McNally's Gamble (Archy McNally Novels)

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!

Average customer rating based on 1 comment:

Linda Shelnutt, April 26, 2006 (view all comments by Linda Shelnutt)
Silver Ghost Rolls In Faberge Egg. Roll The Dice

This one opened with a fast-moving, jazzy rescue of a kidnaped child, capturing me with Archy?s warmth to the victim?s father, and the hint of a crime to come which was billed to be more heinous than a child kidnaping.

Following quickly on the heals of the rescue, I settled into the main plot, riding along with Archy?s loving machinations in prep for his father?s birthday dinner, after which the family cocktail hour sported the pater?s introduction to Archy of his new assignment. The mater was invited into the act by a request from her husband to describe how her friend and contemporary, Edythe Westmore, a client of the McNally law firm, seemed to have been taken in by a flimflam financial advisor with egg on his agenda, which would eventually be on his face, if justice prevailed and Archy?s Discrete Investigations got a clue.

No unsettling, Gothic castle with Adams family cast offs in this one. Whereas McNally?s CAPER captured like a dark, luxuriously rich ale, GAMBLE captured with quality champagne easing the pain of a soured budget diminishing in a cash flop (executed by the financial wizard fop).

Archy fizzed nicely through this plot with just the right amount of bubble and bounce, keeping the light hearted intrigue moving until the enigma-of-the-egg enhanced entertainment to arrive at an all time high in this series.


One of Archy?s enduring and endearing characters, the old, moldy, Antique shop owner, Sydney Smythe warmed his way into my heart in this one, worming in through a few choice words from Sanders describing Mr. Smythe?s actions and reactions to Archy?s interjections. It?s amazing how much empathy for a character Sanders develops with light, limited touches of syntax, especially in contrast to the heavyweight, plethora of mouth-fulls he pours through Archy?s mug.

Given the entertaining way Archie danced his way through this plot labyrinth and its resolution, if GAMBLE were to become a movie, it may have to be billed as a complexly delightful musical, no con intended.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(15 of 24 readers found this comment helpful)

report this comment

Product Details

ISBN:

9780425162590

Author:

Sanders, Lawrence

Publisher:

Berkley Publishing Group

Location:

New York :

Subject:

General

Subject:

Fiction

Subject:

Florida

Subject:

Mystery & Detective - General

Subject:

Mystery & detective

Subject:

Private investigators

Subject:

Mystery & Detective - Hard-Boiled

Subject:

Mcnally, archy (fictitious character)

Subject:

Palm Beach (Fla.) Fiction.

Subject:

Suspense

Subject:

Detective and mystery stories

Subject:

Mystery-A to Z

Copyright:

1998

Edition Description:

B-Mass Market

Series:

Archy McNally Novels

Series Volume:

7

Publication Date:

19980531

Binding:

MASS MARKET

Grade Level:

from 12

Language:

English

Pages:

368

Dimensions:

6.75x4.17x1.00 in. .40 lbs.

Age Level:

from 18