Joan Hess is an accomplished American author, well-known for her mystery novels. She has written two popular series, the Claire Malloy series and the Arly Hanks series, also known as the Maggody Mysteries. Hess earned her B.A. in art from the University of Arkansas and an M.S. in early childhood development from Long Island University. Her journey into writing began when a friend suggested she try writing a romance novel. After ten attempts, she decided to switch to mysteries, which led to her eventual success.
Hess's commitment to writing is truly admirable. Despite facing numerous rejections in her early career, she never gave up. Her perseverance eventually paid off, resulting in the creation of beloved series like the Maggody Mysteries. Hess's dedication to her craft is a testament to her passion for storytelling and her ability to create engaging and intriguing mysteries.
In addition to the Claire Malloy and Maggody series, Hess also wrote a mystery series under the pseudonym Joan Hadley. She was a winner of the American Mystery Award, a member of Sisters in Crime, and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. Hess has lived in various places, including Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Austin, Texas, where she now resides. She is also a proud grandmother of twin grandchildren.
Joan Hess has had a long and successful career as a mystery novelist. Her ability to create engaging characters and intricate plots has earned her a devoted following among mystery fans. Her commitment to her craft and her refusal to give up in the face of rejection are an inspiration to aspiring writers everywhere. Hess continues to write and publish novels, delighting readers with her unique blend of humor, blood, and mystery.
Claire Malloy Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Strangled Prose
1985
2
The Murder at the Murder at the Mimosa Inn
1986
3
Dear Miss Demeanor
1987
4
A Really Cute Corpse
1988
5
A Diet to Die For
1989
6
Roll Over and Play Dead
1991
7
Death by the Light of the Moon
1992
8
Poisoned Pins
1993
9
To Kill a Husband
1994
10
Tickled to Death
1994
11
Busy Bodies
1995
12
Closely Akin to Murder
1996
13
A Holly, Jolly Murder
1997
14
A Conventional Corpse
2000
15
Out on a Limb
2002
16
The Goodbye Body
2005
17
Damsels in Distress
2007
18
Mummy Dearest
2008
19
Deader Homes and Gardens
2012
20
Murder as a Second Language
2013
21
Pride v. Prejudice
2015
Theo Bloomer Books (as Joan Hadley)
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Night-Blooming Cereus
1986
2
The Deadly Ackee
1988
Arly Hanks Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Malice in Maggody
1987
2
Miracles in Maggody
1988
3
Mischief in Maggody
1988
4
Much Ado in Maggody
1989
5
Madness in Maggody
1991
6
Mortal Remains in Maggody
1991
7
Maggody in Manhattan
1992
8
O Little Town of Maggody
1993
9
Martians in Maggody
1994
10
The Maggody Militia
1997
11
Misery Loves Maggody
1999
12
murder@maggody.com / murda@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
Amelia Peabody Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Crocodile on the Sandbank
1975
2
The Curse of the Pharaohs
1981
3
The Mummy Case
1985
4
Lion in the Valley
1986
5
The Deeds of the Disturber
1988
6
The Last Camel Died at Noon
1991
7
The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog
1992
8
The Hippopotamus Pool
1996
9
Seeing a Large Cat
1997
10
The Ape Who Guards the Balance
1998
11
The Falcon at the Portal
1999
12
He Shall Thunder in the Sky
2000
13
Lord of the Silent
2001
14
The Golden One
2002
15
Children of the Storm
2003
16
Guardian of the Horizon
2004
17
The Serpent on the Crown
2005
18
Tomb of the Golden Bird
2006
19
A River in the Sky
2010
20
Amelia Peabody Omnibus
2012
21
The Painted Queen
2014
Amelia Peabody Series in Chronological Order
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Crocodile on the Sandbank
1975
2
The Curse of the Pharaohs
1981
3
The Mummy Case
1985
4
Lion in the Valley
1986
5
The Deeds of the Disturber
1988
6
The Last Camel Died at Noon
1991
7
The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog
1992
8
The Hippopotamus Pool
1996
9
Seeing a Large Cat
1997
10
The Ape Who Guards the Balance
1998
11
Guardian of the Horizon
2004
12
A River in the Sky
2010
13
The Falcon at the Portal
1999
14
The Painted Queen
2014
15
He Shall Thunder in the Sky
2000
16
Lord of the Silent
2001
17
The Golden One
2002
18
Children of the Storm
2003
19
The Serpent on the Crown
2005
20
Tomb of the Golden Bird
2006
21
Amelia Peabody Omnibus
2012
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Future Tense
1987
2
Red Rover, Red Rover
1987
Short Stories/Novellas
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Too Much To Bare
1990
2
The Last To Know
1992
Short Story Collections
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Death of a Romance Writer and Other Stories
2002
2
Big Foot Stole My Wife! and Other Stories
2003
3
The Deadly Ackee and Other Stories of Crime and Catastrophe
2003
4
Caveat Emptor and Other Stories
2016
Crosswinds Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Sylvia Smith-Smith
1987
2
Shock Effect
1987
3
Lou Dunlop: Private Eye
1987
4
Lou Dunlop: Cliffhanger
1987
5
Kaleidoscope
1987
6
Angel In The Snow
1988
Joan Hess Anthologies
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Sisters in Crime 2
1990
2
Malice Domestic 1
1992
3
Women of Mystery
1992
4
The Fine Art of Murder: The Mystery Reader's Indispensable Companion
1993
5
Women of Mystery II
1994
6
Malice Domestic 3
1994
7
The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories 1993