Product Description
A former human cannonball...a dead woman in a hedge maze...a huge crowd of questionable characters. When the social event of the season turns into a three-ring circus, Archy McNally must jump through hoops to catch a killer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Lawrence Sanders
Long time ago I read one of Lawrence Sanders' s detective novels, found it too violent for me and decided never to read this author. Then I accidently bought one of his McNally series and absolutely fall in love with his adorable and mischievous hero and his delightfully elegant style. I bought every single book of these series and loved every one of them! I wish Mr. Sanders were still with us in this "best of all worlds" to continue writing mystery novels aboutArchie McNally. I would never miss any one of them.

I'm sorry, but.....
I don't enjoy bashing any author, because I know how much work is involved in writing a novel.
That said, I was a big, big fan of Lawrence Sanders' Archy McNally series. Sadly, Mr. Lardo misses the mark in his continuation series.
How? In many, many ways.
While an originating author is free to make up his own rules as he goes along. In my opinion, a continuation author is morally bound to keep the basics the same.
He cannot take a policeman/friend, (Al Rogoff) and turn him from a well-spoken policeman into a cop who sprinkles his sentences with "ain't" and totally butchers the English language.
He should know that the Pelican's Simon Pettigrew always would address Archy as "Mr. McNally," and never as "Archy." (If you're going to carry on a man's work, do some research if you haven't cared enough previously to read the first author's books.)
Connie was good enough for Lawrence Sanders, but apparently not for Mr. Lardo.
Maybe I'm nitpicking but Mr. Lardo's A.M. just isn't as interesting as Mr. Sander's A.M. His dialogue isn't as clever. Continuation series books are, in the final analysis, clones of the original books. Mr. Lardo falls short, far short, in this area. None of the characters ring true.
His plots actually are fairly good, but not good enough to make up for his shortcomings. It's only because of my high regard for the Archy McNally series that I read Mr. Lardo's books. Since it's been around six years since the last A.M. books, I'm guessing that others feel as I do. RIP, Archy McNally.

Where's the Bluff? In Church on Sunday?
An angry face of a gorgeous tiger was featured on the book jacket design on the hardcover of McNally's BLUFF (# 13 in this series).At first the symbolism in that design had me puzzled, as I attempted to connect it to the plot.I had wondered why a maze hadn't been used as the graphic symbol... until I contrasted the appealingly brassy red-and-gold colors, and tiger in the bulls-eye on BLUFF's jacket, to the ritzy but somber black-and-gold book jacket of the hardback of McNally's SECRET (the pilot to the series).That cover design comparison gave me a double-bulls-eye "ah ha!" into the slightly different focus of Sanders and Lardo in their offerings in this series.

With McNally's BLUFF, which appears to be the final book in the series, the McNally family's carnival history "secret" is coming full circle...

I didn't want to see that circus circle closing, or stepping fully out of the closet in all its gore and glory.If I saw that too clearly, I might have to accept an underlying significance that # 13 is truly the end of this series.No!

If that is so, however, McNally's BLUFF accomplished that honor of closing this series with amazing grace and literary panache!

In view of this speculation, I needed to read BLUFF on one of my slowest savor speeds.As I did so, I gradually came to love the perfection of the jacket on the hardcover.Actually, the paperback design is appealingly interesting, too, given the above perspective.

When I was more than half-way through the book, I noticed that the most current paperback design was very different; it applied an ebony background with a maze hedge stylized with a target in its center.Possibly due to the brain's need to "connect dots" that center symbol flashed my focus to the target used for Susan Silverman's practice with a fire arm in CRIMSON ROSE, # 15 in Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, which I reviewed recently.For some reason I continue seeing links between Spenser's world and Archy's, and what a stretch that is!I wrote about that brain spark in my review of McNally's SECRET.

Though this may be my last McNally novel to review, I can offset that loss by looking forward to the several Spenser novels I haven't yet read.That thought takes me to my novels; my first thought (actually it felt like a craving) after having finished writing each of them was, "I wish I could read this novel fresh, without having written it."

Thus, it is with added thanks that I have more Spenser novels to experience from that fresh first time of reading.And, that pleasant awareness brings to focus for me the contrast of the author paths involved in the creation and endurance of Spenser and Archy McNally.I believe both situations have brought "amazing" (a prominent word in BLUFF) cultural insights to the history of literature and the mysteries of life.

Which reminds me that while reading BLUFF I was able to conceptualize another of the core differences I've been sensing (on an edge of unconsciousness) between Sanders and Lardo.Lawrence Sander seemed to naturally view life through a philosophical perspective; Vincent Lardo seems to look at human machinations through a sociological lens.Each seasoned author etched those leanings, consciously or not, into their thematic content, plot structure, and designs of Archy's motivations, curiosities, and basic drives through life.Sanders was automatically focused on the meaning of life itself, and how to get the most out of the experience as an individual.Lardo seems to automatically center on the interconnections among human beings, especially as they're separated socially or politically into clusters, cliques, or classes.

I don't know if these two authors fully realized how they were driven by this type of targeted viewpoint, when they were in process with a plot.Probably few of us do.Yet, I believe we're each driven by unique needs to know, by unique curiosities, which we each possess at core, at the center, the target of our essence-of-being, and of moving forward.

In SECRET, Sanders had Archy state that we're all hedonists at heart, though few of us admit it.In essence, through his McNally series, Sanders uses Archy to dramatize that unique, individual desire to know what gives personal pleasure, what gives a sense of satisfaction, why it does so, and how to enhance that need to "suck the marrow out of life."

In BLUFF, Lardo's Archy seems to imply that we (as human beings) tend to compare ourselves to others at higher levels in social class structure, and that we need to belong, to be accepted within the cream of social strata.Yet, at the same time we've been liberally taught to revile luxury, opulence, privilege and class.

These contrasts bring to mind the thematic essence of Ayn Rand's novels, FOUNTAINHEAD and ATLAS SHRUGGED.Are we naturally oriented, as a species, to self or to others; and which is the prime/ethical way of being.

In myself, I have felt the natural needs of both Archies.I am very much an individual, and have released some of the culturally induced taint of feeling evil in having chosen to allow myself to center in a personal focus.Yet, I also crave to connect with and relate to others, fairly, sometimes intimately in friendship (to mutual benefit), and rightly.I'm wondering if this might be why, along with many others, I've been so fascinated with this series, especially given the comparisons and contrasts of the dual authorship.

In an overall balance I'm more of a philosopher/psychologist, than a sociologist, and I know that's one of the reasons I enjoy the Spenser series.To me, Parker seems more like Sanders than Lardo, in his art, yet, like Lardo, Parker works with (and entertains through) sociological issues, too.

Seeing this perspective contrast between the Sanders and Lardo Archies, the fact begins to clarify for me, of the two personas' varied needs to control (or not) others and their environments.If a person's focus is based comfortably in oneself, there's less or no need to control others.Whereas, if one is based in needs for social interaction, and for acceptance and approval from outside oneself, the need to control becomes natural, sometimes vital for emotional (and physical) survival.Though Ayn Rand does so, I do not want to conclude yet that one or the other type of personality structure is ethically right or wrong, morally good or evil.Maybe the correct fact is that we're each naturally different in these types of slants, and in different phases of maturity.I will admit, though, that the less I feel a need to control, the better I like life and myself.

I love a good story, a good mystery, from almost any angle of approach.

In conclusion, I'm compelled to mention an ethereal quality I felt, and quite enjoyed, in parts of this # 6 novel in Vincent Lardo's Archy collection (# 13 in the whole).In certain luxuriously drawn scenes, I could almost sense light pouring holes through the pages, similarly to images which have been portrayed in movies like the Harry Potter series, and The Never Ending Story.In BLUFF, Lardo had honed his author skills so well, he seemed to be literally producing magic in how certain scenes lifted off the pages and danced before, around, and within me.One scene in particular, which was infused with this type of "living light," was of the short yacht excursion to which Archy and Georgy were invited by Carolyn Taylor, and which included her boy toy, Billy, and Connie and Alex.

What amazing gifts we have available in all of the above.Maybe that's the "bluff":

That it's all real and it's all a bluff.Long live the spiritual sanctuary of the novel.It almost, sometimes, seems to qualify as a church.

Linda Shelnutt

Good McNally book
I like all the McNally books and this one was good too.

Almost got it...
Vincent Lardo comes close to Lawrence Sanders, but not as good. The thing that i loved about Sanders was his ability to weave a great story and Archy's life together. Lardo doesn't do it quite like Sanders.

All in all a good read, but i'm still mad at Lardo for making Connie and Archy split. ... Read more

Product Description
When a young man is found dead in the pool of one of South Florida's most prominent citizens, Archy McNally rushes in to salvage reputations and solve the possible crime. But Palm Beach's rumor mill is already in overdrive. So is a killer who's just beginning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

not like the original
McNally is fun - and would make a great TV series, but this author does not have the touch of the orignal author.

Don't Say Money Doesn't. Larry, Vince, Archy. What or Who You Know. And Where. No How.
Vincent Lardo was definitely gilding his wings in DARE (# 12 in the series), and they glided mighty fine, glowing in heady sunlight.He appeared to be attempting what I was saying (in my previous review of McNally's ALIBI, # 11) I wanted to avoid; yet he held my interest and maintained entertainment satisfaction.By first honoring (through at least 3 Archy novels, DILLEMA, FOLLY, and CHANCE) and honestly imitating the spirit and style which Sanders had begun, Lardo had (to me) more than earned the right to veer off Sander's patterns and ploys with this series.I had been concerned that I wouldn't be able to stay with Lardo if he did that too soon or too dramatically.He clearly dared to veer, here, and I was impressed.

At first, the TENNIS EVERYONE! gala in the opening chapter felt like GATSBY redone in an Archy slant, exposing the ennui and utter superficiality of the repetitively empty, "grand" doings of the very wealthy, accompanied by the utter terror of not being invited, by those aspiring to remain in good standing in the social strata of Palm Beach.

Do I have a natural interest in social class issues?The truth?Not really.People are what they are.I am what I am.I've proudly earned everything I have, and have no desire to cling to anyone's skirts, especially not if they're of designer quality, with the resultant price tag.Wouldn't want to seem (seam?) unseemly.I'm okay (for now) with the comfy "rags" I wear and wear, until the holes become too obvious or too breezy.

Yet, Lardo made this social climber scene interesting to me. As a coup of a bonus to that, he designed the situation into a light literary artistry, without the drama descending into depressing drudgery.

I was surprised to realize I had immediately become curious about who Jeff Rodgers and Lance Talbot were and how they were connected.Ironically, considering the outcome (in a complexly satisfying ending), I wanted to know who the real Lance Talbot was, and what his story was, as contrasted the real Jeff Rodgers.I realized that Lardo might be making a statement of disdain of class pretension's chilling abuse to the "less fortunate" young people serving the Palm Beach "snobs," but whatever.

The more I read in this novel, the more it felt very different from any of the previous 11 novels in the series (see my Listmania and reviews).It almost felt to me as if it had been written in a geographic location very potent to the author, though not in Palm Beach.Its atmosphere felt like the Hamptons, as that area has been described by those who live there (thank you again, "HeyJudy," Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer, for insights on your home grounds) or have visited, and especially as described in Cleo Coyle's latest coffeehouse mystery, MURDER MOST FROTHY (See my Listmania and review).In that novel this special area was vividly described, not merely as a cultural phenomenon but as having an unusually ethereal feel in the sunlight and climate.The way Coyle described it made me think of a sort of heaven on earth.Strange.

Yet, the exclusivity of the tremendous heights of wealth of both old and new money in the Hamptons, as described by many authors who have used that area as a location for a novel, seems to have somehow diminished the prime or pristine physical atmosphere.On the other hand, in the cold light of reality, might the exclusivity have also preserved something of value in that ethereal glow?I truly don't know.Cocoons are necessary for caterpillars to metamorphose into butterflies.

I may never have the opportunity to actually step foot into any of The Hamptons, but I feel as though I have, through reading McNally's DARE (with the preparation of MURDER MOST FROTHY). Yet, (I kept reminding myself) the novel's plot took place in Palm Beach.Did Vincent Lardo somehow transfer the atmosphere of his Hamptons home to his plot in DARE?Did he write the plot while living so solidly and joyfully in the Hamptons that he unintentionally transposed one geography onto the other?

Whatever happened, I enjoyed the privilege of Lardo's Transportation Device.

Final last words are that I'm still trying to understand, more precisely, how/why DARE felt so different in so many ways from the previous 11 novels.It's like a third Archy rose out of the ashes of the first and second versions (Sanders' then Lardo's).Archy has 2 new cozy cohorts, Georgy and Denny, and his relationships with his regulars have changed (especially with his father); he received (it seemed to me) more teasing and more flack, and he etched out more underlying respect.To me, it felt like a 37-year-old man was just stepping into an early, youthful manhood.It felt like he was stepping into the Palm Beach social arena, for the first time seeing it, feeling the potency of the open doors of high echelon money, fame, and status, which had always been open to him, but, he hadn't understood the import of the position to which his father and grandfather had contributed their strongest talent and clearest blood.

Of course I felt the parallel to the situations of the two authors of this series as well.

Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis?

As it appears,
Linda Shelnutt

McNally's Dare
Briefly, I am a big fan of the McNally series as created by Lawrence Sanders and, IMO, Mr. Lardo has never caught the "flavor" of ANY of the characters.
I could go on and on, but briefly, would Simon Pettibone ever call Archy "Archy" in Mr. Sanders' books? Of course not, always it was "Mr. McNally."
And Mr. Lardo has entirely altered the character of "Al," his policeman buddy/sometimes friendly adversary. Of course he has done this with all of the cast. I could go on and on, but, as stated, every single character is changed; although I will admit it would be hard to duplicate Mr. Sanders' witty dialogue and "where's the nearest dictionary" words.
And now Archy is acting occasionally as a PI instead of strictly as a member of his father's firm...in charge of discreet inquiries, of course.
It's enough to take the enjoyment out of these books for me.
If I run across a paperback copy of one of his "Archy" books, I might spend a quarter for it just because of my fondness for the series...but not a penny more.

Dare
I missed the detailed description of Archy's dress, his meals, and his Marc and English Oval at night in his room. Also, his policeman friend, Al, was hardly around in this book. The plot was good and kept me interested but it seemed to lack the personal details and daily routine of Archy that makes this series so good.

Good, but not great
Lardo is changing McNally's style, in sort of the way Roger Moore changed Sean Connery's version of James Bond.In other words, it gets a little too silly at times.But the story is interesting, involving a rich young man from Switzerland who may or may not be who he claims to be.Another young man ends up dead in a swimming pool at a party, starting the mystery.At one point, McNally is working for three clients at the same time, which I thought would develop into more conflicts of interest than it did (seemed like a lost opportunity for the author).The drama of the second pool party was one of the best parts of the book.Especially when McNally started to count toes. ... Read more

Product Description
The bone-chilling story of the "Hotel Ripper" who stalks New York's streets after hours-and the retired cop who must stop him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Obvious Clue Missed Until Late In The Book
It was a disappointment that with so many detectives on the case, and on the Prime Suspect, they missed obtaining the obvious from one piece of evidence they picked up at a murder scene. Otherwise it was a great book.

Sanders slipped a bit here.
This one may be one of Sanders better books over all, but it isn't quite as good as "The First Deadly Sin" or "The Second Deadly Sin". It is unfortunate Sanders didn't see fit to write about the deadly sins 5, 6 and 7. This shows a lack of foresight on his part. Of the four we do have "The Second Deadly Sin" is probably the best. "The Third Deadly Sin" is a bit tiring but still holds one's interest. And lets face it, Delaney will never be a gourmet cook, but he is wild about sandwiches. Amen brother!

