Malice in Maggody

Arly Hanks #1

by Joan Hess

When murders disrupt the peaceful town of Maggody, Sheriff Hanks and her slow deputy, Paulie, set out on a hilarious, hell-raising chase through the backwoods in search of a murderer.

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

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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

[PamG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Malice in Maggody by Joan Hess is a mystery set in Maggody, Arkansas and featuring Chief of Police Arly Hanks. After her divorce, Arly moves back to her home town and becomes the chief of police. Nothing has been happening to keep herself and Officer Paulie Buchanon busy other than writing speeding tickets. However, that soon changes when the husband of a local server escapes from state prison and an Environmental Protection Agency official disappears. On top of this, the townspeople seem to be avoiding Arly and shutting her out of the local activities.

While there is plenty of humor in this novel, it didn’t always resonate with me. Additionally, the characters were very stereotyped and sometimes, superficial. The mysteries were interesting, but the portrayal of the townspeople let the story down. Many have classified this as a cozy mystery, but with the language and some of the content, I would just classify it as a mystery.

Overall, this was an easy read with some humor. It had potential, but failed to deliver what I thought was going to be a delightful cozy mystery.

I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was January 1, 1987.
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My 3.07 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originality!

In a small town in Arkansas, Chief Arly Hansen and her deputy, Paul Buchanan are on the case of a kidnapping of a state inspector.

While coming to town to confirm the signing of documents that will allow the state to increase the “soilage” of the town’s water treatment plant, Robin Drake gets himself kidnapped.

Hopefully, this action will stop the activity from happening.

As if she doesn’t have enough to investigate, a murder is committed and there are just too many suspects, but not enough leads.

Joan Hess gets four stars for action, mystery and some of the most hilarious dialogue I have read in a while.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very friendly book to its rural, Southern setting. Making fun of "rednecks" while writing stories and making money off of them just isn't quite the thing. Or, given current events, perhaps I should have said it isn't quite kosher.

I read somewhere an opinion claiming a similarity of these Maggody books to Charlotte MacLeod's Peter Shandy mysteries. There is a major difference - MacLeod did not denigrate the inhabitants of rural New England while having gentle fun with their idiosyncratic behavior.

There is also an overabundance of crude, vulgar language and curse words.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Hess' Maggody series was my introduction to humorous mysteries and I've loved her books, as well as the subgenre of humorous mysteries, ever since. I admire Joan Hess so much that I planned a trip to Arkansas around a signing she was scheduled to do in Little Rock! I'm very happy to say that I was able to attend this signing and meet Ms. Hess!

In Murder in Maggody, the first in this series, protag Arly Hanks has returned home after a stint as a married lady in the big city. Even though she ends up as the chief of police she's counting on some peace and quiet--expecting to get it in this town akin to Mayberry. However, in short order one person's missing and another is murdered. The residents of Maggody aren't the least bit interested in cooperating but their stonewalling and Arly's investigation make for a hysterical story that will entertain you and keep you laughing. The writing is terrific. I dare you to read just one so I'll let you know now that the second book in this series is Mischief in Maggody.

[Gary Sundell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggody. A fictional town in Arkansas, probably located near Pixley and Bugtussell. (I am sure some will get that reference). The town's recently hired police chief is Ariel (Arly) Hanks. Arly has to cope with a vanished EPA paper pusher, an escaped con who maybe headed towards town and ultimately a dead body. Lots of colorful characters and a fun read.
This series is sometimes called a cozy. It depends on one's definition. Arly is the police chief therefore not an amateur and there is use of some four letter words.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sheriff Arly Hanks looks into the disappearance of an EPA inspector in her small town of Maggody.

