Rating: 
Summary: More mischief in Maggody
Review: After Joan Hess's last Maggody book I wondered what else Chief Arly Hanks, Ruby Bee and the Buchanon clans could get into and I will say that I am pleased with the latest effort. Chief Hanks stumbles along the body of a cult member while chaperoning ten of Maggody's future on a retreat. The rest of the book is the usual fare with adventures of the townfolk of Maggody and Arly solving the crime.
As always Joan Hess keeps the antics of Kevin Buchanon, Mrs. Jim Bob and Brother Verber (to name a few) laugh out loud but Arly is not the typical heroine who is always kicking butt and able to solve crime.
I did find this book a bit lacking with the Maggody parts. There didn't seem to be the same development as if they were rushed. Otherwise an entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: More mischief in Maggody
Review: After Joan Hess's last Maggody book I wondered what else Chief Arly Hanks, Ruby Bee and the Buchanon clans could get into and I will say that I am pleased with the latest effort. Chief Hanks stumbles along the body of a cult member while chaperoning ten of Maggody's future on a retreat. The rest of the book is the usual fare with adventures of the townfolk of Maggody and Arly solving the crime.
As always Joan Hess keeps the antics of Kevin Buchanon, Mrs. Jim Bob and Brother Verber (to name a few) laugh out loud but Arly is not the typical heroine who is always kicking butt and able to solve crime.
I did find this book a bit lacking with the Maggody parts. There didn't seem to be the same development as if they were rushed. Otherwise an entertaining read.
Rating: 
Summary: Maggody and the Moonbeams
Review: Another Winner! As with all the other books in the Maggody series, I laughed out loud and couldn't stop turning the pages. All the characters are up to their usual antics with some bizarre element, in this case, the Moonbeams. Most of the story takes place at Camp Pearly Gates with the Moonbeam cult and Joan creates a fantastic mental image. The flash backs to the characters in Maggody were disjointed but still funny. I've lived in Northwest Arkansas all my life and I know these Maggody people and places, really! I still pass through on my way to Branson several times a year.
Rating:
Summary: Joan Hess Keeps Getting Better
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut novel in its initial release, I am literally amazed by writers such as Joan Hess who have series of mysteries that keep improving with each work. In MAGGODY AND THE MOONBEAMS, Ms. Hess proves my point perfectly. Arly Hanks is chaperoning a group of teenagers who are on a repair mission to Camp Pearly Gates. Those of us who have read our share of Arly's adventures know well that complications will arise. In this book, Arly finds herself tangling with the Moonbeams, an all-female cult whose members are often mistaken for aliens. As Arly attempts to solve the murder of a moonbeam member, Ms. Hess tells her tale in her usual hilarious manner. MAGGODY AND THE MOONBEAMS has everything we have grown to expect from Ms. Hess. It is a winner.
Rating: 
Summary: Moonbeams in crises
Review: Chief of Police Arly Hanks is manipulated into serving what amounts to a community service sentence, chaperoning teenagers on what could be the worst assignment of her career. She accompanies the randy teens in a ramshackle bus to a remote church camp, to do repairs and clean up. Included in the party are "Mrs. Mayor" (the mayor's wife Mrs. Jim Bob), the preacher Brother Verber, and teacher Larry Joe Lambertino. The action really starts when one of the teenages literally stumbles over a corpse, one of the Moonbeam cult, who refuse to cooperate in the investigation. In addition, Arly is being pressured to marry a local law enforcement person, and there are segues back to Maggody to keep us apprised of what Jim Bob is up to in Mrs. Jim Bob's absence. A laugh a minute, if a bit predictable.
