Rating: 
Summary: Will he, or won't he???
Review: I am so glad that Vincent Lardo has done such a splendid job of taking over where Lawrence Sanders left off. Another job well done. Are there more to follow?In this latest adventure I must admit to being a bit confused over the characters who may or may not have the manuscript of the late Truman Capote. And the story of the Beaumont family tragedy seems like a bit of a red herring, but interesting nonetheless, especially when Archie is told the real story of the Beaumont twins at the end. And now Georgy has entered the picture. Good for Archie, and the story line as well! I was getting a bit tired of his on again/off again affair with the jealous Cuban hot-head. Connie should have moved along several books ago, in my opinion. If he had been my boyfriend he would have been toast after the second dalliance, client or no client! And I just don't see her fitting in with the Anglo-Saxon background of the McNally brood. Georgy is like a breath of fresh air. Hope to see more of her in future novels (hint, hint!). All in all, a good read once again.
Rating:
Summary: Will he, or won't he???
Review: I am so glad that Vincent Lardo has done such a splendid job of taking over where Lawrence Sanders left off. Another job well done. Are there more to follow? In this latest adventure I must admit to being a bit confused over the characters who may or may not have the manuscript of the late Truman Capote. And the story of the Beaumont family tragedy seems like a bit of a red herring, but interesting nonetheless, especially when Archie is told the real story of the Beaumont twins at the end. And now Georgy has entered the picture. Good for Archie, and the story line as well! I was getting a bit tired of his on again/off again affair with the jealous Cuban hot-head. Connie should have moved along several books ago, in my opinion. If he had been my boyfriend he would have been toast after the second dalliance, client or no client! And I just don't see her fitting in with the Anglo-Saxon background of the McNally brood. Georgy is like a breath of fresh air. Hope to see more of her in future novels (hint, hint!). All in all, a good read once again.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Comeback
Review: I hated Lardo's last McNally, but Alibi is another story. Very good plots, interesting characters, and first-rate writing. I'm delighted. I hope this means Lardo will continue with the series.
I'm glad to see Georgy enter the mix. The character seems smart and likeable, and could be developed into someone interesting. I hope the author does this. All of the characters received the right amount of exposure. I thought the exchanges between Archy and his father were among the best in the series. I hope there are no wedding plans in the future for Archy. He is very effective and enjoyable as a single man-about-town, so why mess with success? Could you see Archy married to Connie, who has spies everywhere? And, of course, goodby to late nite sessions with Ella, marcs, English Ovals. I look forward to your next book, Vince Lardo.
Rating:
Summary: Cute, cute, cute, in a stupid... way
Review: I have read every book in the Archy McNally series, and I've enjoyed each of them. I remain awed by how seamlessly author Vincent Lardo took over a series started by another writer, in this case, the late Lawrence Sanders. So it is with regret that I don't feel that McNALLY'S ALIBI deserves my customary five-stars, though it certainly earns four. There is a line in a Jacques Brel song that talks about how a character is "cute, cute, cute, in a stupid-assed way." Well, sadly, this is the point to which Archy McNally, the protagonist of this series, seems to be evolving. I long have suspected that this Archy was based, at least in part, on Archie Goodwin of the NERO WOLFE mysteries. Yet Archie Goodwin always was suave and elegant, like Cary Grant or James Bond. Never in this series has Archy McNally been suave and elegant; he actually was kind of fey from the very first book. Since that first book was published, a new word has been coined, "metrosexual," referring to straight men who enjoy pleasures usually perceived as gay, such as facials and manicures. Not James Bond but more Niles Crane, the brother on the television series FRASIER. Well, though Archy definitely is a metrosexual, the problem is that he is starting to sound more deranged than fey. This is pity, because the plot in McNALLY'S ALIBI is as good as any in the series, and the denouement perhaps even more clever than usual. As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in Palm Beach myself, I also would like to see a bit more local color in these stories. The McNALLY books all remain favorites of mine, but I do hope that the author and his editor can reel Archy back in so that he seems a little more realistic.
Rating:
Summary: My thoughts on McNally's Alibi
Review: I think Vincent Lardo has done a wonderful job in taking over the Archy McNally series where Lawrence Sanders left off and I really enjoyed this latest book in the series. On the positive side, I was happy to see the wonderful descriptions of Ursi's marvelous cooking as well as Archy's eclectic wardrobe. On the negative side, I would have liked to have seen more dialogue with Lolly Spindrift and I was annoyed at how much he "dumbed down" Al Rogoff. Any true Archy McNally fans will be very disappointed at how stupid Al is portrayed in this latest novel and as anyone knows, Archy would never associate with someone that "low rent".
Rating:
Summary: My thoughts on McNally's Alibi
Review: I think Vincent Lardo has done a wonderful job in taking over the Archy McNally series where Lawrence Sanders left off and I really enjoyed this latest book in the series. On the positive side, I was happy to see the wonderful descriptions of Ursi's marvelous cooking as well as Archy's eclectic wardrobe. On the negative side, I would have liked to have seen more dialogue with Lolly Spindrift and I was annoyed at how much he "dumbed down" Al Rogoff. Any true Archy McNally fans will be very disappointed at how stupid Al is portrayed in this latest novel and as anyone knows, Archy would never associate with someone that "low rent".
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional - One of the Best Reads I've ever had!
Review: I've been following the exploits of Archie McNally since his first book by Lawrence Sanders. I was not entirely sold on Vincent Lardo taking over the reigns after Sander's death. If his last book was average, this book is exceptional in every way! One of the 2 best McNally books to date! Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Lousy.
Review: Lawrence Sanders fans will note Mr Lardo does an excellent job of imitating Sanders' style, but somehow the story is less than the standard McNally tale. The introduction of a new love interest in policewoman Georgi girl is good. The main storyline is difficult to follow at times, and the added sub-story with Ty Beaumont is an unnecessary distraction which doesn't feel right. Overall, one never knows, do one?
Rating:
Summary: Answered Prayers
Review: The arrival of a new Archy McNally is always a welcome event. 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 and is a character I hope will stay in the series. 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A deficit of plot starves out the usual Archy McNally fun
Review: 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.
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