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MISERY LOVES MAGGODY: AN ARLY HANKS MYSTERY (Hess, Joan. Maggody Series.)
 
 
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MISERY LOVES MAGGODY: AN ARLY HANKS MYSTERY (Hess, Joan. Maggody Series.) [Hardcover]

Joan Hess (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)


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Book Description

January 18, 1999 Hess, Joan. Maggody Series.
"Delectable and continually surprising" "(The New York Times Boos Review)," Joan Hess's one-of-a-kind mystery series digs up murder and mayhem in the sleepy little town of Maggody, Arkansas.

When beleaguered chief of police Arly Hanks hears that her mother, Ruby Bee, and best friend, Estelle Oppers, are headed for Memphis on an Elvis Pilgrimage, she thinks she may be getting a long-overdue break. But before she can say "Thank you, thank you very much," the trip is completely stalled by a variety of deadly doings.

Estelle calls home to report that Ruby Bee has collapsed and is in the local hospital. And even before Arly's seen the delta dawn, one of the other clients on the tour takes a fatal plunge from the hotel balcony -- which adjoins the room of a prominent Maggody citizen, who's now doing the Jailhouse Rock in the local pen. What's more, Estelle's all shook up that the tour van is being followed by ominous thugs. For Arly, it's now or never, because if her suspicious mind doesn't figure out what to do quickly, residents of Maggody may be returned to sender -- in a hearse.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Just when it seems that the denizens of Maggody, Arkansas, and their chief of police, Arly Hanks, have seen everything, author Joan Hess manages to find a way to embroil them in yet another hilarious adventure. This time around, Ruby Bee, Estelle, and their big hair have embarked on a cut-rate package tour to Graceland to pay homage to the King. Before the end of the tour, one of the other pilgrims is found dead outside her hotel room, Ruby Bee is in the hospital, and Mayor Jim Bob Buchanon has been arrested for murder. Arly drives through the night to bring order out of chaos and make sure all the citizens of Maggody return home safely--with or without their dignity intact. As usual, there are more laughs than at a log-rolling festival--Brother Verber's hymn listing sins from A to Z (to the tune of Gilligan's Island) is particularly choice.

Joan Hess has made quite a reputation for herself and garnered several awards (including Agatha and Anthony nominations) with this series set in a wide spot in the road in northwest Arkansas. Misery Loves Maggody is the 11th and continues the saga of the dull-witted Buchanons, the Voice of the Almighty Lord Assembly Hall, and Arly herself. Typically, the murders and Arly's (occasionally muddled) course to their solution are really the icing on the cake of these rich parodies of Southern Living. Although Hess's wit is a bit sharper when her cast of characters sticks closer to home, as they do in Martians in Maggody or Miracles in Maggody, an Elvis sighting or two fits right in with the general wackiness and lovable mayhem. --K.A. Crouch --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of the Maggody (Arkansas) series (Malice in Maggody), and there are many, will revel in this entry, which boasts the usual cast of rednecks, salacious preachers and inbred miscreants who keep Ariel "Arly" Hanks, the town's female chief of police, ever alert. Arly's mother, Ruby Bee, is taking a four-day Elvis Presley Pilgrimage with her best friend, Estelle Oppers. Their five fellow travelers prove to be a smarmy and acrimonious group, and it quickly becomes apparent that they are not quite who they say they are. When Ruby Bee is hospitalized with some disturbing symptoms, Arly becomes involved in an investigation that soon encompasses the mysterious death of one group member and the disappearance of another. Total mayhem ensues as Estelle, whose egregiously unlawful behavior can be classified as an art form, tries to solve the mystery on her own, leaving Arly to clean up the mess?which grows to ensnare the mayor of Maggody, his shrewish wife and a preacher with his own agenda. Hess does again here what she has done so expertly before: keep a firm hand on outrageous characters whose peccadilloes are worthy of a French farce. Agent, Dominick Abel. Mystery Guild main selection.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; F edition (January 18, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684862123
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684862125
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,845,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Maggody Meets Elvis, May 2, 2001
By 
The Joan Hess Maggody books, set in and around the fictional town of Maggody, Arkansas, are all delightful if you are looking for light, entertaining fiction. In this book, the murder takes place away from Maggody while some of the most enjoyable Maggadonians are on an Elvis tour. Maggody Chief of Police Arly Hanks winds up at the crime scene and finds herself up to her wry smile in mystery. If you can't laugh at the weird way Americans view our world, avoid this book. If you have a good sense of humor and don't mind that some of the humor is directed at your own values, read it and enjoy it. If you have not read any of the Maggody books, you might find the books more enjoyable if you started with the first book in the series and worked your way forward.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Misery Loves Maggody, February 10, 2000
Despite the fact that this book had some "formula" style plot lines (very similiar plot to Maggody in Manhatten") I loved the Elvis references (and "sightings!") and the strange, strange, world of the Buchannons. It was a good quick read and I enjoyed it, although it was probably not the strongest book in the series.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars This book is a hoot and a half!, March 30, 1999
By A Customer
In this installment of the Maggody series Ruby Bee and Estelle head off on a bus tour to Memphis for some Elvis worshipping. There's plenty of strange characters along for the ride and the natives are restless in Maggody. The misery in the title comes from all the things that go awray during the tour but we're kept laughing the whole time. Joan Hess writes her characters so believable that you feel like they're your next-door-neighbors. What more can you ask for than Elvis siteings-casinos-gambeling and possibly satinists? A good time was had by all!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
"I just don't know," Ruby Bee was saying as I came across the dance floor. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Ruby Bee, Jim Bob, Cherri Lucinda, Brother Verber, Chief Sanderson, Misery Loves, Miss Hanks, C'Mon Tours, Miss Vetchling, Kevvie Junior, Miss Oppers, Rose Marie, Hot Springs, Rex Malanac, Reverend Hitebred, Sister Barbara, Little Rock, Mackenzie Cutting, Starbright Motel, Assembly Hall, Dew Drop Inn, Estelle Oppers, Stump County, Chem Lucinda, Cotter's Ridge
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