O Little Town of Maggody, Joan Hess
O Little Town of Maggody, Joan Hess
List: $15.99 | Sale: $11.20
Club: $7.99

O Little Town of Maggody

Author: Joan Hess

Narrator: Courtney Patterson

Unabridged: 8 hr 14 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/01/2022


Synopsis

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.

About Joan Hess

Joan Hess (1949-2017) was an award-winning author of several long-running mystery series. Born in Arkansas, she was teaching preschool when she began writing fiction. Known for her lighthearted, witty novels, she created the Claire Malloy Mysteries and the Arly Hanks Mysteries, both set in Arkansas.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Christine Lucia Asha on May 12, 2025

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

Goodreads review by Victoria on January 05, 2019

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......more

Goodreads review by Marsha on June 08, 2020

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

Goodreads review by Carroll on September 15, 2020

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,......more

Goodreads review by Kelie on August 16, 2024

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......more