Joan Hess (January 6, 1949 – November 23, 2017) was an American mystery writer known for her humorous and quirky detective series featuring the police chief Arly Hanks and her investigations in the Ozark town of Maggody. Hess was a member of Sisters in Crime and served as president of the organization. Her writing style is characterized by witty dialogue, eccentric characters, and a light-hearted approach to crime solving. Hess penned numerous series, most notably the Maggody series and the Amelia Peabody adventure series (co-written with Elizabeth Peters).









































































































