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Dublin Trilogy (Publication order) #4
Last Orders
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.
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.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2018
About the author
Caimh McDonnell
42 books1,433 followersIrishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on his books. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, he has taken the hop across the water and calls Manchester his home.
His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV and has earned him a BAFTA nomination. These days he can be found happily writing his next book in the office in the back garden, with only his dog and his imagination for company.
His book 'I Have Sinned' was shortlisted for the Kindle Storyteller Award 2019. Previously, his debut novel 'A Man With One of Those Faces' was nominated for best novel at the 2017 CAP awards.
His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV and has earned him a BAFTA nomination. These days he can be found happily writing his next book in the office in the back garden, with only his dog and his imagination for company.
His book 'I Have Sinned' was shortlisted for the Kindle Storyteller Award 2019. Previously, his debut novel 'A Man With One of Those Faces' was nominated for best novel at the 2017 CAP awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
July 20, 2021
"We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black…"
- Amy Winehouse
The cover made me sad. The opening pages even sadder. A rain soaked day. Mourners cower under umbrellas. Are we really bidding adieu to my favourite non-caped super hero? The larger than life, heart of gold, 6 foot 2 mass of Cork accent and old school moral compass, with a love of hurling, the St.Jude’s Under 12s hurling team and his beloved Porsche (that he crammed his large frame into).
”He lived in that space between legend, cautionary tale and bogeyman.”
No, Bunny, no. Say it isn’t so.
This book is such a fitting end to the adventures of Bunny, Brigid, Paul, Phil and Maggie. I’m gobsmacked at how damn well Caimh McDonnell tied in so many loose ends which I didn’t even realise were just that, from the prequel to this trilogy via Angels In The Moonlight. Where we were first introduced to this hulking fecker with the heart of gold.
It’s interesting to ponder on time and where you were many years ago. Eighteen to be exact. Do you remember where you were? I’d say the details would be a little fuzzy, even if you could pinpoint some stuff. And would you even begin to imagine that something that you did way-back-when would have such huge implications now.
The raucous clever humour continues. It is often irreverent, and I can’t say enough how much I love that. The ridiculous, over the top situations continue. Will Brigid and Paul finally get together? Where will the silly revenge pranks with the Kellehers end? Will Phil stop playing Celine Dion? Are MCM Investigations being taken to the cleaners? Why does Maggie have a tab at Phelan’s pub? Only in Bunny world. And what a world that is. But the wit is tinged with so much sadness as Bunny slowly unravels due to the events mentioned above. It’s painful to watch.
”The man pointed a gun at Bunny’s head.
A final shot rang out.”
No, Bunny, no. Say it isn’t so.
It’s only a very clever writer with an eye for detail, that can keep the momentum going across a series, and to pull it all together so succinctly. Slaintѐ, Ciamh McDonnell, you clever, clever writer.
I’d imagine you could pick this up as a standalone book, but my suggestion would be to read the prequel (Angels In the Moonlight) and Books 1 & 2 (A Man With One of Those Faces and The Day That Never Comes respectively). Not only are they all FABLISS reads, it simply makes sense. There’s so much in these earlier stories that have such an impact on this one.
Book 3 of the Dublin trilogy, tick. Or Book 4 if you’re a lover of irony. Which I am. Speaking of, I loves you Bunny. I will miss you. The world has suddenly gotten a lot smaller.
Bernard “Bunny” McGarry, see you on the other side.
5 stars, undoubtedly 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰
Please check out Bill's review. The other member of the Bunny McGarry fan club.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And remember…
”Destiny was a speeding train, not a taxi - you either caught or you missed it.”
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black…"
- Amy Winehouse
The cover made me sad. The opening pages even sadder. A rain soaked day. Mourners cower under umbrellas. Are we really bidding adieu to my favourite non-caped super hero? The larger than life, heart of gold, 6 foot 2 mass of Cork accent and old school moral compass, with a love of hurling, the St.Jude’s Under 12s hurling team and his beloved Porsche (that he crammed his large frame into).
”He lived in that space between legend, cautionary tale and bogeyman.”
No, Bunny, no. Say it isn’t so.
This book is such a fitting end to the adventures of Bunny, Brigid, Paul, Phil and Maggie. I’m gobsmacked at how damn well Caimh McDonnell tied in so many loose ends which I didn’t even realise were just that, from the prequel to this trilogy via Angels In The Moonlight. Where we were first introduced to this hulking fecker with the heart of gold.
It’s interesting to ponder on time and where you were many years ago. Eighteen to be exact. Do you remember where you were? I’d say the details would be a little fuzzy, even if you could pinpoint some stuff. And would you even begin to imagine that something that you did way-back-when would have such huge implications now.
The raucous clever humour continues. It is often irreverent, and I can’t say enough how much I love that. The ridiculous, over the top situations continue. Will Brigid and Paul finally get together? Where will the silly revenge pranks with the Kellehers end? Will Phil stop playing Celine Dion? Are MCM Investigations being taken to the cleaners? Why does Maggie have a tab at Phelan’s pub? Only in Bunny world. And what a world that is. But the wit is tinged with so much sadness as Bunny slowly unravels due to the events mentioned above. It’s painful to watch.
”The man pointed a gun at Bunny’s head.
A final shot rang out.”
No, Bunny, no. Say it isn’t so.
It’s only a very clever writer with an eye for detail, that can keep the momentum going across a series, and to pull it all together so succinctly. Slaintѐ, Ciamh McDonnell, you clever, clever writer.
I’d imagine you could pick this up as a standalone book, but my suggestion would be to read the prequel (Angels In the Moonlight) and Books 1 & 2 (A Man With One of Those Faces and The Day That Never Comes respectively). Not only are they all FABLISS reads, it simply makes sense. There’s so much in these earlier stories that have such an impact on this one.
Book 3 of the Dublin trilogy, tick. Or Book 4 if you’re a lover of irony. Which I am. Speaking of, I loves you Bunny. I will miss you. The world has suddenly gotten a lot smaller.
Bernard “Bunny” McGarry, see you on the other side.
5 stars, undoubtedly 🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰
Please check out Bill's review. The other member of the Bunny McGarry fan club.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And remember…
”Destiny was a speeding train, not a taxi - you either caught or you missed it.”
November 14, 2022
Last Orders is the final book in the Dublin Trilogy and this is definitely a series best read in order.
I like outlandish humor in small doses. I wouldn’t want to read these books back to back, in other words. But if it’s humor you’re after, this is a great series.
This time around, Paul has started a feud with a rival detective agency and things are getting out of hand. And when two long dead bodies are found in the Wicklow Mountains, Bunny’s past comes back to literally haunt him. Other than that, the plot is too bonkers to reiterate.
As always, McDonnell’s characters are fully formed (if somewhat crazed), right down to the two year old human Tasmanian Devil. The new character, FBI agent, Alana Dove, fits right in.
Entertaining in the extreme. Save this for when you need something truly batsh** crazy. If I had been reading this (vs listening) I would have been highlighting all the dialog that was spot on. What surprised me is that as the book goes on, it actually becomes poignant. It deals with what one person is willing to do for others.
Morgan C. Jones is the perfect narrator for this series.
I like outlandish humor in small doses. I wouldn’t want to read these books back to back, in other words. But if it’s humor you’re after, this is a great series.
This time around, Paul has started a feud with a rival detective agency and things are getting out of hand. And when two long dead bodies are found in the Wicklow Mountains, Bunny’s past comes back to literally haunt him. Other than that, the plot is too bonkers to reiterate.
As always, McDonnell’s characters are fully formed (if somewhat crazed), right down to the two year old human Tasmanian Devil. The new character, FBI agent, Alana Dove, fits right in.
Entertaining in the extreme. Save this for when you need something truly batsh** crazy. If I had been reading this (vs listening) I would have been highlighting all the dialog that was spot on. What surprised me is that as the book goes on, it actually becomes poignant. It deals with what one person is willing to do for others.
Morgan C. Jones is the perfect narrator for this series.
March 4, 2018
And so it ends. If I could I’d insert a picture of me having a tantrum that would leave any self respecting 2 year old in awe. On second thought that might be too scary. But I digress…
This is the one fans of the Dublin Trilogy have been waiting for & it doesn’t disappoint. We’ve followed Paul, Brigit & Bunny through murders & mayhem that made us cringe & laugh in equal measure. As this one begins, their private investigation firm MCM is barely solvent. Brigit seems to be the only one showing up for work these days & is royally done with stalking cheating spouses.
