Arly Hanks is the police chief in Maggody, Arkansas, which is a hillbilly town of under 1000 persons. The second novel in the Arly Hanks Mystery Series, Mischief in Maggody, by Joan Hess, finds Arly back from vacation to find there are a few more residents, bringing the population to 802. Unfortunately, Robin Buchanan, who is not particularly an upstanding citizen of the town, is found murdered, and Arly is determined to find the murderer.

Hess must have done her research or come from a Hillbilly town, because the characters are well developed and ring true. They are quite comical to read about, even though they live a lifestyle most readers don’t want to have a part of. The novel is actually farcical, but fun to read. The characters are mostly ne’er do wells who don’t have laws and are difficult and dishonest. The politicians in the town are typical of our modern day politicians and are a mess.

The storyline flows and Hess does a good job of adding ups and downs and surprise scenarios to the plot. The novel is a fast and fun read, and gives readers a sense that they are actually in hillbilly country, and her setting of the scene makes it seem real.

All told, this is a humorous novel and a fun one to take on vacation or read at the beach. It won’t be taken seriously and is an enjoyable read.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

In her second Arly Hanks mystery, Joan Hess introduces us to the seamier underbelly of Maggody, Arkansas, population 755. After mountain woman/part-time hooker/bootlegger, Robin Buchanon disappears, her four older kids are taken in by the Mayor’s wife (known as “Mizzoner”) and her baby is taken in by Arly’s mother, Ruby Bee. Of course, since none of the children know how to read, or keep clean, or how to live in any dwelling built after 1900 in a place not in the middle of an unpopulated mountain, (Dogpatch from the L’il Abner comics is modern compared to their cabin), their antics cause Mizzoner to have a nervous breakdown while the men of Maggody worry that they may be exposed as one of kids’ “pappys.”

After Hanks finds Robin’s body alongside a booby-trapped marijuana patch, she sets out to find the murderers. Meanwhile, her not-all-there police department janitor, declares himself a “deputy,” steals the sheriff’s jeep and disappears into the mountains with his not-all-there girlfriend, claiming he will solve the mystery. Not to be outdone in the outrageous acts department, Ruby Bee manages to lose the baby; the new-in-town psychic, Madame Celeste, manages to create hysteria with her predictions; and a bunch of hippies, also new-in-town, generate their own brand of chaos by meditating in the nude.

Entering the world of Arly Hanks is always a treat, and it’s comforting to know there are at least fourteen more novels in the series. Thank you Joan Hess!

(In return for an honest review, I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.)

I'm glad there republishing this series it's a fun read with an interesting and colorful cast of characters.

The return of Ariel Hanks, the 35-year-old chief of police in a small Arkansas town called Maggody (population 755 when everybody's home). To an outsider Maggody looks alot like an open air insane asylum with Chief Hanks serving as a combination ring master/warden/arbiter of common sense... in fact, Chief Hanks feels that way herself most of the time.

In this second book in the series Ariel "Arly" Hanks has just returned from a brief vacation to find that the town is all abuzz over a recent addition - a psychic named Madam Celeste. Madam Celeste may or may not have psychic ability but she is definitely making an impression on the locals. Particularly the chief's mother Ruby Bee who wants her daughter to get life (romantic) advice from the newcomer. Chief Arly isn't interested in psychic intervention.

She may have to reconsider when a local woman, described as "a backwoods moonshining, whoring, abusive mountain woman", disappears leaving behind five foul mouthed, near feral children to be taken care of and things really start picking up in the little town where "nothing ever happens." Before it's all over the chief will have to deal with, in her own words, "a murder, a bunch of orphans, a stolen police vehicle, two missing morons, a town full of loonies who communicate with dead ancestors, and a psychic..."

Okay, so I read the first book in the series, I thought the author was trying a little too hard with the quirky, eccentric, rural characters. They came out as contrived and one deminsional. I'm pleased to report that the second book is a bit better.

Many of the characters are still one deminsional, cliched caricatures of small town folk, but others are more realistic... more Andy Griffith Show simple folk than Beverly Hillbillies ridiculous. The author seems to be finding her happy median between silly and serious.

I gave Mischief in Maggody 3-stars. It is fun and entertaining, but also extremely predictable... I had most of the mystery (including several plot twists) figured out about half way through the book. After that it was simply a case of watching the various characters annoy, bewilder and astonish Chief Hanks.

It's a fun read. Not great - not bad.

While the book sounds like a cozy, potential readers should be aware that it contains alot of swearing (particularly by children), some light violence, and sexual situations (more suggestive than graphic).

***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this title

I enjoy this series. Arly is back from vacation and finds new residents have moved to Maggody, Arkansas. One of the new residents is also harboring a secret. All the crazy supporting cast of characters are here again as well as some new ones. As Arly tracks down the murderer, Ruby Bee and Estelle are not interfering in her investigation. There is a lot of humor and small town hijinks. The mystery was good and there was a twist at the end. This series does not need to be read in order. Enjoy this humorous small town cozy series.

Joan Hess is a marvelous writer both in her mastery of colloquial dialog and of intriguing plotting. I was mesmerized by Mischief.

It's all because of a Ginseng patch (or I guess more specifically what replaces that patch). It's what causes the biggest parts of the problems with the plot and I had weirdly forgotten that part or the plot since the first time I read this book. (I also think that I liked it better this time weirdly enough).

Robin, the curator of said patch is killed. That leaves her five children as orphans, and they coming to town plunges that into chaos. A fortune teller named Madame Celeste (and her brother) as well as some new hippies add to the twisty turney craziness of this book too. Oh, and of course Arly has to solve who killed Robin.

There's also a new counselor at the high school. He is set up with Arly by her mother Ruby Bee and Ruby Bee and Estelle get into some trouble of their own as well.

It's an all around cool book and a really captivating mystery too.

I got this book through Netgalley on behalf of Open Road Integrated Media.

I only got about 3 chapters into the book and had to put it down. I readily admit that I'm a bit squeamish when it comes to profanity and some times I just can't see past it to continue the story which I hate because this one was looking to be a might bit entertaining to use the vernacular.

This was a reprint from a few years ago, before cell phones and such ruled our lives, so it's a little dated, but still as damn funny as ever. Arly Hanks, Ruby Bee, Estelle Oppers and the numerous simian-looking Buchanons are all present, accounted for, and hilarious. It was worth the re-read.

In this second book, Arly comes back from vacation to find that the town has some new residents. They seem suspicious to some in town and as she is starting to ask a few questions a resident is murdered. Arly then has her hands full of trying to find the murderer and uncovering secrets. But Arly is a strong woman and she comes through in fine fashion.

I received an ebook from the publisher on NetGalley.

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Arly Hanks series written by Joan Hess. Police Chief Arly Hanks finds her small town, Maggody, has some new inhabitants when she returns from vacation. Soon, Robin Buchanon, local prostitute and moonshiner, disappears, and Arly finds her bloody body at the edge of a marijuana field. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Joan Hess makes me snort, chuckle, and guffaw all the way through the book. There are so many reasons why I should not like this book: foul language, tarot cards, etc. but her writing amuses me so much that I overlook all that. I will continue to read this series.

I really like this series.
Arley Hanks is a lovable character who always puts a smile on my face.
Whenever I read a book in this quirky series, I know I will be laughing out loud.
A missing prostitute, unruly children, the mayor's annoying wife and marijuana.
The combination is just as odd as all the Buchanons in this book!

Whether you're new to this author or revisiting again, you will be sure to tell all your friends about this outlandish series by Joan Hess.