One has to have a stalwart stomach to really enjoy the Delaney series. If you aren't particularly bothered by the rather pathetic attempts at psycoanalysis (which Sanders would have done better to have left out) you will probably really like this novel.

Unlike in "The First Deadly Sin" (pride) and in "The Second Deadly Sin" (covetousness), it is difficult to figure out in "The Third Deadly Sin" exactly which sin Sanders is talking about. Ifigure it is either envy or anger. My choice would be anger.

How To Lose A Guy In One Date
This is an interesting serial-killer novel, except for the parts involving sandwiches and Zoe Kohler's suitor, Ernest Mittle.The sandwich stuff makes you feel like you're reading transcripts from The Food Channel, and poor little Ernest Mittle is simply too prim and proper for words.By the time you've known him for about five paragraphs, you yearn for him to meet Irene in a hotel bar very soon, and join the ranks of her victims.

A comfort Sanders novel.
A strange choice for a comfort readI know, but every now and then I come back to read this book again.The familiarity of Edward X Delaney and his delicious sandwiches. The developement of a killer who you grow to like and feel sorry for, even as she continues her murderous adventures.It does not matter that you know she is a killer, it is not even that important how Delaney catches her, I just the style of Sanders writing in this book.It is not similar in any way to his later McNally series, but the one thing Sanders does fantastically is to create characters you believe in.

Super police procedural
Maybe Sanders's best book (other choice is First Deadly Sin). Same detective in all the Sin books, but each has a slightly different feel. This is Ed McBain-ish, but (much) better. ... Read more

Product Description
Absorbing, shocking, and boldly original, The First Deadly Sin set the standard for the modern novel of psychological suspense. Now the novel that launched the author's bestselling career is available in trade. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Grim thriller is a detailed and rewarding novel
Pride is depicted as the first deadly sin in this story of a deranged killer with no moral compass who simply kills because he wants to. Lawrence Sanders' tale of a dogged, determined New York police captain covers all the bases as he weaves together the threads of this thriller that gets better as the story progresses. Captain Edward X. Delaney begins with a cold trail and no clues but gradually pieces together the pieces of the puzzle to zero in on the person of interest in these muddled, grisly murder cases. Delaney's unorthodox methods also play a large part in flushing his quarry out into the open which leads to the payoff, which is a bit of a disappointment. Nevertheless, this book is a diverting crime thriller, richly detailed with interesting characters, snappy dialogue and a nice feel for the pulse of the streets of New York.

A first-rate series of crime/thriller fiction!
Wasn't I fortunate to find the Deadly Sins series, written by Lawrence Sanders, fairly early in my adult reading years? If you haven't met Detective Edward X. Delaney of the New York police, then you cannot answer with that resounding Yes! that I expect.

A character-driven series, especially Delaney's character, the Deadly Sin books take the reader inside the characters' minds to learn causality and motivation. Of course, the details of each murder are laid out for the reader, but the focus is on the murderer and Delaney and the steady, but slodging pace required to do detective work, which consists of that slow but steady accretion of facts. Readers who want action, action, action best look elsewhere for their fix.

Generally speaking, the only books I reread are the classics that I taught when an English teacher--Silas Marner, Cry the Beloved Country, Wuthering Heights, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Night, The Turn of the Screw, As I Lay Dying, Lord of the Flies, and so on. So when I state that I've read this series three times, I am placing it in a pretty heady position.

So what makes this series so compelling? I think I "fell in love" with the character, the idea of Edward X. Delaney. This is the kind of man every woman wants. Besides being kind, thoughtful, and generous, he makes the most provocative sandwiches and pours the most exotic spirits and brews. As much as the details of the murders, Sanders creates Delaney's sandwiches with memorable strokes on the keyboard. In fact, put down Delaney's tomato sandwich as one of those famous scenes in literature. OK, perhaps I am overstating, but that sandwich stands out so vividly in my memory--a fresh, sliced tomato on bread with mayonnaise, salt and pepper, eaten over the kitchen sink to catch the inevitable drippings. When Delaney poured Strega one night, that was it. Delaney forever. Do you know the legend about Strega, this liquer of an almost oily, herb-based potion? The term means "witch" and the legend says that two people who drink Strega together will fall in love. The night Delaney poured Strega, I, too, was drinking a potion of Strega....

Briefly, "The First Deadly Sin" concerns one fascinating Daniel Blank (name created by intention, I am sure), a business executive who leads a bizarre personal life. The reader learns early on that he is the serial killer, making Delaney's plodding search for evidence as much part of the story as the murders. For some readers this search for proof is daunting (or boring), but for true fans of detective fiction, it is the heart.

Such is Sanders' series, the Deadly Sins. I haven't read these books in years, but read a recent negative review of another of Sanders' books and felt compelled to at least try to defend one of my earliest loves, both the series and the main character! I don't even know if I would still love Det. Delaney, but I like to think so.

Sanders at his best!
One of the most detailed and important psycho-thriller of all-time. Richly written, moving, and suspenseful, this novel delivers on all accounts.The film is not as bad as its reputation -- just different, but worth checking out after you've read this great novel from a master who sadly left us too soon.

Surprised
I first came across of Lawrence Sanders in the early 90's through his McNally series.Having become a fan of those, I decided a couple of years ago to pick up "The 1st Deadly Sin" which by all accounts was Sanders' breakthrough novel.

For anyone that, like me before reading this, only know of Sanders' work through the McNally series, you're in for a surprise.I was impressed at how profoundly different his writing style is between the two.The McNally books are so light-hearted even though it usually involves a murder or two but "The 1st Deadly Sin" is so dark and so depressing.McNally is an easy-going chap while none of the character from this book seems very happy.Add in the setting of 1970's New York City which was the start of a real dark period for the city of NY (contrast to the sunny Florida setting of the McNally) and you have a very gritty novel.

I thought the character develop of the two main ones, Daniel Blank (who reminds me a bit of the Patrick Bateman character from "American Psycho") and Captain Edward Delaney was well done, with the secondary characters in each their lives really giving a hint at how these characters became molded to what we come to know in this book (I never saw the movie but according to IMDB, there doesn't seem to be the Celia and Tony character which I think would be a mistake in trying to adapt this book to a movie).

I'm not going to give any spoilers here but I thought the ending was a bit anti-climatic but I could be thinking in terms of 2007 and not 1972 or so when this was written.There were some movies from that era that had very good body but low key endings like "Rosemary's Baby" and in a way, I think the end here was sort of along that lines.But after spending around 400 pages (and it was not an easy read) in the development of Blank and Delaney and then seeing what kind of interaction they would ultimately have, it was a bit of a disappointment how it was all resolved.

ZZzzzzzzzzzz
Wow, where do I begin on this one.Although this novel is supposed to be considered a classic for it's time, I found the book to be horribly drawn out and boring.If you want a book that takes you on a journey into the mind of a serial killer, then skip this book!If you want a book that gives you an inside look into a tedious, boring, slow moving, and drawn out investigation, then this book could be for you.For most readers of the thriller/detective genre, I would recommend to skip this one.I by now means am trying to say that Sanders is a poor writer.I'm just saying that his imagination could use a little work.The ending is completely lame too.Horrible! ... Read more

Product Description
In a low-down, high-society caper, sleuth Archie McNally investigates a family that is as mysterious as the House of Usher--and twice as twisted. By the author of McNally's Puzzle. Reissue." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Mmm, mmm, good
Reminiscent of the great sandwiches and drinks that Edward X. Delaney shared with us in the Deadly Sin novels, Arch McNally continues the tradition. I would love to visit the Pelican Club for a month, trying each of Mr. Pettibone's drinks and Priscilla's sandwiches, then go for a long swim in the ocean.

Am I the only one who is bothered by this?
This is the 4th book in the McNally's series, and I've read them in sequence.They're highly formulaic but still enjoyable.The main character continues to be a lovable rogue, mostly amoral but still with certain personal limits, so it is not surprising that he sleeps with various available women in the first 3 books.

But -- SPOILER ALERT -- in this one he sleeps with a woman who is married, living with her husband and planning to continue that way.And -- lest you think that he was momentarily carried away by passion -- he sleeps with her two more times.

Suddenly, to this reviewer at least, McNally has become a less lovable and much more unattractive figure.

McNally is one of the best!
One of the rare instances when Archie doesn't do what he is supposed to do. Extremely entertaining and funny as ususal. My husband and I enjoy listening to Sanders books on McNally and we have learned to carry a dictionary with us to figure out what some of the obscure words mean. Well worth the money spent on it.

The Whimsical Essence of Evil is Rancid Oil to Archy's Fresh Spring Rains.
McNally's CAPER was not offered on a Super Shipper Savings, at the time of my preparing to read and review it (I had a dusty, used copy in my personal library).In fact, this book's Amazon buying page wasn't linked into the rest of the series' buying pages.Ultimately, I resorted to searching for it on Amazon under Sanders name; it was a few pages down on that list.Once on the purchase page, I was puzzled to note that many reviews, even Archy stalwarts, had concluded that this novel is not as good as the others in the McNally series.(This is not a criticism of Amazon, but rather a compliment that it's so easy to search for details, and learn about a book merely from the way its presented here.)

That said, I'm sorry; I can't help it.It's just me:

The depressing situation of this book's buying page surged a desire to "save" McNally's CAPER by attempting to unearth its core of value, as I read.In order to do this, I would have to also understand what might have struck certain readers wrong.

Possibly the opening chapter's continued reference, applying various terms and methods, to the whole world being crazy struck too close to home, since Archy allowed no one escape from his pronouncement.Readers might have balked and bleated, "We're NOT crazy; speak for yourself."

Of course what Sanders was likely aiming for was to bait curiosity about precisely WHY Archy had been brought to that dastardly conclusion about the whole of the human race, and of reality itself.

In addition to sighting askance from CAPER'S proclamations of Bubbles Off Plumb, possibly mystery buffs are generally a bit too rule conscious to cozy up to the stretch of ethics of the opening chapter's widow shoplifter resolution (which I thought was in exquisite taste as a tantalizing "prologue" presenting tantamount thematic keys).This novel was dealing with extended eccentrics, and with a subtly sour attitude in Archy; yet his crankiness toward the chaotic castle he was about to become undercover-ed within was an intrigue enhancement, for me.Made me curious about the enthrallment effect of the Gothic castle setting; I looked forward to rambling in exploration.

Early on in the plot, Sanders repeatedly referred to classic literature & TV episodes, focusing on the zany/crazy and whimsical/farcical, like Alice In Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Adams Family, etc., all of which could become easy turn offs to readers accustomed to Archy & company being perky, yet refreshingly sane and conventionally unconventional, with just the right tinge of acceptable eccentricity.When that tinge tags over the line, the whole shebang becomes Farce or Satire; and possibly Archy's capture core is that he has seated into the mainstream novel category, in which readers can identify with heroic, even if off-beat, character tangents.That somewhat conservative, respectable balance with the precise amount and slant of humor is vital for a drama/comedy to avoid slipping into farce, which has a limited audience, myself included in that limitation.I need to be able to identify somewhat with most of the characters, and "live" in a setting and plot, which can be effervescent or dank, but not lacking absolutely in a foundation in conventional reality.

Too far in any direction of that continuum is too far.(Took my wisdom herbs this morning, can you tell? Yeah, maybe I'd better check the label's death date.)

Sanders appears to have been a type of author who needed to push envelopes to see when they fall off the desk.That may be the segment of his talent which allowed him to write such riveting, dramatic, mainstream novels in a variety of types, with complex levels of dark/light balance.

After reading the scene of Archy meeting Lucy, whom it appeared to me that Sanders wanted readers to see as another version of Alice, Dorothy, or ... (for the moment, I forget what other girl child heroines have seated into classic fiction and fairytale lore), I immediately began struggling with the ambivalent feelings that this girl was going to be different, maybe darker, maybe brighter; she'd certainly have a heavier (or maybe lighter?) spin on an archetypal characterization.

Throughout the read, with the repeated foreboding that the denouement in this offering would be heinous, would shake the faith of humanity, would convince the reader that the whole world was crazy; I kept wondering what could be more heinous than ... heinous.

Throughout the read I continued wondering what had turned off many of the reviewers, or caused them to dim the lights on this one, almost proclaiming it the runt of the litter.For me, runts offer the best type of hero material, hiding subtle but gorgeous gems, which must be studied in quiet contemplation to be seen clearly, or at all.

As noted above, some readers might not like the continued wholesale collection of and references to zany, wacky worlds created in other works of fiction.To me these were intriguing, like a message of great thematic importance was connected to them.The repetition of variations on the words "crazy" and "heinous" were at plethora levels.

Each repetition renewed my conviction that Sanders was attempting a major revelation in CAPER, and felt he might not be able to quite get it across accurately without losing his readers.

I noticed that Archy's attempts to justify his infidelity to Consuela, and his ignoring phoning her when he'd said that he would, etc., felt more caddish (it was almost lazy) than in other books in series. Yet, when Connie said, "No. I'll call YOU tonight" in response to Archy's promise to call her, I clapped (mentally), since I had been wondering why she didn't just phone Archy instead of waiting for his (lack of) dial up.

In addition to that lift of my spirits from Connie's finally "getting Archie's number," I was warmed by Archy's continued exchanges with Lucy; those scenes drew me more deeply into the plot, and were ironically enhanced by the seeming increase in CAPER of the elder McNally's ungracious, chilled demeanor."What is it NOW, Archy," was repeated each time Archy approached his pater with vital info he had been asked to obtain, yet Archy seemed to take this impatience in stride.It wasn't until the ending scenes that the sire asked, "What is it Archy" sans "now."

Archy's father definitely seemed more impatient here than in other books I've read in this series, and was painted by Archy with less of a cushion of expressed understanding "from whence the mood had arisen," explaining it thereby.Maybe he was setting up a contrast to allow the ending scenes more impact.If so, it worked.

Not only were the relationships with le pater and Constance more constantly tested here; Connie seemed more testy than normal, and Archy seemed to be pushing his need to taste a variety of women, and to explore the more seamy, heartless, bloodless sexual expressions.His scenes with Silvia were clearly a toe in the water of an "evil" he described as whimsical, almost whispering-ly angelic, careless and thoughtless; and his conclusions were fascinating, at the time, and later, of the type of perversion which some of the characters embodied so readily and compulsively.

In this novel the characters, including Archy, periodically descend into various dark (or bitter) moods, but the kicker angle of angst was that restless type of empty depression which chains a soul to a dissatisfied body, agonizing over a primal moan, "Is this all there is."With that restless emptiness being the most painful (and terrifying) type of depression I've experienced, I understand why readers might not welcome a book in which a master wordsmith nearly drowns them (periodically) in those feelings.Yet, while Sanders allowed Archy to extend more than a toe into this emotional miasma, he also highlighted rainbows and silver linings (often of the munching, swilling, swallowing type), without allowing those to become cloying.

It appeared to me as if Sanders were studying that edgy mood of ennui which was so adeptly dramatized in THE GREAT GATSBY, the "mood disorder" which can drive some people into the visceral dungeons of heinous acts.

Archy is such an unlikely character to immerse himself into this type of mood, even with the noble purpose of understanding its every nook.

Archy is asking the big WHY(s)!!???

Why (maybe even "How") do people descend into acts of heinous crimes.

