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McGarry Stateside #1
Disaster Inc
He’s a good man having a bad day with the worst hangover.
All Bunny McGarry wants is a spot of breakfast and a decent cup of tea. So imagine how annoyed he gets when two masked men attempt to rob the New York diner he is in? Unfortunately, dealing with that problem just leads to a whole lot more. One of the diner’s other customers isn’t who she appears to be, and the odds aren’t great that she is going to live to see another breakfast.
So just how much trouble is she in?
Well, you know how they’re always telling us to pay attention to our pensions? Some ex-employees of the US government are really taking that advice to heart by using their mayhem-creating abilities to maximise their investments. When one of their fund managers has a momentary crisis of conscience and confesses all to a woman he hardly knows, they will stop at nothing to deal with the problem. Amy Daniels is in big trouble and the only thing keeping her alive is a man who is supposed to already be dead.
Disaster Inc is the first book in a new series featuring Bunny McGarry, beloved by those who enjoyed the critically-acclaimed Dublin Trilogy of books. It melds high-octane action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit.
All Bunny McGarry wants is a spot of breakfast and a decent cup of tea. So imagine how annoyed he gets when two masked men attempt to rob the New York diner he is in? Unfortunately, dealing with that problem just leads to a whole lot more. One of the diner’s other customers isn’t who she appears to be, and the odds aren’t great that she is going to live to see another breakfast.
So just how much trouble is she in?
Well, you know how they’re always telling us to pay attention to our pensions? Some ex-employees of the US government are really taking that advice to heart by using their mayhem-creating abilities to maximise their investments. When one of their fund managers has a momentary crisis of conscience and confesses all to a woman he hardly knows, they will stop at nothing to deal with the problem. Amy Daniels is in big trouble and the only thing keeping her alive is a man who is supposed to already be dead.
Disaster Inc is the first book in a new series featuring Bunny McGarry, beloved by those who enjoyed the critically-acclaimed Dublin Trilogy of books. It melds high-octane action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit.
304 pages, ebook
First published September 15, 2018
1844 people are currently reading
2540 people want to read
About the author
Caimh McDonnell
41 books1,718 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 352 reviews
July 8, 2019
"I'm an alien,
an illegal alien,
I'm an Irishman in New York."
Please forgive me, Mr. Sting, for changing the lyrics just a little to fit this review. And, just as a disclaimer, to give credit where it is due, the above mentioned lyrics is from a song called MY WAY by the great Buddy Holly...
Are you familiar with Bunny McGarry?
If not, let me give you a visual - and for those of you who don't know me, I simply lack the skills to actually put a picture in here, so you will have to be satisfied with a description:
Have you seen the movie RAISING ARIZONA? It doesn't matter if you didn't, because the female lead in that movie was Holly Hunter, who appeared in a movie called THE PIANO with (if you're wondering why I'm taking this road it is because I couldn't think of the actor's name off the top of my head so I had to divert your attention while I racked my brain to come up with) Harvey Keitel. In my mind, he would be the perfect actor to play Bunny McGarry.
He is an Irish cop who is in the USA illegally, looking for the one woman he loves...
No, that makes him sound way too romantic. Let's put it another way - he's a big, ugly and bad mo-fo, with his own set of rules and morals, who fights dirty and drinks heavy.
Well, for the first time in his life, he can't remember what had happened to him the previous day - "I was spiked!" - and he finds himself in a diner, severely hung over and unable to get a cup of tea, looking like a vagrant who lost everything, when two guys in masks come in to rob the place.
That's where this story begins.
Now, Bunny must help a damsel in distress and try to piece together the previous day to get his stuff back that was stolen.
Here's another quote (and I can't remember from where - sigh):
"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble pretty much knows where I am most of the time."
___________________________
Right, I loved this book by Caimh McDonnell. He is funny and his characters can be very unique at times - you find yourself swept away into their world very easily. There are some surprises which I'm not going to spoil for anybody.
Lots of fun for everyone!
an illegal alien,
I'm an Irishman in New York."
Please forgive me, Mr. Sting, for changing the lyrics just a little to fit this review. And, just as a disclaimer, to give credit where it is due, the above mentioned lyrics is from a song called MY WAY by the great Buddy Holly...
Are you familiar with Bunny McGarry?
If not, let me give you a visual - and for those of you who don't know me, I simply lack the skills to actually put a picture in here, so you will have to be satisfied with a description:
Have you seen the movie RAISING ARIZONA? It doesn't matter if you didn't, because the female lead in that movie was Holly Hunter, who appeared in a movie called THE PIANO with (if you're wondering why I'm taking this road it is because I couldn't think of the actor's name off the top of my head so I had to divert your attention while I racked my brain to come up with) Harvey Keitel. In my mind, he would be the perfect actor to play Bunny McGarry.
He is an Irish cop who is in the USA illegally, looking for the one woman he loves...
No, that makes him sound way too romantic. Let's put it another way - he's a big, ugly and bad mo-fo, with his own set of rules and morals, who fights dirty and drinks heavy.
Well, for the first time in his life, he can't remember what had happened to him the previous day - "I was spiked!" - and he finds himself in a diner, severely hung over and unable to get a cup of tea, looking like a vagrant who lost everything, when two guys in masks come in to rob the place.
That's where this story begins.
Now, Bunny must help a damsel in distress and try to piece together the previous day to get his stuff back that was stolen.
Here's another quote (and I can't remember from where - sigh):
"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble pretty much knows where I am most of the time."
___________________________
Right, I loved this book by Caimh McDonnell. He is funny and his characters can be very unique at times - you find yourself swept away into their world very easily. There are some surprises which I'm not going to spoil for anybody.
Lots of fun for everyone!
