A deficit of plot starves out the usual Archy McNally fun...We'll start by admitting we have immensely enjoyed the ten prior novels in the Archy McNally series - including the seven written by (or at least during the lifetime of) Lawrence Sanders, and the three prior to this one by Vincent Pardo for the Sanders' estate. We'll also acknowledge up front we think Pardo has done a most credible job carrying on the qualities and personalities of the characters, as well as the tone and setting of these mysteries. Our trouble with this fourth Pardo outing is that all the action takes place in the first 40 and the last 40 pages of the book - leaving over 200 in between as pretty dry going. Once the initial crime takes place - a murder that occurs while Archy is playing delivery boy and getting mugged for his efforts - and the three suspects and their version of the "facts" get aired, nothing advances the solution of the crime until near the end when it all gets wrapped up. A weak and almost useless sub-plot involving a long unoccupied mansion that has ghostly overtones was a pretty silly attempt to use up ink. And the "romance" with Archy's girlfriend Connie Garcia, who has been actively dating a Miami Cuban, also tires as Archy tosses all book-long with what to do about her.The usual cast of supporting characters - cop friend Al Rogoff; law firm mail boy Binky Watrous; Father's secretary Mrs. Trelawney, and Father himself - did little more than add conversational filler to that long stretch in the books mid-section. In many of the chapters, some competition to Connie (for Archy) in the form of state trooper Georgy O'Hara was about the only entertainment at hand.McNally is a character who continues to make for fun reading - had this been a 100-page novella, we'd rate this right up with the best. But either much sharper editing, or a plot with more complexity or more sustained action, was needed to salvage this book from being anything but an also-ran in the series.
Archy McNally is hired to be the go-between for the wealthy collector Fortesque and the seller of Truman Capote's original manuscript of Answered Prayers. The problem is Archy is conked on the head and loses both the manuscript and the money and furthermore a man is found dead in the room where he had just concluded the deal.Enter Georgia O'Hara, the beautiful cop in charge of the murder investigation. Archy has no trouble in securing a date, of course only to discuss the case. At the same time he hopes to make Connie his long-time girlfriend jealous. Connie has been dating a dashing Cuban and seems to be losing interest in Archy.At the same time the abandoned Beaumont house has been seen to have lights flickering in the windows. Ty Beaumont wants Archy to see if it is really his dead twin's ghost.The McNally stories are always over the top but I think this time it is a bit much. Archy dates the cop who is investigating him as a suspect. Come-on! Also the stories seem to be very convoluted. The Beaumont case seems to just a bit of added fluff in case the main story was not enough. Archy this time appears to be a bit desperate instead of being the cad he is
Oh what a tiresome book. Boring, arrogant, tiresome characters. Tiresome setting, Palm Beach is just not that interesting. I got to page 121 and was still thinking, "who really cares?" So, I just put it down which I might add is a rarity for me with a mystery. If I could give this a minus 1, I would. I do realize it is sort of that Dragnet style of "tough uninvolved guy" but really, this was just too terrible to pull that off. I have better things to read not to mention do with my time than read this drivel.
—Suzan
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. 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. Worth the time for you to read and enjoy.
—Stephen
Irascible Arcy McNally just about got in trouble. Again. He's always "just about in trouble." Luck, perhaps more than skill gets him a pass with the local Miami cops as he works with the Highway Patrol to solve the mystery of a murder, a stolen Truman Capote manuscript and a bundle of missing money -- $50,000. He has enough clumsy help from friends and associates to figure out how he lost the money, how he got cold-conked and who murdered the man in the motel. Lawrence Sander's McNally series of mystery capers are fully seasoned with tongue in cheek, color, satire, humor and mystery. This book, McNally's Alibi doesn't measure up -- perhaps because it is written by Vincent Lardo and not the late Lawrence Sanders. It's pointed in the right direction, but just doesn't hit the mark. Instead of sharp snaps and cracks, it's like dull knuckle pops. If you've not read one of the Sander's stories of Archy McNally, you won't know what you're missing. So go ahead and check it out, it's an easy read. Then read one of the original by Sanders and you'll find even more enjoyment.
—Mike
