The plot of this McNally adventure is competently, if predictably, constructed. He beds a few attractive young ladies (one of whom was a suspect in the murder case) while making grandiose pledges of fidelity to his girlfriend Connie. Inexplicably, women can’t seem to stay away from him. Do try to pay attention I hope no more reminders will be necessary. To refresh your muzzy memory was the twitchy maid who had discovered the half-strangled Sylvia Forsythe…. Occasionally speaking directly to the reader is a part of Archy’s persona. Now possibly Sanders was having us on, and he intentionally created a self-indulgent, foppish ne’er-do-well. I could only see him as a self-indulgent, foppish ne’er-do-well. That’s a description of Archy’s chronicle. The breezy style is often the work of an egocentric, the person who imagines that everything that comes to mind is of general interest and that uninhibited prose creates high spirits and carries the day. Reminder #9 Do Not Affect a Breezy Manner: I was reminded of an admonition by Strunk and White in the classic writing manual, The Elements of Style. Halfway through the book I realized exactly what bothered me. (Thirtyish Archy lives at home with his parents.)Īrchy suffers no inferiority complex, something he demonstrates repeatedly, and his personality so dominates the narrative that the mystery becomes secondary to the protagonist’s preening and his dashing about South Florida from his club to the crime scene and back again, dressed in an ever-changing palette.Īrchy’s style is difficult to separate from the author’s. He spends an inordinate amount of time describing items in his colorful wardrobe-such as a peony-patterned sport jacket-and the gourmet meals his father’s chef serves up. Archy is not a bumbling fool but a spoiled, smug, part-time PI. Okay, maybe the comparison to Inspector Clouseau is unfair. The book is written in first person so Archy runs the show, and show off he does. Many accomplished amateur detectives were dabblers. Archy dabbles in detection while he pampers himself with the good life in the Florida sun. The book stars Archy McNally, son of a wealthy Palm Beach, Fla., attorney. Another author continued the series after Sanders’ death. Published in 1994, McNally’s Caper is one of seven books in the McNally series written by Sanders. Before his death in 1998 he’d written more than two dozen crime and mystery novels including The First Deadly Sin. Sanders became famous in 1970 with The Anderson Tapes, a crime novel quickly adapted to film. These are harsh words from someone who has never read any other books by this Edgar-winning, million-selling, near-legendary author. Unless Inspector Clouseau is your idea of a stylish sleuth. Mystery and PI novels often feature clever, sympathetic detectives, people you like or at least respect.
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