Here's the thing about humorous books: if your sense of humor doesn't match with what you're reading, the book is dead in the water. This book is so not my sense of humor. The story is like a clown car - the door opens and one silly thing after another rolls out. We've got the 'returned from the big city' sheriff, mayor Jim Bob, the overweight car dealership owner ("Hobert call me Ho"), Larry Joe the gas station owner, an EPA inspector kidnapping, the murder of a promiscuous woman, the crazy woman with feral kids who lives in the woods, and the escaped convict. Good grief.

Here's the quote where I first rolled my eyes: Jaylene, who is soon to leave for the big city, says "I plan to run back to my mobile home and pack, then throw everything in the car and make tracks faster than a coon in heat." Um - not funny. This book is the first in a long series so obviously there's a lot of people who enjoyed it. Me? I'll be running away from these books, faster than a coon in heat.

[Leslie Langtry]

This is the series that made me want to write! I found this book in a mystery bookstore in Wisconsin in the 90's, and re-read the series every now and then, laughing as I go and thereby annoying the cats (who think I'm a jerk anyway).

If you like funny, small-town cozies with crazy characters and a bit of an edge - check out Malice in Maggody!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed the Maggody series. It some of the best satire I have read. Ar!y Hanks has returned home after crushing divorces. She wants only solitude to recover. Arly accepts the office of Police of Chief Her Mother owns Ruby Bee Bar and Flamingo Motel. In this one, Arly finds herself not welcome at her Mother's restaurant as the town Council has kidnapped a government official. They have stacked him at the motel and provided entertainment. The girl is fun murdered at the motel and there is no trace of the official There are several twists and turns before the tale ends often funny scenes that bring a smile. I recommend this book and series. Some of the language used may be an offence to some.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Open Roads Integrated Media for an honest review through NetGalley. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malice in Maggody is a fun cozy mystery. It has good characters, an interesting storyline, and more than a touch of humor. I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHH Haa!! Finally!! A good cop mystery that is humorous and jaw dropping! Can't wait to read the next in the series. Police Chief Ariel (Arly) Hanks resides in her hometown of Maggody Arkansas where she is the first female sheriff of a police force of 2(this includes her) Like most people who live in small, no name towns, she tried to get away by moving to the big city of New York but divorced her husband and moved back when she had nowhere else to go. In a town where nothing happens, except for the occasional hit and run of a coon or dog, she finds herself being shunned by the locals..including her mother who runs the local bar and grill. A Texas EPA fellow disappears from the only gas station in town and Arly gets sucked into a missing persons case when a State Trooper is brought in to question Arly and ask for her cooperation in finding the missing man. Next thing you know the town harlot (for lack of a better word) is found dead in front of the only motel in town and now Arly has her hands full. The whole town seems to be on the suspect list and finally an ending that not only made sense...but I didn't see it coming until the last minute!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Arly Hanks returns to Maggody, Arkansas, population 755, after her career and marriage blows up and lands the job of Chief of Police. The crime in Maggody is virtually non-existent and writing traffic tickets is the major concern. But then a prison escape puts everyone on guard. The man who escaped is the husband of Jaylee Withers, a barmaid at Ruby Dee’s Bar and Grill. The residents of Maggody are also dealing with the EPA who has given the go-ahead for a sewage treatment plant that will feed into the beloved Boone Creek. The man sent to get all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed made it to town but hasn’t been seen since.

So the crime rate in Maggody has taken a huge spike with two manhunts. But that’s not all … Arly now has to add a murder to her list when a body outside the pay-by-the-hour Flamingo Motel and she isn’t getting any help anyone in town, not even her mother. Thankfully Arly isn’t on her own and I don’t mean her Barney Fife deputy, she gets a much-needed assist from the State Police even though she isn’t happy to accept it.

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This book is listed on many sites as a “cozy mystery” so I was completely caught off guard when the first line of the book is “It’s sh*t – pure and simple sh*t, no matter what they call it in those g*ddamn reports” (asterisks added by me.) While the language may be authentic and I have no problem with that language in almost any other genre, I just don’t believe it should be found in a cozy mystery. I did keep reading and did enjoy the book but I refuse to classify it as a cozy mystery.

