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: 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: Well Done Vincent Lardo!
Review: Archie McNally, once again, finds himself in the thick of things in Palm Beach. A beautiful woman, a murder, and a whole lot of money are the usual fair. The twists in this book are not as twisty as other McNally stories, and this one is unusually predictable. Even so, it is a fun trip into a world few of us know intimately.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice, but not particularly great.
Review: As this novel demonstrates there is a slight but noticeable difference in the writing styles of both Sanders and Lardo. Lardo himself seems to be a bit of a mystery man in that there isn't much publically known about him. He certainly doesn't have the reputation as a mystery writer that Sanders does.MeNally amply demonstrates in this novel that he has very little common horse sense when it comes to women. He needs to learn how to be more selective. If you really want to read this book borrow it from the library and read. Then move on to something else.
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: 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: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Yuck!
Review: I was so disappointed in this book. Please, by all means, give Vincent Lardo credit.Did you even read the other books? What happened to Archie? Wearing black Levis? And when did he get engaged to Connie? He always said that if he was ever engaged or married he would be faithful. That was part of his rakish charm. Nothing to tell us how, when or where this engagement happened. Why would he change his life so dramatically without one word in this "book". I want Lawrence Sanders! This is a sham and a travesty.
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: 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.
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