Bunny McGarry is back - and he’d really like a nice holiday. Somewhere with hot weather and cold drinks that come with little umbrellas for reasons he never understood. A certain nun has other ideas though and instead, he finds himself dispatched to London to find Sean Malone, a runaway teenager who doesn’t know his mother hasn’t got long left to live. The only leads Bunny has are a last-known address for the deadbeat dad Sean had gone in search of, and some letters the teenager had sent to his mum, one of which included a picture of him with the current heavyweight champion of the world. It quickly emerges that Sean is caught up in some very, nasty business and Bunny, out on his own and in a city he doesn’t know, or particularly like, is his only chance at survival.
Join Bunny on his latest adventure in the increasingly inaccurately titled, yet never-the-less, million-selling Dublin Trilogy.
Irishman 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.
First thing I have to say is a BIG thank you to Caimh McDonnell and his Wonder Wife for keeping this utterly marvellous series reader-affordable. The quality of the writing, the amazingly funny-yet-realistic dialogue, and the brilliantly memorable characters and plotting would have many publishers demanding premium prices that I couldn't afford. I'd compare the ever-extending Dublin Trilogy to Brookmyre's best work, except that Bunny and Co. give the reader way more laughs. Those laughs are always balanced by the characters' depth of humanity and the fact that serious matters are dealt with in a way that is convincing but does not preclude humour. Bunny is humanity putting its best, if battered, face forward. The only other author that, for me, gets away with that kind of mixture, albeit in a different genre, is Terry Pratchett. There, that's the highest possible compliment I can pay.
It took me quite a while to get into this latest Bunny story as it takes us back in time to before Bunny's trip to the States. It is also the darkest of the "trilogy" by far. The laughs are few and far between.
However, all that said, it is still Bunny at his best, navigating his way around the seedier parts of London after receiving a "request" from the extremely unnerving Sister Bernadette - the nun you don't say no to.
Bunny's mission is to find a missing boy, Sean Malone, and get him back to Dublin to see his dying mother. But to do this, Bunny has to negotiate the seedy underbelly of boxing, the British Police and some branch of the security services who aren't averse to bending the rules to breaking point.
As I said this is a very dark episode. We are missing most of the usual cast of characters and Bunny's mission is fraught with danger. There are some cameo performances from the usual suspects but, on the whole, Bunny has to find his own way. He does make friends wherever he goes (and several enemies) and the character of Fisk is very endearing.
We also have a very surprising cameo by an extremely famous person.
Dark but ultimately enjoyable. I'll be happy to see Bunny back where he belongs but, as a refreshing change to the norm, this book definitely works.
I listened to the audio which is narrated perfectly by Morgan Jones.
Thank you, Caimh, a gazillion times thank you, for another book in the inaccurately named Dublin series. I’m gutted it’s over so soon, but I had to actively avoid work to achieve finishing it this fast. And now I wait semi patiently for the next instalment. Are we there yet?
Another brilliant Bunny story with the blend of action, emotion & bonkers ideas we've come to expect.
It's a mad plot which ramps up & up & features some surprising elements & unexpected cameos but at its heart it remains driven by the heart & character of Bunny, set in another new location with another cast of colourful comrades but retaining his Vimesian anger & sense of justice.
We're also treated to another glorious section of pure comedy in the form of the ongoing saga of Commissioner Ferguson. His appearances are always comedy gold as he details another trial in his busy life which just gets more & more ridiculous & hilarious as it develops. It's now my head canon that when the chief constable is updated about the latest Jodi Taylor St. Mary's disaster (especially pertaining to R&D), it's Ferguson on the other end of the phone. The two situations truly feel like different sides of the same coin & I love it.
From the opening chapter (laugh out loud funny) to the end scene we follow Bunny on a journey into the unknown, London. Encounters with Met police, MI5, a boxing world champion, a well connected American (Milton Fisk is a great character), Barbara/Babs a publican and friend, a rock star, a few fists, bathroom fittings, and the pavement are taken in stride. All kinds of costume changes are required of Bunny. Cameo support is provided by Sister Bernadette, Fintan O'Rourke and Commissioner Gareth Ferguson, Deccie, and Butch/Pamela. All are on top of their game. A more deeply moving story than others in the series. Great read.
Quite a lot darker than recent books, but still a lovely turn with Bunny. This one also felt more directly cinematic than previous ones, but it wasn't a bad way for the story to flow.
Fisk and Babs are delightful additions to the menagerie, and I always get a bit of a meta giggle every time there's a new Tina.
Caimh's New Tina Count: Two Tinas! Tina is Commissioner Ferguson's imaginary assistant; and Tina is Sean's girlfriend with the mohawk and facial piercings who is actually very sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’m afraid that I got this as soon as it was available, read it in one sitting on the first evening I had it, and my wife was very concerned for my well-being, since I was reading in bed and continually fought the laughter. I did, of course, lose the good fight once or twice, laughed out loud, and woke her up, but such is life…
This book is as brlliant as ever, and I’m now looking forward to yet another installment of “A Dublin Trilogy” (despite saying on the cover that it’s book 8 of 8, surely if he can do “book 8 in the trilogy”, he can manage a ‘book 9 of 8”?).
