McNally's Secret

If you love a rich, colorful character in your mystery novels, then most certainly pick up McNally's Secret. The lead character is a loveable, albeit naughty boy, named Archie McNally. He is handsome, in his 30's, and still living at home! [Women, beware!] However, McNally does justify his stay at home status with his readers(rent=zip, nado, nothing!]. In McNally's Secret, you meet Archie, a Yale law school drop out [he was caught running across a stage wearing a Richard Nixon mask and nothing else..], who is currently working for his attorney father as head of "Discreet Investigations". Archie handles sensitive cases for his father's richer-than-God clients down in Palm Beach. Archie loves wine, women, and song--not necessarily in that order. In fact, he eats too much, drinks to much, and always seems to get in trouble with the wrong sortof gal, much to the chagrin of his unofficial girlfriend Connie. In this mystery, Archie must call upon Lady Horowitz (which should be spelled Horror-wits), a brash old gal who has married more men that Liz Taylor and has more money than Queen Liz. The mystery begins with the theft of Lady Horowitz's priceless inverted Jenny stamps, but the plot soon turns to murder. And only McNally has the insight to the case's solution.

to me any McNally book is a good one. You should look for the whole series.

Lawrence Sanders' first Archibald McNally novel is much like Arhcy's mother, pleasingly plump and full of delight! Archy is part of McNally & Son Attorney-At-Law, notice the word 'attorney' is singular, not plural. That's because Archy is not a lawyer, though he did go to law school. But he got kicked out. We won't go into that unpleastantness, however. Dear, dear Archy heads a department of his father's firm called "Discreet Inquiries", he heads it because he's the only person in that particular department. Archy is asked to make some "discreet inquiries" into the disappearance in rich-and-randy Lady Cynthia Horowitz's valuable Inverted Jenny stamps. They could be worth upwards of a cool half a mil. Archy has several suspects, including but not limited to, the Smythes (whom are Lady C's son and wife), Lacy C's daughter Gina Stanescu, including Lady C's other son and wife. And her dear friend the very much gay Angus Wolfson, Lady C's chaffeur and and his girlfriend. But more and more questions arise, like: why is Lady C costantly leaving in her bronze-colored Jag and not telling her social secretary where she's going? Is Wolfson and Lady C's chaffeur having an affair? And what about Archy's personal life? Will the beautiful and astute Jennifer Towley go back to her husband or stick with Archy? One never knows, does one?

This book is very appealing and well written. It has a likeable protagonist, a series of interesting suspects, and a nice second plot theme (Archy's lovelife). Near the end, we are led to a shocking revelation which explains some of the strange behavior which puzzles Archy through most of the book. Archy uses his secret to his advantage, as he solves a tangled set of problems in a clever way. Overall, I would say this book reminds me of the tone of Lawrence Block's Bernie the Burglar series, which is also excellent.

Man this cat is suave. I purchased the "book on tape"version and listened to it going to and from my job and while runningerrands. Completed 2 tapes in 3 days. I especially focused mythoughts on Archie's wit and behaviour. The one liners aregreat... The lifestyles of the people of Palm Beach, FL. are a far cryfrom Elian and ballot counting. Which supplied to me a refreshing newlook on characters and plot. I must say this book kept me glued to mycasette player and mindful of the story even while not listening.Recommend it to people 35+ yrs.