September 24, 2018
My choice of Caimh McDonnell’s book was made in a somewhat blind manner. Choosing the book entirely based on its cover, I had no idea what to expect or how I would enjoy the piece. To say that the book was a surprise is an understatement, though it is perhaps this lack of knowledge that made the reading all the more adventurous. When Bunny McGarry walks into a rural diner, he has little idea what to expect. Besides being without tea—a shock that resonates throughout the piece—this small eatery is filled with an interesting cross-section of folks. The peaceful nature is shattered when two masked men enter and begin waving around their guns. While Bunny tries to diffuse the situation, these men are on a mission, which is derailed when Bunny takes things into his own hands. Fleeing before the cops can make their way to the scene, he is approached by one of the diners who is willing to aid in his escape. Amy Daniels admits that she was the one those men sought, having become tangled in their web not too long before. Amy holds a secret about them that could cause many issues and her life is likely in jeopardy in order to protect the men. While Bunny and Amy try to stay off the radar, there is fallout from the botched attack at the diner. The two men are part of an investment firm that has been helping a number of former government bureaucrats pad their retirement nest eggs in some less than savoury ways. Dubbing themselves Disaster Inc. they are being controlled by a woman who seeks to keep her secret from making it to the authorities, willing to expose and exterminate anyone in her way. In order to stay away from her potential captors, Amy agrees to help Bunny trace his whereabouts leading up to arriving at the diner, on one of his benders that saw his traipsing all across New York City. Amy’s eyes are opened to all the antics that Bunny McGarry can undertake in a single night, which serves only to distract her from her larger issues. An interesting story for some, but I could not find myself latching on, no matter what McDonnell had to offer. There are apparently other branch-off books in a parallel series, which may interest fans, but I think this is one surprise that is not sitting well with me.
The trouble with walking into a story blindly is that you never know what you’ll get. I have found some winners and a couple of real hot messes in my reading gambles. This one veers closer to the latter category for me, though I am sure others will lap it up and laud McDonnell’s work. I found that the Bunny McGarry character had some interesting Irish tendencies and his humour was top-notch, but I could not see myself overly drawn to what he did while meandering from A to B within the chapters of this book. His full backstory and development is likely better understood by latching onto the series McDonnell has written, but in this case, a drunk Irishman who has muscles and a decent brain did little for me. Amy Daniels was also one of those characters you either loved or hated. I suppose I can sit on the fence and feel tepid about her, though she’s one that made little impact on me. The others found their way into the story and served a purpose, but did little for me, as I begged for a strong narrative to capture my attention. I was not driven to utter literary frustration with the book, but just could not find anything exciting or stimulating to keep me attracted. I skimmed at times, seeking something, but found little that kept me wanting to thoroughly examine the plot as it developed. McDonnell can surely write and keep the story moving, but I found little of interest. Aptly titled, it was a disaster and one that I’ll remember. Blind reading can be troublesome, especially for someone who has such strong sentiments about the books I place before me. Still, it was an excellent way to push me out of my rigid reading rules. I’d do it again, though I am not sure I want to spend more time with Bunny McGarry and his band of merry drinkers.
Kudos, Mr. McDonnell, for what is surely a wonderful addition to your writing repertoire. I just could not find my niche in it.
This book fulfills Topic #2: Reading Blind in the Equinox #5 Reading Challenge. Thank you, Adrea Pierce, for the topic choice.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The trouble with walking into a story blindly is that you never know what you’ll get. I have found some winners and a couple of real hot messes in my reading gambles. This one veers closer to the latter category for me, though I am sure others will lap it up and laud McDonnell’s work. I found that the Bunny McGarry character had some interesting Irish tendencies and his humour was top-notch, but I could not see myself overly drawn to what he did while meandering from A to B within the chapters of this book. His full backstory and development is likely better understood by latching onto the series McDonnell has written, but in this case, a drunk Irishman who has muscles and a decent brain did little for me. Amy Daniels was also one of those characters you either loved or hated. I suppose I can sit on the fence and feel tepid about her, though she’s one that made little impact on me. The others found their way into the story and served a purpose, but did little for me, as I begged for a strong narrative to capture my attention. I was not driven to utter literary frustration with the book, but just could not find anything exciting or stimulating to keep me attracted. I skimmed at times, seeking something, but found little that kept me wanting to thoroughly examine the plot as it developed. McDonnell can surely write and keep the story moving, but I found little of interest. Aptly titled, it was a disaster and one that I’ll remember. Blind reading can be troublesome, especially for someone who has such strong sentiments about the books I place before me. Still, it was an excellent way to push me out of my rigid reading rules. I’d do it again, though I am not sure I want to spend more time with Bunny McGarry and his band of merry drinkers.
Kudos, Mr. McDonnell, for what is surely a wonderful addition to your writing repertoire. I just could not find my niche in it.
This book fulfills Topic #2: Reading Blind in the Equinox #5 Reading Challenge. Thank you, Adrea Pierce, for the topic choice.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 19, 2020
This was my third McDonnell book in five weeks, so I suppose you could say I've become something of a fan. Maybe not quite as funny as 'A Man With One of Those Faces', but brilliant characters, a clever plot and loads of great jokes made this a great read from start to finish.
October 4, 2018
The main character in this book is Bunny McGarry from the author’s 4-book trilogy (not a typo!). Bunny is in New York City searching for the woman he loves, also from the same trilogy. Bunny has a benefactor who also has an interest in finding this woman. The problem is St. Patrick’s Day and Bunny’s consumption of alcohol. He passes out on a park bench and loses his belongings. In search of tea in a diner, he can’t help but put a stop to a robbery. This gets him involved in someone else’s problem, and he has no resources. His benefactor is also not happy when the search for the woman is temporarily halted.
This was a good book, although I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previously mentioned trilogy. I do like Bunny, but he was a fish out of water here. He didn’t seem true to himself. After being bested in one meeting, he felt weak and lost. The writing was fine and I will read more by Caimh McDonnell. (In case you’re wondering, Caimh is pronounced “Queeve” according to the author himself.)
This was a good book, although I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previously mentioned trilogy. I do like Bunny, but he was a fish out of water here. He didn’t seem true to himself. After being bested in one meeting, he felt weak and lost. The writing was fine and I will read more by Caimh McDonnell. (In case you’re wondering, Caimh is pronounced “Queeve” according to the author himself.)
January 11, 2025
McGarry Stateside #1 begins with Bunny hungover and tealess in a New York diner with no money and little idea of what happened the day before (St Patrick's Day).
He's supposed to be looking for his lost love, Simone, but since he's in America with a phone that will ring only the one number and a daily allowance of $200 (courtesy of Agent "Dove") he's got to keep his head down hasn't he?
Except the next thing that happens is an armed robbery which leads Bunny into an extremely dangerous plot involving the security services, Wall Street fund managers and a husky called Not Gene Simmons.
It will all become clear in the end but all Bunny has on his side are a dominatrix, a dwarf and a thief called Diller to help him unravel the devious plot that could easily ruin all their lives and put a quick end to his search for Simone.
It took me a little while to get into this but once started, I couldn't put it down. It's the usual mix of cunning plots, insane scenarios, interesting friends and a lot of laughs. I've been reluctant to get into Stateside Bunny because Ireland felt like the only place Bunny could do what he does but I was wrong. This book lives up to the rest of the Bunny story and then some.
Highly recommended.
He's supposed to be looking for his lost love, Simone, but since he's in America with a phone that will ring only the one number and a daily allowance of $200 (courtesy of Agent "Dove") he's got to keep his head down hasn't he?
Except the next thing that happens is an armed robbery which leads Bunny into an extremely dangerous plot involving the security services, Wall Street fund managers and a husky called Not Gene Simmons.
It will all become clear in the end but all Bunny has on his side are a dominatrix, a dwarf and a thief called Diller to help him unravel the devious plot that could easily ruin all their lives and put a quick end to his search for Simone.
It took me a little while to get into this but once started, I couldn't put it down. It's the usual mix of cunning plots, insane scenarios, interesting friends and a lot of laughs. I've been reluctant to get into Stateside Bunny because Ireland felt like the only place Bunny could do what he does but I was wrong. This book lives up to the rest of the Bunny story and then some.
Highly recommended.
September 23, 2018
Man, what a ride this book is. I hesitate to call it a novel, because it's a movie in my opinion. As I was reading all the perfectly set up scenes with the most colorful characters and crazy action start to finish I thought it was movie script that didn't get optioned.
Then I find there is a trilogy that grew into four books featuring Bunny? Now looking at the list of books by this author I am a tad confused because it does seem like an introduction to Bunny.
I will resolve and I will calm down but it's hard with the final minutes of the Bears game.
I actually think I started one of his books and abandoned it. What was I thinking? This book is great entertainment.
Then I find there is a trilogy that grew into four books featuring Bunny? Now looking at the list of books by this author I am a tad confused because it does seem like an introduction to Bunny.
I will resolve and I will calm down but it's hard with the final minutes of the Bears game.
I actually think I started one of his books and abandoned it. What was I thinking? This book is great entertainment.
April 30, 2022
A clever plot with lots of twists and turns that will keep you at the edge of your seat, with the added bonus of one of my favorite characters the not-so-dead Bunny McGarry.
Looking forward to reading more novels from the series.
Looking forward to reading more novels from the series.
September 28, 2018
Bunny McGarry is a wonderful character, and if you have't read the Dublin trilogy then you've got a treat if you want more of him.
Here he's very much a fish out of water as he's in New York and he's lost all of his possessions.
The first part of this story is a brilliant whydunnit where he unravels the series of events that led up to this. I was reminded of the Hangover as he retraces his steps, and we find out alongside him all of the appalling things that he did while he was blind drunk.
He collects an ensemble of drinking buddies who help him to crack open the crime that's at the centre of this episode with the most amazing finale, full of equal amounts of slapstick and tension
Here he's very much a fish out of water as he's in New York and he's lost all of his possessions.
The first part of this story is a brilliant whydunnit where he unravels the series of events that led up to this. I was reminded of the Hangover as he retraces his steps, and we find out alongside him all of the appalling things that he did while he was blind drunk.
He collects an ensemble of drinking buddies who help him to crack open the crime that's at the centre of this episode with the most amazing finale, full of equal amounts of slapstick and tension
October 8, 2018
Disaster Inc ~ ‘Where there’s pain, there’s gain’
I’ve been a huge fan of Caimh McDonnell’s books from the beginning, having read all four books in The Dublin Trilogy. (yes that is four!!!) There is something about Caimh’s wit and comic timing, that features across all his books, that just appeals. I was thrilled to hear he had recently released a new series but with a very familiar face, my man, Bunny McGarry.
Disaster Inc, (aka Bunny McGarry #1), is described as a book that ‘melds high-octane action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit.’
I know there is the official book description for Disaster Inc,, but I just love this alternative one…
‘The man, the myth, the legend. Bunny McGarry is back and stomping about the mean streets of New York. Join him as he takes a massive leap out of his comfort zone all in an effort to save the woman he loves. Before he can do that, he has to deal with a bit of a situation that happens over breakfast.
It’s like Jack Reacher if he’d taken more of a shine to the drink’
I mean seriously, Jack Reacher with a drink problem? Get your head around that image 🙂
Bunny McGarry is back, and as ever, he means business…but not until he drinks himself into oblivion and wakes up with the hangover from hell. With his money and mobile phone missing, Bunny soon realises that he is in New York, a different stomping ground from the streets of Dublin, a place where life moves a little differently, yet people can still act just as inane and stupidly. Bunny is well annoyed and goes in search of the one person who he says owes him from way back. But for Bunny McGarry, nothing is straightforward, as he soon finds himself part of a take-down at a cafe where he was about to enjoy breakfast.