Finding out the there is a new Caimh McDonnell book is like discovering a $20 bill in your pocket. Such a treat! Not always a happy ending, but the ride was a hoot the entire way.
hHopping about Bunny's life in the 8 book trilogy before he goes to America gives a reminder of Bunny's origins. This is a darker story than normal, but has all the sincerity of the obligations he feels weighing him down.
I refer the Bunny series to everyone I meet who reads! The series is that good. A short and hilarious taste of Bunny's world, and my favorite short story, is Escape from Victory.
One of the best of the Bunny McGarry series: funny, gripping at times, some great new characters and of course Bunny, with his familiar chums. McDonnell has a wonderful way with words.
I feel I should start this review with an apology to the author - about two-thirds of the way through Fortunate Son I realised that a plot point early on had just.... disappeared. I was slightly surprised by this, but a quick flick back confirmed what I feared. Two pages later, a single sentence at the end of a paragraph had me grinning like an idiot and having a strong word with myself about ever doubting Caimh McDonnell. Because, as any fan will tell you, he's got this. Fortunate Son is now the eighth book in the Dublin "Trilogy", and this time round - and some years before the events of the past couple of books - Bunny McGarry finds himself in London, a stranger in an even stranger land, at the behest of his favourite nun. A kid has gone missing, his mum is not well, and Bunny just has to find him and bring him home. Just.... As with the other "Trilogy" books, McDonnell weaves a wonderful story full of laughs, edge of the seat thrills, cliffhangers, and in a fresh twist Elton john. But this isn't 'just' another Bunny book. This is darker, almost shocking at one point, and provides some context for what drives the great detective in later/previous adventures (timey wimey wotnots). McDonnell is still clearly at the top of his game and having as much fun writing these as we are having reading them. He paints a London many of us will recognise, peppered with characters as colourful, warm, and engaging as we have met before. It almost feels like a spin-off could appear at some point too...
Whatever your problem, there is a temporary cure. Break away, lock yourself in the outside privvy and immerse yourself in this complete idiocy. Fewer belly laughs in this one but still a permanent, wide grin and such true-to-life sentiments that have you nodding in recognition. The story doesn't need repeating here, even if I could remember it but Bunny you can have my spare room.
Wie von der Dublin Trilogy gewohnt, eine unterhaltsame Mischung aus Humor, Action und Spannung. Insgesamt einer der düstereren Teile, aber dennoch gut. Hätte nur vielleicht etwas länger sein können, gerade das Finale ist doch relativ schnell vorbei.
I absolutely love these books. The combination of of good plot, great characters, excellent storytelling and full on humor in just the right places puts this story a bd the rest of The Dublin “Trilogy on the Must Read list.
Caimh surely writes an awesome book! So, Fortunate Son is dark. It’s light. The humor is incredible, but he then takes you to that dark place you didn’t see coming. I rarely write reviews, but in this case I need to shout from the rooftops…..fine fecking read!
Solid four stars. Tight writing, VERY strong plot. The story contains less mayhem than usual (for the Bunnyverse), and it’s all the better for it. One of my favorite Dublin Trilogy books in a long while. Well done!
Incredible fun as always and the introduction already had me in tears. Probably the best Bunny introduction since his confession from I Have Sinned. The main plot needs a bit to get going though. A woman who is dying of cancer wants to see her son one last time. Unfortunately, he fell off the radar somewhere in London and a certain group of nuns tasks Bunny with finding him.
The reason this is a bit slow-going at first is because Bunny seems slightly lost in London. He doesn't have any contacts and his usual street smarts initially don't get him very far. But he wouldn't be Bunny McGarry if he didn't manage to make a few highly eccentric allies along the way, at least one of whom I hope we'll meet again in the McGarry Stateside series.
Anyway, the further the plot evolves, the better it becomes and the conclusion is once again rather satisfying, to a degree at least. Because for all the silliness and chaos, this is overall one of the more serious and tragic novels in the Dublin trilogy, so it's not all fun and games.
This is the first book in the Dublin Trilogy I’ve read, and it was a wild ride from start to finish. Bunny McGarry is definitely not your typical detective, and this book had me laughing and cringing in equal measure.
First off, I have to say, I’m terrified of Sister Bernadette. If she’d shown up at my door with a “quick task,” I’d have taken off running. Bunny clearly doesn’t have that luxury, though. He gets sent to London to track down a runaway teenager, and the chaos that follows is classic, to say the least.
The plot took a little while to build, mostly because Bunny’s out of his element in London—he doesn’t know the city, doesn’t have his usual contacts, and is just trying to keep his head above water. But even when things feel slow, Bunny’s got this way of making oddball allies and stirring up trouble that kept me hooked, even when things started to get darker and more serious.
Speaking of which, this book definitely gets heavier than I expected. While there are still some funny moments, this story takes a more emotional turn, especially as Bunny deals with the shady world of boxing, dangerous characters, and the missing boy who’s caught up in all of it. By the end, it was a lot more moving than I thought it would be, and I really appreciated how McDonnell balanced the humor with real heart.
