Mortal Remains in Maggody

by Joan Hess Narrated by Courtney Patterson

Overview

Another "great" cozy mystery set in outrageous Maggody, Arkansas, a town so strange that even Hollywood filmmakers can't believe it's real (Library Journal).



From the Kwik-Stoppe-Shoppe to the Pot O' Gold Mobile Home Park, there isn't much glamour in Maggody . . . but this flyspeck Arkansas town is about to become famous. When a Hollywood production company chooses Maggody as a backdrop for an X-rated Ozarks Romeo and Juliet, the locals are starstruck. And as Maggody is flooded with washed-up actors, ruthless producers, and a cynical crew, the townsfolk will do anything for a close-up-even if it means resorting to murder.



Chief of Police Arly Hanks has no time for Hollywood-she's got her hands full with a local arsonist-but when one of the actors is found dead in a bathtub, she's forced to intervene. As the film spins out of control, Arly realizes that the citizens of Maggody will stop at nothing to get their fifteen minutes of fame-even as the town burns down around them.



In the spirit of David Mamet's State and Main, this delightful novel shows that when Hollywood collides with small-town values, the movie industry doesn't stand a chance.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In this lively addition to the Maggody series, movie fever and dreams of stardom grip the Arkansas village while police chief Arly Hanks ( Madness in Maggody ) hunts for a local arsonist. Glittertown Productions comes to town to film what what they bill as a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet , but what seems more like an X-rated production for the hard-core trade. The actors stay at the motel owned by Arly's mother, Ruby Bee, giving her a front seat to the subsequent momentous events, including the bloody murder of once-famous actress Kitty Kaye, now reduced to Glittertown roles, and the disappearance of her actor husband, mostly known for his TV commercials. While the sleazy director and producer pushes on with the film, Arly uncovers evidence implicating company members--the similar murder of the wife of another Glittertown actor, various cases of blackmail and other unpleasantnesses. Meanwhile, Arly is stalked by a mentally disturbed arsonist seeking a human sacrifice. Hess upholds the standards for her generally amusing series, with serious touches providing a necessary ballast. And some of the scenes of Hollywood meeting the Ozarks are extremely funny. (Nov.)

Library Journal

A small Hollywood movie company specializing in soft porn decides to use Maggody, Arkansas as the location for its current film. The local yokels--an inveterate bunch of gossipy, inbred, and often comically misguided characters--follow the actors and film crew around until murder puts a stop to production. Chief of Police Arly Hanks, whose New York ties lend her credibility, hustles to discover the killer, as well as the arsonist responsible for several barn-burnings. Agreeable confusion, adeptly worked out, and a great addition to the well-known series.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176144390
Publisher:	HighBridge Company
Publication date:	12/14/2021
Series:	Arly Hanks Series , #5
Edition description:	Unabridged

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