Bird store owner Hiram Gottschalk is a wealthy widower with a paranoid son and heir, twisted twin daughters, and shady employees. As the owner of Parrots Unlimited, Hiram believes that his life is in danger, so he hires playboy-turned-Palm Beach private investigator Archy McNally and his sidekick Binky to protect him. Apparently Hiram had good reason to be frightened, Archy soon realizes - when the bird shop owner's mutilated body is found sometime later.Hiram has been stabbed in his sleep, so Archy tries to solve the deadliest case of his career. But for Archy and Binky, the biggest piece of this scandalous puzzle is still missing - who has the motive to kill two more birds with one stone.Although I eventually enjoyed reading this book, I did have some slight trouble at first getting into the style of the writing. I suppose it just took me a while to get used to the way Archy McNally expressed himself - to me, he seemed affected and somewhat pedantic. It was annoying at first, but I did eventually get used to Archy McNally as a character. This book was certainly enjoyable, and I have several more books from this series sitting on my bookshelf, but McNally's Puzzle was the first Archy McNally book that I've actually read. I give this book a strong A!
Writing mystery novels is certainly not new to Lawrence Sanders. The frontispiece is loaded with the titles of past books and the dust jacket proclaims Mr. Sanders as a writer with a large following. This is the first novel I have read by Mr. Sanders and I can proclaim that he has another fan.tMcNally’s Puzzle is one of a series of fiction mystery novels that follow the exploits of Archibald McNally, investigator and bon vivant extraordinaire. Mr. Sanders has created a likable, light character that mixes an enjoyment of the finer things in life, with a nose for mystery and trouble. Archie narrates the tale of if he is sitting next to you, much as I would envision Sherlock Holmes chatting with Dr. Watson after a lengthy day of sleuthing.tThe only loose end that occasionally bothered me is that Archie’s language and tastes seem to parallel that of an older gentleman even though he is portrayed as a young thirtyish man about town. I think the love of Nick Charles dialog and music from the turn of the 20th century is Mr. Sanders' preferences showing through. However, the amalgamation of panache, humor, mystery and suspense make for a very enjoyable, light read that will maintain your interest without straining your intellect.
Do You like book McNally's Puzzle (1997)?
I'm a big fan of Archie - he's such a flip guy and I relate to him even better now that I reside in southern Florida (constantly reread the books for fun - "one never knows, do one!"). I must admit that Lawrence Sanders only produced one other series I found worth reading and that's his character Timothy Cone. I am in the market for a first of "The Timothy Files" if anyone out there has one for sale. I'm not interested in any of "in the style of Saunders" Archie books - sorry, it's just not the same.
—Mary