I listened to the audiobook, and while the narration was good overall, I wasn’t a fan of the feminine voices. It took me out of the experience a bit, but that’s just a small detail.
All in all, Fortunate Son is a dark but satisfying read. It’s got that perfect mix of humor and grit, with a little bit of chaos thrown in. I’d recommend it, especially if you like crime with a bit of wit and some unexpected depth. Now, I’m curious to check out the rest of the series!
The speed at which this author writes is a gift to all of us who enjoy a humorous, fast-paced, compelling crime story with fantastically well-rounded characters and outlandish yet riveting action sequences. Every addition to the original trilogy expands your knowledge and appreciation of the beloved characters and this story is no different. The books are best read in publication order, so if you haven’t started yet, get cracking on A Man with One of Those Faces immediately, and don’t miss out on the interconnected McGarry Stateside and MCM Investigations books.
This time around, we get to follow Bunny on yet another unplanned, complicated detour filled with great characters, both old and new, as he again unravels a mystery the way only he can. Although Mr. McDonnell’s trademark humor is in full effect, the stakes are high and the consequences dire and even heartbreaking. The author excels at balancing actual laugh-out-loud moments and dialogue with true pathos and peril, making the entirety of his catalogue a fully satisfying set of stories to immerse yourself in.
For all his flaws, Bunny is a truly heroic character and his resourcefulness, empathy, and sense of honor keep you rooting for him no matter where he finds himself. He’s a breath of fresh air in a genre filled with hard-boiled, hard-drinking sad men on a quest to find themselves. You won’t find crime clichés here, just an author confidently and capably guiding you through the compelling, rewarding, and delightful world of the Dublin underground (and beyond). Treat yourself to a worthy diversion in our increasingly dark world.
I cannot believe just how funny, and poignant at times, this book is. Ciamh McDonnell is seriously talented and this latest Bunny instalment is the best by far.
It's like having a stand up show in front of you. I lost count of how often I laughed and smiled, not appropriate behaviour on London's commuter routes. Ah well.
More please Mr McDonnell. And soon.
There are so many quotes I wanted to do in here, a selection below, and I hope the legal team got clearance for the guest appearance of a certain flamboyant entertainer (Sir EJ)?
“And not to put a dampener on the mood, but would you consider putting some pants on? As a rule, I like the first genitalia I see of a morning to be my own.”
He’d paid the price of a decent bicycle for a pack of three briefs. When Bunny had queried the price the young fella behind the counter had attempted to explain the revolutionary engineering involved in these undies. All Bunny wanted was to keep his nether regions at an appropriate temperature and an approximate location– he wasn’t trying to land his bollocks on the moon.
Although the one advantage of this weather is the nutters generally stay home and we’ve a relatively quiet one. Turns out crazy is soluble.
And the non-funny quote “If I’d have got to him sooner—” “But you didn’t. It doesn’t make you the villain, it just means you didn’t manage to become the hero.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
As Caimh mentions in the Author's note, he breaks new ground by making sure this is not set in Dublin nor is it a Trilogy, yet it is the 8th book in the increasingly inaccurately named 'The Dublin Trilogy' series. This one is set in London, with Bunny doing what he does best, helping a Teenager in trouble, on Sister Bernadette's 'Request'. The LOL moments start from chapter 1 and don't let up till the end. All our favourite characters return O'Rouke, Chief Ferguson, Deccie Sr and Jr and the Kickass Butch. I feel sorry for the ever suffering Rouke who is assigned the task of keeping Bunny out of trouble (who would invariably end up doing something to cause PR nightmare for the Garda Síochána). Fisk and Babs were delightful new entrants. It's good to see Bunny making reliable friends even when he is not in Dublin. There is a celebrity cameo too. Though the book is hilarious, the ending is dark and not quite resolved to my tastes. I have read all the author's books published till date and I am glad that the new books are coming in very fast. I hope the next one will be from the 'Stranger Times' series. It's been quite some time since I last read the imaginative urban fantasy.
I received a copy of Fortunate Son from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, okay, we get it. Caimh McDonnell can’t count. The Dublin Trilogy is now eight volumes long. For the pedantic out there, too bad. So what if he failed in math. We the grateful are...well, more than grateful to read another funny, heartfelt Bunny McGarry mystery. This time in the world of boxing. Fortunate Son starts with a hilarious conversation between the Irish detective and regular character Deccie Fadden and his granddad. In a sauna, yet. We hear later from another regular, Sister Bernadette, and at her end of the phoneline we hear what might be delicately called sounds of torture. And then there’s Butch, Bunny’s partner. Bunny, with a heart as big as the Irish Sea, travels to London to search for a missing teen whose mother is dying. There he meets one of the more interesting characters thus far in the “trilogy,” Milton Fisk. A writer, raconteur, and the fella who may save the day in the end. Oh, I mustn’t forget Mr. Unbelievable. You’ll meet him, too. I thoroughly enjoyed Fortunate Son and can’t wait for the ninth volume. So there, you anal individuals out there.