From Library Journal
Private investigator Archy McNally has real problems. His friend Melva Williams has confessed to the murder of her husband, Geoffrey, after finding him with another woman. She asks Archy to take care of her daughter, a chore that leaves him in hot water with his fianc?e. Meanwhile, Archy must also find the person who is blackmailing another family friend. While investigating this case, Archy finds clues that link both of these crimes together. Listeners will truly enjoy this whodunit. It is full of twists and turns as well as hilarious dialog. The story is well written and will hold one's interest until the bitter end, leaving you wanting more. Tony Award nominee Boyd Gaines is an extremely gifted reader and does a masterful job interpreting this novel. A wonderful addition for all libraries.ADanna Bell-Russell, Library of Congress Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
In this eighth installment of the Archy McNally series, Archy, a charming cad of a gumshoe, tackles two cases simultaneously. One is a blackmail scheme; the other is helping a friend accused of murdering her philandering husband. The cases, all set in the empty, slimy world of the Palm Springs jetset, seem to be unrelated, until... Gaines performs well in this abridgment, giving McNally a smooth, understated baritone that is never flustered. Other characters are given distinct voices that add to the performances, keeping it interesting and moving the action along. The cast is colorful, and the plot is intriguing. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Book Description
Palm Beach private investigator Archy McNally takes on the murder of a socialite and uncovers a thorny tangle of blackmail and deceit, south Florida style. Playboy Geoffrey Williams is dead. But it's not a search for the killer that brings Archy McNally to the case; the lovely Melva Williams readily admits to the crime passionnel. After finding Geoff in a precarious position with an attractive young lady, she pulled the trigger on husband number two. It sounds like an open-and-shut case for McNally & Sons' Department of Discreet Inquiries until Melva asks Archy to shield her daughter, Veronica, from the press and paparazzi. Gallant Archy takes the case -- and escorts grown-up and gorgeous Veronica home to the McNally manse. Rumors fly, and some of them may be true. Veronica is no damsel in distress though, and she's certainly not sorry her stepfather is in the grave. When her story doesn't match Melva's, which doesn't match Geoff's, Archy realizes he does indeed have a dilemma on his hands. Someone's lying, and the one person who knows the truth -- Geoff's perky playmate -- has gotten away. A delectable combination of high society and high jinks, and featuring some of the most eccentric characters to populate Florida's Gold Coast, McNally's Dilemma is as witty and charming as Archy McNally himself.

About the Author
Lawrence Sanders, one of America's most popular novelists, was the author of more than twenty-two bestsellers.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Author and Mystery Scene editor Ed Gorman reviews MCNALLY'S DILEMMA for barnesandnoble.com:

Lawrence Sanders made a career out of improving upon other peoples' ideas. At the time he wrote THE ANDERSON TAPES, the device of using a tape recording as a narrative device was just coming into fashion. His use of the tape format has never been equaled.

At the time he wrote THE FIRST DEADLY SIN, serial killers (though they weren't yet called that) were becoming major villains in crime fiction. Except for the work of two other writers -- Thomas Harris and Shane Stevens -- I don't think SIN has ever been equalled.

And while one can't say that the McNally series -- his latest spate of bestsellers -- is up to the standard of THE THIN MAN or Lord Peter Wimsey -- the dual inspiration for these books -- Sanders does a damned good job of melding them into a contemporary series.

One thing up front: A gritty, realistic private eye series this ain't. And isn't supposed to be. McNally is the ne'er-do-well son of a brilliant lawyer. After he flunks out of Yale Law, Daddy sets him up as the investigative wing of the law firm. He gets involved in various Palm Beach scandals filled -- as are most of Sanders's books -- with lots of sex, violence, and fey commentary on the mores of the rich and/or horny.

In MCNALLY'S DILEMMA, we encounter a nice, twisty mystery that begins when a socialite who admits to murder asks McNally to help keep the press away from her beautiful daughter. How can he say no? But as he looks at the case, McNally wonders if anybody connected to it is telling him the truth. Various conflicting motives and stories emerge. How will McNally sort it all out?

Sanders was a pro's pro. He could and did do just about everything one can with various forms of popular fiction. The McNally books are pure entertainment. Sanders had a good eye and ear for the habits of the idle rich, and those talents are very much on display here. Enjoy.

--Ed Gorman

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Playboy Geoffrey Williams is dead. But it's not a search for the killer that brings Archy McNally to the case; the lovely Melva Williams readily admits to the crime passionnel. After finding Geoff in a precarious position with an attractive young lady, she pulled the trigger on husband number two. It sounds like an open-and-shut case for McNally & Son's Department of Discreet Inquiries, until Melva asks Archy to shield her daughter, Veronica, from the press and paparazzi. Gallant Archy takes the case - and escorts grown-up and gorgeous Veronica home to the McNally manse. Rumors fly, and some of them may be true.. "Veronica is no damsel in distress, though, and she's certainly not sorry her stepfather is in the grave. When her story doesn't match Melva's, which doesn't match Geoff's, Archy realizes he does indeed have a dilemma on his hands. Someone's lying, and the one person who knows the truth - Geoff's perky playmate - has gotten away.

SYNOPSIS

Sadly, this may be the final McNally detective novel we're likely to see. Lawrence Sanders, one of America's most popular novelists, who died last year, will be greatly missed. But we still have McNally's Dilemma to look forward to. In this witty new yarn, Palm Beach private investigator Archy McNally is on the case when a playboy turns up dead.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Private investigator Archy McNally has real problems. His friend Melva Williams has confessed to the murder of her husband, Geoffrey, after finding him with another woman. She asks Archy to take care of her daughter, a chore that leaves him in hot water with his fianc e. Meanwhile, Archy must also find the person who is blackmailing another family friend. While investigating this case, Archy finds clues that link both of these crimes together. Listeners will truly enjoy this whodunit. It is full of twists and turns as well as hilarious dialog. The story is well written and will hold one's interest until the bitter end, leaving you wanting more. Tony Award nominee Boyd Gaines is an extremely gifted reader and does a masterful job interpreting this novel. A wonderful addition for all libraries.--Danna Bell-Russell, Library of Congress Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

AudioFile