Enjoyable read. I couldn’t put the book down ! Loved the author’s humorous statements about the people living in the Palm Beach community . ( )

Little Maya loves her special blanket (manta) which was made by her grandmother (abuelita). Over time the manta goes through many changes until it is finally only useful as a bookmark (marcador de libros). When she loses her bookmark, Maya realizes that she can write the story down. And when she is grown with a little girl of her own, she tells that story to her. The book is written in Spanish and English.

Archy returns in a novel of Palm Beach high society and high jinks.

It has been quite a while since I've read one of the McNally books and I'd forgotten that I get a giggle and enjoy them.

This time 'round, Archy McNally is called on by Melva, an old friend. She is claiming to have murdered her husband. There is the dead body in the house and the story is she found him in disarray with another woman. He does have a reputation as a philanderer and she knows it, but this time it was in their house, so boom! The lady wants Archy to keep her stunning daughter away from the press and away from it all.

The 'child' is a stunning blue-eyed blonde of about 20 named Veronica. She is quite the temptation to Archy, but she is a friend's daughter and he is to keep her from the media circus. Meanwhile, Archy feels that there is more to this murder. That Melva didn't kill her husband, but she is covering up someone. Who? Little things keep bugging.

Archy's snappy combacks, unusual wardrobe, and ability to mingle with the Palm Beach elite keeps the pace going and the surprising revelations of family secrets coming. A light read buy with some good twists and turns! ( )

This is the 8th novel in the Archie McNally series, and -- far more important -- the first that was not written by Lawrence Sanders. This isn't immediately clear when you look at the ocver. Great big letters: "Lawrence Sanders". Little tiny letters: "Vincent Lardo". Unfortunately, it is clear when you read the book. The central character is still Archie McNally, but it's Archie McNally in slightly bolder type, a little less fey, a little less preoccupied with the niceties of food, clothing, and other ephemera. The story is actually pretty good, and a good bit of the old Sanders humor remains. Given that, I decided to proceed to Lardo's next effort. ( )