Paul is engaged in prank warfare with a rival firm run by the Kelleher brothers who are responsible for his breakup with Brigit. And Bunny…well, Bunny is mostly AWOL. He’s spending a lot of time with 2 men who were with him at a particular incident about 20 years ago. Which would be fine if they were alive. Unfortunately they’re figments & Bunny is getting more than a few looks as he’s seen arguing with himself around town. Could it be the feared & infamous ex-copper is finally losing the plot?
It seems to have started about the time DSI Susan Burns & sidekick Det. Donnacha Wilson were called to a remote area outside of Dublin. New construction unearthed human remains. The bodies are old with nothing to identify them. When the coroner deems them at least 20 years old, all Susan can do is turn to forensic testing. And boy, does she get results. Before she knows it FBI Agent Alana Dove is on her doorstep, demanding to be part of the investigation.
Meanwhile Brigit gets news the firm is being sued & there’s a better than average chance they’ll lose it all to the Kellehers. No more about that. The ensuing game of spy vs spy between the 2 groups adds tension mixed with insanity that may have led to some unladylike snorts on my part.
But the heart of the story belongs to Bunny. Dear, hurley-weilding (& arguably sociopathic) Bunny. After the first 2 books of the trilogy the author released “Angels in the Moonlight”, a companion book that gave us the details of Bunny’s past. It’s a fantastic read that made me look at the big guy in a completely different way as I began to understand how he became this solitary man with an oddly honourable code of ethics. That past has come back to haunt him. He’s done some dodgy things & you get the feeling he’s finally going to pay.
As usual, the characters are colourful & so well described you feel like you would recognize them on the street. One standout is Susan Burns. She’s a whip smart cop with a sharp mind & sharper tongue & I enjoyed her scenes immensely. Dialogue is sharp, witty & full of vernacular that gives you plenty of laughs to break the building tension as all the story lines begin to converge. There’s a big finale ahead & no doubt that things at MCM will never be the same.
This series has been such a pleasure to read. The books are smart, well paced & endlessly entertaining & I highly recommend reading them in order of publication. There are hints some of the characters may pop up in future projects so….tick tick, Mr. McDonnell. No time like the present. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a tantrum to finish.
4.5 stars
This is the one fans of the Dublin Trilogy have been waiting for & it doesn’t disappoint. We’ve followed Paul, Brigit & Bunny through murders & mayhem that made us cringe & laugh in equal measure. As this one begins, their private investigation firm MCM is barely solvent. Brigit seems to be the only one showing up for work these days & is royally done with stalking cheating spouses.
Paul is engaged in prank warfare with a rival firm run by the Kelleher brothers who are responsible for his breakup with Brigit. And Bunny…well, Bunny is mostly AWOL. He’s spending a lot of time with 2 men who were with him at a particular incident about 20 years ago. Which would be fine if they were alive. Unfortunately they’re figments & Bunny is getting more than a few looks as he’s seen arguing with himself around town. Could it be the feared & infamous ex-copper is finally losing the plot?
It seems to have started about the time DSI Susan Burns & sidekick Det. Donnacha Wilson were called to a remote area outside of Dublin. New construction unearthed human remains. The bodies are old with nothing to identify them. When the coroner deems them at least 20 years old, all Susan can do is turn to forensic testing. And boy, does she get results. Before she knows it FBI Agent Alana Dove is on her doorstep, demanding to be part of the investigation.
Meanwhile Brigit gets news the firm is being sued & there’s a better than average chance they’ll lose it all to the Kellehers. No more about that. The ensuing game of spy vs spy between the 2 groups adds tension mixed with insanity that may have led to some unladylike snorts on my part.
But the heart of the story belongs to Bunny. Dear, hurley-weilding (& arguably sociopathic) Bunny. After the first 2 books of the trilogy the author released “Angels in the Moonlight”, a companion book that gave us the details of Bunny’s past. It’s a fantastic read that made me look at the big guy in a completely different way as I began to understand how he became this solitary man with an oddly honourable code of ethics. That past has come back to haunt him. He’s done some dodgy things & you get the feeling he’s finally going to pay.
As usual, the characters are colourful & so well described you feel like you would recognize them on the street. One standout is Susan Burns. She’s a whip smart cop with a sharp mind & sharper tongue & I enjoyed her scenes immensely. Dialogue is sharp, witty & full of vernacular that gives you plenty of laughs to break the building tension as all the story lines begin to converge. There’s a big finale ahead & no doubt that things at MCM will never be the same.
This series has been such a pleasure to read. The books are smart, well paced & endlessly entertaining & I highly recommend reading them in order of publication. There are hints some of the characters may pop up in future projects so….tick tick, Mr. McDonnell. No time like the present. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a tantrum to finish.
4.5 stars
April 9, 2018
Book Reviewed by Abby on www.whisperingstories.com
Here it is. The last book of Caimh McDonnell’s ‘Dublin Trilogy’ (although this is technically book four!).
What a trilogy it has been. Non-spoiler alert: if you’ve not read the first three novels – ‘A Man With One Of Those Faces‘, ‘The Day That Never Comes‘ and ‘Angels In The Moonlight‘ – I strongly urge you do first. While not technically a prerequisite for reading Last Orders, I would recommend: 1) because the writing and story throughout is hilarious, original and captivating, and 2) because it will make the prologue much more shocking.
From the cover alone, it’s another non-spoiler alert that we begin with Bunny McGarry’s funeral. The inimitable Bunny. One of the best anti-heroes I have ever had the pleasure of reading. For me, it’s Bunny who has particularly kept me coming back to the Dublin Trilogy. He’s at once predictable and shocking. Tragic and comic. Caring and intimidating. So to begin with his funeral in the prologue was a gut-wrenching moment: “Alongside the coffin, which was draped in a jersey with a hurley lying across it, a massive wreath of flowers spelt out his name. Bunny.”
After reading the previous three stories, it’s not a complete surprise that we begin here. After all the adventures and misadventures we’ve followed Bunny on, the fact that his actions have resulted in his death is in many ways inevitable.
And for those who have not (yet!) read the previous novels, when you begin to read Last Orders and learn about Bunny’s past catching up with him, it’s not a shock either…
Enough about Bunny (for now) – what about Paul, Brigit, Phil and Maggie the dog? Chapter One and we catch up with the gang in the midst of a private detective agency war, 22 days before the funeral. Their MCM Investigations are in a bitter battle of one-upmanship against the Kelleher brothers, who, as it transpires, were the ones behind Paul’s stag do gone wrong, resulting in the end of his relationship with Brigit.
Back with Bunny, and he’s as certain as we are that his days are numbered. Why? He’s hallucinating, seeing and hearing visions of a man who claims he was killed by Bunny eighteen years ago. A man whose body has just been discovered by the Gardai: “And just because I’m not real, it doesn’t mean I’m not a problem”. He’s also seeing Gringo, his Gardai partner who was killed, funnily enough, eighteen years ago too. Although, when you consider how Bunny was tortured in The Day That Never Comes and the events of the prequel Angels In The Moonlight, the hallucinations are not so surprising, a symptom of post-traumatic stress to highlight just be his past suddenly catching up on him.
Instead of the tough, often inebriated, thuggish Bunny we’re used to, we’re seeing his sentimental side – although the inebriation and thuggish attitude are still generally present and unpleasant. He ensures that, if anything happens to him, his beloved St Jude’s hurling team will be OK. He helps Paul and Brigit see beyond their stubborn attitudes towards each other and realise they are still clearly in love. And when Paul and Brigit start to solve their problems and move their focus onto helping Bunny, could it be too little too late?
The beauty of McDonnell’s plots throughout the Dublin Trilogy is that they are never what they seem. Last Orders is no exception. From Maggie the dog’s timely flatulence to elaborate honey traps, the MCM Investigation team’s actions are constantly funny, providing a well-needed antidote to Bunny’s internal struggles. With an ending promising suspense, cunning and wit, Last Orders is the perfect ending to McDonnell’s trilogy. Here’s hoping that we’ll be seeing some of our favourite investigation team again soon…
Here it is. The last book of Caimh McDonnell’s ‘Dublin Trilogy’ (although this is technically book four!).
