Much Ado in Maggody: An Ozarks Murder Mystery [Paperback]

Joan Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1989

When Johanna Mae Nookim is denied the request to file sex discrimination charges, soon half the women in Maggody band together. Brother Verber thinks they are practicing witchcraft, but everybody learns the truth when the women stage a demonstration. Next, the bank turns to flames, and the head teller is found dead.

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Women's lib comes to Maggody, a sleepy little Ozarks town where the distaff side is supposed to keep its place. Unfortunately, the movement is accompanied by murder and other unpleasantness. Head bank teller Johnna Mae Nookim, sole support of her husband and children, finds herself demoted when returning to work after having her third child. She tries to get police chief Arly Hanks, seen before in Mischief in Maggody , to arrest the bank manager; when that fails, Johnna Mae appeals to Women Aligned Against Chauvinism in the Office (WAACO) and the group's lawyer, Carolyn McCoy-Grunders. The women of Maggody rally to the cause, picketing the bank as well as demanding their rights at home. In the middle of the demonstration, the bank catches fire; the body of the new head teller, Brandon Bernswallow--a scion of the family that owns the bank--is discovered in the ruins. Arly 's investigation finds financial irregularities at the bank, pointing to a number of employees who might have had an interest in eliminating Bernswallow, who was himself apparently a blackmailer. While Hess still draws her characters broadly, Maggody and the engaging Arly begin to grow on the reader in this quite readable mystery.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (July 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312029527
• ISBN-13: 978-0312029524
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,783,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ERA NOW in Maggody?, April 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Much Ado in Maggody (Arly Hanks Mystery) (Paperback)

When the local branch of the bank burns down and they find a body in the remains but are missing two, the confusion begins. The women of Maggody decide they will no longer be second rate citizens and the men do not seem to understand it may be the beginning of modernization in our favorite little town, but don't bet on it. Arly has to sift through the ashes and the motives of the suspects. You don't want to miss this stroy in the Arly Hanks/Maggody series

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Crazy !!!!, January 16, 2009

By 

Charms "charmingshape" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

Who in their right mind, would be stupid enough to pay $100.00 for this item ? No one. I suggest if you want to sell this book,lower the price.
With prices like this no wonder the country is in a state of economical stress.