Malpractice in Maggody

November 14, 2005
When an unknown buyer quickly and covertly renovates what was once the local old folks' home, many of the 775 inhabitants of Maggody, Ark., are more than curious in Hess's delightful 15th Arly Hanks mystery (after 2004's Muletrain to Maggody
). Rumors fly that the new Stonebridge Foundation, a posh rehabilitation center surrounded by a brick wall and protected by a Spanish-speaking guard and a mean dog, is a lunatic asylum. When a young woman is found drowned in a pond on the grounds, police chief Arly Hanks investigates with her customary aplomb and humor, aided by a less than supportive cast of helpers. Meanwhile, the quirky and lovable citizens of Maggody deal with matters in their own inimitable style. The addition of some far from perfect new characters helps keep this deservedly popular cozy series fresh.

January 1, 2006
The prolific Hess, author of 15 Claire Malloy mysteries, now delivers the fifteenth in her Arly Hanks series. Although both series are set in small-town Arkansas, the protagonists are very different women--Claire is a lovable bumbler whereas Arly delights readers with her brains and smart mouth. In this adventure, Arly returns from a camping trip to find the tiny town of Maggody (population 755) abuzz. The local home for the elderly has been sold to an unknown buyer, who kicks out the residents and transforms the space into the mysterious Stonebridge Foundation. When the Stonebridge receptionist is found drowned, the activities surrounding the place take on a sinister air. Throughout it all, Arly struggles to keep her aplomb, especially when some Maggody citizens start to look a little suspicious. Her mother, Ruby Bee, and Ruby's best friend, Estelle, add a generous dash of humor to the proceedings, as do other zany characters of the tiny town. Good, clean fun that will please fans of Hess' madcap mix of comedy and mystery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)