What a trilogy it has been. Non-spoiler alert: if you’ve not read the first three novels – ‘A Man With One Of Those Faces‘, ‘The Day That Never Comes‘ and ‘Angels In The Moonlight‘ – I strongly urge you do first. While not technically a prerequisite for reading Last Orders, I would recommend: 1) because the writing and story throughout is hilarious, original and captivating, and 2) because it will make the prologue much more shocking.
From the cover alone, it’s another non-spoiler alert that we begin with Bunny McGarry’s funeral. The inimitable Bunny. One of the best anti-heroes I have ever had the pleasure of reading. For me, it’s Bunny who has particularly kept me coming back to the Dublin Trilogy. He’s at once predictable and shocking. Tragic and comic. Caring and intimidating. So to begin with his funeral in the prologue was a gut-wrenching moment: “Alongside the coffin, which was draped in a jersey with a hurley lying across it, a massive wreath of flowers spelt out his name. Bunny.”
After reading the previous three stories, it’s not a complete surprise that we begin here. After all the adventures and misadventures we’ve followed Bunny on, the fact that his actions have resulted in his death is in many ways inevitable.
And for those who have not (yet!) read the previous novels, when you begin to read Last Orders and learn about Bunny’s past catching up with him, it’s not a shock either…
Enough about Bunny (for now) – what about Paul, Brigit, Phil and Maggie the dog? Chapter One and we catch up with the gang in the midst of a private detective agency war, 22 days before the funeral. Their MCM Investigations are in a bitter battle of one-upmanship against the Kelleher brothers, who, as it transpires, were the ones behind Paul’s stag do gone wrong, resulting in the end of his relationship with Brigit.
Back with Bunny, and he’s as certain as we are that his days are numbered. Why? He’s hallucinating, seeing and hearing visions of a man who claims he was killed by Bunny eighteen years ago. A man whose body has just been discovered by the Gardai: “And just because I’m not real, it doesn’t mean I’m not a problem”. He’s also seeing Gringo, his Gardai partner who was killed, funnily enough, eighteen years ago too. Although, when you consider how Bunny was tortured in The Day That Never Comes and the events of the prequel Angels In The Moonlight, the hallucinations are not so surprising, a symptom of post-traumatic stress to highlight just be his past suddenly catching up on him.
Instead of the tough, often inebriated, thuggish Bunny we’re used to, we’re seeing his sentimental side – although the inebriation and thuggish attitude are still generally present and unpleasant. He ensures that, if anything happens to him, his beloved St Jude’s hurling team will be OK. He helps Paul and Brigit see beyond their stubborn attitudes towards each other and realise they are still clearly in love. And when Paul and Brigit start to solve their problems and move their focus onto helping Bunny, could it be too little too late?
The beauty of McDonnell’s plots throughout the Dublin Trilogy is that they are never what they seem. Last Orders is no exception. From Maggie the dog’s timely flatulence to elaborate honey traps, the MCM Investigation team’s actions are constantly funny, providing a well-needed antidote to Bunny’s internal struggles. With an ending promising suspense, cunning and wit, Last Orders is the perfect ending to McDonnell’s trilogy. Here’s hoping that we’ll be seeing some of our favourite investigation team again soon…
July 25, 2018
I have really enjoyed reading this series, and I honestly am sad that this is the final book of the trilogy. Yeah, yeah, there’s that prequel. So out with “trilogy” and in with “series.” This is the fourth book in the series, and I loved it. All the things that made the previous books so enjoyable are present in this book: characters who are now my friends, great storyline, and humor.
The first chapter devastated me. I read the rest of the book waiting for an explanation. MCM Investigations is being sued, and things are not looking good legally. Brigit, Paul and Phil try desperately to save their business. Bunny, however, seems to have lost his sanity. He’s seeing ghosts and talking to them. There are some chapters that veer off into the ridiculous, but I just can’t take any stars away for that. By the end, this book wraps up the events of the previous books, including that prequel.
But wait, what’s that I see after the Acknowledgements? “Coming in September 2018” “Disaster Inc” Yes! Another book! I can’t find anything at Goodreads or Amazon or at Caimh McDonnell’s website about this book, but it is mentioned on his Facebook page. I’m not sad now!
The first chapter devastated me. I read the rest of the book waiting for an explanation. MCM Investigations is being sued, and things are not looking good legally. Brigit, Paul and Phil try desperately to save their business. Bunny, however, seems to have lost his sanity. He’s seeing ghosts and talking to them. There are some chapters that veer off into the ridiculous, but I just can’t take any stars away for that. By the end, this book wraps up the events of the previous books, including that prequel.
But wait, what’s that I see after the Acknowledgements? “Coming in September 2018” “Disaster Inc” Yes! Another book! I can’t find anything at Goodreads or Amazon or at Caimh McDonnell’s website about this book, but it is mentioned on his Facebook page. I’m not sad now!
April 9, 2024
2.5
For me this was the weakest book of the entire series. There were hardly any laughs except towards the very end. There was way too much soul searching and all the characters got on my nerves. Yes, even Bunny with his endless talking to dead people.
The end saved the book for me. I still love Bunny and will cheerfully move on to Bunny Stateside after I've read the two MCM Investigations books.
For me this was the weakest book of the entire series. There were hardly any laughs except towards the very end. There was way too much soul searching and all the characters got on my nerves. Yes, even Bunny with his endless talking to dead people.
The end saved the book for me. I still love Bunny and will cheerfully move on to Bunny Stateside after I've read the two MCM Investigations books.
April 26, 2024
The book begins with Bunny's funeral and then flashes back to the events that lead to his death. Like in the other books in the series, we have 2 stories running in parallel, one with Bunny and the other with Paul and Brigit. Paul is involved in childish revenge plans against a rival security agency, while Brigit is trying to stop it escalating. The final comeback from the MCM was too clever. Meanwhile Bunny's over-enthusiastic vigilante sense while following a philandering husband, lands the MCM investigators in a legal soup. And he is haunted by a 18 yr old murder that is personal to him. This track was a bit sad.
I enjoyed this a lot, like all other McDonnell books. It is difficult to keep a straight face while reading this.
Ending is open to make sure we read the next one. Reading 1 and 2 is not required, but you have to read the prequel.
I enjoyed this a lot, like all other McDonnell books. It is difficult to keep a straight face while reading this.
Ending is open to make sure we read the next one. Reading 1 and 2 is not required, but you have to read the prequel.
March 6, 2018
Even though my stock of compliments has already been exhausted in praising the Dublin Trilogy books so far, unfortunately Caimh McDonnell has come up with another winner in Last Orders.
All I need to say is I loved it and everyone who reads it will too.
The PI agency continues but business is bad, mostly due to the distraction of a turf war with a rival agency. Paul and Brigit are at odds, and Bunny hasn’t completely recovered from his exploits in the previous book. (they need to be read in sequence, despite the very useful aides memoires provided). A series of coincidences provides an opportunity to finalise events of twenty years previous.
Caimh McDonnell skilfully re-introduces his characters, and it feels like catching up with friends you haven’t seen for a while (Maggie the German Shepherd still playing an important part.)
Last Orders feels as fresh as A Man with One of Those Faces and the slapstick and Dublin repartee continues to entertain as much as ever. Brexit is The Brexit for me from now on even if Andrew Marr might not get it.
As a bonus, D I Jimmy Stewart, whose loss I mourned in the review of A Man with One of those Faces, made a much appreciated if fleeting appearance.
I remain content in the prospect of more to come from Mr McDonnell.
All I need to say is I loved it and everyone who reads it will too.
The PI agency continues but business is bad, mostly due to the distraction of a turf war with a rival agency. Paul and Brigit are at odds, and Bunny hasn’t completely recovered from his exploits in the previous book. (they need to be read in sequence, despite the very useful aides memoires provided). A series of coincidences provides an opportunity to finalise events of twenty years previous.
Caimh McDonnell skilfully re-introduces his characters, and it feels like catching up with friends you haven’t seen for a while (Maggie the German Shepherd still playing an important part.)
