Customer Reviews

McNally's Gamble

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"McNally's Gamble" is the last Archie McNally novel written by Lawrence Sanders, who died in February 1998. Archie makes discreet inquiries into the purchase of a Faberge egg by a client of his father's law firm, Edythe Westmore. It becomes clear that Mrs. Westmore may become the victim of a con. Edythe's children, Walter and Natalie are especially opposed to their mother's spending $500,000 on the egg. Archie is taken by Natalie, and despite his relationship with Connie Garcia, he partakes in Natalie's sexual favors. I have read all the Archie McNally novels by Lawrence Sanders, and plan to read the Vincent Lardo novels soon. An Archie McNally novel is always a lot of fun to read.

I have read all of the McNally books and did not think "Gamble" was as good as the others. Somewhat predictable, actually. Sanders' other efforts had more suspense and moved along quicker. In "Gamble" the plot and culprits were clear very early in the narrative and in my opinion, left little to the imagination. "Gamble" left me wanting more, while the others were more satisfying. Still, there is much to like about Archy. Even with all his swimming, he must weight 300 pounds!

McNally's Gamble provides yet another fun and witty Discreet Inquiry, chock full of Archy's illustrious wit and humor, as well as a clever storyline. Unfortunately, it offered fewer suprises than previous McNally jaunts and the villian was ever-so obvious. Still, it delivered what I expected and had hoped for -- a witty tale full of boisterous fun, eyebrow-raising espacades, a few more notches in the bedpost, and plenty of stops at the Pelican club. Not the best, but worth the addition to your McNally anthology.

Archie McNally is that rare character in detective fiction -- a loveable rogue in many ways who is one of the good guys. Affected, almost prissy, he imposes a veneer of civilized concerns on the nasty business of crime and passion. As such, he makes otherwise unpleasantness interesting and rewarding to read.

Many people feel that Lawrence Sanders' plots are all right. I find them subpar, but his character of Archie more than redeems that quality. You will find yourself searching forward for the next humorous countretemps. That makes the reading fun.

Although many reviewers have correctly pointed out the weaknesses in this story, I still commend it to you. Archie's charm is as good as ever.

If you want a wonderful detective story where the plot is the point of reading the book, go elsewhere.

Using that strategy, the books stay fresh and entertaining. Archy McNally is kind of what you'd get if you crossed Lord Peter Wimsey with Cary Grant's character from the Awful Truth. He's urbane, irresponsible, retro and witty-- an unavoidably appealing combination. The plots themselves are more vehicles for Archy's charm, but are adequately written as such-- this one contains enough interesting background information about faberge eggs and con men to carry me through without getting horribly bored.

Lawrence Sanders has a unique ability to convey the lifestyles of the rich to paper in a believeable fashion. His vivid descriptions of meals and wines, with just a hint of snobbery, are superb and have me wishing I were partaking of the victuals along with the characters. The story itself is up to the usual outstanding plot that Sanders (and McNally) fans have come to expect. I've read every one of the McNally series books and always look forward to the next. (The included vocabulary lessons in the stories are a plus). Don't miss reading the series and include this one.

This is my favorite in the long line of Archy McNally books. While Sanders has given us more profound writing, the McNally series is fun and fast reading. Who doesn't envy Archy's cushy lifestyle, and relish in sharing it through Sanders's witty narrative. Sanders's use regular characters in the McNally series, for me, makes for a familiar and comfortable return to a juicy new mystery in West Palm Beach. I find comfort in and always depend on Archy's weak-kneed response to women, and his lack of willpower where hedonism in any form is concerned.

I was impressed with how Sanders was able to ignite some real feelings throughout the story, such as the guilt Archy felt with Sydney Smythe's death. For me, this lends some authenticity to the storyline. McNally's and Rogoff's collaboration was better developed in this effort, and the interesting twist concering the contents of Mrs. Westmore's Faberge Egg helped endear this story to me.

Though sometimes predictable, I would recommend McNally's Gamble to any Sanders fan, and highly recommend it as a first read for someone who has not read a McNally mystery.

Archie Mcnally, consumate dandy and endearing modern day Berie Wooster, is up to his usual tricks in this tale of murder, con-tricks and extortion. Set in Palm Beach, Florida, Archie is employed by his fathers' law firm to investigate the troubles suffered by the firms' clients in a completely discreet fashion, and to find a way around those troubles without scandal or the need to call in the police. Mrs. Edythe Westmore is a wealthy but rather stupid client of the McNally law firm who is being gulled into the purchase of a Faberge Imperial egg, at the cost of half a million dollars, by a couple of smooth crooks. Her son and daughter are furious at what they consider to be the wasting of their inheritances and beg Archie to help them to expose the financial advisors who are urging their mother to invest with them. For all his foppish ways, Archie isn't quite as wet as everyone believes, and does a creditable job in foiling con men and thugs alike. To me, he seems like a cross between the Scarlet Pimpernel and Dashiell Hammetts' "Thin Man". It's light, amusing fluff with mouth watering descriptions of food, expensive cars and Archies' eclectic taste in dashing clothes...a good, light, fun read.

A self-indulgence by the author, who is obviously enjoying himself. Archy McNally is a likeable layabout from a comfortably off family. This allows the author to entertain us with his tastes in music, food, wine (and sex?) whilst using his artistic license occasionally on the Queen's English. He also tosses in the odd word which you don't come across often down at the local pub. (I do wish that if he indulges himself this way, that he would add a glossary with page references at the end of the book for those of us who are too lazy [or too engrossed in the book] to grab a dictionary when we come across these words).

A lovely light romp of a novel, set in "God's waiting room", Palm Beach, Florida. Sanders pokes light-hearted fun at Florida's odd inhabitants.

I am always pleased when onother McNally caper comes on the market. They are always an enjoyable read that is fairly well researched. This story lacks th grit to make it a five star story, but is as always a page turner.