In an apparent attempt to ferret the taproot of Evil, in CAPER Sanders drops Archy into the dank dungeons of the human mind in which the soul is twisted as the mind is warped.One of the strongest dramatizations of the wispy, light (odorous) breath of this simple essence is in the first sexual consummation scene between Archy and Sylvia, in room 309, mentioned briefly above, which takes place in the barely classy Michelangelo motel (bordello) used for this type of carefree romp by various members of the Griswold household.In fact, Archy's every exchange with Sylvia is deeply telling, especially in contrast to the collection of dark females in the plot, and even more especially, in contrast to his Connie (there's another Consuela in this one).

In concluding scenes, which were exquisite, several "keeper" conclusions ("answers" to the big questions this plot poses) are zinged out by le pater, Archie, and Al.

And, finally, in my conclusion I'll say that, even though they had an overall positive (intriguing, engrossing) rather than negative (boring or overly uncomfortable) effect on me, as noted, I can see the variety of angles which might have dimmed the response of some readers and diminished the buying page position this novel holds on Amazon (held at the time of this review's posting).

I've even wondered if the less radiant cover colors, or the earlier grumpy looking photo of Sanders, or the different promo blurb focus might have something to do with the caching of CAPER'S draw.

Whatever. CAPER deserves another shot at shining (though the sheen might be subtle and eerily silent, it would be gorgeous), equal to or above the other original seven books.For me, this novel was every bit as engrossing, entertaining, and satisfying as SECRET, LUCK, RISK, TRIAL, PUZZLE, and GAMBLE; as noted here, in some ways CAPER is richer, like a full-bodied, complex, dry red wine with smoky breaths of woody violets and a nearly imperceptible wisp of grape (Concords).Archie's relationships with other characters are clearly richer, especially the connection with detective Al Rogoff.

I'm crossing fingers that this attention might surge an interest in giving CAPER another chance.A book often takes a year of an author's life-force to accomplish, then almost as much from agents, editors, and the publisher's work force.

It seems shame to let a good book down (even if the author may be currently in the presence of Michelangelo himself, with both souls no longer in need of uplift, appreciation, or of anything at all.)

A Gambler on Value, even though it be in the dim light of twilight,

Linda G. Shelnutt

an afternoon promenade of a book
McNally, the title character, is quite a charmer. His pretentions and self-mocking attitudes make him likeable. The plot of this book isn't revolutionary and the end is dissapointinlgly predictable, however, it is still an enjoyable read. The ending doesn't wrap up in a completely neat way, which I wouldn't object to, but the rest of the book (including the last page where McNally says he wanted iot to be more cut and dried) seems to lead to a more solid resolution. All in all, I'd still reccomend this as a light pleasure read, great for beaches and subway rides. ... Read more

Product Description
Three novels of suspense--The First Deadly Sin, The Second Deadly Sin, and The Third Deadly Sin--appear in a single, omnibus edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Feast of Delaney
When it comes to sheer ability to turn a phrase, Lawrence Sanders has few rivals and possibly no equals. His skill with a typewriter allowed him to elevate routine mystery stories, P.I. procedurals, and suspense novels into art. And nowhere was his art better showcased than in DEADLY SIN books - by no means his most famous, but arguably his best and most beloved series. And ¾ of that series - the first three installments, are presented here in one volume. Not a bad catch.

The DEADLY SIN books were different from each other in style, but all centered around the same hero - Edward X. Delaney: devoted husband, outstanding former detective and obsessive sandwich-eater. Delaney, whose career arc from Manhattan precinct captain to unpaid private sleuth is described over the course of the books, is one of those rare fictional characters who seems more "real" to the reader than many real-life people. Drawn with great skill by Sanders, Delaney - whose nickname is "Iron B*lls" - is remarkable not because of his brilliance, his skill with his fists or his personal eccentricities, but because he's stubborn as a mule and as tough as an old boot. The big, gray-haired Irishman in the Homburg knows only one way to crack a case: by pounding his flat feet to the pavement and dogging suspects until something shakes loose. All he asks in return are good booze and the occasional triple-decker sandwich.

Delaney's story is simple. He used to be the Chief of Detectives in New York, but quit over the "political b.s." that came with the job. Now restlessly retired, he's occasionally tapped by his former mentor, Ivar "the Admiral" Thorsen to crack hitherto uncrackable cases, by any means - and whatever methods - are necessary.

THE FIRST DEADLY SIN is the story of a serial killer (and no, don't roll your eyes - this novel happens to be one of the first, if not the first, serial killer story) named Daniel Blank. Simply put, Blank is the original "American Psycho" - handsome, wealthy, urbane, and a complete psychopath. His kick? Murdering complete strangers on the street with an ice-axe. When the NYPDs investigation goes cold, Captain Delaney is brought to run the politically-charged case, and has to juggle ethics, politics, and a terminal wife while he does it. (Note: NOT a spoiler)

THE SECOND DEADLY SIN is a classic whodunnit. When the brilliant but notoriously nasty artist Victor Maintland gets stabbed to death in his Manhattan studio, the newly-retired Delaney and his alcoholic sidekick Abner Boone have to wade into territory as alien as the moon and just as nasty as the meanest New York street - the world of "high end art." But the "routine" assignment gets personal when the desperate killer elects to go after Delaney's family.

THE THIRD DEADLY SIN is another serial killer tale. The "Hotel Ripper" is leaving a trail of hacked-into-chum corpses in the swankier New York hotels, and wreaking havoc with the Big Apple's vital tourist industry. With the investigation gone as cold as dry ice, Thorsen taps Delaney to warm it up. The question is, can an old-fashioned curmdgeon of a detective accept the fact that a vicious murderer who has outwitted the NYPD for months is a 126 pound woman young enough to be his daughter? (Also not a spoiler).

Sanders' stories are very much a part of the era he wrote in - the 70s and early 80s, and some readers may find the SIN books a bit dated. Forensic science and psychological profiling are in their infancy here, and a lot of the social issues which are hotly debated amongst the characters - equal rights for women, for example - seem a bit ridiculous in retrospect. (Delaney is very impressed with "newfangled" electronic hotel keys, which have been standard since I was a kid; his wife Monica gets faint at the verbal description of a crime scene...wonder how she'd like "CSI".) And like a lot of prolific novelists, Sanders often resorted to recycling dialogue or using stock characters. But these flaws have their upside. The reader gets a beautiful snapshot of the "old" New York, where cops with Irish accents pounded beats dressed in big blue tent coats, discos blasted terrible dance music all night, and would-be John Travoltas weilded gold coke spoons.

To sum up: what's presented here is not just a trio of enjoyable mysteries and suspense novels, but an opportunity for the modern reader to acquaint himself with one of the most enjoyable sleuths in detective fiction.

I've Yet to Read a Bad Sanders Book: These Three are Great
Look, Lawrence Sanders was my favorite author, and I read everything he wrote (for the individual who thinks he should change publishers, hedied in 1998). I bought this book to have a hardbound copy of the first three, and I hope his other "Deadly Sins" and "Commandments" come out as threesomes even though they're hard to read in bed. This would be a great Christmas present for anyone who likes mysteries. You can start anywhere and, while I agree that "The Fourth" was my favorite, getting these three is a great start.

Sanders was a story teller, and his stories were engrossing. I have only two complaints: (1) Edward X. Delaney is always making sandwiches, and I'm always hungry ... even when I don't like his combos. Many the time when I've gotten out of bed at midnight to see what we've got in the fridge. (2) Edward X. Delaney, a lumbering if not plodding detective, was played by Frank Sinatra in the movies. Don't see the movie and you'll enjoy his books more.

The 1st,, 2nd & 3rd deadly sins
I haven't finished reading the 3rd as of yet.And so far the indvidual 4th deadly sin is my favorite with the 1st also excellant.The only disappointment so far was the 2nd which really took too long to develop.

Edward X. Delaney is the Best!
I actually own all four of the "Deadly Sins" books in paperback, but the stories are among my alltime favorites.Sanders should abandon McNally, a poor read at best, and get back to Edward X. Delaney -- he's my favorite character of all mystery writers' characters.

great series! (correction)
... The deadly sins center on Captain Edward X. Delany's life and thinking process out to catch a madman. Spine chilling and hard to put down, very unique characters. a must buy ... Read more

Product Description
South Florida's premier sleuth-about-town strikes again--in a deliciously daffy caper that takes a decidedly deadly turn.

When the Palm Beach Community Theater needs a director for their production of Arsenic and Old Lace, Archy tosses his megaphone into the ring. After all, Hollywood legend Desdemona Darling will lend her considerable talents to the production. And while resident grand dame Lady Cynthia Horowitz wants a little of the spotlight to fall on her latest live-in-hunk, Buzz Carr, she has no intention of letting Buzz rehearse all day with the actress who, like Lady C, has made marriage a cottage industry.

For poor Archy, there's more drama backstage than onstage and plenty of confusion everywhere, especially with the fuzzy-headed Binky Watrous serving as stage manager. But when an actor takes a sip of prop wine and drops dead, the Palm Beach police suddenly take a special interest in the local theater scene.

In a play filled with murderers, only Archy can separate the actors from the genuine article, clear Binky, and bring down the curtain on the latest and most enjoyable of McNally's follies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Another Good Experience
amazon.com is the place to go for "old" books!I always find what I need and am never disappointed.

Powdered McNally --- Just Add Sanders
I admire Vincent Lardo's courage in even attempting to mimic the voice of the incomparable Lawrence Sanders.I couldn't even come close, and most writers would fall flat on their faces.Lardo manages to imitate the McNally style reasonably well, but there's a vital ingredient missing.

The original McNally novels written by Lawrence Sanders were like lemon meringues; tasty, sinfully delicious, light, not filling, a guilty pleasure.They were light easy reads flavored by Sanders's love of good food, beautiful women, and plenty of booze.

All the ingredients are here in McNally's Folly, but what's missing is a good cook to put everything together.There's a story here, but it's very slow to develop, and by page 186 the plot is still grinding along at a snail's pace.There's plenty of the trademark McNally humor, a sexual dalliance, lots of good food, the usual cast of supporting characters, but it's easy to set down after a few pages.Sanders's novels sped by.

This is fun to read, but Lardo seems unable to generate the kind of pacing we expect from the series.It's probably more fun to go back and re-read the Sanders novels (Secret, Risk, Luck, Caper, Trial, Gamble, Puzzle).If you haven't read them in a few years you may have forgotten the story details, and besides --- they're so good you can enjoy them again and again.

In the meantime, however, I suppose imitations will have to suffice for those who want new stories.

ANOTHER PAGE-TURNER
JUST LIKE THE OTHER MCNALLY'S, A PAGE TURNER AND A DELECTABLE DELIGHT.
THE ONLY NEGATIVE I CAN WRITE REGARDING SANDER'S MCNALLY'S SERIES, IS THE
WEIGHT I GAIN FROM EATING AFTER READING ABOUT THE MCNALLY'S EVENING MEAL,
THE GREAT MENU AT THE PELICAN, ETC. I HAVE TO STOP READING, RUN AND
GET A REPAST, WHICH NEVER MEASURES UP TO ARCH'S REPAST!

Who's Speaks There?Lavender Loafers On Walk About.What Colors Grace The Soles?
The best word I can come up with for this novel is not cozy but comfortable, like the softest easy chair conjure-able.The story, setting, and characters enveloped the reader, soothing away toil and trauma.Maybe that "easing" was caused by Archy's return; I don't know what happened to the Archy-2, beard-shadow-guy described in my recent review of DILEMMA.

One of the contrasts I noticed in DILEMMA between Archy-by-Sanders-Vs.-Archy-by-Lardo was that Lardo's Archy-2 (not in character with Archy-1's finesse) seemed to direct and control the plot and everyone in it.Ironically, in FOLLY, Archy was "playing" Director of a stage play of "Arsenic and Old Lace" (of course), by Palm Beach's Community Players, but he had returned to his natural way of "flowing with" rather than controlling. (That is an overall observation; the scent of Archy-2 did attempt to whiff out in a few places, but Lardo reigned it in quickly.)

McNally's FOLLY was # 9 in this series conceived by Lawrence Sanders, the second one in Vincent Lardo's continuation (McNally's DILEMMA was Lardo's opening salvo on Archy).It was interesting to me that this # 9 focused on seances, and determining the validity of a psychic, Serge Ouspenskaya,communicating with spirits of the deceased.

As noted, a fascination I felt reading FOLLY was that this version of Archy was different from the character Lardo presented in DILEMMA.In my review of DILEMMA I discussed the maleness factor of that Archy as opposed to Sanders' more sensitive, artistic, leisurely guy.The Archy in FOLLY was precisely the same laid-back character as the Archy in the Sanders offerings (1-7).Did Lardo somehow establish a clearer "channel" to Sanders?Did Vincent find a real-life seance psychic (who may or may not have been authentic)?

Even with this return of the old Archy, I noticed a very, very tiny "something" missing in FOLLY, but it wasn't anything I could identify.He had the right colors, the daily routines, the manner of speaking (with a collection of dictionary-pick-up words beginning with the letter "A"), the style, the attitudes, dialogue, and relationships.He had lost the late-morning beard-shadow of the Archy in DILEMMA, and regained the lithe ballerina inside.The FOLLY Archy had lost the DILEMMA Archy's macho reek which seethed a palpable attraction to women, an attraction which, for Sanders' Archy, seemed slightly staged, though delightfully so.

As noted, a collection of "A" words were used well in this plot, words you may be compelled to look up in the dictionary, as I did.While reading DILEMMA, I rarely gave thought to Webser. I don't know if that was because Lardo hadn't picked up yet on the precise way Sanders toyed with the English language, or if Lardo's Archy and plot were developed with such intense intrigue and macho charisma that I wouldn't have been able to pause the reading pace long enough to notice words pointing to Webster.

Not in spite of, but DUE TO all the above, I enjoyed not only the interesting second plot and characterization by Lardo in FOLLY; I enjoyed wondering how Vincent was able to get so close this time to the original Archy mystique.It was clear from continued (though not overdone) references to the original 7 novels that Lardo had extended his study of those, which speaks well for Lardo's character and dedication to Sanders and his fan base.

It's evident to me that Vincent Lardo did not take over this series with plans to go his own way with it as soon as possible, merely doing surface justice to it at the outset of his first plot.The obvious amount of attentiveness Lardo has put into this task was beyond impressive; it was touching.It wasn't easy to set down the book and the comfort which came with it, especially after reading the last page.

"Always a bridesmaid, never a bride?"

I can't recall if Vince gave that line (it was used early in the plot) to Connie in DILEMMA or in FOLLY, but it struck me as how Lardo might have felt at times, regarding the takeover of this series.I feel I owe both Sanders and Lardo an amount of thanks which may not be possible to give, but this pair of authors has as much of my respect and appreciation as I'm able to hand over. (Type over? Comb over?)

Bless both you guys!May your $$$ roll over well.The McNally's are alive and well in Palm Beach.I'll be heading soon to my Listmania, to click on the next in series, # 10(3).

Linda G. Shelnutt

Is this a murder mystery?
This is not your typical murder mystery.For one thing, nobody drops dead until well after halfway into the story, and, there is not a lot of interest on any of the parties in discovering the murderer, until the end.I was not particularly satisfied with that.The focus for most of the book is on a psychic, who is suspected of being a charlaton.McNally is trying to discover how he gets his psychic powers.Once discovered, I felt the story went out with a bit of a whimper.As usual, though, the lighthearted style of the McNally series is entertaining. ... Read more

Product Description

Palm Beach private investigator Archy McNally takes on the murder of a socialite and uncovers a thorny tangle of blackmail and deceit, south Florida style.