Last Orders feels as fresh as A Man with One of Those Faces and the slapstick and Dublin repartee continues to entertain as much as ever. Brexit is The Brexit for me from now on even if Andrew Marr might not get it.
As a bonus, D I Jimmy Stewart, whose loss I mourned in the review of A Man with One of those Faces, made a much appreciated if fleeting appearance.
I remain content in the prospect of more to come from Mr McDonnell.
April 24, 2022
In this last installment the flawed, main character, Bunny found himself in deeper trouble than ever before. There were some good twists along the way and the story line kept me on the edge of my seat until the unpredictable ending.
June 30, 2019
Last Orders is the third book in the Dublin trilogy, plus prequel, and marries both together, with the events of the prequel catching up with Bunny McGarry and effecting the fate of MCM Investigations, which is already hanging in the balance due to a feud with another company. McDonnell runs the tale as two strands – the investigation into the deaths of two men found buried in the Wicklow Mountains, and Paul and Bridget’s war with the Kelleher brothers – that become entwined through Bunny administering a dose of rough justice to a cheating gigolo. It should have been great fun, but the story felt too staged and contrived, moving from one set-piece to another, the humour a little flat with few laugh-out-loud moments, and the denouement was pretty much signalled from the start. The characters are somewhat pale shadows of themselves – Bunny is missing some verve, Paul seems to have become someone else – and the bionic FBI agent Alana Dove is straight from the ‘larger-than-life and completely unbelievable’ casting couch. Comic crime capers often suffer from stagey-ness and oddball characters, but in the best of them – as with earlier books in this series – they are inherent or incidental to the story rather than being its crux. While the story has its moments, for me it’s the weakest of the books so far.
March 7, 2018
I've read a lot of series and trilogies in my time, and there's something I've noticed. The last book has an awful lot of work to do. It's got to wrap up every loose end of the previous installments of the series, while giving it all a meaningful ending with enough pace and drama to keep you going. Not every finale manages this, and succumbs to the dreaded Curse of the Last Book.
I was terrified when I finally started reading this book. The other three in the series were a complete joy to read. Full of life and amazing, hilarious characters (Bunny), and I didn't want anything to tarnish them the way a Cursed ending might, especially knowing how much there was to tie up from the prequel. I wanted everything to go well. Happy endings for all. Bunny on every page. No curse.
Thankfully, the writer of this series knew what he was doing. Not only does this book escape the dreaded curse, it might as well flip it off, too. I enjoyed every page of it. With the old mysteries literally rising from the grave to come back and haunt the Dublin gang, there's no time for any of them to get into the Christmas spirit. Instead, things take off running and never stop. I, once again, lost an entire day to reading it, wondering why it ever had to end.
This has been a joy of a series and I hope against hope that there's still more to come.
Bunny Forever.
I was terrified when I finally started reading this book. The other three in the series were a complete joy to read. Full of life and amazing, hilarious characters (Bunny), and I didn't want anything to tarnish them the way a Cursed ending might, especially knowing how much there was to tie up from the prequel. I wanted everything to go well. Happy endings for all. Bunny on every page. No curse.
Thankfully, the writer of this series knew what he was doing. Not only does this book escape the dreaded curse, it might as well flip it off, too. I enjoyed every page of it. With the old mysteries literally rising from the grave to come back and haunt the Dublin gang, there's no time for any of them to get into the Christmas spirit. Instead, things take off running and never stop. I, once again, lost an entire day to reading it, wondering why it ever had to end.
This has been a joy of a series and I hope against hope that there's still more to come.
Bunny Forever.
November 30, 2019
And so the trilogy of four (one was a prequel, so there!) comes to an end.
Bunny dies...
Um, what, I should have called spoiler?
What the FECK did you think "Bunny McGarry RIP" on the cover meant, ye gobshite?!
I have to tell you my opinion is you should read these books in order - by now you will have a great appreciation for the characters and all the previous events mentioned in this story. And, while it is always difficult to keep up the great standards of a popular series, there is something about this one which felt very different from the rest:
There was this underlying sadness of watching Bunny unravel before your eyes. The book begins with his funeral and then flashes back to the events which led to it.
While I was constantly laughing throughout, I think there will be those who will criticize it for the emotion it evoked. For me, this was nearly a perfect ending to this series.
So, what can you expect?
Well, Paul and Brigit are not really back together, although they should be. Phil is close to becoming a father and it is freaking him the hell out (Yip, know THAT feeling well!). Maggie is still...well, difficult to explain, really:
What do you call something dangerous, unpredictable and in an eternal battle with halitosis and flatulence?
Of course, there is also DS Susan Burns and Detective Donnacha Wilson, but they will be joined by FBI Special Agent Alana Dove - who has only one human arm and her face is, um, I don't think I'm at liberty to say, actually.
And then there is Nora, whose two year old son is the Devil, especially after trying to flush The Rabbit (not the animal).
And, to bring everything together, Bunny is losing his mind. Maybe.
He will find out that you can't outrun your past, even if your mistakes may have been for the best possible reasons.
So, the detective agency is being sued because Bunny ------- -------- --- a -------, since Paul was too busy ------- ------- for --- ---------- nearly ------- --- ----, Brigit is having a hard time moving -- ---- ------- ---, Phil is ----- -------- and ------ --, Maggie will ---- ------- --- ----- ---, Burns can't get away from ----- --- --- ----------- on a ------ of a ---- ---, Wilson will be forced to --- --- -- --- ------ --- when --- --- ----- ----- -- -- him.
I hope that explains everything in detail.
You should still read the book, though.
Bunny dies...
Um, what, I should have called spoiler?
What the FECK did you think "Bunny McGarry RIP" on the cover meant, ye gobshite?!
I have to tell you my opinion is you should read these books in order - by now you will have a great appreciation for the characters and all the previous events mentioned in this story. And, while it is always difficult to keep up the great standards of a popular series, there is something about this one which felt very different from the rest:
There was this underlying sadness of watching Bunny unravel before your eyes. The book begins with his funeral and then flashes back to the events which led to it.
While I was constantly laughing throughout, I think there will be those who will criticize it for the emotion it evoked. For me, this was nearly a perfect ending to this series.
So, what can you expect?
Well, Paul and Brigit are not really back together, although they should be. Phil is close to becoming a father and it is freaking him the hell out (Yip, know THAT feeling well!). Maggie is still...well, difficult to explain, really:
What do you call something dangerous, unpredictable and in an eternal battle with halitosis and flatulence?
Of course, there is also DS Susan Burns and Detective Donnacha Wilson, but they will be joined by FBI Special Agent Alana Dove - who has only one human arm and her face is, um, I don't think I'm at liberty to say, actually.
And then there is Nora, whose two year old son is the Devil, especially after trying to flush The Rabbit (not the animal).
And, to bring everything together, Bunny is losing his mind. Maybe.
He will find out that you can't outrun your past, even if your mistakes may have been for the best possible reasons.
So, the detective agency is being sued because Bunny ------- -------- --- a -------, since Paul was too busy ------- ------- for --- ---------- nearly ------- --- ----, Brigit is having a hard time moving -- ---- ------- ---, Phil is ----- -------- and ------ --, Maggie will ---- ------- --- ----- ---, Burns can't get away from ----- --- --- ----------- on a ------ of a ---- ---, Wilson will be forced to --- --- -- --- ------ --- when --- --- ----- ----- -- -- him.
I hope that explains everything in detail.
You should still read the book, though.
December 17, 2019
This final installation of the trilogy (plus prequel -- read Angels in the Moonlight before this one) opens at Bunny McGarry's funeral, then jumps back a month.
Paul has let a grudge against a rival private investigation company get way out of control. Bunny is even more out of control than usual as events from his past come back to haunt him. And Brigit is desperately trying to hold the company together on her own with a lawsuit threatening to destroy everything they've worked so hard to build. How will all this culminate in Bunny's death?
Detective Donnacha "Chucker" Wilson, a rookie Garda who was also in the first two installments, really gets a chance to shine this time, as he's tasked with accompanying a terrifying FBI agent sent to investigate the disappearance of another agent 20 years before. (This is why you really need to read Angels first.)
I loved this entire series and would read it again.
