McNally's Dare [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Lawrence Sanders (Author), Boyd Gaines (Reader), Vincent Lardo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003 | Series: Archy McNally Novels

The dowager duchess of Palm Beach dies, leaving behind a fabulous fortune and a handsome young heir -- and Archy McNally is left trying to figure out who's who.

When a young waiter working Malcolm "Nifty" MacNiff's annual Tennis Everyone! benefit is found dead in Nifty's otherwise pristine swimming pool, it's Archy McNally, south Florida's most famous Discreet Inquirer, who rushes in to salvage the town's reputation and solve the unfortunate crime. Palm Beach is already in a tizzy over the arrival of its newest millionaire, Lance Talbot, just in from Switzerland to claim his inheritance after the demise of his grandmother.

Poor Jeff Rodgers has barely been pulled from the water when Palm Beach's rumor mill goes into overdrive. Why has Dennis Darling, crack reporter for Bare Facts magazine, descended on the fair island? Just how did handsome Lance escape that avalanche that took his mother's life, and brought him back to his Florida family? And just who is the alluring Baroness Holga von Brecht, the well-preserved woman on Lance's arm whose ageless features have Palm Beach matrons lusting after her beauty secrets? When an old school chum of Holga's is made redundant, Archy works overtime to snare a double murderer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Archy McNally is a raffish combination of Dashiell Hammett''s Nick Charles and P.G. Wodehouse''s Bertie Wooster."—New York Times Book Review



"McNally is as amusing and rich as Dorothy Sayer''s great creation of Lord Peter Wimsey."—Cosmopolitan



"Lardo continues the series in superb style."—Tennessean

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Lawrence Sanders, one of America's most popular novelists, was the author of more than thirty-five bestsellers, including the original McNally novels. Vincent Lardo is the author of The Hampton Affair and The Hampton Connection, as well as five McNally novels. He lives on the East End of Long Island.

Boyd Gaines starred on Broadway in 12 Angry Men, Contact (Tony Award), She Loves Me (Tony, Outer Critics Circle & Drama Desk Awards), The Heidi Chronicles (Tony Award), Company and Cabaret. Mr. Gaines' film credits include Second Best, I'm Not Rappaport, The Grass Harp, Fame, and The Sure Thing. Television appearances include Angela's Eyes (Lifetime, Series Regular), Law and Order, A Piece of Cake (BBC, Lead), One Day at a Time (Series Regular).

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743529510
• ISBN-13: 978-0743529518
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #292,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, July 22, 2003

By 

nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McNally's Dare (Hardcover)

"McHally's Dare" by Vincent Lardo is yet another pleasant romp amongst the rich and infamous on the island of Palm Beach by Discrete Inquirer Archy McNally.

The twelfth installment contains a more complex plot as Archy attempts to solve a murder and determine if an apparent heir to a fortune is an imposter, all the while lunching in fashionable bistros and attending parties and benefits.

The eclectic supporting cast is terrific as usual...lending color, intrigue, witty dialog and interesting sidebars.

Archy has no shortage of suspects and eventually brings the truth to light...but not before a couple of reversals, amusing detours and romantic interludes.

"McNally's Dare" is not hard boiled noir...rather a mystery in the wry...easy to enjoy...a weekend diversion...a book for the beach...a guilty pleasure.

Big time fun!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nailed It!, September 1, 2003

By 

john j. hunter (devon, pa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McNally's Dare (Hardcover)

Vince really nailed it with Dare! Writing, plots, and character exposure were right on the money. Unlike some of the earlier efforts, there were no dead spots in this story.

The other reviewers have done a good job in describing the overall plot, so I won't waste your time with more of the same. Having read all of the MaNally series, I'd say this one ranks among the best. All of the usual characters are there, and are given enough exposure that you don't tire of them. I'd like to see Bunky disappear, since he's become more annoying than fun.

The Archy character is more hard edged, and some readers may not like the way he treats people in this story. I've always enjoyed Archy and his dad's chats in the home study, and these did not disappoint. I've also enjoyed Archy's late-evening reflections in his third-floor apartment, and was disappointed that in this story they lacked detail.

The story has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, but some the clues were so obvious that I thought they were intentional curves. They weren't! As a result, the ending was a bit of a letdown, but that doesn't distract from a very good book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and human, July 20, 2003

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: McNally's Dare (Hardcover)

When a waiter is found dead in the swimming pool during a millionaire-intense tennis fund raiser, Archie McNally, all-around investigator to the rich and snobby, is called into action. Clients come quickly and Archie isn't too proud to take them all. But does everyone really want him to find the killer, or is someone hiding a deadly secret?

Archie moves through Palm Beach society, sipping martinis with muckraking authors, exchanging bon-mots with billionaires, and dating beautiful Georgia while still lusting after the lost Connie. Archie making a charming character. He is fixated with his own appearance, sexist to the extreme, frequently contemptuous of those around him (especially of Binky who returns Archie's scorn with love and disloyalty), yet manages to stay sympathetic. Author Vincent Lardo humanizes Archie in McNALLY'S DARE by making Georgia feisty, by a cute scene when Archie's trunks are too large for hunky billionaire Lance Talbot, and by reminding the reader that Archie does still live with his parents.

Those seeking a quick-witted private investigator with an attitude, a way with women (if not quite as much so as he would like to believe) and a clever setting amongst the billionaires of Palm Beach will definitely want to pick up the latest in the McNally series.