Bunny McGarry comes into his own when faced with adversity. His one-liners and quips are written by Caimh McDonnell with such humour and laced with the Irish/Cork wit that I know so well. Most people in a robbery situation will panic, hands in the air, but for Bunny it’s just an interruption in his day, an inconvenience to his hangover…
‘No offence lads, but I’m not that intimidated by arseholes in balaclavas. I come from the country that invented the concept’
What Bunny hadn’t expected though was to be caught up in a scam of mesmeric proportions involving ex-government officials with a team on-hand intent on keeping the silence, at what-ever cost.
Amy Daniels is the target and Bunny, against all his better judgement, finds himself by her side as the one person who can help her……
Bunny and Amy settle into some semblance of a partnership, in an attempt to salvage Amy’s reputation and save her life.
‘Amy found herself trusting him. As much as she could not put her finger on why, it was the notion that untrustworthy people, in her experience, put considerably more effort into their presentation. Bunny snorted, belched and aggressively scratched at his nether regions. The man was like a biological orchestra.’
Bunny had gone to New York, undercover, looking for the woman he loves. He is supposed to be keeping a very low profile but soon he is involved with wild horseback chases across parks, flash mob scenes, incognito disguises and taking down the bad guys. Bunny doesn’t do anything by half and in this latest series, his ability to see humour in dark situations and his fearless approach to any scenario, makes for an action-packed and very entertaining tale.
Bunny McGarry is an enigma. In Disaster Inc he is an Irishman let loose on the streets of New York, without a fear in the world for his own safety. He has the eye of an experienced policeman, with the talent to spot the baddy at all times. The combination of smartness and fearlessness make him a very dangerous foe indeed, as woe betide any who get in his way.
Disaster Inc is a great start to a new series from Caimh McDonnell. Bunny McGarry is such a wonderful character and his American adventures just add to his CV as our very own Irish Jack ‘Óg’ Reacher 🙂 The one item missing though is the hurley….Caimh where is the hurl?
Pure entertainment. Full of action. Irish Humour and wit.
I’ve been a huge fan of Caimh McDonnell’s books from the beginning, having read all four books in The Dublin Trilogy. (yes that is four!!!) There is something about Caimh’s wit and comic timing, that features across all his books, that just appeals. I was thrilled to hear he had recently released a new series but with a very familiar face, my man, Bunny McGarry.
Disaster Inc, (aka Bunny McGarry #1), is described as a book that ‘melds high-octane action with a distinctly Irish acerbic wit.’
I know there is the official book description for Disaster Inc,, but I just love this alternative one…
‘The man, the myth, the legend. Bunny McGarry is back and stomping about the mean streets of New York. Join him as he takes a massive leap out of his comfort zone all in an effort to save the woman he loves. Before he can do that, he has to deal with a bit of a situation that happens over breakfast.
It’s like Jack Reacher if he’d taken more of a shine to the drink’
I mean seriously, Jack Reacher with a drink problem? Get your head around that image 🙂
Bunny McGarry is back, and as ever, he means business…but not until he drinks himself into oblivion and wakes up with the hangover from hell. With his money and mobile phone missing, Bunny soon realises that he is in New York, a different stomping ground from the streets of Dublin, a place where life moves a little differently, yet people can still act just as inane and stupidly. Bunny is well annoyed and goes in search of the one person who he says owes him from way back. But for Bunny McGarry, nothing is straightforward, as he soon finds himself part of a take-down at a cafe where he was about to enjoy breakfast.
Bunny McGarry comes into his own when faced with adversity. His one-liners and quips are written by Caimh McDonnell with such humour and laced with the Irish/Cork wit that I know so well. Most people in a robbery situation will panic, hands in the air, but for Bunny it’s just an interruption in his day, an inconvenience to his hangover…
‘No offence lads, but I’m not that intimidated by arseholes in balaclavas. I come from the country that invented the concept’
What Bunny hadn’t expected though was to be caught up in a scam of mesmeric proportions involving ex-government officials with a team on-hand intent on keeping the silence, at what-ever cost.
Amy Daniels is the target and Bunny, against all his better judgement, finds himself by her side as the one person who can help her……
Bunny and Amy settle into some semblance of a partnership, in an attempt to salvage Amy’s reputation and save her life.
‘Amy found herself trusting him. As much as she could not put her finger on why, it was the notion that untrustworthy people, in her experience, put considerably more effort into their presentation. Bunny snorted, belched and aggressively scratched at his nether regions. The man was like a biological orchestra.’
Bunny had gone to New York, undercover, looking for the woman he loves. He is supposed to be keeping a very low profile but soon he is involved with wild horseback chases across parks, flash mob scenes, incognito disguises and taking down the bad guys. Bunny doesn’t do anything by half and in this latest series, his ability to see humour in dark situations and his fearless approach to any scenario, makes for an action-packed and very entertaining tale.
Bunny McGarry is an enigma. In Disaster Inc he is an Irishman let loose on the streets of New York, without a fear in the world for his own safety. He has the eye of an experienced policeman, with the talent to spot the baddy at all times. The combination of smartness and fearlessness make him a very dangerous foe indeed, as woe betide any who get in his way.
Disaster Inc is a great start to a new series from Caimh McDonnell. Bunny McGarry is such a wonderful character and his American adventures just add to his CV as our very own Irish Jack ‘Óg’ Reacher 🙂 The one item missing though is the hurley….Caimh where is the hurl?
Pure entertainment. Full of action. Irish Humour and wit.