Paul has let a grudge against a rival private investigation company get way out of control. Bunny is even more out of control than usual as events from his past come back to haunt him. And Brigit is desperately trying to hold the company together on her own with a lawsuit threatening to destroy everything they've worked so hard to build. How will all this culminate in Bunny's death?
Detective Donnacha "Chucker" Wilson, a rookie Garda who was also in the first two installments, really gets a chance to shine this time, as he's tasked with accompanying a terrifying FBI agent sent to investigate the disappearance of another agent 20 years before. (This is why you really need to read Angels first.)
I loved this entire series and would read it again.
November 23, 2023
Onto the final part in the trilogy.
Classic banter from the get-go, a joy to read after a flat coupla books of late.
Set in Dublin, we have the gang back together as part of a detective agency, all highly troubled in their own way but all the same endearing to this reader.
It’s lively, full of humour, grand characters, has you chuckling from the get-go even during some of the darker moments.
Can’t recommend this trilogy (now series) high enough, 5 Stars all the way
Classic banter from the get-go, a joy to read after a flat coupla books of late.
Set in Dublin, we have the gang back together as part of a detective agency, all highly troubled in their own way but all the same endearing to this reader.
It’s lively, full of humour, grand characters, has you chuckling from the get-go even during some of the darker moments.
Can’t recommend this trilogy (now series) high enough, 5 Stars all the way
Read
September 25, 2018Can't really award stars since I skimmed this book trying to pick up on the Dublin deluge of bad language and misfits to get the drift of how Bunny ended up sailing into New York without a passport.
I really enjoyed Disaster Inc - once Bunny hits New York.
I went back to Dublin Trilogy to see why I did not like it and there were justifiable reasons I had abandoned a book or two. Skim reading gave me enough info and time will tell if I like further adventures of Bunny.
I really enjoyed Disaster Inc - once Bunny hits New York.
I went back to Dublin Trilogy to see why I did not like it and there were justifiable reasons I had abandoned a book or two. Skim reading gave me enough info and time will tell if I like further adventures of Bunny.
February 16, 2019
One of the commonalities among the reviews of Last Orders, the conclusion of the Dublin Trilogy, is the sentiment that the core cast of characters had become the readers’ friends. This phenomenon has happened to me as well, typically with well written series in which the author has somehow made them memorable and unique. Witness the detectives of the 87th Precinct series, or Harry Hole from the capable mind of Jo Nesbo, or well, you get the point. If you read this series in order, and you really should, you will likely become enamored of Bunny McGarry, Bridget, Paul and his dyspeptic German Shepherd, Maggie, and eventual sidekick, Phil.
As for plot, this was a good one, though slightly inferior to that of the prequel‘s. Nevertheless, the story moves along at a good clip and though it seems more loosely woven than before, McDonnell does a fine job of leading the reader through a maze of tension, laughter, and a touch of sadness before he’s through.
Without giving too much away, the reader will be led down several paths, only one of which will get us to the conclusion that you might have hoped for but couldn’t see coming. Just when I felt let down, McDonnell served up a great big dose of “saints be praised, I found a way to redeem meself” and all was right in Dublin once again. There are two more or less parallel subplots that weave back and forth, with Bunny’s storyline considerably the darker of the two.
Brigit and Paul struggle to restart their relationship notwithstanding the obvious destiny they share. Phil actually takes on more of a meaningful role despite clearly playing a comic relief character. The boss copper, DI Burns, is one tough cookie, but it’s Det. Wilson (he of the tossing his cookies all over her shoes fame) who steals the scenes in which they’re featured.
The bad guys in this story are more shadowy and less clearly defined than in the previous books. Well, except for the Kellehers, who operate a competing investigative firm to that run by Brigit, et. al. They’re quite clearly delineated and easy to hate. But in a good way.
So it ends, a very enjoyable little foursome of books, with the promise of more entertainment from this rather talented author. I’m glad to have found him and look forward to more from him. In the meantime, I’ll just pour meself a wee dram of Jameson, settle and reflect on how often the word “gobshite” appears in these four books and even more importantly, how it made me laugh as often as it did.
As for plot, this was a good one, though slightly inferior to that of the prequel‘s. Nevertheless, the story moves along at a good clip and though it seems more loosely woven than before, McDonnell does a fine job of leading the reader through a maze of tension, laughter, and a touch of sadness before he’s through.
Without giving too much away, the reader will be led down several paths, only one of which will get us to the conclusion that you might have hoped for but couldn’t see coming. Just when I felt let down, McDonnell served up a great big dose of “saints be praised, I found a way to redeem meself” and all was right in Dublin once again. There are two more or less parallel subplots that weave back and forth, with Bunny’s storyline considerably the darker of the two.
Brigit and Paul struggle to restart their relationship notwithstanding the obvious destiny they share. Phil actually takes on more of a meaningful role despite clearly playing a comic relief character. The boss copper, DI Burns, is one tough cookie, but it’s Det. Wilson (he of the tossing his cookies all over her shoes fame) who steals the scenes in which they’re featured.
The bad guys in this story are more shadowy and less clearly defined than in the previous books. Well, except for the Kellehers, who operate a competing investigative firm to that run by Brigit, et. al. They’re quite clearly delineated and easy to hate. But in a good way.
So it ends, a very enjoyable little foursome of books, with the promise of more entertainment from this rather talented author. I’m glad to have found him and look forward to more from him. In the meantime, I’ll just pour meself a wee dram of Jameson, settle and reflect on how often the word “gobshite” appears in these four books and even more importantly, how it made me laugh as often as it did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2021
Buddy read with my intrepid reading buddy Nat K.
Last Orders is the fifth book in Caim McDonnell's The Dublin Trilogy, if you count Angels In The Moonlight and Bloody Christmas. I've read them all except Bloody Christmas, and I plan to read that sometime.
In Last Orders, ghosts from the past haunt Bunny McGarry. Or, more specifically, ghosts from Angels In The Moonlight. Paul has once again fouled up his relationship with Brigit, and the fate of MCM Investigations hangs in the balance.
Anyone who has read the series up to this point knows what to expect. Madcap adventures, hilarity, and a fun adventure. Caimh's rapier's wit is honed to perfection in Last Orders. There are a lot of laughs in these pages. Agent Dove's scenes in particular had me howling.
It's always bittersweet to finish a series, and this one in particular. I've had a lot of fun reading these books with Nat, and Carol joined us for The Day That Never Comes. Good memories. This is a special series I highly recommend to all adult readers.
I am planning on reading the McGarry Stateside series. Hopefully Nat does not fire me for being a delinquent buddy reader. I got hooked on the Teixcalaan books in the middle of reading this, and then I remembered the new Murderbot book... That's no reflection on this five star book though. Read this series as soon as you can!
Last Orders is the fifth book in Caim McDonnell's The Dublin Trilogy, if you count Angels In The Moonlight and Bloody Christmas. I've read them all except Bloody Christmas, and I plan to read that sometime.
In Last Orders, ghosts from the past haunt Bunny McGarry. Or, more specifically, ghosts from Angels In The Moonlight. Paul has once again fouled up his relationship with Brigit, and the fate of MCM Investigations hangs in the balance.
Anyone who has read the series up to this point knows what to expect. Madcap adventures, hilarity, and a fun adventure. Caimh's rapier's wit is honed to perfection in Last Orders. There are a lot of laughs in these pages. Agent Dove's scenes in particular had me howling.
It's always bittersweet to finish a series, and this one in particular. I've had a lot of fun reading these books with Nat, and Carol joined us for The Day That Never Comes. Good memories. This is a special series I highly recommend to all adult readers.
I am planning on reading the McGarry Stateside series. Hopefully Nat does not fire me for being a delinquent buddy reader. I got hooked on the Teixcalaan books in the middle of reading this, and then I remembered the new Murderbot book... That's no reflection on this five star book though. Read this series as soon as you can!
November 29, 2019
Love the McDonald
This book brings you up to date on McGarry's background and explains the first of the books that I read "Disaster". The action is rough but like the other books there is a lot to smile about, even though there are some awful american government types. Their concepts of acceptable police behavior clashes with that of the Gardai but compromises are reached. It's a strange little story.
I had fun reading it and liked the rest of the series, it is full of surprises.
