The Maggody Militia: An Arly Hanks MysteryChief of police Arly (that's short for Ariel) Hanks makes sure there's law and order in Maggody, Arkansas (pop. 755), which isn't too difficult considering the only weapon she needs to tote around is a radar gun. Aside from Raz Buchanon's moonshine still up on Cotter's Ridge, Maggody is a peaceful little Ozarks town snuggled in the heartland of America, until a group of camouflage-clad patriots march in with maneuvers - and murder. It all begins when a pretty widow named Kayleen opens a pawnshop over the hardware store and buys an old farm out on County 102. The widow is letting a group of survivalists use her back pasture for paint-ball war games during the first weekend of hunting season when bourbon-swigging good ol' boys with deer rifles shoot at anything that moves...and that might include make-believe soldiers in fatigues. Suddenly Arly has her hands full: burglars are breaking into remote homes throughout the county; Mayor Jim Bob is a missing person, and his wife is having a hissy fit; the very pregnant Dahlia Buchanon is behaving more bizarrely than usual; and Estelle, of Estelle's Hair Fantasies, gets a surprise inheritance that has the residents of Maggody running for cover. So when a survivalist gets killed, Arly is hunting for a motive, a means, and a murderer. |
Common terms and phrases
ain't Arly asked Assembly Hall baby Barry Bee and Estelle beer blowgun Bob's Brother Verber Buchanon burglaries camp Chief Hanks coffee Cotter's Ridge Dahlia damn deer Diesel dropped drove Dylan Gilbert Earl Eileen Estelle's eyes Farberville Flamingo folks gave gone gonna guess Harve head heard Hummer Jake Jeremiah Jim Bob JOAN HESS Judy Kayleen Kevin Kevin Fitzgerald Kewie Kirklin kitchen Larry Joe living room look Maggody Marjorie Maurice Mayfly militia minutes morning motel night okay paint pellets pocket pulled Red Rooster Reed rifle road Ruby Bee Ruby Bee's Bar sheriff shot smile someone stared station wagon stay Sterling Pitts stopped Stump County sure talk tell there's thing thought told took town trailer truck Uncle Tooly voice waited watch week What's window Yeah