September 22, 2021
Overweight, underpaid, and often intoxicated Irish detective Bunny McGarry is up to his eyeballs in alligators when he comes to the United States to find a missing woman. He can’t escape trouble, even in a coffee shop where he can’t get a cup of tea. Before he knows it, he rescues a dominatrix who secretly plies her trade to pay her way through law school, befriends a dwarf who may or may not have stolen his wallet and cell phone, and is targeted by the most vicious female assassin in recent memory.
From the very beginning you realize that you’re not in Kansas anymore. In fact, you’re immersed in a very weird story filled with very quirky characters doing any number of nefarious deeds. By the time you reach the crazy, chaotic, no-holds-barred conclusion, you know you’ve found the mother lode of all weirdness.
Ol’ “Queeve” (yeah, we’ve been through this before. That’s how his name is pronounced. What can you do with the Irish?)—ol’ Caimh has done it again—concocted a wild, madcap romp that would do the Coen Brothers proud.
Disaster Inc. is a laugh-out-loud, page-turning, action-packed thriller not to be missed.
From the very beginning you realize that you’re not in Kansas anymore. In fact, you’re immersed in a very weird story filled with very quirky characters doing any number of nefarious deeds. By the time you reach the crazy, chaotic, no-holds-barred conclusion, you know you’ve found the mother lode of all weirdness.
Ol’ “Queeve” (yeah, we’ve been through this before. That’s how his name is pronounced. What can you do with the Irish?)—ol’ Caimh has done it again—concocted a wild, madcap romp that would do the Coen Brothers proud.
Disaster Inc. is a laugh-out-loud, page-turning, action-packed thriller not to be missed.
February 23, 2019
“He had a face for belligerence. Hope didn’t suit it.”
This strikes me as the perfect description of Bunny McGarry, one of my now favorite characters in the Irish Detective/ mystery genre. Featured in Disaster, Inc., Bunny is in New York, searching for his long lost love, with the clandestine support of a government agency who have their own reasons for wanting to locate her. Good idea, right? Put a mad Irish cop (retired) in the big apple, where he’s a fish out of water; add a young woman who’s working her way through law school as dominatrix (she’s actually a very normal individual who manages to keep her real life separate from the job), a dwarf, erm, midget, erm, little person, and a larcenous unemployed actor, and voila: you’ve all the ingredients for some madcap mayhem.
Well, at least that’s what author Caimh McDonnell seems to have thought when writing this follow up novel to the wonderful Dublin trilogy. And don’t misunderstand, it is a pretty funny romp. The problem, for me anyway, is that it sort of crosses over from clever and engaging to silly and frivolous. Despite several really good chapters, there were a few too many instances where I felt as though I was reading a script for some television movie, complete with the climactic chase scene and tidy denouement.
The sense of place just isn’t the same— Bunny McGarry belongs in Ireland.
The plot is actually fine, but the bad guys are too caricatured and predictable. The gal with whom Bunny becomes connected and whose life he manages to save is an interesting character, as is the aforementioned actor whose penchant for theft inadvertently ties him to Bunny. But many of the other colorful characters are just over the top and unbelievable.
Perhaps I missed something and this was meant to be more of a slapstick comedy than I bargained for. Or perhaps, the author was just stretching his literary legs to see what else he could do with a terrific protagonist. In any event, the result is a good, but not great, addition to the series. 3.5 stars and a solid hope that Bunny’s pursuit of his mysterious love takes him back to the Emerald Isle post haste.
This strikes me as the perfect description of Bunny McGarry, one of my now favorite characters in the Irish Detective/ mystery genre. Featured in Disaster, Inc., Bunny is in New York, searching for his long lost love, with the clandestine support of a government agency who have their own reasons for wanting to locate her. Good idea, right? Put a mad Irish cop (retired) in the big apple, where he’s a fish out of water; add a young woman who’s working her way through law school as dominatrix (she’s actually a very normal individual who manages to keep her real life separate from the job), a dwarf, erm, midget, erm, little person, and a larcenous unemployed actor, and voila: you’ve all the ingredients for some madcap mayhem.
Well, at least that’s what author Caimh McDonnell seems to have thought when writing this follow up novel to the wonderful Dublin trilogy. And don’t misunderstand, it is a pretty funny romp. The problem, for me anyway, is that it sort of crosses over from clever and engaging to silly and frivolous. Despite several really good chapters, there were a few too many instances where I felt as though I was reading a script for some television movie, complete with the climactic chase scene and tidy denouement.
The sense of place just isn’t the same— Bunny McGarry belongs in Ireland.
The plot is actually fine, but the bad guys are too caricatured and predictable. The gal with whom Bunny becomes connected and whose life he manages to save is an interesting character, as is the aforementioned actor whose penchant for theft inadvertently ties him to Bunny. But many of the other colorful characters are just over the top and unbelievable.
Perhaps I missed something and this was meant to be more of a slapstick comedy than I bargained for. Or perhaps, the author was just stretching his literary legs to see what else he could do with a terrific protagonist. In any event, the result is a good, but not great, addition to the series. 3.5 stars and a solid hope that Bunny’s pursuit of his mysterious love takes him back to the Emerald Isle post haste.
December 16, 2018
Absolutely loved this book--since I heartily enjoyed the previous four books of the "Dublin Trilogy"--and while this is a new chapter of the saga with Bunny, trying to track down Simone after being declared dead back in Ireland, I think this book is best only after reading all the others.
If only because it makes much of Bunny's actions throughout the book make sense and have more meaning behind them--although this is also standard wacky caper fare too. Coed putting herself though law school with a bit of dominatrixing of Wall Street elites, only to find herself being told more than she wanted to, and now is being hunted by assassins & rogue government agents, turns to the unlikely Bunny for help. Chaos ensues.
Am glad that this series is not over and is continuing onward. Bunny better find those nuns!
