Rating: 
Summary: I couldn't disagree with Julierb more!
Review: When I bought & read "McNally's Dilemma" (the hard copy version) I didn't even know that Lawrence Sanders hadn't written the story. I snatched it up as past as I could and immediately started reading. Like Julierb, I enjoyed Archy's suave silliness and all the quirky characters in the series' previous books. To that end, I found Vincent Lardo's story much in keeping with Sanders' legacy.It wasn't until many months after I'd finished "McNally's Dilemma" and then read about Sanders' death that I picked up the book again and noticed Lardo's name on the cover. I am not usually so unobservant so I think it illustrates the point that a hard core McNally fan simply couldn't tell the difference. Maybe if I had known it wasn't written by Lawrence Sanders I might not have enjoyed the story because I knew it wasn't Sanders and I would have felt disloyal somehow. I think it is the mark of a brave and talented author who can pick up another's characters and turn them into his own. Vincent Lardo will allow the series to grow and evolve while being faithful to the original stories. Everyone has to change and grow - even Archy McNally. I liked "McNally's Dilemma" so much that I have picked up the latest Sanders/Lardo collaboration "McNally's Folly: An Archy McNally Novel by Vincent Lardo" - in hard copy because I just couldn't wait to read it. I think that shows that Vincent Lardo is succeeding in keeping Archy McNally and Lawrence Sanders alive in the hearts of their fans. Another good example of a series continued by another author after the original author's death is "Perchance to Dream" started by Raymond Chandler as the sequel to "The Big Sleep" and finished by Robert B. Parker. Chandler was about 4 chapters into it when he died. Parker picked it up after almost 40 years and seamlessly slipped his pen into the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Good not great entry to the series
Review: Like other readers, I found this book lacking "something". I knew Sanders had passed away, but thought this was perhaps a final manuscript. When I finally looked onto the copyright page I realized that the family had hired another author to continue the series. The book was good enough, but the mystery was only all right (pretty simple to figure out early on - plus some parts that were a little hard to take - like not many people ever noticing the birth of a son took place twelve months after the death of the father when the plaques mentioning the birth/death dates were right beside one another!) The characters, however were great. I love all of Saunders' series stories and thought the Archy Mcnally books were exceptional. This book is worth reading if you are a fan or want a good story, although I would recommend any of the others, written by Sanders, first. I do hope that the family of Sanders does continue with these books, however I think it would be fair to fans of the series to note on the book's cover that it is actually written by another.
Rating: 
Summary: I thoroughly enjoyed this Upbeat, Fun Caper!!
Review: Socialite Geoffrey WIlliams is murdered. His wife confesses to the crime after finding him in a compromising position with a "mystery woman". Archy McNally's 'Discreet Inquiries' investigates this murder as well as an unrelated blackmail scheme. "McNally's Dilemma" is a witty, fun caper with many twists and turns.In this book, Vincent Lardo has very effectively continued the series so brilliantly created and developed by Lawrence Sanders.... Archy McNally is as charming and eccentric as ever..and Archy's world of South Florida is still a delightful place to visit.I anxiously look forward to the next McNally caper!
Rating:
Summary: Close...
Review: I always enjoyed Sander's books, the McNallys, Commandments and Deadly Sins. This one just felt a little "off", somehow. As if someone else was trying to sound like him. I finished the book before I checked out the cover more thoroughly and discovered why. He didn't write it! I knew he'd passed away but assumed this book was completed before and just released posthumously. Too bad! I'll miss him. I'll still read the McNally series, but with a bit less relish. We'll miss you, Mr. Sanders!
Rating:
Summary: Lardo succeeds - best McNally book yet!
Review: Although I have fond memories of Lawrence Sanders' writing style, I don't understand the criticism for Vincent Lardo's continuation of this excellent series. This book is outstanding. The plot twists are intriguing and clever. I was mesmerized by the intertwined stories of Melva and Fairhurst, as Archie discovered more and more connections between the death of the dispicable Geoff Williams, and the blackmail of Fairhurst the III. The romantic dilemma for Archy was also an interesting side story. In my mind, this book had it all. Archy was in top form, jousting with the pater and his beloved Connie, dealing with the inept Binky on occasion (not too much, thankfully), and enjoying several medium rare steak tartares at the Pelican Club.
Rating:
Summary: Nice, but not particularly great.
Review: Famous authors, even DEAD famous authors, should check their facts before including bloopers in their books. The plot revolves around a law firm needing to get "imperative" corroborating evidence to a homicide, because without it supposedly the killer's "word is pure hearsay." That ain't so, if the character is using the "hearsay" in its legal sense. The bloopers don't stop there -- he continues with erroneous pronouncements about the effect of an insanity plea.
Rating:
Summary: McNally's Dilemma
Review: In all, I liked the book. I don't believe Vincent Lardo has the feel for Archie or Palm Beach as yet, but hopefully things will improve over time. What is missing is the precision and detail that Sanders used in describing not only the characters, but Palm Beach on the whole. With Sanders, you could see and most of all important feel the place. This is missing in Dilemma. Archy appears to be growing up. He has enough sense to where clothes appropriate to the occasion (e.g, meeting an important and conservative client), but Prescott McNally has gone from a class act to a money grubber. Trying to be a match maker with Archie and Veronica is also out of character for him. I don't think Lardo knows Palm Beach. One would never go to Ta-boo if one did not want to be seen, and eating in the bar area is the last place you'd go if you're looking for privacy. You have to pass through it to get to the important dining room (the one with the fireplace). The Breakers would have been a better choice. Every there is so old they can't see across the room. I hope Lardo continues with the series. He'll get better and Archy will live on.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, at best
Review: I am an avid reader of the McNally series and I was as overjoyed as any that it would continue after Sander's passing. Unfortunatly after reading this tomb I must say that it would have been better to die with the author. Lardo does not possess any of the charm that made Sander's character so endearing and lovable. The quick wit and intelligence I always assocated with Archy was truly lacking leaving little more than a one dementional character.
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