O Little Town of Maggody

Arly Hanks #7

by Joan Hess

Country music, greed, and the unique madness of Maggody, Arkansas, collide in this delightful cozy mystery starring unflappable police chief Arly Hanks.

Matt Montana is the favorite son of sleepy Maggody, Arkansas. With the voice of an angel and a smile as charming as that of the devil, he’s made a name for himself under the bright lights of Nashville and become one of the most famous faces in country music. Meanwhile, Maggody has sunk into the worst recession in years. So when Matt announces that he’s returning home to play a benefit concert, the locals do everything they can to cash in on Montana fever. The oddballs of Maggody smell a payday, and not even murder can stop them from cashing in.
 
As every shop in town stocks up on Matt Montana memorabilia, police chief Arly Hanks—the only sane woman in town—tries to keep her head down. But when one of Matt’s entourage turns up dead in a store window, it’s up to Arly to make sure this isn’t country music’s last act.
 
The Arly Hanks Mysteries have skewered topics from Hollywood filmmakers to right-wing militias to the greedy schemes of televangelists, and this take on country music superstars shows the town of Maggody at its best. Fans of cozy mysteries know that nobody does it better than Joan Hess.
 
O Little Town of Maggody is the 7th book in the Arly Hanks Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
 

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

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

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

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not find this one so interesting or ironic until about halfway, and even then there were just too many characters.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I usually confess to having no sense of humor, the outrageous population of Maggody, Arkansas, tended by Arly Hanks who tries to maintain her sanity and law and order, tickles my fancy. Joan Hess created and cultivated this world book after book after book. It couldn't have been easy. There are 16 books in the series; I've tried to read them all over the years but I'm not certain that I have yet. I don't think I could binge-read them in order, as I've been known to do with other series. Too much silliness for someone without a sense of humor. But taken one at a time, Maggody and the large Buchanon family and Arly's aunt Ruby and her partner in mischief, Estelle, can lighten up anyone's mood. Joan Hess died a little over a year ago but Maggody will always be there to provide chuckles.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nashville meets Maggody! Nuff said? Anthony Award Nominee for Best Novel (1994), Agatha Award Nominee for Best Novel (1993).

[Debby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Agonizing! Reading this book was agonizing! It is quite possibly the most idiotic book I have ever read. The characters are stupid, the plot was stupid, the ending was stupid. This book made me question my policy of finishing every book I start. Reading it was a total was of time. I took so long to read because it was so awful. Thank goodness I am done. I am not donating this one to the library book sale, I am throwing it away.
I recommend this book to no one unless you want to use the pages to start a fire.

[Carroll Rudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was somewhat too long. It was laugh out loud funny and the ending was a surprise twist. I love the Maggody Characters who may be stereotyped but so what? Every small town has people like that. It kept me guessing the entire time I was reading it. Not only whodunit; but who-was-it-dun -to, and why? The answers were an unexpected surprise, and I like surprise endings. But I thought the investigation moved a bit too slowly. I haven't read all the Maggody books yet but I intend to. The author's sense of humor is so welcome, during depressing times. (review written during the Covid 19 Pandemic.) It was a great distraction. I gave it 4 stars because I got tired of waiting for clues, but the ending was five star!

[Carmen Radtke · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Tis the season to be merry, and it doesn’t get much merrier than with police chief Arly Hanks and the zany, loony gang of misfits that inhabit the little town of Maggody. In her seventh case since slinking back home to Arkansas after a bruising Manhattan divorce, Arly has her hands full with a country star suddenly discovered as Maggody’s very own homegrown star, townsfolk trying to cash in on this claim to fame, and a corpse that is decidedly not a Christmas ornament.
Joan Hess was a brilliant writer, and Maggody was her finest creation. This Christmas mystery is an ode to comedic writing, acerbic wit and memorable characters.

[Kelie Cichoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a torn up copy of this book on the shelf at my beachfront timeshare and grabbed it. I'd never heard of Joan Hess or her stories, so I was eager to see what it offered. I loved the smartass outlook. of Arly and could relate to her struggles. I really enjoyed learning all about the little town of Maggody and quickly found the other books in her series. These books are older, but still worth the read.