Playboy Geoffrey Williams is dead. But it's not a search for the killer that brings Archy McNally to the case; the lovely Melva Williams readily admits to the crime passionnel. After finding Geoff in a precarious position with an attractive young lady, she pulled the trigger on husband number two. It sounds like an open-and-shut case for McNally & Sons' Department of Discreet Inquiries until Melva asks Archy to shield her daughter, Veronica, from the press and paparazzi. Gallant Archy takes the case -- and escorts grown-up and gorgeous Veronica home to the McNally manse. Rumors fly, and some of them may be true.

Veronica is no damsel in distress though, and she's certainly not sorry her stepfather is in the grave. When her story doesn't match Melva's, which doesn't match Geoff's, Archy realizes he does indeed have a dilemma on his hands. Someone's lying, and the one person who knows the truth -- Geoff's perky playmate -- has gotten away.

A delectable combination of high society and high jinks, and featuring some of the most eccentric characters to populate Florida's Gold Coast, McNally's Dilemma is as witty and charming as Archy McNally himself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (107)

No More McNally for Me!
This is the last McNally by Lardo that I'll read.I've given it a chance, read a few, but no more.There is such blatant omissions and changes that Sanders would never make.What upset me the most was Archie's dad having a fling with Lady Horowitz.Sanders would never have gone down that road, he was too good a writer that he didn't need to!!Shame on you Mr. Lardo!You should have left this touching relationship alone, and not resort to such petty commonality!

Ghost writer writes ghastly novel
At first, I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong with this book, but I knew it was not right.After a couple of chapters, I thought to check the back of the title page.Well, there's the answer.It was not written by Lawrence Sanders.The publisher and estate of the late, great Mr. Sanders have greedily allowed a hack to write a novel using Mr. Sanders characters.Unfortunately, the writer, Vincent Lardo, does not possess any of Mr. Sanders wit or erudition, nor does he have a clue as to the genius it takes to write at Mr. Sanders level.I gave this book one star only because zero stars was not an option.Shame on you, heirs of Lawrence Sanders.I hope you choke on every dollar you make from this sham.

So So McNally story
It was only by reading the fine print that I learned that this novel was Not by Lawrence Sanders. For me Archy McNally will always remain the creation of Mr. Sanders, but I wanted to read another story about one of my favorite characters. The attempt by Vincent Lardo gave an interesting slant to McNally, but his style of writing wasn't the same as Mr. Sanders.For the first time, it was clear how the story would evolve, and that's another indication that Lawrence Sanders did not write this book. In my opinion, Mr. Sanders name should not be on the cover, for it's a total disservice to the legacy of this great writer.

Hot Dog! Pass The Mustard! The New Archy is Up!
(Other editions of this novel are also available from Amazon, on Super Saver Shipping offers. Type the title, McNALLY'S DILEMMA, into Amazon's search box to get to the buying pages for those editions.)

This being the notorious "take over" novel by Vincent Lardo, I was particularly interested in how Vince would crook his finger to the reader, and how he would work into the role of Lawrence Sanders's Archy McNally. The reader "in" was steak tartare, a $14.95 plate on the menu upgrade at the Pelican Club.By another name, "Steak Tartare" was a hamburger, juicy, rare.

Hamburger up! Phase one locked in.

In opening scenes Lardo appeared to have Archy's entertaining "Voice" in order, with a handle on most if not all the nuances which have enhanced this series.Yet, I felt a wisp of an added designer scent to this "new" man leading ths show.This guy felt subtly darker, more intense, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, not to imply that the Sanders Archy was a sheep.He was not.

Reading onward in McNally's DILEMMA, I noticed the differences between the two Archy's continuing to flicker, like old celluloid running through a movie projector.The original character had a feel of a free-spirited-youth in a mature-male-body.Lardo's Voice for Archy seemed an octave lower, and Lardo's Archy had a macho undercurrent.

The original Archy could giggle ... at any spontaneous moment.

Lardo's Archy would be able to burst spontaneously into a manly type of laughter, possibly described as a deep chuckle fluctuating with a high pitched peel.But, he could not produce a true, free-flowing giggle... unless, possibly, if he were plowed out of his mind by long applied liquor ... or if he were to reside too long in the Sanders Archy's shoes.

The Sanders Archy could easily play act the light grace of a ballerina, for and in fun. If Lardo's Archy tried that he would appear the classic bull in a china closet, probably stubbing his toe; and his late-morning, beard-shadow would ruin the show (or slide it into farce). Archy-1 might own a light stubble in the morning if he hadn't shaved since the previous morning, but a late-morning shadow would never darken his facade, at least not naturally by way of wiry hairs popping forth in dense supply, a few hours after the blade had scratched paths of baby-buns effect.

I found myself hoping that this stubbled, more intensely male Archy would maintain the market demand which survived Sanders' demise.To that end, I wondered how Lardo would work in Archy's bottom line appeal, as exposed in McNally's SECRET:

>> "I had lived through dire warnings of nuclear catastrophe, global warming, ozone depletion, universal extinction via cholesterol, and the invasion of killer bees.After a while my juices stopped their panicky surge and I realized I was bored with all these screeched predictions of Armageddon due next Tuesday. It hadn't happened yet, had it?The old world tottered along, and I was content to totter along with it." <<

Lardo's Archy paraphrased the above sentiment in DILEMMA, as he also linked to many thoughts, themes, and scenes from the original 7 novels.Those tributary reminders gave warm, effective touches.However, somehow Lardo's paraphrase of the above passage felt hollow. The femme fatal's question, "Why can't you be serious, Archy," almost seemed to puzzle Archy-2 as much as it did the woman posing it.

As I read along with Lardo's Archy, observing how he handled heated situations, I continued to see this new man as a push/direct type of guy, acting in clear confidence (though, at times, that esteem slipped under a graciously appropriate humility).

To me the old Archy cajoled much, but did not seem to have a habit of pushing or directing, and often his confidence was endearingly and genuinely lax, as he tottered along, playing with life's dictates as a youthful spirit carrying a complex sensitivity which sometimes slipped into a contemplative moodiness.I loved the way he would work himself out of those dark-side slips by using (and detailing to the reader) his cherished daily routines, reveling in them, mentioning the flavors and items of nearly every meal, every afternoon dunk in the ocean, every evening pause with his journal, when he often turned aside to speak directly to his reader.

The new Archy touched upon, but didn't seem to WALLOW within simple routines, or elaborate meals; most of his underlying focus seemed to be on powering, with finesse or foible, through problems.And, I had the feeling that Lardo would not harbor a hidden dream of, in his late thirties, living in his father's mansion.Early in the plot, Archy-2 gave off subtle scents of seeming not to understand, nor to like pater McNally.

Contrasting all this, periodic flickers of the old Archy flashed through Lardo in clear brilliance.

At "off" times it appeared that Lardo did not quite get Sanders' motivation for writing a character like Archy McNally, did not precisely comprehend the market success of a rarely serious Archy being a true heroic persona to great masses of readers.It appeared that, to Lardo the old Archy was somewhat of a simpering wimp, and, furthermore, why did he live in gawd-awful, flooding Florida, instead of NYC, when he obviously had the choice to do so.This is my speculation of Lardo's possible feelings; I get the Florida appeal, as well as the charisma of NYC (if one has money to maintain the lifestyles).

Will Archy-2 carry the series? According to observations of reviews and steady sales ranks on Amazon, readers want more Archibald by Vincent.

Though I miss the old Archy, I was attracted to the changed nuances in McNally's DILEMMA, and I believe Archy-2 will carry the series into a stronger style, not quite as delicately sophisticated (with none, or less of, the figurative ballerina dancing, contemplative moods, or extended introspection ... or giggles).

At this point, I'm recalling a feeling I had reading the original Archy's attractions to women.I often wondered why they seemed to lack the type of deep-throated, Adam's Apple "gggrrrrrrrrr" which Lardo's Archy would naturally have been able to give them (though the Sanders Archy was amusingly, artistically sensual).When Archy 2 described Victoria Manning I could feel his seething attraction. That gave an effective sensual substance.

As noted, the new Archy was a living, heavily breathing, sauntering, strutting male. How could that guy take over a character as stylishly, delicately, sensitively sensual as the Lawrence Sanders Archy McNally?

He could not.Viva la difference.

I feel an amusing, warm empathy for Lardo's willingness to dawn Archy's hats, scarves, and shoes.How could he not?I hope Vincent Lardo will be able to fully link to the unique market of his appeal, because that market exists.I'll give McNally's FOLLY a chance to grow the appeals of Archy-2.How could I not? (See my Listmania for titles/links for this series and Lardo's web site address.)

This novel does not have "twists and turns."It has a labyrinth of convolutions, and the wrap of them bogged the gulls in my mind.

Hats off to Lardo.Salute!

Linda G. Shelnutt

Hot Dog! Pass The Mustard!The New Archy is Up!
This being the notorious "take over" novel by Vincent Lardo, I was particularly interested in how Vince would crook his finger to the reader, and how he would work into the role of Lawrence Sanders's Archy McNally. The reader "in" was steak tartare, a $14.95 plate on the menu upgrade at the Pelican Club.By another name, "Steak Tartare" was a hamburger, juicy, rare.

Hamburger up! Phase one locked in.

In opening scenes Lardo appeared to have Archy's entertaining "Voice" in order, with a handle on most if not all the nuances which have enhanced this series.Yet, I felt a wisp of an added designer scent to this "new" man leading ths show.This guy felt subtly darker, more intense, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, not to imply that the Sanders Archy was a sheep.He was not.

Reading onward in McNally's DILEMMA, I noticed the differences between the two Archy's continuing to flicker, like old celluloid running through a movie projector.The original character had a feel of a free-spirited-youth in a mature-male-body.Lardo's Voice for Archy seemed an octave lower, and Lardo's Archy had a macho undercurrent.

The original Archy could giggle ... at any spontaneous moment.

Lardo's Archy would be able to burst spontaneously into a manly type of laughter, possibly described as a deep chuckle fluctuating with a high pitched peel.But, he could not produce a true, free-flowing giggle... unless, possibly, if he were plowed out of his mind by long applied liquor ... or if he were to reside too long in the Sanders Archy's shoes.

The Sanders Archy could easily play act the light grace of a ballerina, for and in fun. If Lardo's Archy tried that he would appear the classic bull in a china closet, probably stubbing his toe; and his late-morning, beard-shadow would ruin the show (or slide it into farce). Archy-1 might own a light stubble in the morning if he hadn't shaved since the previous morning, but a late-morning shadow would never darken his facade, at least not naturally by way of wiry hairs popping forth in dense supply, a few hours after the blade had scratched paths of baby-buns effect.

I found myself hoping that this stubbled, more intensely male Archy would maintain the market demand which survived Sanders' demise.To that end, I wondered how Lardo would work in Archy's bottom line appeal, as exposed in McNally's SECRET:

>> "I had lived through dire warnings of nuclear catastrophe, global warming, ozone depletion, universal extinction via cholesterol, and the invasion of killer bees.After a while my juices stopped their panicky surge and I realized I was bored with all these screeched predictions of Armageddon due next Tuesday. It hadn't happened yet, had it?The old world tottered along, and I was content to totter along with it." <<

Lardo's Archy paraphrased the above sentiment in DILEMMA, as he also linked to many thoughts, themes, and scenes from the original 7 novels.Those tributary reminders gave warm, effective touches.However, somehow Lardo's paraphrase of the above passage felt hollow. The femme fatal's question, "Why can't you be serious, Archy," almost seemed to puzzle Archy-2 as much as it did the woman posing it.

As I read along with Lardo's Archy, observing how he handled heated situations, I continued to see this new man as a push/direct type of guy, acting in clear confidence (though, at times, that esteem slipped under a graciously appropriate humility).

To me the old Archy cajoled much, but did not seem to have a habit of pushing or directing, and often his confidence was endearingly and genuinely lax, as he tottered along, playing with life's dictates as a youthful spirit carrying a complex sensitivity which sometimes slipped into a contemplative moodiness.I loved the way he would work himself out of those dark-side slips by using (and detailing to the reader) his cherished daily routines, reveling in them, mentioning the flavors and items of nearly every meal, every afternoon dunk in the ocean, every evening pause with his journal, when he often turned aside to speak directly to his reader.

The new Archy touched upon, but didn't seem to WALLOW within simple routines, or elaborate meals; most of his underlying focus seemed to be on powering, with finesse or foible, through problems.And, I had the feeling that Lardo would not harbor a hidden dream of, in his late thirties, living in his father's mansion.Early in the plot, Archy-2 gave off subtle scents of seeming not to understand, nor to like pater McNally.

Contrasting all this, periodic flickers of the old Archy flashed through Lardo in clear brilliance.

At "off" times it appeared that Lardo did not quite get Sanders' motivation for writing a character like Archy McNally, did not precisely comprehend the market success of a rarely serious Archy being a true heroic persona to great masses of readers.It appeared that, to Lardo the old Archy was somewhat of a simpering wimp, and, furthermore, why did he live in gawd-awful, flooding Florida, instead of NYC, when he obviously had the choice to do so.This is my speculation of Lardo's possible feelings; I get the Florida appeal, as well as the charisma of NYC (if one has money to maintain the lifestyles).

Will Archy-2 carry the series? According to observations of reviews and steady sales ranks on Amazon, readers want more Archibald by Vincent.

Though I miss the old Archy, I was attracted to the changed nuances in McNally's DILEMMA, and I believe Archy-2 will carry the series into a stronger style, not quite as delicately sophisticated (with none, or less of, the figurative ballerina dancing, contemplative moods, or extended introspection ... or giggles).

At this point, I'm recalling a feeling I had reading the original Archy's attractions to women.I often wondered why they seemed to lack the type of deep-throated, Adam's Apple "gggrrrrrrrrr" which Lardo's Archy would naturally have been able to give them (though the Sanders Archy was amusingly, artistically sensual).When Archy 2 described Victoria Manning I could feel his seething attraction. That gave an effective sensual substance.

As noted, the new Archy was a living, heavily breathing, sauntering, strutting male. How could that guy take over a character as stylishly, delicately, sensitively sensual as the Lawrence Sanders Archy McNally?

He could not.Viva la difference.

I feel an amusing, warm empathy for Lardo's willingness to dawn Archy's hats, scarves, and shoes.How could he not?I hope Vincent Lardo will be able to fully link to the unique market of his appeal, because that market exists.I'll give McNally's FOLLY a chance to grow the appeals of Archy-2.How could I not? (See my Listmania for titles/links for this series and Lardo's web site address.)

This novel does not have "twists and turns."It has a labyrinth of convolutions, and the wrap of them bogged the gulls in my mind.

Hats off to Lardo.Salute!

Linda G. Shelnutt
Author of:
Molasses Moon
Myrtle's Ultimate Mystery
The Rose and the Pyramid (The Books of Gem) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good
I like the McNally books because they are murder mysteries, but they are lightly written.I don't need or like a lot of dark morbidity, so McNally is just the thing--he is determinedly optimistic.(And I have a bad habit of buying his books when I see them, only to discover I already own one--or two--copies of the same title.I must get better organized!)

Misleading Advertising?
I too bought this book assuming it was a previously unreleased McNally story.I already have all of the McNally books.In fact, looking at the website now, the only mention that it is a collection is in the customer reviews.Having read all of the other books and enjoyed them, I didn't need to read the reviews.I'm feeling a bit ripped off!

3 Great Novels in 1 Book
This is a great collection of the first three McNally investigations in one nice, inexpensive edition.Please disregard the one star review below.They are just bitter because they didn't do the proper investigation into this book before purchasing it.Archy McNally would be ashamed.Buy this.Read this.Enjoy this.I known you will.

MCNALLY'S"TRICKSTER"...
I APPARENTLY DID NOT READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK AS WELL AS I SHOULD
HAVE.SHAME ON ME.I HAVE ALL OF THE MCNALLY BOOKS AND WHEN I SAW THIS
TITLE THOUGHT...."UMMM,I DON'T HAVE THAT ONE ON MY LIST??"WHEN I
RECEIVED IT, I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT WAS A COMPILATION OF THREE BOOKS I
HAD ALREADY RECEIVED/READ AND WAS DISAPPOINTED I HAD NOT READ THE REVIEW
BETTER.I AM DONATING IT TO MY LIBRARY. ... Read more

Product Description
When a wealthy jeweler is stabbed on the streets of New York City, insurance investigator Dora Conti investigates the family's claim and discovers scandal, corruption, addiction, and adultery in the Conti family. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Enjoyable Easy Reading
This book was well written and moved quickly.It wasn't a sit on the edge of your seat thriller but it wasn't dull.It centers around a prominent family who are in the jewelery business.A string of murders happen and it seems just about everyone is breaking the seventh commandment.

Thou shalt not...
Lawrence Sanders ran the gamut in suspense detective prose. From the intellectual cop Delaney to the hip private eye McNally, Sanders was able to create memorable characters in highly entertaining novels.
In "The Seventh Commandment" Dora Conti, a tough insurance scam hound is called in to investigate the death of a jeweler, Lewis Starrett. Starrett, stabbed in the back with a kitchen knife, is obviously a victim of foul play, but who did it? With millions at stake, there are abundant motives from numerous suspects.
So when other characters in this drama of violence start getting killed one at a time, Dora plunges into a world with cobwebs of duplicity - A world where murder is cheap, and adultery, cheaper.
In sync with his later novels, Sanders toned down the hard edge typical of suspense, eschewing action in favor of characterization. Dora, as the plump housewife, is unique in a genre populated by lithe men and slim women (Just watch the TV shows.)

At times, the Seventh Commandment can seem reminiscent of his Timothy Files, however it vindicates itself with its enjoyable plot. This novel should make for some good evening reading.

great
I loved the book!Sanders is a gifted writer and I love evrething he writes about. Dora is a funny and a loveable character- It's great to finally read about a female heroine.

yawner
I don't think that guy from San Antonio reads to many mystery books because thier is nothing original in this book from the beginning to the end.It's so predictable

it was ok
This book was well written, despite its predictablity. ... Read more

Product Description
When Decimus Fortesque, the millionaire collector of wives and rare manuscripts, hires Archy McNally to locate the Holy Grail of missing tomes-the complete text of Truman Capote's Answered Prayers-Palm Beach's premier P.I. uncovers nothing but scandal.

Luscious Claudia Lester claims to have had the manuscript but declares that her lover, Matthew Harrigan, ran off with it; a lover scorned, Harrigan says Claudia is lying. And Rodney Whitehead, a shady antiques dealer, maintains that neither Claudia nor Harrigan is to be believed. When the supposed owner of the manuscript is found dead in a sleazy motel, the investigating officer, Georgia O'Hara, suspects Archy knows more than he's willing to admit about the murder, the manuscript, and its ardent pursuers composed of ne'er-do-wells and flimflam artists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Duet Voices. Securing the Solitaire.
I continue to be intrigued by the personality variances in the Archy character, given through the separate voice clarity of Lawrence Sanders and Vincent Lardo.That entrancement is enhanced by my professional interest (I've been a parapsychologist since 1979) in the paranormal aspects of the author-pair situation, and as applied by Lardo to the plots in each of his novels.How could I not continue to be hooked to this series, when those fascinations are added to Lardo's ability to weave complex plots (this one around an unpublished manuscript, "Answered Prayers" by Truman Capote), and to seamlessly incorporate his personal knowledge of lifestyles of the very, very wealthy.

Memories of Archy-1's sensitive, sensual, compassionate personality continue to contrast the testosterone richness of Archy-2's controlling, sometimes angry impatience ... which is appealing in its own way...controlling, organizing, director types possessing ambitious, rampant masculinity (in both sexes) accomplish/finish the essentials for keeping the world's motors running.While noticeably missing the responsive Archy-1, I'm thankful for the opportunity to read the pushier Archy-2, with the push evidenced by more than the fact that he chooses to take on cases only after expressions of critical resistance, accompanied by warnings to himself, of disaster brewing in games of potential clients.I see why Lardo initiated Archy's new style of interviewing clients who come directly to him, rather than through Prescott McNally, Archy's employer/father, as Sanders' Archy had done through most of Sanders' first 7 novels (I'm looking forward to rereading the series at some point, to confirm or alter for myself, conclusions I've drawn about the differences between Archy 1 & 2).

Concurrent with the ongoing paranormal themes in Lardo's continuance, Archy-2 has dubbed ALIBI's case, "A Voice from the Grave" (couldn't help but wonder if Lardo had a different title in mind for ALIBI). And, what's up with Lardo mentioning "Siggy" (Sigmund Freud) in a plot featuring an ugly murdered guy (a drug addict and overall looser) named Lawrence Swensen?What's up Doc?

My interest surged during the interview scene between Archy and Tyler Beaumont (descendant of presidents, etc.).I was impressed with the exposure of Lardo's depth of understanding of (in stereotype and in reality) the psychological angst and lifestyles of the richest-of-the-rich, the oldest-of-the-oldest-families.To me, it's clear that this was the subculture about which Vincent had preferred to write, and his enhancement of it in ALIBI increased my curiosity about Lardo's Hamptons novels. (See his web site; address included in my McNally Listmania).What had put me off those novels was their feeling of heavy investment in socio-political comment.Contrastingly, what had warmed me into the McNally series was Archy's lack of investment in socio-political comment, his gems of philosophical lightness contrasted to dips into moodiness.

I've lived (comfortably self-supporting) at a poverty level of income most of my life; yet I've not been able to sustain (at least not beyond a few years in college) critical or disdainful anger toward other economic, ethnic, or socio-political subcultures.I've not been able to place and retain resources (emotional as well as financial, such as they aren't) into group Causes, either against the "fortunate" or for the "not fortunate."Maybe that is why I enjoy Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. (See my recent review of PALE KINGS AND PRINCES for a comment on Spenser's "CAUSE-less-ness"; note that Social Causes are different from personal causes driving rescues of individuals).

Another novel which dips insightfully into The Hamptons lifestyles is Cleo Coyle's MURDER MOST FROTHY.My review on that mystery seems to have magnetized itself to receipt of a huge collection of "No" votes.Am I supposed to harbor hatred for those who appear to be above me?I do not disdain differences; I'm either intrigued by them, or they become less visible as I warm to them.

Regarding those issues, in some ways I identify with Denver's Molly Brown, though I'll never achieve great wealth myself; I'd be thrilled to have my novels published professionally enough to give them a chance to reach their earned level of success, in which case I won't be giving away my millions; I'll be spending the heck out of them.

Whatever.This life is indeed strangely ironic at times; the works of fiction I've found which best expose the ironies of it are Ayn Rand's two novels, Parker's Spenser series (if read in order), and the Archy McNally series. The contrasts in Lardo and Sanders, as they live and work through Archy, offer a wealth of life-and-character studies.

In closing, I'll slither to the edge of a reviewer's limb, wearing my parapsychologist's hat (black, cone-shaped) and wax philosophically about personality needs to control, which I believe are healthy, possibly essential, at certain times, yet a time comes during which...

(Yes, since I own a magic broom, being on the edge of a limb ... or cliff ... isn't a huge risk!)

As a person arrives at the final chapter in life, especially if that chapter stretches over a few years instead of coming to fruition in moments or months, that person's needs to control (literally everything) gradually become less important, less felt, until the person reaches a healing inner peace, an ability to effortlessly enjoy moments, without losing the morrow of life, in fact gaining it by lack of attempts to possess it.

I believe Sanders was within that type of extended final chapter when he wrote this series; and the letting go of compulsions to control (a freeing of spirit which I believe most of us crave at the level of spirit) impregnated his products.From my possibly warped perspective, Lardo was not at that type of Final Chapter when he wrote his Archy novels.Possibly that is one of the reasons for the difference between Archy 1 & 2 ... in addition to the personality variances between Larry and Vince?

Is Death, then, the Mother of Beauty (and Beauty Peace)?

A soothing melancholy radiated from the last page of ALIBI, giving the feeling of looking up into a clear night sky, of transporting oneself for a moment into the twinkling of stars.

As noted here and in my other reviews of McNally novels, I'm thankful for the opportunity to read this type of series, to see the contrasts between its authors' "driving" of its characters.

What a Gift from "The Universe."

Linda Shelnutt

Cute, cute, cute, in a stupid... way
I have read every book in the Archy McNally series, and I've enjoyed each of them. I remain awed by how seamlessly author Vincent Lardo took over a series started by another writer, in this case, the late Lawrence Sanders. So it is with regret that I don't feel that McNALLY'S ALIBI deserves my customary five-stars, though it certainly earns four.

There is a line in a Jacques Brel song that talks about how a character is "cute, cute, cute, in a stupid-assed way." Well, sadly, this is the point to which Archy McNally, the protagonist of this series, seems to be evolving.

I long have suspected that this Archy was based, at least in part, on Archie Goodwin of the NERO WOLFE mysteries. Yet Archie Goodwin always was suave and elegant, like Cary Grant or James Bond. Never in this series has Archy McNally been suave and elegant; he actually was kind of fey from the very first book. Since that first book was published, a new word has been coined, "metrosexual," referring to straight men who enjoy pleasures usually perceived as gay, such as facials and manicures. Not James Bond but more Niles Crane, the brother on the television series FRASIER. Well, though Archy definitely is a metrosexual, the problem is that he is starting to sound more deranged than fey.

This is pity, because the plot in McNALLY'S ALIBI is as good as any in the series, and the denouement perhaps even more clever than usual.

As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in Palm Beach myself, I also would like to see a bit more local color in these stories.

The McNALLY books all remain favorites of mine, but I do hope that the author and his editor can reel Archy back in so that he seems a little more realistic.

Lousy.
This entry in the McNally Saga is a bit of a let-down -- especially coming right after Lardo's "McNally's Dilemma" which is probably the all time best McNally novel. In "McNally's Alibi" we get to see Archy take leave of his senses. The only time he seems to do anything right is in trying to pick up Officer Georgy O'Hara, which he does quite nicely. I agree with those who think Connie Garcea needs to take a hike. That one has outlived her welcome. It is time Archy got a new love interest.

Hopefully what we saw in this novel won't happen again.

If you really must read this book then do so. But borrow it from the local library instead of buying it and spend your money on something more worthy of your attention.

Mediocre, but pleasant
Lawrence Sanders fans will note Mr Lardo does an excellent job of imitating Sanders' style, but somehow the story is less than the standard McNally tale.The introduction of a new love interest in policewoman Georgi girl is good.The main storyline is difficult to follow at times, and the added sub-story with Ty Beaumont is an unnecessary distraction which doesn't feel right.Overall, one never knows, do one?

Answered Prayers
Archy NcNally, Discret Inquirer, goes from the search of Truman Capotes alleged missing manuscript "Unanswered Prayers", on behalf of a collector of salacious transcripts to being a suspect in a murder at a seedy motel.The characters that claim ownership of this transcript are all, according to each other, not to be trusted.

As this case deepens, Archy can think only of the beautiful, green-eyed, blond State Tropper Georgia O'Hara who suspects him of murder!

This novel has twists and turns that include blackmail, murder and fraud.It is the fouth novel that Vincent Lardo has written on behalf of Lawerence Sanders.I was afraid that Ursi's magnificent cooking skills, Archys' lady skills or his dapper dressing styles would not be described as completely as they had when the creator had written them.Over time, Vincent Lardo has surpassed all of my fears.I no longer see him as a character resuscitated but a character contined.Wonderful writing! ... Read more

Product Description
The unparalleled master of modern suspense, Sanders presents the ultimate study in urban crime: the explosive story of Timothy Cone, a private eye who digs too deeply into thge murderous exploits of big business--and uncovers a twisted web of incest, drug addiction, and gut-wrenching violence. HC: Putnam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Welcome to Timothy's World
Rarely have I seen an evolution in a writer's style as I have seen in Lawrence Sanders's. He eschewed his hardboiled crime fiction in novels like the Third Deadly Sin for the Timothy Series, finally ending with the feel good McNally.
The Timothy Files presents the likable Timothy Cone as a corporate intelligence specialist (he hates the term "private detective"), who works for Haldering and Co. Haldering and Co. investigates potential suitors for mergers and takeovers. This benign milieu provides the backdrops for some intriguing mysteries.
The Wall Street Dick, first of the three novellas in this book, opens with the death of Ed Griffon, a fellow investigator. Timothy attempts to find his killer, while taking over his unfinished work. The second, the Whirligig Action, focuses on Nu Hope, a fertility clinic, which is being scouted by an an aspiring investor. A Covey of Cousins, the third and final novella, pits Timothy's horsesense against a dysfunctional clan of criminals, the Laboris. Drug smuggling, money laundering are just the least of the challenges he encounters on his way to unraveling these riddles.
With a superb cast of the bumbling Timothy, the overbearing Samantha, and the hideous and adorable Cleo, we are set for a thrill ride. Their relationship, as well as his exploits, satisfy an innate desire to see the underdog win. The writing is light-hearted, even when the crimes are not. Indeed, in Sanders world, light humor and dark crimes happily coexist.
A good way to pass time, all readers should enjoy this flavor of Cone.

great stories
This book was written several years ago, but it still packs a punch.It contains three files or cases involving Timothy Cone, a private eye working for a company that investigates businesses for their clients.He is an interesting character---he lives very simply in a cheap apartment (his bed is a mattress on the floor) with a neutered tomcat named Cleo, is having an affair with his manager, which no one knows about and is a little unusual, in that the way they communicate with each other is more on the rude side than lovey-dovey side.It made for a rather entertaining story in itself and then the case files added along with it even more so.I really enjoyed the book!

decent read
Sanders has a somewhat minimilist writing style which took a few pages to get accustomed to. However, once I did, I found the characters and stories engaging.

All three stories in the book were good.Timothy is aninteresting character, whose lifestyle matches the author's writing style-- sparse.I identified well with Timothy.Other characters also havetheir own personalities, although they aren't as strong as the maincharacter.

Overall, it's a good read, especially if you like New York,where the stories take place.

Timothy Cone is the man.
When I see reader reviews lauding Sanders' work on Arch McNally, and then only half-baked reviews on his work with Timothy Cone, I wonder what the crime/detective fiction world readership is coming to.

Timothy Cone isthe boiled-down essence of the hard-bitten noir detective, not some richfop who happened into investigations because his daddy is a rich lawyer.McNally? Gimme a break.

The Timothy Files, and Timothy's Game, areSanders at his best: a real character who fits his surroundings like theshabby hat the character wears, a man who likes rainy days because they fithis disposition better than happy "hellos" and birhgt sunshine, aguy who can get into the seedy underside of things and find out how thewheels are turning inside the dark recesses of people's minds. Motive,desire, love, greed, and yes, sometimes fists, knives and guns are thestock in trade of detective fiction, and Sanders explores that dark extrememost effectively in his Timothy series.

But you won't see Arch down atthe waterfront dive, extracting info from criminals by bracing them withimplied and not-so-implied threats...he's way too busy with cocktails atthe club.

If you are a true fan of hard-boiled detective fiction, readand revel in Timothy's Game. If not, read anything about McNally...inbetween reels of Mary Poppins.