This book brings you up to date on McGarry's background and explains the first of the books that I read "Disaster". The action is rough but like the other books there is a lot to smile about, even though there are some awful american government types. Their concepts of acceptable police behavior clashes with that of the Gardai but compromises are reached. It's a strange little story.
I had fun reading it and liked the rest of the series, it is full of surprises.
November 15, 2021
The characters in this series are still fun, and I enjoyed getting to know Bunny better.
On the other hand, I kind of found my mind wandering on occasion, and I got a little lost in the details now and then. Fun, but less fun than the first two installments of the series.
On the other hand, I kind of found my mind wandering on occasion, and I got a little lost in the details now and then. Fun, but less fun than the first two installments of the series.
October 13, 2020
I have to admit to being very nervous to read this book! I have loved the series so far and the picture on the front depicting my favourite characters demise put me off a little bit as I was not sure I was ready to read that!
After an interesting prologue, the story takes us back to how we get to that point. With Paul locked in a childish battle with a rival PI agency, Brigit trying to keep the business going after an influx of business on the back of their previous well-publicised success and Bunny mostly AWOL and acting even more strangely then normal, we were in for another storming ride in the world of MCM investigations!
This book is up there with the previous books with a cracking storyline, brilliant humour and one of the best casts of characters around. I am a little sad that this series has come to an end, but am very excited to see what comes next for this author.
After an interesting prologue, the story takes us back to how we get to that point. With Paul locked in a childish battle with a rival PI agency, Brigit trying to keep the business going after an influx of business on the back of their previous well-publicised success and Bunny mostly AWOL and acting even more strangely then normal, we were in for another storming ride in the world of MCM investigations!
This book is up there with the previous books with a cracking storyline, brilliant humour and one of the best casts of characters around. I am a little sad that this series has come to an end, but am very excited to see what comes next for this author.
October 11, 2020
To begin with, I listened to this book, the final instalment of the Dublin trilogy, via Audible and the narration was brilliant.
The characterisation in this series is superb. From the one armed, slow blinking, US Agent Dove to the sublime creation that is Bernard “Bunny”McGarry, Caimh McDonnell has created wonderful characters that stay with you long after you have finished reading.
I love the fact that although the books can be quite gruesome at times, there are parts that are hilariously laugh out loud funny. This final book cleverly ties up all the threads that run through the previous books. I would recommend you read the stories in order to get the most out of the series.
When I had finished, I went straight to goodreads to check if there are anymore books featuring Bunny and I was reassured to find out that he features in a new series. Phew!
I heartily recommend this series and if you enjoy audiobooks you’re onto a sure fire winner.
The characterisation in this series is superb. From the one armed, slow blinking, US Agent Dove to the sublime creation that is Bernard “Bunny”McGarry, Caimh McDonnell has created wonderful characters that stay with you long after you have finished reading.
I love the fact that although the books can be quite gruesome at times, there are parts that are hilariously laugh out loud funny. This final book cleverly ties up all the threads that run through the previous books. I would recommend you read the stories in order to get the most out of the series.
When I had finished, I went straight to goodreads to check if there are anymore books featuring Bunny and I was reassured to find out that he features in a new series. Phew!
I heartily recommend this series and if you enjoy audiobooks you’re onto a sure fire winner.
November 2, 2020
The final in the Dublin trilogy delivers another roller coaster of a ride with Bunny, Paul and Brigit. Like the other books with some funny moments, but with a twinge of sadness thrown in, Bunny's past comes back to haunt him. The books in this series have been great listening, but all good things come to an end. Will Bunny's demons finally get him, will MCM investigations survive, will Brigit and Paul settle their differences. All is revealed in this final instalment. I have loved these books and would recommend them. With great narration, great stories and characters, they have all you'd want in a good audio book.
October 14, 2020
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
So not only did we get a forth book in the trilogy but we are also being spoiled as apparently Bunny also has a podcast. Seriously made my day today.
This book as always does not disappoint as the gang are in trouble after a stakeout goes wrong and they may end up loosing everything. Can they pull things together to get the truth and save the business and their friendships. All of this with a death as well going on makes for an exciting audio with great narration as always. I’m sure a trilogy has at least 6 parts ;-)
So not only did we get a forth book in the trilogy but we are also being spoiled as apparently Bunny also has a podcast. Seriously made my day today.
This book as always does not disappoint as the gang are in trouble after a stakeout goes wrong and they may end up loosing everything. Can they pull things together to get the truth and save the business and their friendships. All of this with a death as well going on makes for an exciting audio with great narration as always. I’m sure a trilogy has at least 6 parts ;-)
March 13, 2018
'When all that’s left is the fall, the fall is everything.
And even the mighty fall’
I have been a fan of Caimh McDonnell’s books from the get-go. Packed full with Irish wit and charm, these are novels that will make you cry both tears of laughter and tears of sadness (more of laughter!!)
I cannot believe the series, The Dublin Trilogy, featuring my main man, the brilliant Corkonian, that is Bunny McGarry, has come to an end with Last Orders, just released on 3rd March.
Caimh McDonnell brings us to the end of our journey with The Dublin Trilogy, in this the last installment, Last Orders. I have followed the journeys of Paul, Brigid, Phil and Bunny over all the series including the prequel and I’ve come to know them as more than just characters in a novel.
Last Orders brings all the previous novels together in an unexpected ending, yet one I think all Caimh McDonnell fans will agree, is a fitting finish.
A Man with One of Those Faces (Book #1) introduced the reader to each character. We got a little of their back stories and how paths were crossed and new relationships were made. From the very beginning I connected with Bunny McGarry, a Corkonian, one of my own from my home city of Cork. Bunny and his right hand accessory, Mable his hurley, were a wonderful match. The wit, the comic timing, the pent up anger of a frustrated member of the local police force who spares noone in his fearless attacks was, in my eyes, the top character of the trilogy. As I have read through the full collection of Caimh McDonnell’s novels over the past couple of years, I have witnessed Bunny as he has dealt with the criminal faction in his own gutsy way, but I also I have seen a little of the true man that lies beneath that very tough veneer. Angels in the Moonlight, as a prequel, brought us back to Bunny as a slightly younger man. It reveals to us a little about where his anger and frustration with life originated. We get to see the softer side of Bunny as he falls in love. We witness his close friendship with his colleague Gringo. We see Bunny McGarry as a person with hopes and feelings, providing an excellent backdrop to the trilogy.
In Last Orders, Brigid, Paul and Phil are now the proud owners of their own private investigation firm, MCM. Bunny is what we would call a silent partner. Now retired from the force, he still has his trademark anger and dark humour about him, but there is trouble brewing. With the firm, MCM, in some difficulties with another company, business gets a little fraught. Brigid tries her hardest to hold it all together but even she is struggling to make ends meet and to keep the business afloat.
Meanwhile DSI Susan Burns and her sidekick Detective Wilson are embroiled in a very delicate case. Human remains have been discovered in the Wicklow mountains, remains that have been buried for nearly twenty years. DSI Burns does not suffer fools gladly and when the FBI come knocking, in the shape of Agent Alana Dove, Burns discovers that there is a hell of a lot more to this case than originally expected.
Caimh McDonnell ties up a lot of loose ends in Last Orders and leaves us, as ever, wanting more. If you have followed their stories, you will surely love all the characters, including the rather temperamental and flatulent Maggie. We have witnessed Phil, now on the cusp of fatherhood, with his simplistic, yet sometimes brilliant, ideas as he grows into a man, now with responsibilities. Brigid has become a woman of the world, a far cry from the nurse we met in Book 1. Paul…well, Paul, I think, still has a little growing up to do. And Bunny. Obviously I am NOT going to speak of Bunny in any great detail, as to do so would kind of spoil the story don’t you think? It’s enough to say that I miss him already…the streets of Dublin will never be the same again….
Last Orders is now available to purchase, but I would recommend you read the previous books first, in order to fully understand the characters with all their flaws and eccentricities. As the novels have progressed, Caimh McDonnell’s ability as a wonderful story-teller has grown. Caimh’s books are all self-published which really shows the passion he has for his writing. He believes in his characters, as do I and I know you will too!!
Last Orders is packed with charm, wisecracks, banter, playfulness and soul. A really entertaining collection of books…all now available!!
