McNally's Puzzle [Hardcover]

Lawrence Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1996

Palm Beach private detective Archy McNally is hired by the wealthy owner of a bird store to investigate threats against his life, but the case soon becomes complicated by the murder of McNally's client and the kidnapping-killings of two store clerks. 175,000 first printing. $120,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Hiram Gottschalk is a wealthy widower, the owner of a bird store called Parrots Unlimited--and a man desperate to save himself from an unknown stalker. He hires McNally, who is convinced he'll soon return his client's life to order--but then Gottschalk is stabbed in his sleep, and two of his clerks are abducted and killed in the Everglades. It takes all McNally's skill to put together the pieces in McNally's Puzzle.

From Library Journal

Veteran Palm Beach sleuth Archy McNally puzzles over the death of a bird store owner in this latest by the prolific author of 20 best sellers.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 311 pages
• Publisher: Putnam; 1st edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399141359
• ISBN-13: 978-0399141355
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious Investigation by Binky Watrous on Archy's Behalf, June 5, 2000

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: McNally's Puzzle (Archy McNally) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you've read the Archy McNally books, you know he has a slightly daft friend who does bird calls, Binky Watrous. In this wonderful installment, Binky goes undercover at a bird store called Parrots Unlimited to find out who is threatening the store's owner, Hiram Gottschalk. Sancho Panza is a motivational consultant compared to Binky, and the complications are hilarious. You'll laugh until it hurts!

Before long, bodies are piling up in all directions. Who did it?

Here's a clue. The book's cover has a parrot on it. If you pay attention to the parrot, you'll get some important leads on who the guilty parties are.

Archy McNally is at his usual prissy best, more concerned about his wardrobe than the mystery. The ladies find him irresistible, and he feels obliged to help out. This gets him into trouble, as usual, with his main squeeze, Connie.

The actual plot is full despicable double-dealing. You'll be glad when the bad guys get it.

Great fun!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McNally's Puzzle, October 7, 2000

By 

Ricky N. "Ricky C. Nelson" (Commerce, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McNally's Puzzle (Archy McNally) (Mass Market Paperback)

An Archy McNally novel is always a lot of fun to read. Interesting characters and a strong plot are the 2 strongest elements in all of these novels. Lawrence Sanders was a master of suspense, and "McNally's Puzzle" is one of the best of the series. Hiram Gottschalk, owner of Parrots Unlimited, a parrot store, believes that his life is in danger, and Archy McNally is called in to make his discreet inquiries. When Gottschalk is murdered, Archy continues his investigation. The list of suspects is long: Peter Gottschalk, Hiram's son, who is a manic-depressive; Gottschalk's twin daughters, Judith and Julia; Hiram's housekeeper and lover, Yvonne Chrisling, and her stepson Ricardo, who manages Parrots Unlmited. Binky Watrous plays a big role as he goes undercover at Parrots Unlimited, and Archy gets a canine friend, Hobo. This is an excellent and fun read!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Archy is Great Again!!, February 24, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Madison, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McNally's Puzzle (Archy McNally) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lawrence Sanders continues to make Archy McNally one of the best detectives in fiction. I loved this book- the characters are hilarious and the action is entertaining. The pace of the mystery is quick and the clues keep coming. In the end everything comes to a satisfying conclusion, with Archy on top once again. A great Summer read!!