Lawrence Sanders

(1920 – 1998)

Lawrence Sanders is known for sexy mystery and suspense stories full of intrigue, blackmail, corporate greed, and insider double dealings – usually among the rich and glamorous. 

A late entry into the writing game, Sanders published his first novel in 1970 at age fifty.  The book, The Anderson Tapes, became a bestseller and earned him an Edgar Allan Poe Award for first novel from the Mystery Writers of America, launching Sanders into his career as an author.

Sanders is probably best known for his breezy series featuring detective Archy McNally, a glib detective who works among the beautiful and wealthy residents of Palm Beach.  When Sanders died in 1998, many were concerned when Sanders’ publisher and estate allowed writer Vincent Lardo to continue the popular series.  However the reviews were glowing – to the extent that many have wondered whether Lardo wasn’t helping to write the series all along. 

Sanders also wrote the grittier “Sin” series - police procedurals featuring New York cop Edward X. Delaney.  The second in the series, The First Deadly Sin, was turned into a film in 1980, with Frank Sinatra as Delaney.

Born in 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, Sanders earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wabash College in Indiana.  He held a variety of jobs, including working at Macy’s Department Store and writing and editing various men’s magazines.  During World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 1943–46.  Sanders died while living in Florida in 1998 at age 78.

Novels

Love Songs (1972)
The Case of Lucy Bending(1982)
The Passion of Molly T. (1984)
The Dream Lover (1986)
Tales of the Wolf: The Cases of Wolf Lannihan (1986) LP only
Capital Crimes (1989)
Stolen Blessings (1990)
Guilty Pleasures (1998) LP

Archy McNally Series

McNally’s Secret (1991)
McNally’s Luck (1992) **
McNally’s Risk (1993) LP, ***
McNally’s Caper (1994) LP, ***
McNally’s Trial (1995) LP, **
McNally’s Puzzle (1996) LP, **
McNally’s Gamble (1997)
McNally’s Dilemma (1999)
McNally’s Folly (2000) LP
McNally’s Chance (2001) LP, ***
McNally’s Alibi (2002) LP, ***
McNally’s Dare (2003) LP, ER, ***
McNally’s Bluff (2004) LP, ER, **, ***

Edward Delaney Series

The Anderson Tapes (1970) LP
The First Deadly Sin (1973)
The Second Deadly Sin (1977) can be requested (please ask for assistance)
The Third Deadly Sin (1981)
The Fourth Deadly Sin (1985)

Commandment Series

The Sixth Commandment (1978) can be requested (please ask for assistance)
The Tenth Commandment (1980)
The Eighth Commandment (1986)
The Seventh Commandment (1991)

Timothy Cone Series

The Timothy Files (1987) LP
Timothy’s Game (1988)
Sullivan’s Sting (1990) LP
[Also available as Three Complete Novels (1999)]

**  cassette
***  CD
LP – Large Print
ER – Electronic Resource

Revised  mcs 7/08