Book Review: McNally's Chance

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

McNally's Chance     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lawrence Sanders , Vincent Lardo
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Humorous
Series: Archibald McNally # 10
Putnam, Jul 2001, $24.95, 320 pp.

In Florida, popular romance writer Sabrina Wright hires Palm Beach's private investigator Arch McNally to find her missing husband. The experienced Arch figures this to be a relatively easy case until he uncovers Sabrina's real agenda. Apparently her daughter Gillian recently learned that her mother's husband is not her biological father. Gillian seeks her "real" dad.

When the news leaks out among the rich and richer, three males try to "hire" Arch to keep a lid on the story. Sabrina had affairs with all three at about the time she became pregnant and each one has since been paying under the table child support to keep the author quiet. Now that the story is becoming public, someone kills Arch's client. This leaves the sleuth to wonder how far an individual would go to keep a lid on the secret and will that include potentially murdering a detective who is close to figuring out the full truth.

MCNALLY'S CHANCE is much more complicated than the above two paragraphs reveals or the confusing title that has Lawrence Sanders name in big print while crediting Vincent Lardo in much smaller type. The story line is exciting due to Arch's demeanor as the convoluted case keeps him bewildered yet making progress even after the homicide of his client. Mr. Lardo provides a strong tale that would have pleased the late great Mr. Sanders, creator of Arch.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner