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Fiction. Mystery. In this hilarious cozy mystery, small-town police chief Arly Hanks tries to stop a right-wing militia from turning Maggody into a battlefield. The sign welcoming travelers to Maggody, Arkansas, reads "Pop. 755," and don't expect Hizzoner Jim Bob to repaint it just because there's someone new in town. The mayor won't go out of his way for anyone, especially someone wicked—and a woman who would open a pawnshop in Maggody must be very wicked indeed. Kayleen Smeltner decided show more to open the shop after her husband was killed during a burglary. She came to Maggody expecting peace and quiet, but she'll find this quaint little patch of nowhere isn't as peaceful as it seems. When a right-wing militia takes up residence in the pasture behind the pawnshop, police chief Arly Hanks knows it's only a matter of time before the bullets start to fly. The strange citizens of Maggody are on the verge of civil war, and it will only take one spark to set the town ablaze. There's no politics like small-town politics, and there's no town on earth like Maggody. This madcap take on right-wing militias is one of Joan Hess's most topical—and outrageous—mysteries yet. The Maggody Militia is the 10th book in the Arly Hanks Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
When an outside militia group comes to Maggody for maneuvers and tries to recruit new blood during hunting season, their star recruit is Kevin Buchanon, Maggody's biggest chump. When Kevin's maneuver partner is killed, Arly must find the answer to a problem that nearly ends up killing her as well. Add half the population going missing, some stray wild animals and an alluring black widow and it adds up to better than the usual Maggody mayhem. One of my favorites in the series.
survivalists come to Maggody
Madcap mayhem in Maggody.
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Chronological 2016
33 works; 1 member
Author Information
54+ Works 9,437 Members
Joan Hess was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1949. She received a bachelor's degree in art from the University of Arkansas in 1971 and a master's degree in education from Long Island University in 1974. For several years, she taught art in a private preschool. Her first book, Strangled Prose, was published in 1986. She was the author of the show more Claire Malloy Mystery series and the Arly Hanks Mystery series. A Diet to Die For won the American Mystery Award for best traditional novel of 1989. A short story, Too Much to Bare, received the Agatha Award in 1990 and the McCavity Award in 1991. She also wrote the Theo Bloomer series under the pseudonym Joan Hadley. She finished the final Amelia Peabody novel, The Painted Queen, using the notes of Elizabeth Peters and their conversations to finish the book. It was published in 2017. She died on November 23, 2017 at the age of 68. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Maggody Militia
- Original title
- The Maggody Militia
- Original publication date
- 1997
- People/Characters
- Arly Hanks; Dontay Buchanon; Antwon Buchanon; Diesel Buchanon; Jim Bob Buchanon; Barbara Ann Buchanon-Buchanon (show all 45); Haz Buchanon; Bismal Buchanon; Kevin Fitzgerald "Earl" Buchanon, Sr; Eileen Buchanon; Kevin "Kevin" Fitzgerald Buchanon Jr; Dahlia O'Neill-Buchanon; Kevin Fitzgerald "Jerry" Buchanon; Rubella Belinda 'Ruby Bee' Hanks; Lottie Estes; Eula Lemey; Lewis Fernclift; Jeremiah McIlhaney; Millicent McIlhaney; Larry Joe Lambertino; Darla Jean McIlhaney; Joyce Lambertino; Estelle Oppers; Elsei McMay; Stan McMay; Edwina Spitz; Teddi Witbreed; Maurice Sheltner; Kayleen Smeltner; Leslie Bidens; Fergie Bidens; Roy Stiver; Brother Verber; Harve Dorfer; Labell; Les; June Bug Buchanon; Petrol Buchanon; Sterling Pitts; Reed Rondly; Barry Kirklin; Bobbi Jo Rondly; Jake Milliford; Judy Milliford; Dylan Gilbert
- Important places
- Maggody, Arkansas, USA (ficitious town); USA; Arkansas, USA
- Dedication
- This book is dedicated to the memory of Ellen Nehr, who was a treasured friend and confidante.
Her perspicacity, wit, and boundless knowledge of the mystery genre will be missed. - First words
- What's Cooking in Maggody?
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Just what I needed.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 216
- Popularity
- 150,677
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.85)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 2