If only because it makes much of Bunny's actions throughout the book make sense and have more meaning behind them--although this is also standard wacky caper fare too. Coed putting herself though law school with a bit of dominatrixing of Wall Street elites, only to find herself being told more than she wanted to, and now is being hunted by assassins & rogue government agents, turns to the unlikely Bunny for help. Chaos ensues.
Am glad that this series is not over and is continuing onward. Bunny better find those nuns!
September 23, 2018
Genius, Caimh does it again!
If I could, i'd give disaster Inc higher than 5*. Each and every one of Caimh's books I've read I've thought, he can't possibly beat the last one. But o yes he can. He brings his characters to life like no other author I've read. I bloody love Bunny, and his 'situations' and all the other characters that made this book side splitting hilarious!!!! With an excellent detective plot, this is a story you will never want to end. Thank you Caimh, for annoying my husband with my constant sniggering and giggles, and his constant "what's so funny".
If I could, i'd give disaster Inc higher than 5*. Each and every one of Caimh's books I've read I've thought, he can't possibly beat the last one. But o yes he can. He brings his characters to life like no other author I've read. I bloody love Bunny, and his 'situations' and all the other characters that made this book side splitting hilarious!!!! With an excellent detective plot, this is a story you will never want to end. Thank you Caimh, for annoying my husband with my constant sniggering and giggles, and his constant "what's so funny".
May 4, 2019
Bunny McGarry has to be my favourite literary creation in years. Just read this book and all the others in the series!
December 12, 2019
Ah Bunny! What kind of trouble are you getting yourself into this time? Welcome to the states! We're glad to have you.
Disaster, Inc is an action-packed story with lots of laughs. The colorful cast of characters, including New York struggling actors Smithy and Diller, and professional dominatrix and aspiring attorney Amy, keep things interesting.
In keeping with Mr. McDonnell's rule breaking four-book trilogy, Disaster, Inc. includes multiple epilogues. More bang for your buck with this guy!
The Author's Note warns us that some spellings will not be what we Yankees are accustomed to. But I was a little tickled to hear Irish dialogue such as "Fair play" used by New Yorkers.
I'm reminded of Donald Westlake, and on that note I've bought my mom one of Caihm's books for Christmas. Shhh, don't spill the beans.
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Disaster, Inc is an action-packed story with lots of laughs. The colorful cast of characters, including New York struggling actors Smithy and Diller, and professional dominatrix and aspiring attorney Amy, keep things interesting.
In keeping with Mr. McDonnell's rule breaking four-book trilogy, Disaster, Inc. includes multiple epilogues. More bang for your buck with this guy!
The Author's Note warns us that some spellings will not be what we Yankees are accustomed to. But I was a little tickled to hear Irish dialogue such as "Fair play" used by New Yorkers.
I'm reminded of Donald Westlake, and on that note I've bought my mom one of Caihm's books for Christmas. Shhh, don't spill the beans.
Subscribe to his newsletter. It's always fun and never spammy.
December 3, 2018
After finishing the Dublin Trilogy, Caimh McDonnell decided to go in a new direction-what is Bunny McGarry up to? This time, he's starting fresh new antics in New York, which lends a new sense of novelty. More subdued than his previous life in Ireland, what he gets up to is arguably as funnier and equally deranged, much to the reader's delight. The plot itself is a bit darker as it's entirely viable, but ultimately the ending feels very satisfying. It's as if the movies Goldeneye and Wall Street mixed with a dash of Irish to combine the plot, and boy was it a wild ride! Characters are multi-faceted to the point where you feel like you know them and/or someone like them. In short, this is the crime (if you can call it that) novel you need to pick up ASAP!
February 13, 2021
As much as I like Bunny McGarry, this installment is tedious. It is like McDonnell can’t decide whether he’s writing a character-driven novel or a plot-driven novel. The former is his sweet spot, in my opinion, and when he tries to do both, it is a muddle.
September 9, 2025
Anything with Bunny is my cup of tea. Unfortunately Bunny struggles really hard to get his cup of tea in New York.
Usually Bunny is ably supported by his delightful ensemble in creating a supremely enjoyable reading experience. Here, however lacking that ensemble all the way in New York, Bunny has to do a lot of heavy lifting to keep the story engaging. The new set of characters is not really as good. This also means a lot of the usual banter does not really build personalities for the new crew but rather like fluff that could have used a bit of trimming down. Hence this one is less of a Bunny McGarry novel and more like a drunk and bumbling Irish Jack Reacher who gets himself tangled with big conspiracy involving multi-lettered Governmental agencies.
Usually Bunny is ably supported by his delightful ensemble in creating a supremely enjoyable reading experience. Here, however lacking that ensemble all the way in New York, Bunny has to do a lot of heavy lifting to keep the story engaging. The new set of characters is not really as good. This also means a lot of the usual banter does not really build personalities for the new crew but rather like fluff that could have used a bit of trimming down. Hence this one is less of a Bunny McGarry novel and more like a drunk and bumbling Irish Jack Reacher who gets himself tangled with big conspiracy involving multi-lettered Governmental agencies.
July 25, 2025
spannend, origineel, grappig
aanrader
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
aanrader
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
October 10, 2018
It can often be a tricky thing, taking a much-loved character and placing him or her in a strange new world — away from the familiar tropes and atmosphere, can the character stand on their own?
This is especially true of Bunny McGarry, a man who is both definitively Irish and definitively of Ireland, a man who started out life as a fringe player in someone else's story and yet came to inhabit the entire Dublin Trilogy world.
And so, as Caimh McDonnell stretches his literary legs and sets out with Bunny's own series the action moves to New York. A place Bunny has never been to before, but more importantly a place that has never been Bunny'd.
Now, we could have had some gentle pre-amble, breaking us in gently to this world, but this is where McDonnell comes into his own.
By setting the opening scene in something iconic, something that cuts across any possible cultural barriers, we are in that diner with Bunny from the off. We're in America. We're safe.
