Karen Chisholm
REVIEW
The Dublin Trilogy (books 3 - 7), Caimh McDonnell
Reviewed By
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
The Dublin Trilogy by Caimh McDonnell is now made up of 9 entries, two of which are novellas. Bear with me:
In Order of Publication:
A Man with One of Those Faces
The Day That Never Comes
Angels in the Moonlight
Last Orders
Bloody Christmas (novella)
Dead Man's Sins
Firewater Blues
The Family Jewels
Escape from Victory (novella)
In chronological order according to the events in the books:
Angels in the Moonlight
Dead Man's Sins
Firewater Blues
The Family Jewels
A Man With One of Those Faces
Bloody Christmas (novella)
The Day that Never Comes
Last Orders
Escape From Victory
So, given how bloody confusing all that got, I ended up listening to them in publication order (except for the two novellas which aren't available on Audible) and spent the few opening chapters of each story working out where the hell I was in terms of the past, present and probably future events.
Which given the nature of this series felt right, proper and fair play. Some people, after all, have an appreciation for the fundamentals of the game (in joke / you'll need to read / listen to this series yourself to get it).
And listen to it is something I'd highly recommend. Particularly with the narrator that was used on all the ones I listened to - Morgan C. Jones - who had an array of voices / accents and mannerisms that instantly identified all the myriad of lunatic characters in these books, whilst adding to the fun in a big way (although there was a character buried in there somewhere that I would have sworn was Dylan Moran talking).
Anyway, the stories are based around Bunny McGarry / sometime active / sometime on sabbatical / sometime freelancing member of the Garda Síochána (Irish Police) who is part cop, part vigilante, part mentor to young folk, mostly menace to all and sundry who don't do the right thing. He's a sort of one man mission designed to bully, threaten, terrify or talk somebody intent on wrong to the right side of the tracks. And talk he most definitely can. He can also see what's happening, react and frankly, is a bit on the superhuman side of the equation - if you're of a mind to pay attention and aren't laughing too loudly.
As I listened to this entire series, the Irish accents were both a soothing influence and a worry. I did wonder if I'd end up muttering "fair play to you" just a bit too often and can confidently report that it's not taken too strong a hold, although I'm not making any promises on "some people have no appreciation for the fundamentals of....". I'm also looking at nuns in a whole new way.
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK INFORMATION
BLURB
For Detective Bunny McGarry, life is complicated, and it is about to get more so.
It’s 1999 and his hard won reputation amongst Dublin’s criminal fraternity, for being a massive pain the backside, is unfortunately shared by his bosses. His partner has a career-threatening gambling problem and, oh yeah, Bunny's finally been given a crack at the big time. He’s set the task of bringing down the most skilled and ruthless armed robbery gang in Irish history. So the last thing he needs in his life is yet another complication.
Her name is Simone. She is smart, funny, talented and, well, complicated. When her shocking past turns up to threaten her and Bunny’s chance at a future, things get very complicated indeed. If the choice is upholding the law or protecting those he loves, which way will the big fella turn?
Angels in the Moonlight is a standalone prequel to Caimh McDonnell’s critically acclaimed Dublin Trilogy, and it is complicated.
BOOK INFORMATION
BLURB
As a wise man once said, just because you're done with the past, doesn't mean the past is done with you.
Paul can't let an incident from his past go. When he finds out a rival detective agency played a key role in it, he drags MCM Investigations into a blood feud that they can't hope to win. Soon they're faced with the prospect of the company going out of business and Brigit going out of her damn mind.
When long-buried bodies are discovered in the Wicklow Mountains, Bunny's past starts closing in on him too. Who can he trust when he can't even trust himself? When he finds himself with nowhere left to run and nobody he can turn to, will the big fella make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the ones he loves?
When all that's left is the fall, the fall is everything.
And even the mighty fall.
Last Orders is the thrilling conclusion of the critically acclaimed Dublin Trilogy, which melds fast-paced action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit. It's best enjoyed having read the other books in the series, particularly the prequel Angels in the Moonlight.
BOOK INFORMATION
BLURB
How far would you go to protect a dead man?
It’s the year 2000 in Dublin and, following some traumatic events, Detective Bunny McGarry is taking a well-earned break from the force. However, just because you’re not looking for trouble doesn’t mean trouble isn’t looking for you.
Bunny’s former partner died in the line of duty under dubious circumstances but his murky background has suddenly resurfaced, threatening Bunny’s reputation as well. As if that isn’t enough, a young boy is in danger and a woman from the big fella’s past is trapped in a loveless marriage to a monster. They both need Bunny’s help, but he must get to work fast – it seems someone is trying to frame him for murder …
BOOK INFORMATION
BLURB
Be careful who you love …
It’s the year 2000 and while Bunny McGarry is theoretically on sabbatical from the police, he just can’t help sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.
Rosie Flint is an old acquaintance of Bunny’s whose boyfriend mysteriously disappears off the face of the Earth. What starts out as a simple missing person’s case soon gets a whole lot more complicated when it emerges that the boyfriend is not who he claimed to be and there are some rather sinister people showing an unhealthy interest in Rosie.
Bunny is only trying to help a friend but it’s just a matter of time before he finds himself at loggerheads with his colleagues on the force, having to reassess some events from his past and unwittingly involved in a major political coup.
He won’t be able to do this alone, so it is a good job he can call upon a certain band of kick-ass nuns to do what they do best. And he might even find a use for a twelve-year-old boy who is desperate to escape from an Irish language summer school.
Firewater Blues is the sixth book in McDonnell’s critically acclaimed bestselling and increasing inaccurately titled Dublin Trilogy. It mixes high-octane thrills with distinct Irish wit.
BOOK INFORMATION
BLURB
Bah Humbug!
It’s almost Christmas and Bunny McGarry is not in the festive spirit. His mood is not improved when an old friend becomes the victim of a violent assault and, for reasons he can’t understand, the police force he is a member of has decided not to investigate. Getting to the bottom of the case ends up putting him on the wrong side of some powerful people. How does all of this involve an Italian heiress who has disappeared? Why is the commissioner of the Gardai no longer in charge? And why is a certain teenage boy on the rampage swearing bloody vengeance?
Strap in as things are about to get seriously festive and the big fella is taking no prisoners.
Some people have no appreciation of the fundamentals of the Christmas game.
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