[email protected]: An Arly Hanks Mystery

I was about to agree with what some other reviewers said about corny jokes and stereotyped cartoonish characters and farcical plots, but I find I own nine of these so something has me hooked. Compared to other Maggody books this has more emphasis on what a depressing life Arly leads and what a miserable place Magoddy is. Clues are not planted early on, but the solution is logical because the murderer is acting in character. I was reminded of the way PD James gets to her solutions. This is less pretentious than PD James but in some ways the art is as deep. Hess conceals her cleverness. No cat and no dog but an excellent pig.

I get a kick out of the Arly Hanks mysteries. I live in a small town and could just about put a local name on every character in the Maggody series -- although their characters wouldn't be as exaggerated as some of the Maggody folks . . . well . . . maybe they would.This sidesplitting chapter in the madcap Maggody series begins with an unusually lively school board meeting. The touchy subject seems to be computers and the Town of Maggody going on-line. As the mayor puts it, Lottie wants to " . . . give our kids a chance to get their butts kicked into the new millennium." Some residences feel they are ready to join the world on-line and some fear the sins of Internet will overtake Maggody. The lab is approved because the funding is coming from a grant, but once the surfing begins, ripples appear in their fun when unwanted subjects make quick-see splashes into some of the Maggody citizen's emails and ripples turn to waves after a young new comer is murdered and the answer maybe setting in the new computer lab. While Arly is trying to track down a killer Eileen and Dahlia try to teach their men a lesson, Mrs. Joe Bob learns more about her own husband than she'd like, and Brother Verber worries about his flocks lust-filled souls and decides to posts his sermons on the Maggody home page.As usual Ms. Hess was able to blend the mystery plot with the quirkiness of Maggody and make it believable. This author knows her characters and knows what works for them. Although Arly is the main character in a way, I liked the fact that she doesn't hog the limelight or become so witty and sharp to the point of irritation as some lead characters tend to do. I did not feel overwhelmed or distracted by the different characters in this whodunit and had no problem following the mystery. The Maggody series has one set of impressive characters. When I am reading a Maggody Madcap no matter how pitiful or ornery some of them behave I just can't seem to turn away or get angry. They are colorful and amusing with an ambulance-chasing way about them that holds the readers attention. In fact readers may want to find a quiet spot to read [email protected] so as not to disturb anyone with his or her uncontrolled gasps, snickering and laughter.If you haven't met Arly, Ruby Bee, Estelle, Joe Bob, Mrs. Joe Bob, Brother Verber, Earl and Eileen, Kevin and Dahlia, Daniel and Leona, etc., and the more recent residences of Maggody, now is a good time. [email protected] is one site . . . excuse me, one millennium mystery you don't want to miss.

I loved this book, it was so topical with the internet becoming such an integral part of our lives. I thought the characters were great, I love the teacher who was bringing technology to Maggody and I thought the kids who ravaged the citizens with their internet pranks were very funny. And the phoniness of Mizonner and the silliness of Hizonner were never better. Thanks for a great read!

Arly Hanks is back...and so are Ruby, Estelle, and the rest of the Maggody regulars. If you are looking for a fast-paced, murder mystery that has you shaking your head, rereading lines like the title of this review, and laughing out loud -- this is the book for you! Maggody is ready to enter the 21st Century by putting a computer lab in a trailer outside the school. Mrs. Jim Bob and Brother Verber are up in arms, the new computer nerd has a wife who is more than unhappy living in the sticks, a motorcyle rider named Lazrus roars into town, an unwed teenager shows up to live with relatives instead of "doing time"... and that is just the beginning! All your favorite Maggody-ites are back...even Raz Buchanon (who is missing a load of moonshine) and his loving hog Marjorie! Kevin and Dahlia are suffering from sleep deprivation due to their twins, and Mrs. Jim Bob thinks she may have seen a photo of her hubby online....in someone else's underwear! Check into Maggody for a great read!

Arly and the gang from Maggody are back at it, and those of us who have known them for years are glad of it. What could be more reasonable than bringing Rudy Bee and the rest of the residents into the Intenet age thanks to a federal grant to the high school? Well, reason doesn't have a lot to do with life in rural Arkansas, and Mrs. Jim Bob (Barbara Ann Buchanan Buchanan) is not sure the Devil isn't behind this latest attempt to usher in new ideas and technology. After all, anyone can find pictures of buck naked people there. But progress does happen, and when a corpse turns up (where else) in Robin Buchanan's old cabin, Arly is on the trail of a murderer.com. Great new characters, as well as more of the ones we know and love. A must-read for all fans of the series.