Rating: 
Summary: BEST MC'NALLY YET!
Review: Outrageously entertaining! One of the best Mc'nally's I've read. Lardo keeps you grinning right from the gun... His analogies are remarkable to say the least. How clever, three lovers, one mommy and one thirty year old offspring trying to discover just who her papa is. Don't miss this one, I couldn't put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: McNally Lives On, Even if Sanders Doesn't!
Review: Surely y'all know by now that Lawrence Sanders has been dead a couple of years at least, and yet out keep rolling the McNally series. From tiny fine print on the first, to his name on the cover of this one (the third), Vincent Lardo has to me done a very credible job carrying on our leading man for Sanders' estate. (I know one fan insists Lardo was ghost writing the series even earlier -- could be true for all I know...)We have here the familiar trappings: Archie's three mile swims, cocktail hours, journal writing, almost more than we can take of his wardrobe analysis. But a decent enough plot with first one, then two, then three real villains kept me guessing til almost the end. And with his father out of town, and girlfriend Connie at bay for a change, we didn't get quite the heavy dose of sameness that would make the series boring. I'm up for several more. And by the way, how come Robert Goldsborough, similarly "selected" by Rex Stout's estate, hasn't written any more Nero Wolfe's ?!?! Vincent, you game ??
Rating:
Summary: Red Miata's Rule!!
Review: The audiobook with Boyd Gaines reading is so very predictable and therefore...so very delicious. Back with the toney West Palm Beach crowd, The Pelican Club and the lovely Consuella Archie gets tangled in a mess with the mega-rich. The foppish clothes, the night life, the haute cuisine all make their usual appearances. It is so over-the-top that you have to smile smugly the whole time because you're enjoying the whole megilla so much. With Vincent Lardo writing these now I don't detect much difference from the pen of Lawrence. 3 hour ear candy!!
Rating: 
Summary: McNally's Meaner
Review: This book lacked a certain lightheartedness that we have come to expect from the McNally series. Archy shows off his heartless side when it comes to his treatment of Binky (he tolerated him a little bit better in the previous novels). I almost felt sorry for Binky after Archy refuses to go to his party and tries to steal his love, Bianca. This is a colder, harder Archy we're seeing. As for the plot, yes it's very convoluted, and we could have done without the subplot involving Bianca--it went absolutely nowhere. On the other hand, I missed Connie Garcia, who was mentioned only briefly in this novel. I was not pleased with this one at all.
Rating:
Summary: Not Up to Par
Review: This is the only McNally book I almost stopped reading. The story started off strong, but got bogged down fast. Too much inane stuff like Binky moving into a trailer court, and the house warming gift tedium. It only distracted from the story. I thought the Bianca subplot could have been interesting, but it fell flat too. It left me wondering why Lardo devoted so much space to it. I was better than half-way through the book, and still asking "what's the point?" The story kept jumping around with no clear path. I realize authors will intentially throw you a curve to keep you guessing, but this stuff fell flat. I found Archie out of character. Our old hero would never disclose so much to Lolly, or show his cards to so many people. He is also less suave. The last 80 or so pages are the most interesting part of the book, but many people will never get there. Lardo ends it with a cliff hanger. I doubt anyone will care. I read Lardo's other efforts and thought he had great promise. This book is, I'm sad to say, a big let down. I get the feeling Archie will be going to California to help out his Pelican Club buddies the Pettibones. If that's where the series is headed, Goodbye.
Rating:
Summary: The best yet inspite of its faults.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun
Review: Vincent Lardo's Archy McNally is feeling more and more comfortable to me. It's tough to take over for a writer as loved as Lawrence Sanders, but Mr. Lardo is up to the challenge. This time Archy's parents are away on a cruise and his female love interest is barely seen. That certainly keeps those characters fresh for future Mcnally exploits, and seems a good ploy to me. Even his crony in the Palm Beach Police Department has a lower than usual profile this time. Archy's pal Binky has the biggest part among the usual recurring characters, so we get to share his misadventures. It's the usual lighthearted romp among the rich and infamous on the island of Palm Beach. Lots of setup and many a red herring along the way, punctuated with a fair share of laughs. If you are looking for a deep and complicated hardboiled noirish mystery, look elsewhere...but if a little tongue in cheek and mystery-lite sounds like a good change of pace, then "McNally's Chance" is for you. It is fast read and an enjoyable book from start to finish. Enjoy this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the same Archy
Review: While it's great to see the character continuing after the death of Mr. Sanders, this 10th book in the Archy McNally series seems to be lacking some elements that have made the series so beloved by my family. While Mr. Lardo does a fair job of tying this book to the previous 9, it feels somewhat contrived in places, as if he had a list of items and character attributes that had to be checked off and included. The language also seems a little rougher than usual--less of the subtle Palm Beach humor and descriptions. The three subplots and absence of some beloved characters (most notably Lady Cynthia and the mater and pater who appear only towards the end of the book) left this book feeling a little lacking. And the "to be continued" ending was an obvious plea that there be a number 11. While I'll keep reading the series, I hope that the next one returns to its roots.
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