We did clearly state that the book was written by Vincent Lardo." Because Lardo is a writer in his own right, Ducksworth adds, "we thought it was appropriate to keep the two separate. "It was Larry's estate's wish to continue publishing the McNally books," says Putnam spokeswoman Marilyn Ducksworth. Efforts to reach Lardo through the publisher were unsuccessful. "The Hampton Affair" by Vincent Lardo is also listed in the current Putnam catalogue. The page devoted to the novel gives no indication that the book was written, um, created by Vincent Lardo. In the Penguin Putnam online catalogue, the book is listed along with other Sanders works. The back of the jacket lists four blurbs of praise for Sanders. The book's cover and dust jacket read as if the novel were written by Sanders. 10 on Sunday's Washington Post hardcover fiction bestseller list and No. For years, books by Lawrence Sanders have immediately jetted onto bestseller lists. Obviously, some publishers believe that a brand-name writer, such as Lawrence Sanders, on the book's cover will sell more books than a writer who is virtually unknown, such as Vincent Lardo. One could argue that death has been very, very good to some writers. "It's kind of a sticky issue around here," says one Pocket Books spokesman. A new Andrews series, "The Wildflowers," debuted in July. Andrews, though the real Virginia Andrews died in 1986. Andrew Neiderman, a Palm Springs, Calif., author, continues to scribble scribble scribble for Pocket Books as V.C. Ron Hubbard died in 1986, but folks still crank out science fiction and spy novels under Hubbard's name. Books "by Louis L'Amour" continue to pop up every year or so, though the prolific western writer died in 1988. The dead-author industry is alive and well. What Putnam has done is not unprecedented. And I was surprised that they were able to present it that way." When Lee discovered the deception, she was peeved. "The publisher and the estate of Lawrence Sanders have chosen Vincent Lardo to create this novel based on Lawrence Sanders's beloved character Archy McNally and his fictional world." That's when Lee leafed back to the front of the book and read the fine print on the copyright page: And the humor was just too damn ham-fisted. Archy McNally, the private-eye protagonist, was more chatty than in the other McNally books-including "McNally's Luck," "McNally's Puzzle" and "McNally's Secret"-she had read. It said so on the cover.īut when Lee, a serious Sanders fan, started reading the novel, something was not quite jake. Julie Lee, a secretary with a defense contractor in Rosslyn, cruised by a Crown Books store recently and picked up the bestseller "McNally's Dilemma" by Lawrence Sanders.Īt least, she thought it was by Sanders.
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