Joan Hess has created larger than life characters and placed them in a quirky small town. Almost everyone we meet is hiding something or keeping a secret or involved in nefarious activities and sometimes all three. While I found most of them to be pretty stereotypical and could be offensive to some readers I did find them entertaining.

The mystery plotlines were interesting even with readers knowing many things Arly didn’t. The story was well-plotted and the final reveal was surprising but made perfect sense. The author leans heavily on humor and some scenes were pretty hilarious.

Colorful characters in a Southern small-town, Malice in Maggody was an unusual and stirring mystery. I do plan to read more of this series.

One note: I think formatting this book for digital devices made transitions hard to follow at times. Storyline transitions were blurred due to the flow of the text. Spaces for setting changes or time changes within the chapters would be appreciated.

[Kathy KS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Years ago I added this to my TBR, anticipating a light-hearted cozy set in a small town with a law enforcement protagonist. I suppose many would think this is an accurate portrayal of the novel. However, it was not, at all, what I was expecting. I was actually tempted to quit reading the novel, but persevered, just in case it redeemed itself. I will not be continuing the series, however.

I expected characters more in line with something like Karon's Mitford books. Quirky, but most often likable small town characters, etc. I actually didn't really like any of the characters portrayed here. To me, Hess either never lived or worked in a town close to the size of Maggody OR she hated living there and never really "got" small towns. On the other hand, I've lived in towns slightly larger and some much smaller over my many years, as well as working with scores of libraries in towns this size or smaller. Are there "quirky" people? Of course. Are they all hopelessly stupid and/or "hicks"? Definitely not. Each town has a wide spectrum of folks, from uneducated, bigoted, misogynistic to highly educated, intelligent folks, and many in-between. Are some doing things illegally? Someone often is... But the differences are the same as cities have, it's just more noticeable in a small group.

So, obviously, I didn't like Hess' portrayals. Some are definitely NOT politically correct (across the board for types of problems), but it was written in 1987, so much has changed since then. That's not my beef; I think I would have found it tedious even then.

The mystery itself is valid, but I just was so disgusted about how much I was beginning to loathe most of the people involved that I couldn't appreciate that. Red herrings are thrown in, too. I was especially disappointed with the main character, Police chief Arly Hanks. She grew up in Maggody, but was obviously smart enough and able to leave to graduate from college, move to New York, and live a life with dinner parties and cultural events, etc. And yet, she returns to Maggody (I don't object to returning to your roots) after her divorce and proceeds to say and do things that seem totally out of character for someone who has lived elsewhere.

So, others may find the "humor" here to be "humerous" and the characters believable, but it was not my cup of tea, after all.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Hess stands among a very few who can write suspense filled, satiric and humorous mysteries while creating likeable – and silly and hypocritical – characters much like many you might recognize and even might know – or be related to.

This is especially true of her Maggody series, and if you haven’t read one of these, this is a good place to start, her initial mystery in a long running mystery series.

Arly Hanks, divorced and home in her small town of Maggody, Arkansas, after living the high life in New York City, is the Chief of Police now, thanks to her police academy background.

She has her work cut out for her, when an escaped convict heads for Maggody after money and possibly his wife, a free – very free – spirit well known to the male population, that is, until she is murdered with a cross bow.

Together with her deputy who can’t pass the police academy test and a state policeman with a mysterious first name, she does her best among the foolish men and women of her home town to find a killer, an escaped convict, and a missing EPA man apparently kidnapped by some of Maggody’s leading citizens.

For a great read that will have you smiling and laughing, while racing through the pages, it‘s hard to miss with this comic gem from Joan Hess.