Trite, lightwieght and full of shortcuts.
Don't get me wrong. I like mysteries and P.I. stories. I collect them - I have thousands in my library. But this has got to be one of the worst fictions I have encountered. Even my wife, who finishes everything shereads, threw this one down by page 50 or so. I don't know Sanders, but hemust've been taking a holiday when he wrote this. ... Read more

Product Description
Bingham Foundation field investigator Samuel Todd discovers a conspiracy of silence surrounding the research being conducted by Telford Gordon Thorndecker, the head of the well-to-do senior care facility, Crittenden Hall. Reissue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

DUPLICATION OF EXCELLENCE
JUST LIKE ALL OF THE LAWRENCE SANDERS BOOKS (OF WHICH I AM A GREAT FAN),
THIS IS A PAGE-TURNER.WE NEED TO CLONE SANDERS SO WE CAN HAVE MORE
BOOKS...LOL

See why Sanders rates well
I have read quite a few of the newer Sanders novels and liked them.This was the oldest of his that I've read (copyright 1978).The antagonist is motivated by a subject matter that has been the centerpiece of two new novels I've recently read.

The main character, Samuel Todd, shares some of the same traits as Archie McNalley, another Sanders character in a different series.This story and Todd are a bit darker than McNalley, though.See why Sanders comes by his good reputation by reading this book.

Interesting mystery!
This is the third Lawrence Sanders book I've read and I enjoyed it. The investigator is a likeable guy, the story is suspenseful and the characters are very real. Most of Sanders' lead charactershave a cheeky, kind ofsarcastic/funny way about them that's drawing me to his writing. Humor andsuspense - a rare combination that is refreshing. Some of the medicalterminology was too detailed, but otherwise a good, quick read.

keep away
it was awful, nothing new in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In the sequel to McNally's Secret, playboy Florida sleuth Archy McNally's search for a purloined cat turns deadly when a prominent woman is brutally murdered. 175,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Not Sander's finest hour... ?
In the past I had read five others by Lawrence Sanders and had enjoyed them.
Maybe I'm getting picky, but the Palm Beach detective who lives at home with his parents, just isn't my type of detective.
Nothing much interesting about a catnapping and a probable husband killing his wife, even if they are somehow connected? Kind of bleary eyed boring and it took me several days to finish it for lack of interest.

Mossy-Car-Classic Sunk In Sea-Treasure-Bliss
What I like most about Archy is his warm nonchalance contrasted with his old money manners and deference to his father.I very much enjoy being around for the daily routine luxuries of a casually (yet hugely) wealthy family, whose members have their professional lives and leisure activities precisely balanced for appropriate rhythms in living the good and useful life.It's also interesting to ride along in the mind of a semi-playboy, privy to his ways of looking at and reacting to females who step into his presence.

I have fun wondering how Sanders will jump start my reading rhythm through Archie in each book.In PUZZLE, Sanders gets Archie a shocking slap across the chops; in LUCK Sanders steps Archie out onto the page lamenting cat vomit having spoiled a favorite lavender suede shoe.Actually, Archie's lamenting not as much the vomit as the cat who did it.Of course the cat, Peaches, wasn't the who DONE it.Generally, cat's don't murder people, they kill rats.

Speaking of which, was the victim an angelic lady or a rat.Sander's hint of that question had my mind clicking tumblers to open locks.

One of my favorite scenes was Archy's endearingly gleeful response to an unexpected phone call at midnight from a newly intimate female friend who was giving Consuela a run for her money, with the two women complicating Archy's love life with just the right amount of fun & juggle to avoid him appearing the cad.

And speaking of a character's foibles warming the reader to him instead of etching away from a tentative bond, I find myself continuing to compare Archy's warmth in LUCK to his cooler, crisper presence in PUZZLE.I'm not sure why/how I felt this contrast, but the earlier Archy seemed more youthfully vulnerable than the later character.Both presentations are good, but having received a good dose of the younger personality spice, and genuine love of people, coupled with a full-run of joie de vivre, I'll be able to slip that cozy appeal into the later story's slight and subtle, chilled sophistication.

Speaking of a Florida-type, artistic savoir faire, I like the fact that parrots play a scene in both these stories, though LUCK has them in-plot, highlighting an item of classy clothing, while PUZZLE has the parrot not only on the cover, but he's played up as a suspect, and he's certainly a key figure in the game afoot, sort of like peaches is romping invisibly through the plot here, as a victim of napping (in the "kid" sense).

Mostly what sticks in my mind as the capture in this one, similarly to PUZZLE is the dramatization of a type of simple daily routines of a life which I'd never be able to experience except between the covers of a healthy escape novel.I enjoy being Archy's sidekick and daily guest for dinner and cocktails, along with feeling sympathy for his vulnerability of wanting to impress his "cool as a cucumber" pater.Which reminds me that Archie seems to be evolving toward that chilly description, when I contrast the vulnerability quotient and personality evolution between LUCK and PUZZLE.

After only a few pages into LUCK, I noticed the character temperature difference, and immediately crossed my fingers, hoping that Arch would eventually catch himself by the nut (acorn/oak?) ...

OR, would that be by the core (apple tree)?

Prior to his fall from the proverbial (prodigal?) tree.My fingers were crossed in hopes that he'd get a turbo charge before doing the gravity drift descent from the branch.

Is birth, or sometime after, the time of each of our falls from trees?In which case Archie's paternal stones (or runes) would have been cast long ago, to pop out at a later time, as either pimples or personality pluses.

And, of course THAT reminds me that we have an interesting paranormal element in this plot, which, okay, fits with the word LUCK.The medium/channel lady is indeed a characterization of foibles flickering through the ethereal essence-of-angelic.

Speaking of titles and book cover art reminds me that I've been comparing Archie to Parker's Spenser (see my reviews on POTSHOT, BACK STORY, and BAD BUSINESS).How different could two guys get?Yet.Each has P.I. has a solid, strong style imbued by a male author with personality plus, dialogue-coup, and lifestyle-ambiance in abundance.

So, I wondered as I was getting into the story, "Will LUCK play a significant part in this plot?" And, how would the cover fit in.In Parker's books the title and cover art are richly and intriguingly metaphoric of the stories they "portell" (portray/foretell).Yep.I've been reading Archie, making up words you won't be able to find in the dictionary.But, Archie makes up fitting terms, AND he precisely uses the heck out of the most real and obscure parts of Webster's realms.

Archie's worth reading for no other reason than to have a grin on my face while I'm expanding my vocab, with my waist widening only vicariously from the descriptions of daily breads.No calories in words, whether they're chewed or slurped, just lots of pictures, feelings, and intriguing spaces between.

Since alcohol hasn't agreed with me since I was nine and permanently lost 3/4 of my liver from a long and deadly serious bout of hepatitis, and since I've known and cared deeply about a few too many alcoholics, I've never been able to enjoy the spirit of alcohol, as I sometimes wish I could.In Archie's world, I can sip vintage wine with dinner, without fear or cost.Such a deal.You have no idea.Burp. Hic.

I just WISH these culinary mysteries would tell me more about TASTE and bites.I mean, while they're catching clues, can't they "take a bite of bread, a sip of wine, or a nibble of cheese"?

I realize that a reader complained to Sanders about Archie mentioning every meal, and thankfully Sanders didn't let that whine stop those tasteful sensual inclusions for the successful appeal to his hoards of other hungry readers like me.But, would it truly be a use of too many words, a going too far out on a starving, shaky limb to have characters contemplate clues not only over a luxurious meal with the menu listed, but also to have the characters...

Sink drool-covered teeth into a warm, steamy, yeasty sponge of sourdough bread, chew and swallow; then wallow tongue around a mouth full of a rich red wine, catching every variety of nuance of a dry, violet-skiffed-velvet, toasty-fruity tang of Pinot noir, taking time to sense and remember the slight bitter edge of dark purple, concord-grape skin rolling around the insides of cheeks imitating chipmunks gathering acorns.

And, here, again, we fall.Into a great story with the panache of good taste hitting buds on tongues and in craniums where readers don't fear to dwell.We're in the springtime of the culinary mystery sub-genre, and we've only begun to nibble on the potential for flavor.

Take a bite, Archie, and give me the nuances of flavor.Feed lamb to my taste buds while I'm racking my brain.And do it with DETAIL!

Well, heck.Sanders is gone (so to speak, but maybe the "other side's" not as far as it feels when grief is nigh).So is Virginia Rich (see my Listmania and reviews on Eugenia Potter, some with spotlights).Yet, the craving for flavor is so strong, their eating/cooking characters live on.When will we get a clue about chewing while clue-ing?It's not just the recipes that do it!Might we have senses for a reason?

Maybe they're (senses) the raison d'etre (which is the point I ponder in The Rose and the Pyramid (The Books of Gem)).

At least Davidson goes into detail luxury in cooking processes.Thank you, DMD. See my Listmania blurb on the Goldilocks pilot to see, feel, and sense how a succinct description of herb-enhanced, raw dough sticking to fingers can instantly glue a reader into a plot.Get it.

And, thank you Lawrence for sticking to your guns (and out your tongue), and being faithful to the successful plot ploy of at least MENTIONING Archie's daily meals and cocktails.Oh to have a gourmet chef in residence in a manse in Florida and eat like that!Man.What a life.

I know a paranormal mystery pilot which does what I'm begging for here.When it does the selling like hot cakes thing, I'll be playing among the parrots and flamingos with the spirit of Sanders.Salute!G. P. Putnam & Son's would be a match.Should I strike it?

Megaphone aiming to the zenith, taking a huge breath in prep for a primal,

Linda G. Shelnutt
Author of several Kindle books, including:
Myrtle's Ultimate Mystery
Molasses Moon

kept me reading
I hemmed over the purchase of the book.When I started to read it [My first Sanders book] I was delighted by the characters.No one is what they seem. The first impression is stereotypes but I found that everyone had depths that you would never have attributed to them [Peaches too]. Archie who seems as feather headed as they come and is up there with the best.

The plot twists are tied together neatly leaving a satisfied feeling at the end.While looking for other McNally's books I discovered that Lawrence Sanders had died.I felt the disappointment I feel when I find that one of my favorite authors has died.It says a lot on the first book to get that feeling.

I almost turned it down when I read the reviews if you love Block you'll love this.I hate Block.I love Sanders.I plan on reading the rest of Sander's McNally books and plan on the others too.It was a pleasing suprise. Try it you might be also pleased and suprised.

best 2nd book in a series I ever read
How could you possibly top McNally's Secret?Well, somehow Lawrence Sanders managed to do just that, with this superb second entry in the McNally series.Archy is first hired to find a kidnapped cat (held for $50K ransom!?), but the case soon involves murder as well.The investigation leads to a mysterious fortune teller, who leads Archy through a most entertaining seance.Archy finds and loses love as well.Combining heads with the Palm Beach police detective Sgt Rogoff, Archy untangles this twisted tale through a series of adulterous affairs.I must admit that I was successful in unveiling the first killer, whose alibi fell apart in just the way I suspected.Nevertheless, this book was satisfying, and most of all, FUN!

If you love Lawrence Block's Bernie the Burglar series, you will love McNally.

An absolute delight to read!
Lawrence Sanders is one of my favorite authors, and when I first read the McNally detective series, I was instantly hooked.Archie McNally is one of the best characters in mystery fiction that I have ever read (in my "expert" opinion).Archie is a rogue that loves life and all the guilty pleasures that come with it.Yet, Archie has a good conscience, (when he dosen't trip over into the bedroom of latest beautiful woman he encounters). Lawrence Sanders always describes the meals his detective consume in delicious detail.I wish their was a Pelican Inn near where I live, like the one that Archy goes to for lunch and dinner.

In every McNally novel, there is the relationship between Prescott McNally (Archy's father) who probably looked like Lawrence Sanders, Prescott, is the epitome of an "old fashioned Gentleman" who lives in Florida.Yet I believe Sanders was more like Archy in real life.

The first person narrative of Archy is clever.His wit is truely hillarious and the way he describes his detective work, his daily encounter with life and the people he deals with is captivating.I can't speak highly enough of this series.My sincere wish is that a network would make these into a movie of the week, and I would love to see who they can pick to portray Archy. However, until then and long afterwards I will anxiously await the next adventure of Archy, no matter if it is written by another author, since the truely sad passing of the late great Lawrence Sanders. ... Read more

Product Description
Accustomed to helping the high society of Palm Beach cover up its scandals, private investigator Archy McNally agrees to assist a wealthy matron find a missing block of priceless stamps when the case uncovers a shocking secret from his own past. Reissue." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Quite enjoyable
I like Sanders' McNally collection. And this one is definitely good, also the performance is perfect. Possibly, I have expected more, that is why 4. In any case, wonderful pastime.

Meet Mr, McNally!
If you love a rich, colorful character in yourmystery novels, then most certainly pick up McNally's Secret. The lead character is a loveable, albeit naughty boy, named Archie McNally.He is handsome, in his 30's, and still living at home! [Women, beware!] However, McNally does justify his stay at home status with his readers(rent=zip, nado, nothing!]. In McNally's Secret, you meet Archie, a Yale law school drop out [he was caught running across a stage wearing a Richard Nixon mask and nothing else..], who is currently working for his attorney father as head of "Discreet Investigations". Archie handles sensitive cases for his father's richer-than-God clients down in Palm Beach. Archie loves wine, women, and song--not necessarily in that order. In fact, he eats too much, drinks to much, and always seems to get in trouble with the wrong sortof gal, much to the chagrin of his unofficial girlfriend Connie. In this mystery, Archie must call upon Lady Horowitz (which should be spelled Horror-wits), a brash old gal who has married more men that Liz Taylor and has more money than Queen Liz. The mystery begins with the theft of Lady Horowitz's priceless inverted Jenny stamps, but the plot soon turns to murder. And only McNally has the insight to the case's solution.

Am I the only one who is bothered by this?
I've read the first 4 books in the McNally's series in sequence. They're all highly formulaic but still enjoyable.

In the first 3 books the main character is a lovable rogue, mostly amoral but still with certain personal limits, so it is not surprising that he sleeps with various available women in the first 3 books.

But -- SPOILER ALERT -- in the 4th book he sleeps with a woman who is married, living with her husband and planning to continue that way. And -- lest you think that he was momentarily carried away by passion -- he sleeps with her two more times.

Suddenly, to this reviewer at least, McNally becomes a less lovable and much more unattractive figure.

McNally's secret
to me any McNally book is a good one.You should look for the whole series.

Cure Cultural Volcanics with Bubbling Champagne.Design Life To Suit Taste & Times.
This book didn't merely capture my reading interest. It became a book of my heart...

In McNally's SECRET, the pilot to this series, we're informed that the pater McNally is not an "old-money" man.Okay.I get that and I like it.(That's not the secret.)

Having reviewed 4 of the original 7 McNally books by Lawrence Sanders, I had accepted the face value (not realizing the facade) of the Palm Beach mansion and the genteel lifestyle of pater Prescott McNally, Yale graduate, leather-bound-Dickens-reading, attorney-at-law.Upon reading (in McNally's Secret) the illuminating passages of Archy's grandparent's ways into money, I began to wonder what other Secrets this novel might expose.

Usually, if possible, I prefer to read a series in order, pilot first.I can't explain why, but, in this case I'm glad I read 4 of the original 7 McNally's prior to reading SECRET (though I believe this series can be satisfyingly read in any order).

The opening of this novel was classic, and felt to be the initiation of what Sanders was born and itching to write, beyond the sagas of his other fine works.The introductory remarks were exquisite in mapping the reasons for, "Can't you ever be serious, Archy?"I'd love to quote that paragraph, but maybe I should allow you to read it with the book in hand.I will quote a few other passages, however, which might serve as appropriate appetizers to this banquet of a book.

Comparing himself to S. Holmes, Archy says:

"I can't glance at a man and immediately know he's left-handed, constipated, has a red-headed wife, and slices lox for a living.I do investigations a fact at a time.Eventually they add up - I hope.I'm very big on hope."

Archy's description of the start up of the Pelican Club were the best type of soul food.This is how and why such a club should be started (then survive through a near hit of Chapter 7).Of course you really should read the book to get the whole of that brief history, but here's a prime paring:

"We were facing Chapter 7 when we had the great good fortune to hire the Pettibones, an African-American family who had been living in one of the gamier neighborhoods of West Palm Beach and wanted out."

They "wanted out" and they deserved a chance where their skills could and would save not only themselves, but those who hired them.Isn't that the type of win/win the world needs now?

I almost sobbed at the below passage, I felt such a deep surge of "right on" (definitely did a breath-catch hiccup and heart moan):

"... we formed a six-piece jazz combo (I played tenor kazoo), and we were delighted to perform, without fee, at public functions and nursing homes.A Palm Beach critic wrote of one of our recitals, `Words fail me.'You couldn't ask for a better review than that."

Yep.This is a book of my heart.Words don't often fail me in reviews; too much the contrary.But I'm getting better at refraining from using my critic hat with a steel-studded-bat accessory, which is what Archy was getting at.

Some might wonder why a person in my position, with my un-hidden agendas, would take so much time to write raves on a series by a deceased author.Mostly, I love Archy.But, possibly the live spirits of the dead are sometimes more able to be helpful than dead souls of the living?Keeping my tongue in cheek, I might add that freed spirits probably have better connections for helping an author into the right publishing contacts for a character series with ironic assonance with this one.

Moving quickly onward and upward, though not with wings attached yet...

In contrast to the other 4 I've read, I noticed that this Archy is less bubbly-buffoonish (though the buffoon is always endearing) and slightly more serious, sensitive, and quietly contemplative.I like both versions of Archy, though I prefer the slight edge of peaceful acquiescence in the pilot, and I can't help but wonder, as I do with all series, how much reader feedback, and editor/agents' interpretation of it, directed the progression of balance of certain appealing or potentially irritating qualities.I wonder how each series would have progressed if the feedback had been balanced and pure (as a species, we're not there yet,but forward motion is perceptible), rather than inevitably polluted by the "life happens" part of the sometimes perverted, capricious tastes of us squeaky wheels, and the healthy ego needs of professionals in positions of swallow and sway.

I'm still trying to understand why honesty is the most appealing human quality to me, yet honest criticism does not speak to my heart, nor to my soul, not even to my head.Often, though, it does speak in perfect pitch to my funny bone.And, of course true Honesty (with the capital "H") leaps beyond speaking the "truth" as one happens to "see" it on a good or bad day.Cultural honesty, of the type dramatized by Stephen King, Lawrence Sanders, Tamar Myers, Barbara Workinger, Joanne Pence, Sue Grafton, (and others) is what most often pushes me to stand up and cheer.

Somewhere.

One of the best spots I've found is on the edge of the clear cliff of ozone found in Amazon's sacred forum of Customer Reviewers.

Of course the first lines in SECRET, the sipping of champagne from a belly button would snag the attention of even the most sexually skittish reader of the nose-raised, neck-cricked, personality persuasion.But, truly and honestly, what sunk me with every hook were the few lines exposing why Archy could never be serious.I know I said I wouldn't, but I have to quote this passage, beginning on page 1 chapter 1.For me, it's one of the main selling points of the series:

"I had lived through dire warnings of nuclear catastrophe, global warming, ozone depletion, universal extinction via cholesterol, and the invasion of killer bees.After a while my juices stopped their panicky surge and I realized I was bored with all these screeched predictions of Armageddon due next Tuesday. It hadn't happened yet, had it?The old world tottered along, and I was content to totter along with it."

I'd bet my fortune (which is based on a skill of "make do"; there are no bananas in it) that the above passage is what captured a collection of readers so absolutely in a "right on" agreement that this series spanned the grave of the author and is still spewing pages and stretching shelves.And, of course, this attitude of "if you can't lick `em; flick `em" which Archy aimed toward "kvetch-ers" as he terms them, continues from the above, with relish accumulating, throughout the book.

Archy is a rare sane person swimming along nicely within the insanity of a last-gasp-culture (which is "drowning in The Be Careful Sea" as I described and termed that syndrome in one of my sci fi manuscripts titled MORNING COMES).

To Jennifer, of the champagne sea in her belly button, Archy answered why he wasn't an attorney:

"Because I was expelled from Yale Law for not being serious enough.During a concert by the New York Philharmonic I streaked across the stage, naked except for a Richard M. Nixon mask."

That answer brought to mind the bright side of Howard Roark (from Ayn Rand's FOUNTAINHEAD, see my review posted 10/14/05) who was arrogantly unconcerned about his and the Dean's reasons for Roark's being expelled from architectural school.You'd be right to wonder where I got that comparison, since Roark could never be accused of being anything but serious.Syncopated irony?Assonance?

You be the judge.Get the SECRET of the McNally collection.

As I relished the final chapters and pages of SECRET, I had a thought about the beauty, warmth, lovely literary melancholy, and subtly complex richness radiating from those concluding textual treasures:

In retrospect, this novel doesn't feel like a planned pilot to a mystery series.It feels to be a singular novel, like but not like, the ones Sanders had written prior to it.What it feels like to me is that Lawrence hit upon a "soul speak" story which couldn't halt the cultural conversation it had initiated, however serendipitous that initiation may have been.

Yes, I do recall that in some of my other reviews ("reveries" according to my Amazon Friend, L.E. Cantrell) I speculated on something which could seem contradictory to the above mentioned "thought."I had wondered if Parker's Senser series might have been somehow a spark for this McNally series.I continued to see references to Boston in this book (as in other McNally's I've reviewed), which, of course, is the city for which Spenser did the Walkabout.So possibly SECRET was somewhat an antithetical homage to Spenser, possibly even a hat "doff" with a friendly, competitive "one-better" attempt, meant only to be a single novel rather than a never-die series.

Based on Agatha Christie's official web site, Miss Marple was not originally intended to be another Poirot, and look what happened there (see my Listmania of the Miss Marple series).

To me, Archy appears to be a gatekeeper for pure and primal, hidden wishes and dreams.Living home comfortably, guiltlessly at 37, on the top floor of his parent's mansion in Palm Beach; eating drool-food from a house chef; having established a club like The Pelican as a side atmosphere to partake in daily; working at a cushy, just challenging enough, engaging career for discreet inquiries ... If an author's (or reader's) going to retire that would be da place (or at least an entertaining option).

It'll be interesting to see if/how I'm able to bridge the gap from Lawrence Sanders's Archy to Vincent Lardo's.I'd love to know how that bridge was built and continues to be maintained.

Though a perfectly acceptable, gorgeous reprint in a mass market paperback was (probably still is) available on Amazon's Super Saver Special, I felt lucky to find a vender on Amazon (a-bookworm2) holding a used G. P. Putnam's Sons hardcover of this novel, a first printing of the 1992 copyright.What an honor it will be to have this version of the pilot of such an auspicious series from such a life-perceptive author, Lawrence Sanders.The glossy-black jacket provides a luscious background for the name and title printed in thick, gleaming, copper ink, with the artwork of an antique magnifying glass and fancy-brass scissors weighing down the million-dollar-valued, 1918 US Stamp of the Inverted Jenny.

This pilot is a rare find in a rare series.

Linda G. Shelnutt ... Read more

Product Description
When bestselling romance author Sabrina Wright asks forArchy McNally's help in finding her missing husband, Archy is quick towrite it off as a simple domestic case. But this one's a page-turnerof the first order: Sabrina's daughter ran off, she sent her husbandto find her, and now they're both missing in action.

If onlySabrina hadn't told her adopted daughter that she really is hernatural mother. That sent daughter looking for father, a Palm Beachblueblood who paid Sabrina handsomely for his anonymity. So it's up toArchy to find the fugitive family members before local gossips getwind of the story-and start pointing fingers at some of Palm Beach'smost prestigious names. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Tenderizing Stew Paints Meaty Character Portrait, "Beauty Lies Here, Somewhere. Slurp."
In McNally's CHANCE Lardo definitely had Archy down and strutting with the same wit and charm which Sanders conjured in the pilot to this series, McNally's SECRET.I was instantly mesmerized by Lardo's opening detailing of The Character of a famous female romance novelist, Sabrina Wright; her evolving situation held my interest with no lulls allowed.

I was still noticing a slight edge of anger to Lardo's Archy (in this 3rd novel from Lardo, 10th in the series) which I hadn't felt with Sanders' version of the man, but the edgy persona continued to work well.I also noticed that some of the characters which Lardo seemed to warm least to, Connie and The Pater, were downplayed or absent through most of this plot.

With Prescott McNally on a cruise with his wife, Archy was set up to make his own decisions about to take or not to take on a client, and in all cases he resisted, through his own terms and qualms.In prior novels, especially those authored by Sanders, Archy's father usually assigned clients to his son (often after dinner, in the "Dickens" den).In this sense, I noticed again the control factor mentioned in my review of DILEMMA which had Archy more at the helm of his life, instead of flowing with it in a sort of Huckleberry Finn style, which Sanders' Archy seemed to do.

This being the third offering from Lardo, I've become adapted to the intenser masculinity in Lardo's Archy, so I was automatically able to flow easily with the mood in CHANCE.Interest in the plot, which successfully attempted a few unique twists and tangs from the norm in detective novels, was maintained steadily at a pleasantly satisfying level.As Sanders had done, Lardo toyed with female types and Archy's automatic responses to them, along with his failed efforts to resist their intrigues and remain faithful to Connie, an effort which was beginning to chafe ominously in CHANCE (if not before).

I was impressed that Archy didn't fall into Sabrina's feminine "spells."In fact, I found it surprisingly refreshing that he maintained a sort of sexual distance this novel.His libido was noticeably dormant during the first half of the story (but not in the last half, in which he didn't have the last laugh).I enjoyed Archy's warm exchanges with Binky, Al, Jamie, Ursi, and the Pettibones, along with the subplot tangles among these characters and the ones new to CHANCE.

However, the subtle, intriguing discontent I sensed in Archy here made me wonder if Lardo may have had a surge of feeling the drain of taking over another author's program, instead of flying on one of his own creations.I empathize with Lardo, as I also admire the skill and dedication with which he's handled this series so far. Selfishly, I'm thankful that I've been able to easily enjoy each novel in this series, and the transition to Lardo's "show" was not only easy, but gave fascinating opportunities to observe this type of take-over situation between two authors holding a paradox of distinctly different, yet somewhat similar personalities and writing styles.

I'm sure I'm not alone in hoping to see evidence soon that Vincent Lardo's almost finished with a new Archy McNally novel, which would be # 14 (Lardo's # 7).At least I have 3 more to go prior to any onset of panic prefacing a second grieving for Archy's demise.Luckily, this series is rich enough to be reread, with possibly more satisfaction than the first time around.

Linda Shelnutt

The best yet inspite of its faults.
This one is probably the best read in the entire McNally series to date. The ending is a bit weak in one or two places, Archie is a little too taken by Bianca Courtney, and I doubt we will hear much more about Henry Peavy, but the book is still a great read. Read, enjoy and savor.

Awful addition to a once great series
Like many out there, I fell in love with the McNally books, due to the fun mystery plots and the characters within.However it has gotten "tired."This is part to Lawrence Sanders's death as well as Vicent Lardo's repeated sequels.I find in this latest book, not much enjoyable. It is so hard to put this into words, but with the mystery was lackluster and the characters so two dementional I had to actually "plod" through this book.Thankfully many authors, upon their death, have their characters die with them and I think that is as it should be.I trust like other series characters written in Sanders's life time (Edward X. Delany to name one) that Lardo decide to allow Mr. McNally to go, instead of dying a slow painful death on the stage of his books.

McNally is still fun
I, for one, am very thankful that Mr. Lardo has continued the McNally series.I love the characters and while this was not my favorite McNally book it was still McNally and still a fun read.With a few more twists than normal this book requires a little more attention than others in the series.A fun summertime book.

Not a True Archy McNally Book
I have very mixed feelings about this book. Although it was an enjoyable read, I think it very unfair to call this an Archy McNally book. So many of our favorite traps that create the mood were missing-- Archy rarely wrote in his diary; he never went for an ocean swim; he did not wear berets or tassled pink loafers; he did not settle down in the evening in a kimono for a marc and a recording of Ella Fitzgerald; he did not sing while he drove; the vivid descriptions of food and clothing were missing; the usual flirting between Archy and Mrs. Trelawny became snide insults; and I could go on and on. In the past women have always flocked to Archy, but here his pursuit of Bianca seemed lecherous. He was nasty to Binky, who in the past Archy has affectionately tolerated. Also I found it annoying the way Mr. Lardo felt it necessary to casually mention things from other books- Dr. Gussie Pearlberg, Hobo-- that had no place here, but show that Mr. Lardo has read the other books. The story was interesting, but the end was a cop out. I had to re-read the last 20 pages twice because it didn't make sense. This book is in no way an Archy McNally novel. I suggest Mr. Lardo re-read all the Lawrence Sanders' Archy novels in one sitting and then try again. ... Read more

Product Description
The gripping story of a brutally murdered New York psychiatrist, the ex-cop who must crack the case, and only six suspects-the doctor's own patients.

The Fourth Deadly Sin is not to be missed. (Kansas City Star) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Could Be Better
Sanders writes as if he's following a plot outline where he has to fill in the blank spaces.The mystery of who dun it was capably handled, but his characters are made of cardboard, and are trite and dated.You keep reading, hoping the writing will improve...and because you want to find out who the murderer is.

And the light conversations between husband and wife just fill in empty spaces without adding anything to the story.Sanders is trying to
show a more tender side of Delaney, but the cute and suggestive banter is just a boring filler.

And why does he insist on using everyone's full name so frequently?This irritating technique stops the flow of words.

Read this if you don't have anything else to read.

Sandwich Killer
I hate to break up the bashing-session for Lawrence Sanders' FOURTH DEADLY SIN, but...well, no, I don't, actually. This prolific and unfortunately half-forgotten author deserves better than to be called a hack, and the book in question is much better than it is being given credit for here. In fact, it was this novel which turned me onto Lawrence Sanders, one of the best pure prose-writers of his or any other generation.

Like any successful writer, especially of easy-read bestsellers, Sanders was under a lot of pressure from his publishers to churn out copy, and was therefore capable of firing up a cigar, doing a shot of Bushmills, and pounding his typewriter until it coughed up the required 250 pages - quality be damned. Throttling your muse in this fashion seldom coughs up anything of lasting value: I remember reading THE TIMOTHY FILES and, with the exception of some of the descriptive writing, thinking it was the literary equivalent of eating popcorn and cotton candy for dinner. It may taste good going down, but where the F is the substance?

My answer to that, however, is "So what?" Sanders (who died in 1998) was writing in a genre with clearly-defined rules, rules which often all but preclude plot originality, character depth, or thoughtful prose, except in the most skillful and economical of novelists. Yet he managed to produce all three on a regular basis, and THE FOURTH DEADLY SIN is actually a pretty good example of all of those traits.