My Rating 4.5*
And even the mighty fall’
I have been a fan of Caimh McDonnell’s books from the get-go. Packed full with Irish wit and charm, these are novels that will make you cry both tears of laughter and tears of sadness (more of laughter!!)
I cannot believe the series, The Dublin Trilogy, featuring my main man, the brilliant Corkonian, that is Bunny McGarry, has come to an end with Last Orders, just released on 3rd March.
Caimh McDonnell brings us to the end of our journey with The Dublin Trilogy, in this the last installment, Last Orders. I have followed the journeys of Paul, Brigid, Phil and Bunny over all the series including the prequel and I’ve come to know them as more than just characters in a novel.
Last Orders brings all the previous novels together in an unexpected ending, yet one I think all Caimh McDonnell fans will agree, is a fitting finish.
A Man with One of Those Faces (Book #1) introduced the reader to each character. We got a little of their back stories and how paths were crossed and new relationships were made. From the very beginning I connected with Bunny McGarry, a Corkonian, one of my own from my home city of Cork. Bunny and his right hand accessory, Mable his hurley, were a wonderful match. The wit, the comic timing, the pent up anger of a frustrated member of the local police force who spares noone in his fearless attacks was, in my eyes, the top character of the trilogy. As I have read through the full collection of Caimh McDonnell’s novels over the past couple of years, I have witnessed Bunny as he has dealt with the criminal faction in his own gutsy way, but I also I have seen a little of the true man that lies beneath that very tough veneer. Angels in the Moonlight, as a prequel, brought us back to Bunny as a slightly younger man. It reveals to us a little about where his anger and frustration with life originated. We get to see the softer side of Bunny as he falls in love. We witness his close friendship with his colleague Gringo. We see Bunny McGarry as a person with hopes and feelings, providing an excellent backdrop to the trilogy.
In Last Orders, Brigid, Paul and Phil are now the proud owners of their own private investigation firm, MCM. Bunny is what we would call a silent partner. Now retired from the force, he still has his trademark anger and dark humour about him, but there is trouble brewing. With the firm, MCM, in some difficulties with another company, business gets a little fraught. Brigid tries her hardest to hold it all together but even she is struggling to make ends meet and to keep the business afloat.
Meanwhile DSI Susan Burns and her sidekick Detective Wilson are embroiled in a very delicate case. Human remains have been discovered in the Wicklow mountains, remains that have been buried for nearly twenty years. DSI Burns does not suffer fools gladly and when the FBI come knocking, in the shape of Agent Alana Dove, Burns discovers that there is a hell of a lot more to this case than originally expected.
Caimh McDonnell ties up a lot of loose ends in Last Orders and leaves us, as ever, wanting more. If you have followed their stories, you will surely love all the characters, including the rather temperamental and flatulent Maggie. We have witnessed Phil, now on the cusp of fatherhood, with his simplistic, yet sometimes brilliant, ideas as he grows into a man, now with responsibilities. Brigid has become a woman of the world, a far cry from the nurse we met in Book 1. Paul…well, Paul, I think, still has a little growing up to do. And Bunny. Obviously I am NOT going to speak of Bunny in any great detail, as to do so would kind of spoil the story don’t you think? It’s enough to say that I miss him already…the streets of Dublin will never be the same again….
Last Orders is now available to purchase, but I would recommend you read the previous books first, in order to fully understand the characters with all their flaws and eccentricities. As the novels have progressed, Caimh McDonnell’s ability as a wonderful story-teller has grown. Caimh’s books are all self-published which really shows the passion he has for his writing. He believes in his characters, as do I and I know you will too!!
Last Orders is packed with charm, wisecracks, banter, playfulness and soul. A really entertaining collection of books…all now available!!
My Rating 4.5*
May 6, 2018
Okay, I had been keeping my eye on Last Orders by Caimh McDonnell for quite some time because not only was this going to be the last book of the series, but also I have developed a liking for all the characters that Caimh writes. You wouldn't believe my utter joy after receiving the ARC of Last Orders for review.
Where do I start? Oh yeah...Bunny's Funeral! The book actually starts with hoards of people arriving for Bunny McGarry's funeral. I'm not giving out any spoilers at this moment because, you can see his headstone on the book cover for God's sake.... It's going to take me time to come down from the high.
Just let me say this, Last Orders will pull at your heart strings. Caimh McDonnell presented his natural, dark humor, an eye for the odds and exceptionally well-written (and well-thought of) sub-plots. You get to see more facets of the characters like Paul, Phil, Brigit and everyone else. There is not a dull moment. It is rich with sarcasm and dialogues that will make you fall in love with The Dublin Trilogy.
I loved the fact that the other characters, especially Paul, Phil and Brigit grow so much. They're not heavily dependent on Bunny, but create their own story and find their own way.
I turned page after page in nail-biting anticipation and this book did not disappoint. Can't wait to read more books that Caimh McDonnell will surely be writing in the future.
Where do I start? Oh yeah...Bunny's Funeral! The book actually starts with hoards of people arriving for Bunny McGarry's funeral. I'm not giving out any spoilers at this moment because, you can see his headstone on the book cover for God's sake.... It's going to take me time to come down from the high.
Just let me say this, Last Orders will pull at your heart strings. Caimh McDonnell presented his natural, dark humor, an eye for the odds and exceptionally well-written (and well-thought of) sub-plots. You get to see more facets of the characters like Paul, Phil, Brigit and everyone else. There is not a dull moment. It is rich with sarcasm and dialogues that will make you fall in love with The Dublin Trilogy.
I loved the fact that the other characters, especially Paul, Phil and Brigit grow so much. They're not heavily dependent on Bunny, but create their own story and find their own way.
I turned page after page in nail-biting anticipation and this book did not disappoint. Can't wait to read more books that Caimh McDonnell will surely be writing in the future.
September 14, 2020
Na konci první knihy se dal z týmu outsiderů dohromady detektivní tým, který se v druhé knize rozpadl, aby se na konci dal opět dohromady – ovšem pokud jste čekali, že se ve trojce konečně pustí do práce, bude zklamáni. Detektivní kancelář našich hrdinů si většinu knihy jen vyřizuje účty s jinou detektivní kanceláří, zatímco hlavní případ jde celkem bokem a vlastně se jich po celou dobu téměř nedotkne.
Nechápejte mě špatně, kniha je zábavná, čte se skvělé, šlape a postavy jsou chytlavé… ale co by Angličanům udělalo, kdyby k těmhle svým obvyklým devizám přidali i nějaký příběh? Už jsem se na seriálech jako Being Human, Misfits, In the Flesh a koneckonců i Killing Eve naučil, že jak se angličtí tvůrci vzdálí zábavným detailům a charakterům a pustí se do něčeho většího, skončí to obvykle katastroficky. Tady to všechno drží pomocí žvýkačky a dopředu to táhne MacGuffin zabalený do MacGuffinu, převázaným MacGuffinovskou stuhou.
Ve středu pozornosti je tentokrát Bunny McGarry, který se stále ještě pořádně neoklepal z událostí minulé knihy. I přes jeho agresivní povahu a zdánlivou nezničitelnost na něj začíná doléhat stáří… a navíc se mu zjevují lidi, co jsou už dávno mrtví. A když má pocit, že ho někdo sleduje, nemůže si být tak úplně jistý, jestli ho skutečně někdo sleduje, nebo má halucinace.
A má ještě jeden problém. Mrtvoly, nalezené na začátku knihy, dávno pohřbená těla, která nastartují pátrání, a kvůli kterým přijíždí do země agentka FBI, zabil právě on.
Přiznám se, že jsem byl celkem zvědavý, co se z toho vyklube… a ono se vlastně nic nevyklubalo. Celé rozuzlení je dopsané na zadní stranu poštovní známky a dolepené čistě aby tam něco bylo. A vlastně se ani moc nevysvětlí, jen to poslouží k tomu, aby se nahodila Bunnyho samostatná knižní série. Kterou si samozřejmě koupím a přečtu, jakmile vyjde. A bud mě bavit to číst. Ale fakt už by mohla mít nějaký příběh.