[Kaitlyn Dunnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third time I've read this one (1991 an 2017 for the others) and it still holds up as an out-there (WAY out there) humorous mystery. Even though I remembered who dunnit, I enjoyed the reread for the eccentric characters and the glimpse of life in Hess's fictional Maggody. I've classed it as cozy, although for purists the language and sexual situations (although they are not graphic) will disqualify it from that genre.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters and story. Will probably read next book

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comic gem and a genuine mystery of the classical kind rolled amazingly into one. With so much humor throughout the book, I was truly surprised that the author was able to accomplish several other things that you don't usually find in humorous tales.

The first third of the story presents a group of colorful characters who bring to life the usual stereotypes for a tiny town in the Southern mountains, in this case the Ozarks--Maggody's located somewhere in northwestern Arkansas just south of the Missouri line--and they're presented with a combination of wryness and affection that had me both laughing and caring about them in spite of their various misdeeds. Then, on page 65 of 178, one of them is murdered. By now the story's so complicated that not only the culprit but the motive are unknown, right through to the end when the murderer is revealed. I was completely surprised but had to admit it made sense.

So a serious murder investigation among people I'd come to care about takes place alongside a classically mixed-up comic adventure in which the entire town council of Maggody decides to kidnap a visiting Federal government official, enlists a few other citizens in their project, and bungles their crime right and left. (The official is on his way to finalize the signing of documents that will allow their creek to be polluted, and the only thing they can think of doing is to hold him for a few days until their influential senator gets back from Las Vegas...no, they didn't think very far beyond that.) Both of these plot threads, one serious and one comical, coexist successfully, for me anyway.

Another thing that doesn't usually work for me but did work here is the story-telling technique. Not only does the narration jump back and forth between the author and the main character, Arly Hanks, but the author's share presents scenes from several different characters' points of view, very much like scene shifts in a movie except that we get their interior thoughts and feelings too. Arly is Maggody's new chief of police, just back to her home town from a traumatic few years in New York, and her first-person descriptions are more heavily tinged with wryness and sarcasm than the ones we find in the lighter tone of the authorial segments. The latter put the reader way, way ahead of Arly in the comic adventure, but the multiple kidnappers are way behind her on the murder.

Even though Sgt. Plover of the state police comes over from Farberville (the site of Hess's Molly Malloy mystery series) to run the investigation into both crimes, and procedure is pretty standard under his direction, he relies wisely on Arly's familiarity with her home town and their relationship slowly warms up (but not very far if you were thinking of romance; there are 16 books in this series, though). And Plover is genuinely appreciative when Arly puts it together and unmasks the killer after the comic adventure reaches its almost slapstick climax with eleven of our characters at a shack in the woods many miles off the nearest paved road.

This is one of the few books this year I simply couldn't put down except to sleep and eat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, but I see that some reviewers hated it--what worked for me might not for you.

[Elaine Nickolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75
This was a good read.
A small, sleepy town has a problem. A big company wants to use a nearby river to release run off from their company, but the small-town residents know that, despite the EPA study, the river will become toxic. When the state representative stops in this town the town council comes up with a temporary solution.
What lengths will the council go to? What are the residents willing to do?
The local police chief, whose mom runs the restaurant/bar and motel, must figure out what is going on in her town. To complicate matters, the state police become involved, and the old big city cop vs country cop plays out in the telling of this tale.
Lots of good distractions thrown in and great weaving of the storyline.
This is the first in a series which may bear looking into in the future.
Arkansas now checked off 50 state challenge.

[Christie Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cozy mystery! I really liked this one and am definitely reading the series. It has all the things I like in a cozy mystery- cookie characters, interesting but easy plot, good narrator and plenty of shenanigans. It is an older series so the references to beepers and white pages are very nostalgic.

[Lisa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique characters and timeless tale.