[Katherine Ginther · Rating 5 out of 5]

On what fun, a Maggody Christmas!

The characters and situations in Maggody will make you smile and chuckle. Tolerant Police Chief Arly Hanks has her hands full when a Nashville contingent arrives in Maggody to have a Christmas celebration for a hometown (maybe) country singer. Murder and mayhem make this Maggody book one of the best in this hilarious series.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a country singer allegedly coming home to Maggody for Christmas, a missing old lady who's allegedly the singer's aunt, and the whole town has gone crazy trying to cash in on the events. Add in Kevin and Dahlia Buchanon being themselves, and it's weird. Entertaining, not PC, a few pieces that make no sense, but it's not bad.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Joan Hess' Maggody series and it's sad that there won't be any more (RIP). Think of what it would be like if Mrs. Marple found herself in Podunk USA. I love the humor and Ms. Hess definitely could turn a comic phrase. If I had any complaints was that the plots was a little too complication and became a little hard to follow in places, but overall I could recommend this book to anyone.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nashville comes to Maggody and the town goes crazy. Matt Montana (born in Maggody) is going to do a concert and visit the old homestead. Everything is renamed Matt so what could go wrong. Well, his Aunt is missing, blackmail and a corpse posed like Matt. Christmas will not be the same.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always a quick fun read.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storylines starting to get repetitive with same old same old just different time of year.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Arly as a character. I found the plot to be simple and even juvenile at times. There were some humorous moments but overall I thought the book was just average.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was silly but it fit my mood and was a light read on a snowy day.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun and funny Maggody/Arly Hanks book. As usual, it was well written, and fun to read. I plan on reading/listening to the whole series.

[Leezie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As per usual, outsiders descend and bring their madness with them. Bonus: there were no actual murders in this one (but plenty of dead bodies).

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't stay focused on the book, my bad.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of laughs in this series

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of funny book that many mystery authors wish they could write. Hess has it down.

It's holiday time in Maggody and the town is ready to welcome home one of their own. Matt Montana, country singer, is a hometown boy who is making good. So in order to give him some free, good publicity, his agents have scheduled a stop in Maggody for a Christmas picture shoot with all the trimmings.

The only problem is his one and only living relative has gone missing from the old folks' home. Never let that get in the way. The citizens of Maggody figure a way around that with their usual hijinks.

Once again everyone lends a hand in the humor. Kevin is a door-to-door salesman who stumbles onto a better paying job. Jimbob and the Mrs. are trying to find a way to make money off the country singer, but so is most of the town. Even Hammet makes a return appearance.

Arly, of course, remains our exasperated narrator.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this one because of a book club I am in. It was definitely a social satire, one that was offensive at times. It is written from such a height of snobbery that I really didn't enjoy it. Lots of characters to keep straight and in the end she managed a surprising climax for each character. Interesting, but wouldn't be moved to read any more of her work. Once you have read the story, the cover makes sense.

[Brandon Kurtich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to finish this book while taking a couple of days of rest in Cape Cod. I was hoping a nice Christmasy story would psychologically lower my body temperature, but to no avail. A little bit slower than the other Maggody books and not as climactic, but the Dahlia/Kevin storyline was pretty interesting.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Montana "home" grown country music star visits Maggody, the place of his birth. The whole town goes ga, ga setting up souveniers shops, setting up Matt Montana tours, etc. Bodies turn up, mannequin in window in creek in sheds.

[Daelith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy the Hess' sarcasm and humor in this series.

[Mark Hinds · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the Joan Hess Maggody mysteries are great fun, easy reads and laugh out loud silly.

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

Book #7 proves that you really can't come home--at least not if your hometown is Maggody, Arkansas, and you're a country music star. While Matt Montana may leave you cold, Arly rocks as always.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hess continues to be successfully funny.

[Teddi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow there was a lot going on on this one!

[Missy]

ABANDONED - I can only take so much of this town and these characters. Not seeing any growth, just the same thing over and over. I need to move on.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hilarious! I can't believe I never read any of this series before. My new mission is to read them all.