The DEADLY SIN series, four books in length, revolved around a retired (for the last three books) New York Chief of Detectives named Edward X. Delaney. Delaney, whose greatest passion is a well-made sandwich, is precisely the sort of old-school, thick-skinned, cigar-chewing detective you'd hate to share a cab with in real life, but as a reader, you can't get enough of. The crusty cop exterior is misleading, however; he's intelligent, well-read, has surprisingly expensive tastes, and is actually quite sensitive when he isn't reaming out uncooperative witnesses with expletive-ridden tirades. Bored by his early retirement, Delaney isn't unhappy about occasionally being tapped by his old friend and mentor, Deputy Superintendant Thorsen, to tackle the occasional unsolved homicide "under the radar." The fact that he's paid in Scotch is just a bonus.

The plot of T4DS, in a nutshell, is this: A wealthy, well-connected shrink named Ellerbee is murdered with a hammer in his Manhattan office, and the suspect list is as long as his Rolodex. Thorsen's protégé in the NYPD, Deputy Chief Suarez, is up for a big promotion but unable to crack the high-profile case, and that is making the ambitious Thorsen look like a sucker who backed the wrong horse. In hopes of rescuing his golden boy's reputation, and strengthening his own position in the Department, Thorsen puts the now-civilian Delaney on the job. The old Irishman must sift through crazy suspects to find a killer who might be even crazier - or just as sane as he is.

T4DS is a fairly straightforward whodunnit, differing from 1 and 3, which were actually psychological studies of the murderer; and it does recycle characters, and in some cases, entire passages of dialogue, from prior SINS. But since it was actually the first book in the series I ever read, and since the books themselves are meant to be stand-alones, I don't let this bother me too much and neither should you. The real reason to read any Sanders book is for the beautiful and evocative writing - when Sanders describes something, you see it, be it a gorgeous blonde, an ice-cold beer, or a New York street. The atmosphere of 1980s Manhattan is perfectly captured by his pen, and it isn't a cliché to say the city itself is a major character in the novel. If some of the others turn out to be right out of Central Casting, it doesn't detract much from the read.

The animosity towards this novel seems silly to me. Sanders was a formula writer, yes, but the formula was damn good. His sheer skill elevated the material, but even when it didn't, he was still no hack. In 4DS, he may not have produced anything more than a page-turning potboiler, but who gives a damn, when his description of a triple-decker sandwhich can actually make you hungry?

A formula book with some redeeming features
First things first. Lawrence Sanders was a hack. He wrote fomulaic murder mysteries. This is one of them, but it was really a pretty good book, especially for a hack.

A New York psychologist gets murdered with a ball peen hammer in his own office and a dark and stormy night. A retired detective is pressed back into duty to lead an interesting team of detectives that is sorting through some of his patients, friends, employees and wife to try to figure out who did this dasterdly crime.

The old cop, Delaney, has one interesting vice. Rather than drinking when depressed over the progress their making, he eats cold sandwiches made of leftovers over the kitchen sink, which irritates his wife to no end.

An interesting theme is developed - Delaney asserts that truly beautiful women (in this case the wife - literally everyone comments about her striking looks ) often are (self-)limited in other capacities because they can get by with just their looks. For example, they don't have to develop specialized skills or learn to how to get along with difficult people or situations because everyone caters to them.

Anyway, I'll give this book a "C+" The detectives and their different styles were interesting, but I had pretty much figured out who did it about half way through.

Sad, Bad, and Mad!
I loved the first three Sins, but this latest entry makes one feel quite relieved that he didn't do any more, but at the same time, one wishes he'd get his act together.Very little suspense, and one of those where you know the murderer the first time they appear.Delaney and friends are wonderful characters, but in this outing they didn't do themselves much credit.Basically it's a 20 page story that is dragged out in tedious detail until you hit a very unsatisfying conclusion.He wimped out and did a Poirot ending.Which I hated, needless to say!I wish he would have not written this book at all, or waited until he could have done a better job.If more sins are committed in the future, I will certainly read them, and hope they are better than this trite, deadly dull outing.

Indeed a disappointment.
Sanders became a bit tiring with this last entry in the Delaney series. In fact, he probably should have stopped writing altogether. It is also too bad he didn't see fit to write about sins 5, 6 and 7. If Sanders had reinvented himself and kept his style fresh, this novel would have really shown. But as it is it is only lackluster. But still, it is worth reading. Just be prepared to be accused of being a cult fan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A bad good book
The Pleasures of Helen is one of those disappointing books where the author has a very good idea but does not write well enough to do it justice. Sanders was mainly a writer of thrillers but decided to try his hand here at a straight novel. Helen is a thirty-something single Southern woman living in New York; with a reasonably well-paid but dead-end kind of a job in PR, she is very lonely and aching for love. Her best friend has just got herself a man; Helen is desperate for love but will settle for sex, and the three men she is involved with during the course of the novel are all disappointments in various ways.

Sanders' empathy with Helen is obvious, and his description of her predicament is clear-eyed and accurate. If only he could write better! There's a much better novel inside this struggling to get out. {Maybe it's called Bridget Jones's Diary :-)} ... Read more

Product Description
First time in a trade edition-- Lawrence Sanders's masterpiece, The 1st Deadly Sin, set a standard for today's novels of psychological suspense. Now, retired Captain Ed Delaney returns to a distinctly urban milieu of paranoia and impulsive violence to solve a brutal murder that shocks New York's unshockable art world.

The victim is Victor Maitland. Long-considered one of the world's greatest artists, he excelled in capturing the beauty of life on canvas. In private, he destroyed whomever he pleased: his wife, his son, his mistress, his dearest friends and family. Fittingly, Maitland has paid for his sins. But in a world where self-delusion is rewarded, where greed triumphs, and where murder is just another art, who else will pay the price? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

"The Second Deadly Sin"
I have not quite finished the book, but just a few pages left.
I am enjoying it as much as "The First, etc. It's hard to put down, even
though I find it very detailed, and perhaps a bit too long.
I still recommend reading it.

This Book Had Me...
Chewing my nails from cover-to-cover.I enjoy books of this genre and would like to say if you are a reader like me...that being one who reads almost anything I can get my hands on...well, then, this is one book you won't want to miss out on!

Pretty dern good
Book 2 in the "Heather reads crime novels" series!And this was a much better experience than my first Patricia Cornwell book.While Patricia Cornwell does forensic mysteries, this one is an old-school whodunit.The characters were well written, and the plot believable.Best of all, unlike Cornwell, I didn't figure out the culprit before the Edward X. Delaney did.And that, my friends, is the mark of a good crime novel.

So a famous New York artist is murdered, and everybody has a motive, opportunity, and will.There is not too much action, it is basically just a story of a detective on the hunt.But it was hard for me to put down, all the same.

One amusing sidenote.This book was obviously written pre-women's lib.The only women are dutiful wives who relish their role.When Delaney makes a comment about how his alcoholic partner goes home to leftovers, his wife immediately sets up a blinddate with her friend...every man needs a warm meal from a sacrificing woman, even alcoholics!Anyway, this was not annoying, just funny.I doubt Sanders would attract too much of a female audience with characters like that these days.

Good read. ... Read more

Product Description
Wealthy bird-store owner Hiram Gottschalk feels his life is in danger. And he's right--as playboy-turned Palm Beach P.I. Archy McNally realizes when his mutilated body is found. Between Gottschalk's shady employees, his paranoin son and heir, and his twisted twin daughters, there's no shortage of pieces to this scandalous puzzle. But for Archy and his sidekick, Binky, the biggest piece is still missing--the killer with a motive to kill two more birds with one stone.Amazon.com Review
Hiram Gottschalk is a wealthy widower, the owner ofa bird store called Parrots Unlimited--and a man desperate to save himselffrom an unknown stalker.He hires McNally, who is convinced he'll soonreturn his client's life to order--but then Gottschalk is stabbed in hissleep, and two of his clerks are abducted and killed in the Everglades.It takes all McNally's skill to put together the pieces in McNally's Puzzle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Aw, shucks ...
I liked this one - not because it had much substance, but perhaps because I'm getting nostalgic, as there's only one more Sanders book left. This one included lots of food and drink at the Pelican Club, and his father working his way through Dickens, of course. You gotta love it.

This Archy - not a Goodwin - solves mystery involving parrots, no orchids
This is one of those books I picked up on a whim, simply because the parrot on the front cover caught my eye while I was browsing for something else.

After reading the synopsis, I decided it had enough of a "parrot" theme to warrant expenditure. It's one of several in a series of mysteries featuring protagonist Archy McNally, the "son" in the law firm of McNally & Son, who looks after the investigative chores of the firm.

In this story, one of his father's clients, Hiram Gottschalk, the owner of a pet parrot store, requests an investigation be made as he feels someone is trying to kill him. The evidence - a picture of he and his deceased wife is destroyed, his favorite record is broken, his pet mynah bird is found strangled - is not something he can take to the police, especially since it's apparent the person doing this is either a family member or store employee.

Before Archy can reach any definite conclusions, Gottschalk is found dead, stabbed through the eyes with a stiletto. Digging deeper, Archy finds odd things going on at the pet store, and a net search for info about endangered parrots results in the firm's computer system getting hacked.

Sanders, a veteran crime writer, weaves a good yarn, and Archy's unique manner of expressing himself ("leaving me with my flabber totally gasted", "plussed I was non") injects chuckles throughout the tale.

I did find a few holes, some items that I can only assume were meant to be red herrings, but were never explained at the end, which indicates some weakness in the plotting. I might have found that more annoying, but because I am such parrot lover, I find it difficult to dislike any mystery story that involves a parrot. I tend to cut such stories more slack than I would stories with similar flaws that do not involve parrots.

Even with those flaws, it still makes for an enjoyable read, whether you're a mystery buff or a parrot lover - or even better, if you're both!

Would I buy another McNally novel? Probably not. Would I recommend this one to a casual mystery reader? Yes I would.

The Parrot Also Rises, Against A Brilliant Yellow Sun?
Usually I know why a book keeps me reading; I know exactly what the capture cons are.In the case ofMcNALLY's PUZZLE, I kept reading with my own puzzle to saw with a jig.It had something to do with a jazzy writing rhythm and with the tightly focused, First-person-Narrative pushing Archy's socially elite slang.

I found myself wondering where I'd left my dictionary; didn't want to lose the frequent opportunities to learn new words.Yet, I realized that some of the expressions Archy chewed and spewed with polished abandon were not only beyond my repertoire, they wouldn't be found in a published "literary academy" of American English.Whom does one approach for information on colloquialisms and slang which slip-slides around in socially superior swamps causing nose-in-the air neck kinks?

The book continued to draw me in, in spite of the mild irritation at Archy's dynamically driven dialogue and sensual soliloquy, doused with words I somewhat grasped in context, phrases which nudged me forward as I felt I should stop reading to research, and really digest every nuance of prose ... maybe that's part of the draw.Sanders does have a knack for creating a cajoling rhythm which carries me along, whispering to let go of whiffs of undone details as I fancy forward, wondering what Archy will say and do next.

I'm in Archy's mind, even if it is a dramatic dichotomy to my own sloppy thoughts.Archy, even if his speaking patterns irritate me, is feisty-foot-dragging fun to be with.

McNALLY'S PUZZLE is my first taste of this Lawrence Sanders series.I was initially brought to it by readers' complaints about Archy's obsession with food, and Lawrence's including every tasty bite in the plot.In fiction I seek stimulation of the senses, though most often my moods prefer to go beyond and before the abundantly available ploys of the shock syndrome, and gregariously graphic sex.What else is there but solitary, tongue-in-teeth tangos with the manna of the gods? Well, yeah, there are mountains and streams, street lamps and bed springs ... these are a few of my favorite things ... huh?

For me, the statement, "Archy bites off a big piece of bread," might work up a hint of saliva.That's what I usually get in a work of food fiction, when I'm lucky.But, the descriptive luxury of, "His teeth sink into the delicate texture of a soft, yeasty, French baguette, edged by the crunch of a crusty cover," could get a stomach growl out of a full balloon.That's how I write the description of taking a bite of bread.I could use much more of that brand of sensual prose in my escape fiction (in my reading of it, that is; my writing's usually saturated with appeals to the senses).Yet, I'm not puzzled about the natural tendency of some readers to have their tongues in their toes (shoes), wanting to go get ON with the fancy footwork.

It is the rhythm of the syntax, though; it is.And the tight focus on Archy.That is what kept me reading long enough to get beyond my minimal irritation at the pondering push of the word dance.

Once the rhythm had me going, and going, and picking up the book each time I had the time to read, I began being led by the nose, as well as the tongue, into the mystery developing with the precise timing of a master at a modern dance studio.

Then the pace picked up slightly, plateau-ed, picked up a little more, and so on, to a perfect conclusion.That's all I'll say about that, not wanting to sing the secrets, or sling them around.

Sanders exposed true confidence as an author in the pacing pauses of Archy's daily routines in this novel and especially in the succinct, crisp style of the picked up dance of denouement.I laughed out loud in cheering glee several times during the final five chapters.Archy's father's heated question to a brouhaha which brought him out of his night sanctuary was classic, heart-healing humor.

Okay.I see why Archy lives on and on, even though Sanders now has wings and flies with exotic birds of paradise, bless his heart and soul.

Still have another puzzle, though.My copy of this novel, an early version hardback, has the jacket with a gorgeously glamorous, multi-colored parrot glossed against a bright yellow sun.During one of my first few reading surges, I had stopped for a solitary lunch at a fun café near a boss bookstore, in Hotchkiss, Colorado.Lifting spectacles up on my nose, I noticed that the decor at my booth included a large, fashionably-framed print of a parrot, a twin to the one on my book jacket.In fact, the restaurant was plush with parrot paraphernalia, parroting the swampy mystique of Palm Beach, sister to New Orleans in oozing mysterious muchies.Was this an omen of some sort?A message from the miasma of muses meandering off Florida's Gold Coast? Splash!

Okay.No puzzle.Synchronicity.Jung.

Thanks, Sanders, for the satisfyingly snippy side-trip to Florida.I really don't know if I like your style, exactly, yet it's puzzlingly appealing.I have a feeling I'll one day be able to honestly say, "I do like your style!"Already, I admire and enjoy it.And, I like your subtle development of Archy, all the way through the book, especially the warm, simple, real way you enhanced the exchanges between Archy and his new Terrier, Hobo.Love the way this spirited canine was brought into the family.

I'll be back!Bank on it.I won't spit in the eye of the parrot who feeds my soul!

I'll bow to a master and say thanks,

Linda G. Shelnutt
(Where's my dictionary ... oh ... yeah ... it's on the kitchen table.)

What an odd story told in an odd way by an odd character...
I am reviewing this from the perspective of having heard it as a book-on-tape.

Archy McNally, the self-proclaimed 'Bon vivant' narrates an odd story that is made all the more odd by his continual need to turn a clever expression - nearly in every sentence! It gets to the point where it is distracting! The characters are pretty two-dimensional. Some seem like they were stolen right out of a high school production of "The Great Gatsby" - stereotypes of what we might suspect the rich and famous might be like. Heck, the only rich guy I liked in the book was killed! (on the other hand, I liked the cop and the dog.)

If it were not for the absolutely great voice work of Boyd Gaines it probably would not have been palatable for me. If I could give a seperate star for voice work,his would be a 5.

Amusing
This is an Archy McNally murder mystery.It follows Archy's investigation of threats to Hiram Gottschalk, one of his father's Palm Beach legal clients.Archy himself is a light-hearted socialite, who describes characters first by the labels on their clothing.Archy works on his investigation mainly by wining and dining the suspects at parties and clubs, and manages to discover who is behind Gottshalk's eventual murder without working up a sweat.

Archy's character, with his unrelenting focus on fashion and the finer things of life, makes the book rather amusing.However, the story isn't entirely believable, since Archy, is of course, able to dictate to the bad guys where and when he will confront them.These weaknesses aside, the book makes an enjoyable light read. ... Read more