[Lyn Vaughn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusing But Offensive

Lots of by-cracky nonsense and ridicule of mountain folk. The story is too tragic to co-exist with the slap-stick, leaving it as flaccid as a half deflated balloon. Too bad. I liked Chief Arly.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read several installments of this series at least 15 years ago, maybe 20. To tell you the truth, I bet a couple of times a year, I think about Maggody, remembering the characters and the general hilarity of life in this podunk town. That's how much I enjoyed the books. Not sure why I didn't read through the whole series (as I normally would) but I think it was because they weren't always readily available. Fast-forward to e-books and the internet and this showed up on one of the book sites as a download. Not a surprise, I'm sure, but I really have enough brand-new books around that I don't need to be re-reading just a good, funny, cleverly written mystery...I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF! What a fun traipse around Arly's hometown with the "Mafia" and the Pot O' Gold trailer park and Ruby Bee, Arly's mother, and all the other raunchy characters. This is a pretty lengthy book--not your "cozy mystery" quick read--but I sure thought it was time spent enjoyably. If you're not from Arkansas and if you won't be offended by the stereotyping of the hillbillies, and if you're a fan of works similar to Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum (real doozies for characters, with a good mystery to solve, and lots of belly laughs), you are likely to enjoy Arly's attempts to keep the law and order in Maggody. Now...do I read/re-read the rest of the series?

[Patricia Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Maggody series decades ago. I really didn’t remember much about the books except they were laugh out loud funny and full of quirky characters. I loved them!

Much has changed over the years. With this recent reading I found most of the novel just plain silly. Arly Hanks is a smart aleck and not as clever as she thinks. I know that we’ve become more socially conscious (politically correct), but I think it’s a Southern parody and I can still see humor in the small Arkansas town and its inhabitants.

I think part of my not enjoying this Maggody book as much as before is I don’t enjoy most cozy mysteries much anymore. Although it’s a cozy, easy to read, and funny, many righteous and churchy people might be offended with the sex and naughty language. This book’s got lots!

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love the Maggody mysteries. Malice in Maggody is the first in the series of these funny cosy mysteries by Joan Hess.

When murders disrupt the peaceful town of Maggody, Sheriff Hanks and her slow deputy, Paulie, set out on a hilarious, hell-raising chase through the backwoods in search of a murderer.

With a great cast of characters (the Mayor reminds me of Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazard tv series), and a well plotted story. These books are well worth reading!

I first read this book back in the 80’s when it first came out, and going back to reread has been a pure pleasure!

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[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arly Hanks is back home in Maggody, Arkansas(Pop. 755) after her marriage, living in New York didn't work out. Taking the sheriff's job should be a piece of cake. With her mother Ruby Dee(who owns the Bar & Grill), Ruby's best friend Estelle ( salon owner) & characters with the mandatory names of Jim Bob, Larry Joe, & all the Buchanon's that are somehow related, one way or another. You have a fun, light, humorous series with plenty of southern humor.All the while Arly tries to keep the peace in Maggody. This is the first in the series.

[Cindy Kerwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book thinking it'd be a cute goofy light read. OMG, I didn't get very far in and I just couldn't read anymore. The story was awful, the writing-not so great, the characters-terrible! She tried way too hard to make them hicks and the whole thing irritated me so much I just couldn't read it. There was nothing I liked about the story or the characters so why bother to keep reading. I usually try to keep going and give a book a chance and read at least a quarter of it-nope-not this time, sorry.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy a laugh out loud cozy mystery, then this is the one for you.
Arly Hanks is such a colorful character and her mom Ruby Bee and friend Estelle add even more laughter in this book.
When the town is up in arms about a sewage treatment plant invading their town, the officials take it upon themselves to take care of business.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Nancy]

When murders disrupt the peaceful town of Maggody, Sheriff Hanks and her slow deputy, Paulie, set out on a hilarious, hell-raising chase through the backwoods in search of a murderer.


Didn't finish.

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

very light reading

[Rebecca Norton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much cussing and vulgarity for me

[Jenny Byers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started this and couldn't keep reading. Stereotyped hill billy kind of speech and characters. Too cringy to keep reading.