Miracles in Maggody

Arly Hanks #9

by Joan Hess

Another outrageous Maggody mystery, starring police chief Arly Hanks alongside a smooth-talking televangelist and a whole town full of sinners.

Some days, police chief Arly Hanks can’t help but see Maggody, Arkansas, as little more than a cesspool of poverty, ignorance, and incest—the kind of glorified trailer park that gives the South a bad name. But hey, it’s home. So when silver-tongued televangelist Malachi Hope swoops into town, with a revivalist laser light show and plans to build a Christian theme park, Arly worries her beloved, if crazy, neighbors are about to be swindled. But it’s Malachi who should be terrified.
 
As the town whips itself into revival fever, it’s all Arly can do to keep Maggody from coming apart at the seams. And when the girls’ basketball coach is found dead, Arly can’t help but suspect that the murder is related to Malachi’s tent meetings. To save Maggody from itself, Arly will risk everything—in this world and the hereafter.
 
What Carl Hiaasen did for Florida, Joan Hess has done for the Ozarks. This is a hilarious look at small-town greed and the irresistible madness of Maggody, Arkansas.
 
Miracles in Maggody is the 9th book in the Arly Hanks Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

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

514 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

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

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read this book the names that come to mind are Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker. The antic Arly gets into without really trying, all she wants to do is not do much. Love her mother, always on Arly about something.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mystery with lots of fun thrown in. Love the Buchanan's names, and all the complicated troubles that come to Maggody, AK, (pop 755).

[Ricky Lanier · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole Arly Hanks series are wonderfully entertaining.I recommend this author to everyone.

[Charlotte Lintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny series.

These are great stories that make you chuckle. I like to read them when I want to escape, & not have to think too hard!

[Cameron Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've heard of the Maggody series before, but this was my first foray into this little town.
Clearly the town is the main character, and the people in it. And the people are capital c Characters.
They were fun to read about, but I was very glad that they were fictional.
The mystery itself was fun, and was a great take down of prosperity gospels and faith healers, which was great to read.
I am not going to go out of my way for Maggody, but I will be happy to come back every now and then.

[Sylvia Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Hess is one of my favorite writers. I am a native of Arkansas,
and think this series is funny, even though I hope never to meet most of the people. I love it when she mentions 'down around Magnolia". That's my area years ago she even used my family name for a character, at the suggestion of another well-known author who used to live in Magnolia. . Love you both, ladies, and your towns.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery, but the reader talked too fast and made very little distinction among characters, which was disconcerting. I didn’t need to hear authentic Arkansas accents, but in this audiobook, no one sounded the least bit Southern.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I’m hoping this is an exaggerated send-up. Small town Americans can’t really be that gullible, can they?
I love Joan Hess’s very funny mysteries, set in the Ozarks.
This time most of the town is taken in by a charlatan preacher who wants to set up a “Christian” theme park.

[Thad Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this thinking that I wished I hadn't bought it. It compares to the Dukes of Hazzard, The Beverly Hillbillies and any other TV show, movie or book that uses stereotypes of southerners. With that said it turns out to be pretty entertaining with a decent mystery.

[Mary-Jean Godbout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Book!

It's my first time reading this author and really enjoyed. It is a good story, with all the twist and turns of a mystery, but told in an off beat way. I'd recommend it , especially to those who don't read mysteries. It a great way try one!

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

You gotta love the whole Arly Hanks series, and this is another great example. Fun, funny, with a nice little murder mystery thrown in.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town basketball, big time religion, fake cures, two murders. One of the better Maggody books.

[Leezie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was darker than usual - but once again the good folks of Maggody were duped into the madness rather than its instigators.

[Brandon Kurtich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by Hess, this one with some darker overtones...

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

Series entry #8 is even more dangerous than the previous threats to peace and quiet in Maggody as it sees the arrival of a televangelist. And we thought Brother Verber was a handful!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average for an Arly Hanks novel.

[Teddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining series but boy some of the regular characters are annoying. You'd think by now the author would have them "grow" at least a bit.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A televangelist revival comes to town.
The basketball coach commits suicide - no she is murdered.
Good one.

[Charlene Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny book! Read this in 1997.

[Kurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery. I would read another in this series. It seemed familiar at first, but my librarian says I have not read others in the series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

from the library

murder incest

[Jerry Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Quirky characters and a protagonist that, one way or another, gets the job done. I've read several of the Maggody stories and loved them all. Highly recommend.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

See book #1.

[Donna Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all of these!!