The Merry Wives of Maggody

An Arly Hanks Mystery

By: Joan Hess

Narrated by: C. J. Critt

Maggody, Arkansas (pop. 755) is regarded by most as a two-bit hick town, filled with one-bit hicks. But Mrs. Jim Bob Buchanon seeks to change that with her latest scheme - a charity golf tournament! This presents a bit of a challenge, since no one in Maggody plays golf, and there is no course. But when the prize for the first hole-in-one is announced - a top of the line bass boat - nearly everyone in town quickly develops a profound interest in the sport.

Sheriff Arly Hanks, who has better things to worry about, just wishes it would all go away. When Tommy Ridner beats the odds and sinks a hole-in-one to win the boat on the first day of the tournament, it looks like it's all over...until the next morning, when he's found dead, his head caved in by a golf club. Now, according to the rules, the prize is once again up for grabs. Arly Hanks is faced with a complicated investigation - and darned near everyone in town is a suspect.

©2009 Joan Hess. All rights reserved. (P)2009 BBC Audiobooks America

Amusing as always!

Joan Hess' Maggody books are sequential, they need to be noted as such. As always, a hysterical read!

Can't wait for the next one!

Merry Wives and Merry Murder

Would you consider the audio edition of The Merry Wives of Maggody to be better than the print version?

I liked both

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing, but the plot was also consistent with foreshadowing and clues supplied all along, so that it did not result in one of those irritating

Have you listened to any of C. J. Critt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is one of her best performances.

Any additional comments?

It is definately worth the time to listen

last in a great series

as always loved it. but my heart was aching to find the it's the last because Joan Hess passed away several years ago

Good to visit Maggody Again

I'ver read every Maggody book, but this is the 1st one I've listened to. Love the story but was not happy with Mrs Jim Bob and Estelle's 'voices.' Could have had more fun with the pastors voice as well. The rest of the narration was fine. The story was once again the kind you couldn't put down (or pause, I guess). Definitely worth every cent!

I LIKE CJ Critt, really

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no I would not recommend this book. The voices are too hard to follow and the story is dragging I don't even want to finish the book. I like CJ Critt. I've listened to other series and her voices are perfect, so I don't know if it's the characters here or the story... BUT I don't want to hear more

Awful Reader

I can’t rate the story because the reader is so bad. So I have to delete it.

Narrator ruins the book.

All the delights of Joan Hess' wonderful writing and laugh-out-loud characters and plots set in a tiny, tongue-in-cheek Arkansas village are ruined by the harsh oral language of the narrator, making the people and events as grating on the willing suspension of disbelief as the narrator is on the ears. My first book not narrated by the incomparable talent and intonation of Kristin Kalbli--and my last! I did not finish this one and returned it for credit. I felt as if the characters had died in the complete miscarriage of the formerly flawless narration. From an Arkansas resident