Rating:
Summary: Moonbeams in crises
Review: Chief of Police Arly Hanks is manipulated into serving what amounts to a community service sentence, chaperoning teenagers on what could be the worst assignment of her career. She accompanies the randy teens in a ramshackle bus to a remote church camp, to do repairs and clean up. Included in the party are "Mrs. Mayor" (the mayor's wife Mrs. Jim Bob), the preacher Brother Verber, and teacher Larry Joe Lambertino. The action really starts when one of the teenages literally stumbles over a corpse, one of the Moonbeam cult, who refuse to cooperate in the investigation. In addition, Arly is being pressured to marry a local law enforcement person, and there are segues back to Maggody to keep us apprised of what Jim Bob is up to in Mrs. Jim Bob's absence. A laugh a minute, if a bit predictable.
Rating: 
Summary: Maggody and the Moonbeams
Review: Did Joan Hess die and it didn't make the news? This book is just not up to her usual hilarious standards. It's as if some one else was writing this book. The Maggody series is one of my favorites, with zany characters and wit on every page. Her writing has always been so cleverly done, but this one leaves so much to be desired. There is not very much that's funny at the beginning of the book, but once Arly leaves Maggody it's downhill from there. Once the characters reach the church camp, this book resembles a not very well written average murder mystery. The segues back to Maggody from time to time are disjointed and not well developed. I really don't know why Ms. Hess even bothers with these little side trips to Maggody. From now on Joan, keep your stories in Maggody with all the old familiar, absured, crazy folks that inhabit this little town. We love you Joan! Come back!
Rating:
Summary: MAGGODY AND THE MOONBEAMS SHINES!
Review: Every time I take a fictional visit to the rural Arkansas town of Maggody (population 775 who all seem to be Buchanons of some sort or other with yet another one on the way), I always look at the publisher's line on the bottom of the title page ... Simon & Schuster with its list of offices in New York, London, Toronto, Sydney and Singapore. It completely mystifies me trying to imagine what readers in Singapore think about the criminal justice system in Maggody. Anyway, this trip into the world of high crime and comedy starts with Ruby Bee Hanks burning up the kitchen of Ruby Bee's Bar and Grill. Add Duluth Buchanon's wife running off with his children and Raz Buchanon searching for a live-in companion for his pig Marjorie. And last, but not least, Arly getting shanghaied into being a chaperone to a church group of ten out of control teens (Billy Dick, Big Mac, Darla Jean et al), who are supposed to spend a week rebuilding Camp Pearly Gates under the unfortunate guidance of Mrs. Jim Bob Buchanon (the mayor's wife) and Brother Verber (the town's preacher). Once at Camp Pearly gates, everyone one starts seeing what they think are angels, ghosts and/or aliens, and Darla Jean trips over a dead body in the woods on a dark and stormy afternoon. If you thought the folks in Maggody were whacko, wait until you meet the people who live around Camp Pearly Gates. As always, Joan Hess delivers up a funny and enjoyable read. (Even if I can't keep track of all the Buchanons!)
Rating:
Summary: Getting more high falutin'
Review: I have always come to the Maggody stories for light entertainment rather than edification. The jokes were often corny and the characterization crude but the mixture worked. In this one there are a number of highbrow references and Brother Verber reveals a childhood trauma that may account for his character flaws. Even the relatioship between Raz and Marjory is getting more psychologically complex. Where is all this leading? I'll keep reading to find out.
Rating:
Summary: Maggody Rules!
Review: I have read all of Joan Hess' books and I have never been disappointed in any of them, but I have to admit my heart will always belong to Maggody. Having grown up in a small town that is a dead ringer for Maggody, I always feel like I am coming home. People who were raised in the big city might think people like this don't exist, but they do - in spades! Ruby Bee and Estelle? My Aunt Sister and her friend, Cubelle - you know, the sort of people who can tell someone's entire life history by the cars in their driveway! This installment pits Arly Hanks against a suspected cult called the Moonbeams. On top of all that, she has Brother Verber, Sister Barbara and various other Buchanons to deal with as well. The story never lags and is hilarious as well. My only complaint with any of Hess' books is that they are too short. I can't seem to put them down until I finish them. Don't miss any of them!
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