Nechápejte mě špatně, kniha je zábavná, čte se skvělé, šlape a postavy jsou chytlavé… ale co by Angličanům udělalo, kdyby k těmhle svým obvyklým devizám přidali i nějaký příběh? Už jsem se na seriálech jako Being Human, Misfits, In the Flesh a koneckonců i Killing Eve naučil, že jak se angličtí tvůrci vzdálí zábavným detailům a charakterům a pustí se do něčeho většího, skončí to obvykle katastroficky. Tady to všechno drží pomocí žvýkačky a dopředu to táhne MacGuffin zabalený do MacGuffinu, převázaným MacGuffinovskou stuhou.
Ve středu pozornosti je tentokrát Bunny McGarry, který se stále ještě pořádně neoklepal z událostí minulé knihy. I přes jeho agresivní povahu a zdánlivou nezničitelnost na něj začíná doléhat stáří… a navíc se mu zjevují lidi, co jsou už dávno mrtví. A když má pocit, že ho někdo sleduje, nemůže si být tak úplně jistý, jestli ho skutečně někdo sleduje, nebo má halucinace.
A má ještě jeden problém. Mrtvoly, nalezené na začátku knihy, dávno pohřbená těla, která nastartují pátrání, a kvůli kterým přijíždí do země agentka FBI, zabil právě on.
Přiznám se, že jsem byl celkem zvědavý, co se z toho vyklube… a ono se vlastně nic nevyklubalo. Celé rozuzlení je dopsané na zadní stranu poštovní známky a dolepené čistě aby tam něco bylo. A vlastně se ani moc nevysvětlí, jen to poslouží k tomu, aby se nahodila Bunnyho samostatná knižní série. Kterou si samozřejmě koupím a přečtu, jakmile vyjde. A bud mě bavit to číst. Ale fakt už by mohla mít nějaký příběh.
March 4, 2018
The third book of the Dublin Trilogy is upon us and what a book it is. If you have not read the previous books in the series I would urge you to do so before reading this book, including the prequel.
Last Orders picks up about a year after the events of book 2 (The Day That Never Comes).
We open on the scene of Bunny McGarry’s funeral (well it is the cover of the book). All in sundry have turned out to wish the legend that is Bunny on his way, but how did we get here? For that we need to take a step back in time……
We find Brigit trying to successfully run MCM investigations while also keeping Paul and Bunny out of trouble. Paul can’t let the past go and has started a rivalry that is having serious consequences not only for the business, but for his relationship with Brigit. Meanwhile Bunny hasn’t changed and his techniques of private investigation are coming under some scrutiny, all the while the events of his past are about to come back to haunt him.
Honestly, I couldn’t put this book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat and also delivered the laughs we have come to associate with Caimh McDonnel’s books. There were some moments in this book where I genuinely laughed out loud, which I’m sure has lead my boss to think I’m mental. Caimh’s writing has gone from strength to strength and what we are left with is, in my opinion, his best work to date.
5/5
Last Orders picks up about a year after the events of book 2 (The Day That Never Comes).
We open on the scene of Bunny McGarry’s funeral (well it is the cover of the book). All in sundry have turned out to wish the legend that is Bunny on his way, but how did we get here? For that we need to take a step back in time……
We find Brigit trying to successfully run MCM investigations while also keeping Paul and Bunny out of trouble. Paul can’t let the past go and has started a rivalry that is having serious consequences not only for the business, but for his relationship with Brigit. Meanwhile Bunny hasn’t changed and his techniques of private investigation are coming under some scrutiny, all the while the events of his past are about to come back to haunt him.
Honestly, I couldn’t put this book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat and also delivered the laughs we have come to associate with Caimh McDonnel’s books. There were some moments in this book where I genuinely laughed out loud, which I’m sure has lead my boss to think I’m mental. Caimh’s writing has gone from strength to strength and what we are left with is, in my opinion, his best work to date.
5/5
October 16, 2018
Full disclosure: I was sent an advance copy of Last Orders to review. I am a huge Caimh McDonnell fan so anything he writes is going to be a winner for me.
OK, now that I've come clean, I can also tell you that I rarely give 5-star reviews. I read a LOT. Four-star reviews are for books that I really enjoyed, that I want to recommend, but that I do not expect to read again. I usually don't bother to review a book that is 3 stars or less. Frankly, I usually don't even finish reading books that I consider less than 3 stars.
Last Orders is a 5-star read for me. Five-star reviews are reserved for books that I KNOW I will read again. And I always do. Like the Harry Potter series. Like A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Like Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace. All are different but spoke to me in very gripping ways.
Every one of the four books in this "trilogy" (haha!) is going to be a re-read for me. McDonnell's characters make me laugh out loud in an empty room. His sense of humour tickles my funny bones. The writer in me wonders at how he keeps his plots straight and flowing and so satisfying. I don't know how to review this book without giving away any spoilers, but I do want to say that I had anticipated the ending before I got there... I was very gratified that it wasn't as I thought. All in all, a very "feel-good" read which I will pick up again when I need a good laugh.
OK, now that I've come clean, I can also tell you that I rarely give 5-star reviews. I read a LOT. Four-star reviews are for books that I really enjoyed, that I want to recommend, but that I do not expect to read again. I usually don't bother to review a book that is 3 stars or less. Frankly, I usually don't even finish reading books that I consider less than 3 stars.
Last Orders is a 5-star read for me. Five-star reviews are reserved for books that I KNOW I will read again. And I always do. Like the Harry Potter series. Like A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. Like Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace. All are different but spoke to me in very gripping ways.
Every one of the four books in this "trilogy" (haha!) is going to be a re-read for me. McDonnell's characters make me laugh out loud in an empty room. His sense of humour tickles my funny bones. The writer in me wonders at how he keeps his plots straight and flowing and so satisfying. I don't know how to review this book without giving away any spoilers, but I do want to say that I had anticipated the ending before I got there... I was very gratified that it wasn't as I thought. All in all, a very "feel-good" read which I will pick up again when I need a good laugh.
July 3, 2018
Can it still be a trilogy if this is the 4th book and there's a new one (HOORAY) coming out in 2019? So thank heavens--these books are far too good to stop at 3 or 4--way more of this please.
Well, even with the Bunny's grave on the cover, the title, and the first chapter of his funeral, it still comes as a shock that Bunny is dead. After that letdown, the book rewinds time to shortly after the events in The Day That Never Comes, to more letdowns. Paul is back on the outs with Brigit, by taking the feud with the people who set him up to Spy vs. Spy levels and Bunny isn't helping the agency either with his trademark balcony dangling. Maggie, the police dog who was retired after accidentally ingesting LSD, is still her irascible self and Phil is a dad. And Brigit finds herself in the unenviable position of boss.
Detective Burns & Wilson continue to delight--and all the interactions with the repugnant overly Botoxed FBI agent with mechanical arm were comic bright spots in a book overflowing with humor.
Well, even with the Bunny's grave on the cover, the title, and the first chapter of his funeral, it still comes as a shock that Bunny is dead. After that letdown, the book rewinds time to shortly after the events in The Day That Never Comes, to more letdowns. Paul is back on the outs with Brigit, by taking the feud with the people who set him up to Spy vs. Spy levels and Bunny isn't helping the agency either with his trademark balcony dangling. Maggie, the police dog who was retired after accidentally ingesting LSD, is still her irascible self and Phil is a dad. And Brigit finds herself in the unenviable position of boss.
Detective Burns & Wilson continue to delight--and all the interactions with the repugnant overly Botoxed FBI agent with mechanical arm were comic bright spots in a book overflowing with humor.
February 25, 2018
I love Bunny, with every fibre of my being I love him. I read this entire book through a film of tears. My heart was broken, watching the great man, the sayer of sooths, the slayer of lions, the panacea of all that is wrong with the world, deteriorate, page by page. The uproariously funny plot line of the War of the Detective Agencies kept me going, a chink of light in a dark world. And of course Donnacha Wilson and Agent Dove's pairing, that had me weeping with laughter instead of tears. This was a truly brilliant book, but whether the world will keep spinning without Bunny, well, no spoilers here. Bunny McGarry - You Are My Hero. I can tell you that you simply must treat yourself and immediately order this book. If you haven't read the others, quickly order them too. They are unique, wickedly funny and warm, with that Irish comedic edge. The series really is a MUST, MUST, MUST READ. I couldn't recommend it more if my name was Mrs Recommend-It-More from the village of Recommend-It-More in Recommend-It-Moreland. Seriously, you can thank me later
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