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223rd out of 783 books
—
994 voters
McNally's Secret (Arch McNally #1)
Playful, seductive, irresistible--this bestselling masterwork of fatal passion and greed introduces Lawrence Sanders's most wickedly charming sleuth. Meet Archy McNally, a freewheeling playboy who specializes is "Discreet Inquires" for the rich and not-so-discreet. Beneath the glaring sun of Palm Beach--and behind the lowest crimes of high society--McNally is paid to keep...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
January 1st 1993
by Berkley
(first published 1992)
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3 STARS
This was a good mystery it kept me guessing. I really did not connect with any of the characters. Thats probably just me. Every character has good faults but mostly bad qualities stuck out for me. This is a clean read.
Archy works for his father a lawyer in Florida. He is sent into find out about a clients missing US. Stamps that had been stolen.
Her safe was not locked. Lady Cynthia Horowitz has been married six times and the stamps were part of a divorce settlement. A simalar set sold for...more
This was a good mystery it kept me guessing. I really did not connect with any of the characters. Thats probably just me. Every character has good faults but mostly bad qualities stuck out for me. This is a clean read.
Archy works for his father a lawyer in Florida. He is sent into find out about a clients missing US. Stamps that had been stolen.
Her safe was not locked. Lady Cynthia Horowitz has been married six times and the stamps were part of a divorce settlement. A simalar set sold for...more
Sanders' character Archie McNally is nothing short of brilliant. He's an affluent living, intelligent, capable underachiever - and he's fine with that. He didn't make it through law school to make his stuffy old law firm dad happy, but he manages to solve some tricky problems that Dad's clients seem to get themselves into regularly. He can't afford luxurious digs - so he lives with Mom and Dad - how else would a guy with his resources be able to live right on the water and have servants at his d...more
Archie McNally is a 37 year old, single guy that lives in the attic of his parents' house. He does investigation work for his lawyer-father. In the first of this series, he is investigating the disappearance of some very valuable stamps for one of his father's very wealthy clients.
I loved the smart, irreverent humor, the surprise ending and Archie's respectful and loving relationship with his parents. I will definitely be reading more about Archie and family.
I loved the smart, irreverent humor, the surprise ending and Archie's respectful and loving relationship with his parents. I will definitely be reading more about Archie and family.
Haven't read any of this author's work before but boy did it sound familiar. It was McNally's first name that gave it away: Archie. I grew up reading Rex Stout and McNally is an incarnation of Archie Goodwin, complete with smart cracks and multi females. We're fifty years on so the plots can involve a number of problems which would have been only hinted at in those earlier stories; homosexuality can say its name and sex can act in front of the curtain but the language in this remains decent and...more
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Aug 12, 2012
rabbitprincess
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those who like light, silly mysteries
Palm Beach denizen Archy McNally is the "son" of McNally and Son, Attorney-at-Law -- his father, Prescott, is the actual attorney at the head of the firm. Archy is the head and sole employee of the Discreet Inquiries department, which specializes in investigating cases that require a little more delicacy than a typical police investigation. In this first installment, Archy is tasked with investigating the disappearance of a block of four "Inverted Jenny" stamps from the home of one of the firm's...more
McNALLY'S SECRET (
Sanders, Lawrence - 1st in series
From Fantastic Fiction: Although he doesn't usually handle burglaries, playboy/sleuth Archy McNally agrees to handle a "discrete" case for a society matron. And his search for stolen property leads Archy into a maze of sex, lies, and blackmail, uncovering a secret that's much too close to home
Funny, very enjoyable. Love the character's relationship with his parents. Light fun.
Sanders, Lawrence - 1st in series
From Fantastic Fiction: Although he doesn't usually handle burglaries, playboy/sleuth Archy McNally agrees to handle a "discrete" case for a society matron. And his search for stolen property leads Archy into a maze of sex, lies, and blackmail, uncovering a secret that's much too close to home
Funny, very enjoyable. Love the character's relationship with his parents. Light fun.
This book will crack you up, and while you’re laughing, you’ll be treated to a little sex, some secret romance, a murder or two, and enough suspense to fill your pint glass again and again. If you want a good laugh, some romance, and a great mystery, grab this baby!
McNally's Secret, a mystery involving the decadence of Florida's blue-bloods. The writing is tongue-in-cheek and humorous but always written in the civilized tone of our foppish hero Archy McNally. A great story for the conspicuously consuming playboy in all of us.
An entertaining mystery with the requisite surprises. To be honest I think I gave it 3 stars rather than 4 because it was hard for me to like the playboy detective. If you enjoy a little glitz in your mysteries, this is a good one for you.
I really enjoy Archibald McNally. He is a fun character to follow. And Saunders' devotion to always including a description of whatever food is being consumed is a charming addition to these quick mystery novels.
I find that all of the McNally books are perfect "palette cleansers".
Any time that I finish heavy reading, I pick up one of the McNally mysteries and they never fail to amuse and ground me.
Any time that I finish heavy reading, I pick up one of the McNally mysteries and they never fail to amuse and ground me.
I really had a hard time getting into this book. I had put my other one down because several people told me how much they liek th is series. I don't hink I will pick up another one.
I have no idea how I managed to miss the first one... there are some interesting things that happen here that aren't mentioned later, but help a few things make more sense...
Reads like a classic murder mystery; sometimes it was hard to remember the setting was modern day Florida. Overall enjoyable, easy and fun to read. Archy is an suave and entertaining protagonist.
Okay, but a little too cute for me. Not as much mystery as pretentious personalities which is what the McNally series is supposed to be.
More of Archy McNally's detective high jinx among the wealthiest in Palm Beach. He is a wonderful character & narrator.
This series is always fun to read - light, funny and filled with interesting characters. I liked the caper in this one as well.
I just loved Archie McNally. I was sorry to see him go. This series is definitely frothy and lighthearted, but a fun beach read.
Archy McNally rocks! I love the way this series has been written - the wit is super and the language pretty darn good.
Better than other books by him, or I am getting used to his drivel. but it was worth what I paid for it... nothing..
I used to love read these series with Archy McNally. Easy and fun. Red them all. Good vacation books.
The McNally series by Saunders are very entertaining and I love each one i read. Thumbs up!
Smart and witty writing. I love the Archy character...will have to read more of these novels!
McNally is a delightful character and Sanders can definitely weave a good mystery.
Fun read! Much like a modern PGWodehouse. Stretches your vocabularly.
Read these at the behest of my brother-in-law. They were funny and enjoyable.
Good, campy writing style. Fun, hard-boiled feel, thogh protagonist is not!
These are quick reads and keeps you interested. Love these books!
Mar 29, 2009
Lynn
added it
Love the McNalley series, very entertaining and easy read
My favorite series of books!!!!!! Fun, easy to read.
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Lawrence Sanders (1920–1998) was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books....more
More about Lawrence Sanders...
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