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series Reading Order

Arly Hanks Books in Order

16 Books
1987 – 2009 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Arly Hanks / Maggody Series

To fully enjoy the development of the recurring characters, the escalating small-town gossip, and the relationships in the fictional town of Maggody, Arkansas, you should read this series in its original publication order. The series features no prequels, spin-offs, or crossovers, making it a straightforward chronological journey from start to finish.

The Official Publication Order of Arly Hanks Books

Here is the correct chronological order of the 16 novels written by Joan Hess:

  1. Malice in Maggody (1987)
  2. Mischief in Maggody (1988)
  3. Much Ado in Maggody (1989)
  4. Madness in Maggody (1990)
  5. Mortal Remains in Maggody (1991)
  6. Maggody in Manhattan (1992)
  7. O Little Town of Maggody (1993)
  8. Martians in Maggody (1994)
  9. Miracles in Maggody (1995)
  10. The Maggody Militia (1997)
  11. Misery Loves Maggody (1999)
  12. Murder @ Maggody.com (2000)
  13. Maggody and the Moonbeams (2001)
  14. Muletrain to Maggody (2004)
  15. Malpractice in Maggody (2006)
  16. The Merry Wives of Maggody (2009)

Reading Order Clarifications and Pitfalls

Some online databases and lists contain minor errors regarding the early order of the series. Most notably, Miracles in Maggody is sometimes erroneously listed as the second book with a 1988 publication year. In reality, Mischief in Maggody is the second book (1988), and Miracles in Maggody was published in 1995 as the ninth book. Stick to the list above to ensure you follow Arly's life and the town's antics as Joan Hess intended.

Although Joan Hess is also highly famous for her Claire Malloy mystery series (set in the college town of Farberville), the two series do not cross over. You can read them completely independently of each other.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Arly Hanks series?

You should start with the first novel, Malice in Maggody (1987), as the character relationships and running jokes build from book to book.

QWhy do some lists put Miracles in Maggody second?

This is a common indexing error. Miracles in Maggody was published in 1995 (ninth book), whereas Mischief in Maggody is the true second book published in 1988.

QAre there any crossover books with Claire Malloy?

No. Although both series are set in Arkansas and written by Joan Hess, the Arly Hanks and Claire Malloy series remain entirely separate with no crossovers or spin-offs.

QWas there ever a TV show based on Arly Hanks?

Yes, a television pilot titled Arly Hanks starring Kate Jackson as the chief of police aired on CBS in 1993, but it was not developed into a full series.

QHow many books are in the Arly Hanks series?

The series consists of exactly 16 novels, beginning in 1987 and concluding in 2009 with The Merry Wives of Maggody.