The Maggody Militia

by Joan Hess

Book Overview

Maggody, Arkansas, is a peaceful little Ozarks town snuggled in the heartland of America...until a group of camouflage-clad patriots march in with maneuvers and murder. Suddenly, Chief of Police Arly... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 052594236X
• ISBN13: 9780525942368
• Release Date: May 1997
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Disappointed: not funny as I expected

I forced myself to read the entire book, however I didn’t like the authors style of trying to write humor. I laughed once toward the end of the book. I also found the book quite demeaning to the rural folk of Arkansas.

The Many Misadventures of Arly Hanks

'Magoddy Militia' is the kind of book that is a chocolate bon-bon. You can't stop at one. If you read one Maggody mystery, you gotta read them all. Joan Hess and Janet Evanovich are the grand dames of the humorous murder mysteries. If you like Southern-type humor with backwoods colloquialisms and a smathering of Ellery Queen, Dragnet and Mayberry R.F.D. then you'll just love Hess series of Maggody mysteries. Joan Hess has written eleven Maggody mysteries, as well as twelve Claire Malloy mysteries. she is also the current president of the American Crime Writers League. The series is set in Maggody, Arkansas a peaceful little town snuggles somewhere in the heart of the Ozarks. These are the best laugh-out-loud whodunit of pure rollicking fun. Start with this one and then follow with:Malice in MaggodyMischief in MaggodyMuch Ado in MaggodyMadness in MaggodyMortal Remains in MaggodyMaggody in ManhattanO Little Town of MaggodyMartians in MaggodyMiracles in MaggodyMaggody and the MoonbeamsHess credits her information in writing 'The Maggody Militia' from the 'Armed and Dangerous: The Rise of the Survivalist Right' by James Coates. And pretty much what this story is related to. Our sleuth heroine of Maggody, Arkansas is Chief of Police Arly Hanks. It isn't until a group of camouflage-clad patriots march into town with practice maneuvers-and mayhem and murder. It starts when the widow Kayleen Smeltner lets a group of demented miliants use her pastures for paint-ball war games during the first week of deer hunting season. Then all of a sudden all mayhem breaks loose. Burglars are breaking into houses. The Mayor Jim Bob turns up missing. And, Dylan Gilbert a survialist has been killed or so it seems. If that isn't enough two unpredictable ostrichs have the town up in arms. Arly Hanks has her hands full to find a motive, a means and a murderer. With her wise detective instinct she reckons there isn't a secret government conspiracy behind all this,nope just your average human evil-doers of blind ambition, greed, and deadly obsessions. The story is hiliarious and entertainingly engaging. The dialogue makes for alot of that down-home flair and much humor. I've had fun reading 'Maggody' and look forward to reading further episodes. You're sure to have a good time with the 'Maggody' gang.

More Misadventures in Maggody.....

This is just what police chief, Arly Hanks, needs. A militia of homegrown super patriots have camped in Maggody, trying to recruit new members, and playing war games up on Cotter's Ridge. With deer hunting season about to begin, guaranteeing drunken, brazen good old boys shooting at any and everything that moves out there in the woods, she figures it's only a matter of time before somebody will end up getting hurt. And that's exactly what happens. Not only does militiaman, Dylan Gilbert, get shot and killed on the first day of maneuvers, but it seems that the bullet is not what did him in. Add to that the disappearance of the ever-creepy, Brother Verber, a very pregnant and missing Dahlia Buchanon, a rash of burglaries in and around Maggody, and a couple of wayward ostriches wreaking havoc, and you could say that Arly has her hands full in a very big way..... Joan Hess is back with another hilarious, manic romp through Maggody, and this is a series that just gets better with each new installment. The story line is entertaining, the writing, crisp, witty, and engaging, and the dialogue, irreverent and full of down-home colloquialisms and backwoods humor. But it's Ms Hess' unique cast of wacky and quirky characters that make this book stand out, and once you've gotten to know Arly and company, you'll be hooked for sure. With an ending that brings all the plot lines together, and ties up the loose ends into a nice, neat, satisfying package, The Maggody Militia is a delightful and humorous mystery that shouldn't be missed. For those new to Arly Hanks and Maggody, Arkansas, start at the beginning with Malice In Maggody, and read them all. For those of you who are already fans, Joan Hess definitely doesn't disappoint this time out.

Could have taken place in North Idaho where I live

I love all of Joan Hess books and each one allows me to reunite with "friends." Some whom reminds me of my relatives -- no lie. This book however does also take on a heavier issue with humor of militias and how dangerous they are. Very good book -- as usual -- I have turned many people on to her.

I loved this book!

As a long time Maggody reader, I found this book to be a welcome addition to an already entertaining series. Reading Ms. Hess is like eating peanuts - one always leads to another until the bag is empty. In this book, large events in the news are portrayed in the small scale frame of Maggody, Arkansas. Her ability to find humor in life's most frustrating of circumstances is a gift I'm glad she is willing to share. Many times series books get stale after a while, but Ms. Hess' books just get better. It seems she is getting to know these people as long time friends, just as I am. Please write more! I'm waiting!

Dear Ms. Hess: Please write faster!

The Maggody Militia takes some uncomfortable subjects (murder and home grown terrorism) and makes it hiliarious. The entire Maggody series is one fun roller coaster ride. The most recent addition is no exception. From the eccentric Buchanon clan to the wily Ruby and Estelle, the characters are living, breathing people. I never laugh so much as when reading a Joan Hess book. I can only hope she learns to type faster so that there will be more books to read.