a nice cozy mystery and I liked the protagonist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews