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Arly Hanks #15
Malpractice in Maggody
A part from small-town feuds and church scandal, things have been so quiet in the little Arkansas town of Maggody that even police chief Arly Hanks has found time for a vacation. But she returns to find trouble brewing and tongues wagging at fever pitch. The local old-folks' home has been sold to a mysterious outsider, and overnight the place has been transformed into the Stonebridge Foundation, an exclusive rehabilitation center complete with a stone-faced guard who doesn't speak a word of English and an even nastier dog. Soon there are rumors flying of mental patients roaming the countryside at night, and every character in town is keeping a gun close at hand, just in case. Everyone is dying to know what goes on behind those inhospitable gates, with the exception of Arly, who has enough rural business to keep her satisfied. When the beautiful young receptionist found drowned in the garden pool is identified as a local girl from nearby Farberville, it's clear the case may not only involve the suspicious characters who've recently moved to town, but also some of the citizens of Maggody, who may have a secret or two to hide themselves. There's the doctor who can't resist a dose of his own medicine and a roster of patients that reads like a who's who of tabloid headlines, as well as the local pastor who gets his spiritual inspiration with a little help from the sacramental wine, and the mayor's wife who makes it her business to know everything about everyone. Soon Arly finds herself on the trail of a killer and discovers she may be the only innocent person left in town.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2006
56 people are currently reading
325 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 46 reviews
June 8, 2017
I know many readers enjoy this author's work. I won't be counted among them. The mystery plot was thin, and apparently not the main attraction of this series for readers. Instead, based on other reviews, readers appear to like this series primarily because of the (entertaining to some) characters. I did not enjoy the stereotyped characters. Further, I was disturbed by the author's portrayal of residents of rural Arkansas as—let's just say country bumpkins. No humor there. Simon & Schuster, what were you thinking?
February 20, 2018
Fun, quick, entertaining read.
June 28, 2011
Not my favorite. I enjoyed the new Buchanan names (Cinatra?) better than the plot.
September 12, 2021
The old folks home has been turned into a rehab center, half full of celebrities. The staff is dubious at best, and before long one is murdered.
Dahlia has taken in her granny, Eileen is fed up with Earl and leaves, Mrs. JimBob is comtemplating a run for mayor, and half the town is armed because they're convinced psychopaths are going to murder them in their sleep.
Reading this series in sequence without a wait for a new one to come out is kinda like watching history sped up. Attitudes have become a lot more contemporary.
Dahlia has taken in her granny, Eileen is fed up with Earl and leaves, Mrs. JimBob is comtemplating a run for mayor, and half the town is armed because they're convinced psychopaths are going to murder them in their sleep.
Reading this series in sequence without a wait for a new one to come out is kinda like watching history sped up. Attitudes have become a lot more contemporary.
February 8, 2025
This is the first time I have read anything by this author. Apparently this is a series. I might invest some time in this series and start from the beginning.
This story was about Arly Hanks the Chief of Police of Maggody and her solving a murder in a high end rehabilitation centre.
We also meet several other characters from Maggody. I am not sure I like all these characters but some are amusing. They all are very resourceful.
I do like the way Joan Hess tells a story, and I kind of liked Arly. So I think I will invest some time on this series.
This story was about Arly Hanks the Chief of Police of Maggody and her solving a murder in a high end rehabilitation centre.
We also meet several other characters from Maggody. I am not sure I like all these characters but some are amusing. They all are very resourceful.
I do like the way Joan Hess tells a story, and I kind of liked Arly. So I think I will invest some time on this series.
April 2, 2018
I have liked other books by this author, but didn't really care for this one. The main problem was that all but one of the characters were so one-dimensional as to be cartoonish stereotypes. The main character wasn't, but she was the only one in the whole book to have some dimension. A number of plot threads were left hanging, and the climax wasn't satisfying as the clues didn't add up to the solution.
September 4, 2017
The old folks home in Maggody has been closed down for the mysterious Stonebridge Foundation which turns out to be a high class celebrity rehab center. Chief of police Arly Hanks becomes involved when the receptionist is found murdered in the foundations fountain. Lots of the usual Maggody weirdness plus a surprise at the end. I'm sad only one more book has been written in the series.
October 4, 2017
Another classic Arly Hanks mystery. I liked the mystery outcome, and of course the usual town drama always keeps us entertained. The ongoing hinting throughout the book made me annoyed, though. But I expect that sort of thing from these books sometimes. Be sure to read the #14 (Muletrain to Maggody) before this one.
June 21, 2018
This book isn't my typical read (it was a Books & Bites choice thrust upon me), but I actually enjoyed it. I feel like the ending came up too fast. There was a lot of build up for little pay off. However, the characters were familiar. I feel like I know these people. There were parts that were laugh-out-loud funny.
December 3, 2018
I've loved the Maggody series, but I think I liked this one the least - mostly because of how Arly let's the Sheriff walk all over her. It's obvious the series is winding down (one more after this.) It just seemed like the Sheriff among other side characters were out of character... but that's just me.
August 21, 2024
Arly’s Folly jut beginning
I have never Laughed so much! Enjoyable and Twisted tales of Woe. Some of which were Not expounded on, I mean theres the reverend and then the short clip of the runaway Mom n Wife, and some missing leaps and bounds of the whole story. But it was ALL FANTASTIC
I have never Laughed so much! Enjoyable and Twisted tales of Woe. Some of which were Not expounded on, I mean theres the reverend and then the short clip of the runaway Mom n Wife, and some missing leaps and bounds of the whole story. But it was ALL FANTASTIC
September 17, 2017
Didn't care much for this one. The plot involving the new rehab center was pretty good, but I got very tired of those quaint hillbilly types. I thought it was rather insulting to portray all the town characters that way.
February 4, 2025
very lightweight.
Enjoyable…though I get a bit put out now and again. Seeing people from Mexico as frightening is racists. And the ending got a bit ridiculous. Not as good as some others in this series.
Enjoyable…though I get a bit put out now and again. Seeing people from Mexico as frightening is racists. And the ending got a bit ridiculous. Not as good as some others in this series.
June 7, 2017
These books are hilarious. Like the main character Arly the only sensible person in Maggody
May 12, 2021
No comment.😐
May 30, 2021
Wow, 15 out of 16. Almost done with the Arly Hanks series. It's been fun, and this book is another great addition to the series. I can't wait to read #16 and wrap things up.
July 10, 2013
Malpractice in Maggody by Joan Hess
I was hard pressed to even give this two stars. Honestly the only reason I did was technically the writing was fine and it’s a series (this is #15 in fact) so someone out there was the target market, just not me. I didn’t realize this was so deep into the series or I would have left it on the library sales table. I suppose, like with many series, by the time you’re that far in the series is worn out. It was supposed to be funny. The reviews tell me so.
So tell me, what was I supposed to laugh at? The unprofessional way Arly Hanks approaches her job? Her castigating mother? The misogynism of the town Mayor (and several other men)? The bigotry of the townspeople? The holier than thou church lady? What? Seriously I want to know because I thought this was as unfunny as a toothache. Also this review will be more spoiler-ridden than my usual because well I have things I want to say.
The story opens while Arly Hanks (the protagonist) is still camping with her boyfriend much to her meddlesome, fault-finding mother’s dismay. Even more upsetting is that the state nursing home has been shut down forcing some locals (maybe someone I should know and don’t because it’s so late in the series) to take in their relatives. The nursing home is being converted into they don’t know what. Mrs. Jim Bob (the mayor’s wife) is most upset, trying to get the church ladies involved in finding out what it is, to the point of sitting up in trees and spying while spreading rumors it’s an insane asylum.
It’s actually Stonebridge Foundation, a rehab/detox/tummy tuck place for celebrities who need complete privacy run by a group of professionals who have been run out of most of the states they ever worked in. Stonebridge, the head of it and plastic surgeon, Zumi, the psychiatrist, Brenda, the holistic medicine and dietician, Walter the pot-smoking personal trainer and Molly the local big-boobed receptionist. (and honestly only Zumi, Walter and Molly are likeable in this whole book including the whole town of Maggody).
When Arly finally returns everyone demands she finds out what this place is, easier said than done because the staff only speaks Spanish. Also a townswoman disappears and Arly is supposed to find her (which frankly is about the only investigating she does the whole novel). Naturally someone at the foundation dies. Arly fights to NOT investigate it and honestly all she ever seems to do the whole novel is talk to people and argue, while Harve, her boss, runs down the information on everyone.
Arly talks to Harve in a completely unprofessional manner, to the staff and patients in the same way (someone even comments on it), faints at the thought of plastic surgery and otherwise fails to convince me that anyone has followed this woman through fifteen books. I found her utterly unlikable or believable. Eventually she finds out who does it but the woman escapes without Arly even bothering to give chase (the person who distracted her was in no immediate danger so I have no idea why she didn’t give chase). The killer is caught fleeing the premises by Arly’s law enforcement boyfriend who puts the killer in the trunk. After protesting the person might suffocate, and deciding that won’t happy. Arly and her boyfriend go into the clinic to have sex. Are you kidding me?!?
I don’t know why I finished this. I’m certainly in no hurry to read another. I’ll allow Hess has her fans but I’m not one of them, not based on this. I’ve read two other books (different series) with similar results. I think I’m done with this particular authors. She’s not my cup of tea.
I was hard pressed to even give this two stars. Honestly the only reason I did was technically the writing was fine and it’s a series (this is #15 in fact) so someone out there was the target market, just not me. I didn’t realize this was so deep into the series or I would have left it on the library sales table. I suppose, like with many series, by the time you’re that far in the series is worn out. It was supposed to be funny. The reviews tell me so.
So tell me, what was I supposed to laugh at? The unprofessional way Arly Hanks approaches her job? Her castigating mother? The misogynism of the town Mayor (and several other men)? The bigotry of the townspeople? The holier than thou church lady? What? Seriously I want to know because I thought this was as unfunny as a toothache. Also this review will be more spoiler-ridden than my usual because well I have things I want to say.
The story opens while Arly Hanks (the protagonist) is still camping with her boyfriend much to her meddlesome, fault-finding mother’s dismay. Even more upsetting is that the state nursing home has been shut down forcing some locals (maybe someone I should know and don’t because it’s so late in the series) to take in their relatives. The nursing home is being converted into they don’t know what. Mrs. Jim Bob (the mayor’s wife) is most upset, trying to get the church ladies involved in finding out what it is, to the point of sitting up in trees and spying while spreading rumors it’s an insane asylum.
It’s actually Stonebridge Foundation, a rehab/detox/tummy tuck place for celebrities who need complete privacy run by a group of professionals who have been run out of most of the states they ever worked in. Stonebridge, the head of it and plastic surgeon, Zumi, the psychiatrist, Brenda, the holistic medicine and dietician, Walter the pot-smoking personal trainer and Molly the local big-boobed receptionist. (and honestly only Zumi, Walter and Molly are likeable in this whole book including the whole town of Maggody).
When Arly finally returns everyone demands she finds out what this place is, easier said than done because the staff only speaks Spanish. Also a townswoman disappears and Arly is supposed to find her (which frankly is about the only investigating she does the whole novel). Naturally someone at the foundation dies. Arly fights to NOT investigate it and honestly all she ever seems to do the whole novel is talk to people and argue, while Harve, her boss, runs down the information on everyone.
Arly talks to Harve in a completely unprofessional manner, to the staff and patients in the same way (someone even comments on it), faints at the thought of plastic surgery and otherwise fails to convince me that anyone has followed this woman through fifteen books. I found her utterly unlikable or believable. Eventually she finds out who does it but the woman escapes without Arly even bothering to give chase (the person who distracted her was in no immediate danger so I have no idea why she didn’t give chase). The killer is caught fleeing the premises by Arly’s law enforcement boyfriend who puts the killer in the trunk. After protesting the person might suffocate, and deciding that won’t happy. Arly and her boyfriend go into the clinic to have sex. Are you kidding me?!?
I don’t know why I finished this. I’m certainly in no hurry to read another. I’ll allow Hess has her fans but I’m not one of them, not based on this. I’ve read two other books (different series) with similar results. I think I’m done with this particular authors. She’s not my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2009
Arly returns from a camping trip with boyfriend, Jack, to find the Maggody town folk stirred up. The local nursing home has been sold to a snarky diet doctor who plans to transform the building into an upscale rehab center called the Stonebridge Foundation. His plans begin to fall apart when the Stonebridge receptionist is found drowned in the courtyard fountain. The atmosphere of the place take on a even more sinister air when a second body is discovered in the staff quarters. Dragged into the investigation by the county sheriff, Arly struggles to keep her mother, Ruby Bee, and Ruby's best friend, Estelle, away from the scene and out of the way of the investigation. As usual, this proves to be impossible. There are several other sub plots going on involving the other zany characters of the town. Kevin's mother, Eileen, has decided to run away from home. Mrs. Jim Bob and Brother Verber decide to conduct an investigation of their own of the facility causing Arly even more trouble.
Main problem with this book is it isn't a stand alone mystery tale. In order to understand the relationships between the main characters, the reader really needs to have read the other books in the series. In my opinion, this is not one of the the best books of the series. This one dragged a bit.
Main problem with this book is it isn't a stand alone mystery tale. In order to understand the relationships between the main characters, the reader really needs to have read the other books in the series. In my opinion, this is not one of the the best books of the series. This one dragged a bit.
March 25, 2014
Joan Hess has written another installment of life in Maggody, Arkansas, with all the usual quirky characters--mostly Buchanons who through much intermarriage have extremely limited their gene pool. Arly Hanks is the entire police force of Maggody, and she has her hands full, as usual.
The old folks home is closed; the state cannot finance it any longer so they sell the property to a private concern. Not a word leaks out as to what the purpose of the business will be, but they have torn down much of the old building and added more buildings, an outdoor pool, a gym, and surrounded the land with a high fence with razor wire at the top and a guard with guard dog at the gate.
For a small town like Maggody everybody knows everything about everybody else so the mystery at the former old folks home is driving them to try any and everything to find out the answers.
Joan Hess continues to mixes humor and mystery quite nicely for a good read.
The old folks home is closed; the state cannot finance it any longer so they sell the property to a private concern. Not a word leaks out as to what the purpose of the business will be, but they have torn down much of the old building and added more buildings, an outdoor pool, a gym, and surrounded the land with a high fence with razor wire at the top and a guard with guard dog at the gate.
For a small town like Maggody everybody knows everything about everybody else so the mystery at the former old folks home is driving them to try any and everything to find out the answers.
Joan Hess continues to mixes humor and mystery quite nicely for a good read.
January 26, 2016
Arly Hanks the Police chief of Maggody (rhymes with raggedy) sneaks back into town after her vacation with a new male friend so she won't be beset with questions by her mother Ruby Bee. The town is all atwitter with the mystery of who bought the old folks home outside Maggody. All the old folks were moved or sent back to relatives, causing a great disturbance within the Buchanan Clan. A new building is being built where the old folks home was, but no one seems to know what is going on. No one, not even the Mayor of Maggody Jim Bob Buchanan is allowed on the property, which has really set tongues wagging. Soon the building is finished, mysterious people move in and the help are all Mexicans who do not speak English. Then one of the residents is murdered and Arly is assigned to find out what happened.
Another good read from Joan Hess who never fails to tell a great story peopled with interesting characters.
Another good read from Joan Hess who never fails to tell a great story peopled with interesting characters.
March 10, 2011
The old people's home is torn down and a new facility is erected under great secrecy, until finally at completion is revealed to be The Southbridge Foundation, a celebrity rehab. The denizens of tiny Maggody, Arkansas, are fascinated and frightened by the new 'lunatic asylum', and Police Chief Arly Hanks gets involved when a murder occurs there.
This is supposed to be humorous in its portrayal of the characters in Maggody, but I found it somewhat heavy handed in its satire of the hill folk. I believe the book did not elicit even the smallest peep of laughter out of me. The plotting was fine. Apparently there are quite a number of books about Maggody.
This is supposed to be humorous in its portrayal of the characters in Maggody, but I found it somewhat heavy handed in its satire of the hill folk. I believe the book did not elicit even the smallest peep of laughter out of me. The plotting was fine. Apparently there are quite a number of books about Maggody.
September 29, 2007
#17 02/07/06 MALPRACTICE IN MAGGODY by Joan Hess
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/ # OF PGS: Mystery, 2006, 258 pgs
TIME/PLACE: Present, Maggody, Arkansas
CHARACTER: Arly Hanks/police chief
COMMENTS: 15th in the series. Still fresh & amusing. The local Senior Home is sold to an exclusive rehab center. The 1st patients are a former child star, a senator, a football star & diet dr. When the receptionist at the center is killed at the center all the patients are highly
suspect as well as the doctors and partners.
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/ # OF PGS: Mystery, 2006, 258 pgs
TIME/PLACE: Present, Maggody, Arkansas
CHARACTER: Arly Hanks/police chief
COMMENTS: 15th in the series. Still fresh & amusing. The local Senior Home is sold to an exclusive rehab center. The 1st patients are a former child star, a senator, a football star & diet dr. When the receptionist at the center is killed at the center all the patients are highly
suspect as well as the doctors and partners.
February 13, 2010
You either love the Maggody series or you don't. I start smiling when I see that name on a cover. Joan Hess always produces a good mystery but its hard to notice when you're laughing. For an Ozark town of just over 700, it produces characters that make Deliverance look like a graduate school. Thank heaven I've never met anyone named Buchanon in real life! You can count on that family (who probably make up the majority of the town) to have produced yet more kin with hysterical first names and qualities that can only be developed through generations of careful inbreeding.
January 28, 2008
I've enjoyed all the books in the Maggody series, but some have been a little thin. This is one of the best with plenty of action among the townfolks and the "outsiders" who, as in past book, provide both the victims and the suspects. This book remains a page turner right to the last sentence and leaves you eager for another book in the series.
July 8, 2013
This was just bad on so many levels from a main character who approaches her job with little professionalism, to xenophobic small town folk to annoying, unlikeable characters. It's partly my own fault for coming in very late in a series but this didn't make me want to go back and read others. If I hadn't been on vacation and otherwise out of reading material I would never have finished this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2015
Cozy mystery
Series but can be read as stand alone -- plot references give just enough background to continue story. Revelation of ?pregnancy for Arly hints at next major event in character's life. But characters are not main focus.They seem to be sterotypical characters-- hillbilly, inept Good Old boys-- portrayed to the extreme.
Series but can be read as stand alone -- plot references give just enough background to continue story. Revelation of ?pregnancy for Arly hints at next major event in character's life. But characters are not main focus.They seem to be sterotypical characters-- hillbilly, inept Good Old boys-- portrayed to the extreme.
February 6, 2008
This is one of the funniest in the Maggody series. Not only the usual characters, but the opening of a rehab facility in Maggody has all the locals toting guns. The patients and staff of the rehab facility are hilarious.
December 23, 2009
Definitely the best of the series so far! Joan Hess is still at the top of her game after writing about Maggody's inhabitants for over a decade. Even if for some strange reason you don't find this book amazing, I guarantee the last paragraph will make up for everything.
June 16, 2013
Book #33 read in 2013
I liked this story. It was a cute, quick read and since the focus for most of the novel was off the Maggody crew, it was more interesting than some of the others in the series.
I liked this story. It was a cute, quick read and since the focus for most of the novel was off the Maggody crew, it was more interesting than some of the others in the series.
November 29, 2013
Always fun reading about Arly Hanks.
Hints throughout that she is pregnant, only Ruby Bee and Estelle know by the end of the book.
A sleezy doctor sets up a rehab clinic in Maggody and mischief and murder come with it.
Enjoyed it.
Hints throughout that she is pregnant, only Ruby Bee and Estelle know by the end of the book.
A sleezy doctor sets up a rehab clinic in Maggody and mischief and murder come with it.
Enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews