Rating: 
Summary: As usual, a fun read
Review: Archy McNally is my literary weakness. If the series lasts that long, I'll be reading "McNally's Funeral" on the way to my own demise. Nutty characters that just get funnier, a glimpse at a several decade-spanning wardrobe, great dinner ideas from Ursi's kitchen, and the ever present question--will wedding bells ever ring for Connie and with whom? Yes, the plot is predictable, but who cares about the plot as long as we get to see how the rich, famous, and eccentric goof up their lives? Was glad to see Binky finally get a job and I wonder if Archy's dad will ever finish the complete works of Charles Dickens. A perfect beach read, vacation read, light read, in-flight read--whatever you call it, it's lots of fun!
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent McNally mystery!
Review: Having read all of Lawrence Sanders' McNally Series, I was saddened to learn of his death. Fortunately, his estate has found a writer like Vincent Lardo that has the same magnificent writing talent to continue the Archy McNally adventures. I just received my copy of McNally's Folly and couldn't put it down until I finished it. Hpoefully Archy McNally through Vincent Lardo will continue to entertain us for many years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Archy McNally Survives
Review: I have been hooked on this series from the start. The author although not Lawrence Sanders is excellent in preserving the tone and feel of the characters in the previous novels. The story kept me interested. I remember being skeptical when the James Bond series was continued after Ian Fleming died, but the new author John Gardner, while unlike Lardo was a known writer on his own, kept me reading. I look forward to more McNally volumes.
Rating:
Summary: Loving it
Review: I thought Vince did a good job with Dilemma, but Folly was light years better. The characters have more life than in Dilemma, and the story has more twists. I was able to figure out early the connection between the phony and his sources, but the faded star's past husband caught me.Give Lardo a chance. He's gotten a lot better, and through him we still have Archy.
Rating: 
Summary: Not nearly as good as Lawrence Sanders
Review: I was saddened at the death of Lawrence Sanders, however I became excited when I found out that Archy McNally would live on due to the Lawrence Sanders estate allowing Vincent Lardo to continue writing the mystery stories of Archy McNally. Unfortunately, I was dissapointed in the outcome. While some elements of Archy's whim and tact are in the book, I find the character lacking any charm. The vocabulary of Archy belongs in a 1940's or 1950's "B" movie rather than that of Archy. The plot is unimaginative and one dimensional. The spirit of the novel is lacking and it is strictly "by the numbers". This author dosen't even describe in delicious detail the snacks, breakfast, lunch and dinners that Archy usually describes (a Sanders trademark). The heroine is also lacking in whit and charm. All together a big let down...And that is too bad since I enjoy the old Archy McNally. I am sure Vincent Lardo is a good author in other subjects, however he missed the target in this endeavor.
Rating: 
Summary: A late bloomer but still nice.
Review: I will probably continue to purchase and read the McNally series, even though Vincent Lardo is no Lawrence Sanders. This book is amusing in parts, but I think Mr. Lardo must have written it with a copy of "Bartlett's Quotations" in one hand because there are more cliches than you can shake a stick at.
Rating:
Summary: A fun entertaining novel
Review: Of course nobody can replace the great Sanders but I thought this book did much better than the first one. The first one didn't quite catch the rhythm of the earlier books but I thought this one tripped along quite nicely. Had I not known of Sanders' death, this one might have fooled me completely. McNally is truly a delightful character. Feel sorry for the long suffering Connie, though--I'd like to send her a copy of The Rules! <lol>
Rating:
Summary: Close, but no cigar!
Review: Sanders and I go clear back to The First Deadly Sin. His descrptions of food and dress have always been entertaining to me. When Archy first appeared on the scene I felt he was a light weight compared to other characters, but I grew to love him anyway. Lardo has done an amazingly good job in picking up the threads. The plot was obvious, I had it figured out almost from the beginning. You need to work on that Vince. Sanders kept us guessing to the end. Please keep going, I would miss Archy when I need something funny and light.
Rating: 
Summary: Is this a murder mystery?
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Is this a murder mystery?
Review: 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.
|
