Mortal Remains in Maggody

Arly Hanks #5

by Joan Hess

For Arly Hanks, the Chief of Police in Maggody, Arkansas - population 755 - the trouble begins when a small production company picks the town as the site of its next film. However, it's not long before the only scene is the scene of the crime - and the crime is murder.

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Joan 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

Reviews

[Corinne Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just an ok book for me. As a resident of AR I did find it interesting to hear certain landmarks that I know, but beyond that it was just okay. I will not be continuing on with this series or picking up the first 4. This one is just not for me.

[Clara Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good a read as the first 2 that I read probably because I thought the Glittertown people were idiots.

[Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. But I really didn’t. Which is why it took me several months to read as I had dropped it for a while. I read a previous book in this series and was impressed. It was folksy, funny, and cleverly written. This book had some humor. But the seedy characters visiting Maggody in this book were unlikeable. This ebook version also needed to make clearer distinctions between narrative lines in the story. It was confusing since Chief Arley is in the first person and all other narratives are in third person. Yet when they switched wasn’t always clear which was annoying and caused me to have to re-read sections that made no sense because they jumped narrative style without my realizing it. Nevertheless, I will continue with the series, in hopes better ones than this are ahead.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, I just don't get this series. This is the second book in the series I have read and they don't make sense to me. Is the story about the arson or about the porn movie stars' deaths. While I understand the need for subplots, these two were really competing with each other and making it confusing. The sad plights of this community are unfortunate and need some work.

[Thelma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry I actually paid money for this book, which did not catch my fancy at all. Fractured, too many characters and a story that just didn't develop in the first few chapters. I couldn't finish it. Bleah.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very confusing...so many characters I couldn't figure out the main gal....i was tempted to give up on this plot but I stuck with it ... Not sure that was a good idea but I did finish...probly won't read another one ... Not to my liking

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more depressing stories in the series.

[Lee Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series, but this entry seemed weaker than the others.

[Helaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a number of the Arly Hanks books and always enjoyed them--sometimes laugh-out-loud enjoyed them. Somehow this book did not seem to be up with the others. Maybe its the times we live in?

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun cozy mystery with delightful characters. Imagine Steel Magnolias as a mystery.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different storyline for this series. Keeps you interested.

[Deborah Wysinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was hilarious. The confusion was what made it funny. Nothing was straightforward.

[Moira Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arly Hanks has to be one of the smartest, spunkiest heroines in the cozy mystery universe. Have read all the books, and it was fun to get back into the mad world of Maggody!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my favor Arly Hanks books so far. Her mom still cracks me up.

[Charlotte Lintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

Great series of light reading. I always get a few giggles when reading. Something to read when you don’t want to think too hard, & just enjoy

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!! A lot of characters to keep track of, though. Too many storylines all at once, but still, fun!!

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another fun and funny Maggody (audio)book.

[Teddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was quite confusing with a lot going on and a lot of characters.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Sheryl Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A movie filmed in Maggody was always destined to be chaos.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first I've read in the series and I barely finished it. Not at all the funny story I was expecting.

[Vicki Strom · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love of reading was started by a pig... My mother had brought me home a book from the bookmobile. It had a picture of the pig on the cover, and she knew I loved pigs, so she thought maybe I'd be interested. I loved the book, Mortal Remains in Maggody, and have been obsession with books (and pigs) ever since. I read the previous books in the series, and then anxiously waited for the next books to come out. This was much more difficult (in what I believe was around the early/mid 1990s) when I didn't have the internet to stalk my favorite authors to see when they had new releases coming. I had always been a fan of reading, although I'd had limited interest in the required reading of high school and college, but my true obsession with books began when I read this book.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Hess managed to weave the backwoods of Maggody with Hollywood, and a pyromaniac with deftness.

8/22/21 I don't know how deftly she wove the tale because I sure had a hard time keeping track of who was who, and why they were important. This time around, I found it harder to believe that no one figured out just what kind of movie this was long before they did. The pyromaniac was a weird side story, and the rest was more typical of Maggody. It was still an escape from reality, and for that I liked it.

Leaving it at 4 stars, although if I'd read just this time, it would have been 3.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I still liked this, it wasn't one of my favorites in the series. I had trouble concentrating and it wasn't as funny. I still can't figure out what Kevin sees in his betrothed. She is so mean to him, never sweet and throws him to dogs at every opportunity. All of the people in this town make the southern folk in Arkansas sound like they are perverts or idiots, except for Arly.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was pretty funny. Movie crew comes to town, and town is ga-ga. Most don't realize that the crew makes soft porn movies. Jim Bob does. His wife doesn't. Funny situations with those that don't.

When one of the actors is murdered and another goes missing, Arly has to investigate. She slowly begins to realize that someone's past is coming back to haunt them.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Police Chief Arly Hanks is dealing with a repeat arsonist when a Hollywood film company decides to make a movie in Maggody, Arkansas (pop. 755). Arly's got enough on her plate without having the whole town seeing stars. I love the "Arly Hanks" cozy mystery series! This one had a particularly good and funny story and Joan Hess makes these Ozark characters come alive!

[Chana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Treif, from the the big fat pig on the cover all the way through the book. The author IS witty (for example how Arly and her mother got their names) but it is still hard to believe that this book was winner of an American mystery Award.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still enjoyable with all the antics from the eccentrics of Maggody, MO.

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

In book #5, Sheriff Hanks must deal with Hollywood, star-struck neighbors, and arson.