[.ca] Mcnallys Alibi (ISBN 0399148795)

Will he, or won't he???:
I am so glad that Vincent Lardo has done such a splendid job of taking over where Lawrence Sanders left off. Another job well done. Are there more to follow? In this latest adventure I must admit to being a bit confused over the characters who may or may not have the manuscript of the late Truman Capote. And the story of the Beaumont family tragedy seems like a bit of a red herring, but interesting nonetheless, especially when Archie is told the real story of the Beaumont twins at the end. And now Georgy has entered the picture. Good for Archie, and the story line as well! I was getting a bit tired of his on again/off again affair with the jealous Cuban hot-head. Connie should have moved along several books ago, in my opinion. If he had been my boyfriend he would have been toast after the second dalliance, client or no client! And I just don't see her fitting in with the Anglo-Saxon background of the McNally brood. Georgy is like a breath of fresh air. Hope to see more of her in future novels (hint, hint!). All in all, a good read once again.

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?

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.

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!

Another fun Archy read.:
The arrival of a new Archy McNally is always a welcome event. While "McNally's Alibi" is the easily the most densely plotted of the eleven in the series, it still retains its "mystery-lite" quality and is great fun. It is a tongue-in-cheeky romp amongst the rich and infamous in Palm Beach. Highway Patrol Lt. Georgia O'Hara is introduced and is a character I hope will stay in the series. She is a much better paramour for Archy then the tedious Connie Garcia. Double dealing, double crossing, a sting operation as well as a counter sting revolve around the whereabouts of the original manuscript of a Truman Capote novel that an ardent rich collector desires. Archy and his excellent supporting cast sort out the truth and lies and save the day. A good time to be had for the reader.