There is something about crime fiction with a central character in a series of novels.....It gives the reader a sense of security.It is probably familiarity with the protagonist that drives the reader to read more of the same.The British have their genre of crime fiction which has produced some memorable sleuths.In modern fiction,Colin Dexter's Chief Inspector Morse and P.D.James' Adam Dalgliesh have their own fan following.There are yet many who should find a mention like Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford,Ian Rankin's John Rhebus and not to forget the all time great Hercule Poirot of Agatha Christie.
Cross the Atlantic and crime comes with not so much of the sombre and serious atmosphere that goes with it. The protagonists are either not so serious or not so central to the works.The alphabet series featuring Kinsey Milhone of Sue Grafton and Lawrence Sanders' Mc Nally series fall within a distinct genre.Crime laced with doses of humour.It makes reading a lighthearted experience .The reader would not so much look for a nailbiting finish than a quick pleasurable read.
The creator of Archibald McNally is dead-but the Private Investigator lives on.Super sleuth par excellence ,lover of exquisite Palm Beach women and Florida’s most eligible bachelor continues to enthrall readers around the world with his peccadilloes while fighting crime.Lawrence Sanders ascent to fame began with the “Deadly Sin “ novels featuring the strong New York cop Edward X Delaney.The "First Deadly Sin " has been made into a memorable movie.Lawrence Sanders died some time back.Vincent Lardo has been commissioned by the Sanders’ estate to churn out the McNally series of novels.As an avid fan of the Mc Nally series I have always mourned the end of the series.When I read the first in the series of books by Vincent Lardo,I really concluded that the Mc Nally magic is over.But the latest novel in the Lardo’s series,ie Mc Nally’s Folly has redeemed hopes of a revival of the character in all his glory.
To the uninitiated, a brief introduction would be in order.Archbald Mc Nally,age permanently hovering around the mid thirties,is the scion of the Mc Nally family.A junior partner in Mc Nally & son,the Law firm.He being the son and father Mc Nally the lawyer.Legend has it that Archy’s exit from Yale Law School was not exactly under congenial circumstances.He ran across the stage during a particularly soul stirring performance of the New York Philharmonic-wearing nothing but a Richard Nixon mask.He didn't have to wait to graduate since the Yale authorities couldn’t wait to send him home minus the Law degree- Only to launch an interesting career as the head of the discreet enquiries cell in the elder Mc Nally’s Law firm.Number of employees -one.His office in the sprawling Mc Nally Offices is a cubby hole with no window but only the air conditioning vent as the outlet.Same goes for his digs in Mc Nally mansion.Can’t beat the rent,he says,which is zilch.Archy maintains that the ill treatment by Pater Mc Nally is to stave off accusations of nepotism.Drives around in a blazing red Miata convertible which cannot be missed in conservative Palm Beach society .
The redeeming features of a typical Sanders novel are familiar.There are great descriptions of food.Readers of Sanders’ Deadly Sin series would vouch for the detailed exposition into sandwiches and how they are best made.The same affectation to food is ever present in these novels.The Pelican Club is the regular hideout of Archy and his ilk.A club run by a family of colour.Simon Pettibone could whip up the awesome cocktail with gastronomical delights to go with it.Well, if you are deceived by his looks you could be missing out on those winner tips on the stock market.Try this for lunch....grilled grouper sandwich on Italian ciabatta with spicy sweet potato fries and homemade ketchup.Salad of bibb lettuce,avocado slices,paper thin slices of red onion and a sun dried tomato vinaigrette.Or this....pie adorned with broccoli,slivers of artichoke hearts and gorgonzola cheese on wheat bread.... The loving and detailed descriptions of food would keep the reader salivating.
There is also the outrageous dress sense which borders on the comic.But only Archy carry it off with aplomb amidst sarcastic digs from friends.How does a Puce berret or a Kimono with pictures of Mickey mouse fancy you?That is the Mc Nally dress sense for you.A wee bit worrying bald patch is kept hidden with an interesting collection of hats.Our hero is found soberly dressed on occasion in black pants with pleated fronts,white silk turtlenecks,Madras jacket and designer sneakers or in chinos,cord jacket and a lavender silk shirt which goes well with lavender suede loafers(no socks ,of course). Archy's speech as always is peppered with sly innuendos and underplayed humour.He constantly fights the temptation to smoke an English Oval,not exceeding three a day, the last, to round off the day with a marc.In matters where a conflict ensues between head and the heart,needless to say ,the heart wins over.And if it is a conflict between the glands and anything else,no prizes for guessing the winner.
Archy’s enemies are the baddies who land in Palm Beach Society to hoodwink or rip off the rich clients of the Mc Nally firm. Archy is not beyond the temptations of submitting an expense account which admittedly is the greatest piece of fiction or cheating on his longtime amour Consuela Garcia,social secretary to a prominent Palm Beach Socialite. But his sense of righteousness is stirred by the sight of the type of characters who snap their fingers at waiters or of crooks from afar who migrate to Palm beach with a new identity.( but retain the same initials so that they need not throw their monogrammed boxer shorts away)!
Mc Nally's Folly starts with a brief for Archy to probe into the antecedents of Ouspenskaya,the latest psychic whom the Palm Beach ladies hail as the real thing.Desdemona Darling the silver screen goddess of yesteryears is in search of a reel of film which figures her in rather compromising postures.Things get worse when she receives threats to publicise them and she seeks the help of the psychic.Archy stumbles upon the not so prominent network of temporary house help in various Palm Beach mansions.Jamie Olson ,the resident help in the Mc Nally manse is of great help inpite of his rough and less communicative demeanour.
While preparations are on for the staging of a play by the community theatre,the first dead body surfaces.....of none other than Desdemona's husband who commissions the firm.Our hero has a friend in the Police Department.Sgt.Al Rogoff whose bulky and rough deportment hides great love for Opera-a passion which ,if revealed ,would entail his expulsion from the fraternity of beer guzzling Joe six packs in the Police department.While Ouspenskaya's game is called rather easily by Archy,the murderer still lurks behind the scenes.There are surprises in the end.
Then there is a posse of endearing characters-the lovable Binky Watrous,occasional sidekick of Archy.eternally in search of employment ....In Mc Nally's Folly,Binky is on the verge of snapping up the mailroom man's job in the Mc Nally firm.Binky arouses motherly love in middle aged women like Mrs.Trelawney,secretary to Father Mc Nally.But his love life is a a constant search for the elusive mate.Meanwhile he has to survive threats from the Duchess, a rich Aunt who raised orphan Binky, of being cut out of the legacy if he fails to find profitable employment soon.Father Mc Nally is the perfect foil for the jolly and lighthearted son.Dresses traditionally ,speaks with precision,drives a lexus and is a man of impeccable and predictable tastes.He never misses out on the family cocktail hour and reads through tomes of Dickens' works late into the night .Also possesses the ability to raise a single eyebrow- something that never ceases to amaze the son.Mother Mc Nally is the picture of innocence, a member of the Palm Beach Current Affairs Society who raises begonias (and talks to them too!!) .She is revered by both father and son and kept away from the seamy underside of Society and its' affairs which the firm deals with.
The Lardo series of Mc Nally is getting better and approaching near the real thing.We are not ready yet to read Mc Nally's funeral.Hi ho Lardo...good job.Keep churning them out by the dozen.
* Mc Nally's Folly (paper back) is published by the New English Library,Hodder & Stoughton.Distributed in India IBH .Price 2.25 pounds
This Article appeared in Indian Express in Jan 1999
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