From here on in, McDonnell takes us on another rollercoaster ride of hilarious crime capery as Bunny gets wrapped up in someone else's mess.
Now, I've known how good a writer McDonnell is since The Man With One Of Those Faces crossed my path, but in Disaster Inc he's gone up a notch.
He creates an utterly realistic world, an issue in the financial sector that as someone who has read a lot on the 2008 shitstorm rings true and clear.
And he can create characters out of nothing.
People we meet fleetingly we feel we know well, while the larger characters become good friends within mere pages.
He's a bit good, this lad.
We veer off at wonderful tangents, there are tiny comedy bombs that go off when least expected (Not Gene Simmons is brilliant), and all while the main thread is unfolding at a rip-roaring pace.
If there is one problem with this book, it is this — the final third is almost painful, because while you want to race through to the end to find out what happens, you also don't want the book to finish.
In the final couple of hours I put the book down and then picked it straight up again more times than a hesitant shoplifter.
It's been wonderful to have discovered McDonnell's writing from the moment his first book arrived, and with each subsequent novel I have watched his world grow and expand along with his stature as an author.
As I said to a friend the other day, he is now one of my favourite modern writers, and I can't wait for Bunny's next adventure.
This is especially true of Bunny McGarry, a man who is both definitively Irish and definitively of Ireland, a man who started out life as a fringe player in someone else's story and yet came to inhabit the entire Dublin Trilogy world.
And so, as Caimh McDonnell stretches his literary legs and sets out with Bunny's own series the action moves to New York. A place Bunny has never been to before, but more importantly a place that has never been Bunny'd.
Now, we could have had some gentle pre-amble, breaking us in gently to this world, but this is where McDonnell comes into his own.
By setting the opening scene in something iconic, something that cuts across any possible cultural barriers, we are in that diner with Bunny from the off. We're in America. We're safe.
From here on in, McDonnell takes us on another rollercoaster ride of hilarious crime capery as Bunny gets wrapped up in someone else's mess.
Now, I've known how good a writer McDonnell is since The Man With One Of Those Faces crossed my path, but in Disaster Inc he's gone up a notch.
He creates an utterly realistic world, an issue in the financial sector that as someone who has read a lot on the 2008 shitstorm rings true and clear.
And he can create characters out of nothing.
People we meet fleetingly we feel we know well, while the larger characters become good friends within mere pages.
He's a bit good, this lad.
We veer off at wonderful tangents, there are tiny comedy bombs that go off when least expected (Not Gene Simmons is brilliant), and all while the main thread is unfolding at a rip-roaring pace.
If there is one problem with this book, it is this — the final third is almost painful, because while you want to race through to the end to find out what happens, you also don't want the book to finish.
In the final couple of hours I put the book down and then picked it straight up again more times than a hesitant shoplifter.
It's been wonderful to have discovered McDonnell's writing from the moment his first book arrived, and with each subsequent novel I have watched his world grow and expand along with his stature as an author.
As I said to a friend the other day, he is now one of my favourite modern writers, and I can't wait for Bunny's next adventure.
November 29, 2018
The best one yet!
Having just binge read all four books in The Dublin Trilogy(yes, there are 4. Get over it.), and loving each of them, I didn’t think there was anyway you could get any better. Man, I was wrong. This new series is incredible. I had no idea what to expect when I started reading it. How could they possibly put our beloved Bunny into America without it becoming some clichéd fish out of water story. Thankfully, every bit of humor, drama, suspense, and action are perfectly executed. Unfortunately, now I have to wait until 2019 for the sequel.
Having just binge read all four books in The Dublin Trilogy(yes, there are 4. Get over it.), and loving each of them, I didn’t think there was anyway you could get any better. Man, I was wrong. This new series is incredible. I had no idea what to expect when I started reading it. How could they possibly put our beloved Bunny into America without it becoming some clichéd fish out of water story. Thankfully, every bit of humor, drama, suspense, and action are perfectly executed. Unfortunately, now I have to wait until 2019 for the sequel.
September 18, 2018
Great book!
I would recommend reading all the books before this one (although I don't think it's crucial) so that you'll have a good idea who Bunny really is. I rarely laugh out loud, even when I find something humorous but there were times reading this book (and all of Caimh's books) when I did laugh out loud. Even more later when I merely thought about a funny scene from the book, I'd laugh again. Read it! It's worth it!
I would recommend reading all the books before this one (although I don't think it's crucial) so that you'll have a good idea who Bunny really is. I rarely laugh out loud, even when I find something humorous but there were times reading this book (and all of Caimh's books) when I did laugh out loud. Even more later when I merely thought about a funny scene from the book, I'd laugh again. Read it! It's worth it!
September 29, 2018
The latest from Caimh McDonnell spins off from the story of his Dublin Trilogy, taking the Guinness powered Bunny McGarry across the Atlantic and dragging him into a conspiracy he has no place being involved with.
McDonnell's storytelling has grown in scope but is still primarily focused on the interaction between people. His trademark humour is firmly in place too.
If you liked the Dublin Trilogy you'll love this and if you haven't read them this can be a great jumping on point too!
McDonnell's storytelling has grown in scope but is still primarily focused on the interaction between people. His trademark humour is firmly in place too.
If you liked the Dublin Trilogy you'll love this and if you haven't read them this can be a great jumping on point too!
May 12, 2020
I didn't think Bunny McGarry could be any funnier than he was in Dublin, but here he is in New York, making me laugh all over again as he stirs up mayhem and searches for a full Irish breakfast and a cup of tea. He is Ireland's answer to Don Quixote, Sam Spade and Bernie Rhodenbarr. Love him.
September 1, 2021
The bits with Bunny were entertaining as usual, but I didn’t warm to the American characters or their goings-on. It was a bit disappointing that Bunny got sidetracked from the reason he went to the States. That was the story I wanted to read.
November 1, 2021
Fairly enjoyable but over all, disappointing
March 13, 2022
An awesome blend of intriguing mystery, great action scenes and masterfully wrought humor!
November 19, 2020
Bunny McGarry goes to a cafe named Murphy’s Diner hoping to meet the proprietorJackie Murphy who owes him a favor and Bunny happens to need one. Then he learns Jackie passed away and a Mr. Choi owns the place now, though he kept the old name.
Murphy’s Diner is a truck stop on I-95 and is run by a loquacious woman named Marcy Wainwright who was fired from her previous job at Quincy Shipping when she embezzled some money from her former employers.
But at the cafe, while he’s settled down to have breakfast 🥞 🍳 🥓alongside regular patrons when two men wearing ski masks storm in with guns. They order the patrons to cooperate and try to get Bunny to do the same but he calls their bluff and soon he tackles one of the men and somehow Bunny figures the men are not there to rob but are after one of the patrons.
During the commotion one of the patrons, a vet starts shooting at the masked men with a gun he’d had on him the whole time and the men make a run for it. Bunny manages to flee the diner as well before the cops arrive.
Bunny had first met his girlfriend, Simone Delamere nineteen years ago and they both hit it off. That is until she had run to Dublin to escape some people. Bunny and Simone managed to deal with the problem but left two bodies in their wake, leaving Simone no choice but to run again. When the bodies were discovered Simone becomes a wanted person by the US government.
Bunny knows they could use him to get to her so he makes it his mission to find her before anyone does. So far he heard she was snuck out of New York by a group of rogue nuns known as The Sisters of the Saint. He was hoping he would find them in New York but has no idea where to start looking.
Then he gets robbed in New York and wakes up in Times Square without his possessions. Moreover, he’s only arrived a week ago. While trying to find his way from the diner one of the women back at the cafe stop to give him a lift. They stop at a burger place where 🍔 she gets him an Egg McMuffin meal with a coffee and then tells him that those men were after and that she needs his help. She’s even offered to pay Bunny.
Murphy’s Diner is a truck stop on I-95 and is run by a loquacious woman named Marcy Wainwright who was fired from her previous job at Quincy Shipping when she embezzled some money from her former employers.
But at the cafe, while he’s settled down to have breakfast 🥞 🍳 🥓alongside regular patrons when two men wearing ski masks storm in with guns. They order the patrons to cooperate and try to get Bunny to do the same but he calls their bluff and soon he tackles one of the men and somehow Bunny figures the men are not there to rob but are after one of the patrons.
During the commotion one of the patrons, a vet starts shooting at the masked men with a gun he’d had on him the whole time and the men make a run for it. Bunny manages to flee the diner as well before the cops arrive.
Bunny had first met his girlfriend, Simone Delamere nineteen years ago and they both hit it off. That is until she had run to Dublin to escape some people. Bunny and Simone managed to deal with the problem but left two bodies in their wake, leaving Simone no choice but to run again. When the bodies were discovered Simone becomes a wanted person by the US government.
Bunny knows they could use him to get to her so he makes it his mission to find her before anyone does. So far he heard she was snuck out of New York by a group of rogue nuns known as The Sisters of the Saint. He was hoping he would find them in New York but has no idea where to start looking.
Then he gets robbed in New York and wakes up in Times Square without his possessions. Moreover, he’s only arrived a week ago. While trying to find his way from the diner one of the women back at the cafe stop to give him a lift. They stop at a burger place where 🍔 she gets him an Egg McMuffin meal with a coffee and then tells him that those men were after and that she needs his help. She’s even offered to pay Bunny.
March 14, 2022
What a wonderfully silly romp. I loved the Dublin Trilogy (+the prequel Angels in the Moonlight and the later addition the Final Game) and Bunny McGarry is certainly one of the most memorable fictional detectives in recent literature, but I was a little bit on the fence about the change in scenery. After all, Dublin is a great city for a novel to take place in, while New York on the otherhand isn't exactly underused in literature. Also, leaving all those well established and memorable Irish characters behind seemed like quite the leap.
That being said, Disaster Inc didn't need very long to blow all my doubts away. It's basically pure chaotic fun from the first pages onward. The novel is set shortly after the events of Last Orders, Bunny McGarry has officially been declared dead and has just arrived in New York in order to track down his former lover Simone (from Angels In The Moonlight) on the behest of a faction of some US security agency.
A fish out of water, the first thing he does is go on a massive St. Patrick's Day drinking spree during which he not only looses his money and his only way to contact the people he is working for, but also the memory of everything that happened during that drinking spree. On top of that, while on the hunt for a cup of tea and a full Irish breakfast, he also gets drawn into what turns out to be a shady Wallstreet conspiracy and has to help out a young woman named Amy, who is being framed for murder.
The novel then consists of Bunny and Amy having to dodge the authorities and a number of killers with government ties on the one hand, and Bunny having to piece together the events of the previous night in a very Hangover kind of way in order to find his belongings and maybe get some help from his employers.
We are introduced to a whole new range of colourful New York characters while Bunny McGarry is still the rugged force of nature we know him to be. Together, they go through a fast paced plot full of hilarious dialogue and crazy action that might very well have been made into a movie.
That being said, Disaster Inc didn't need very long to blow all my doubts away. It's basically pure chaotic fun from the first pages onward. The novel is set shortly after the events of Last Orders, Bunny McGarry has officially been declared dead and has just arrived in New York in order to track down his former lover Simone (from Angels In The Moonlight) on the behest of a faction of some US security agency.
A fish out of water, the first thing he does is go on a massive St. Patrick's Day drinking spree during which he not only looses his money and his only way to contact the people he is working for, but also the memory of everything that happened during that drinking spree. On top of that, while on the hunt for a cup of tea and a full Irish breakfast, he also gets drawn into what turns out to be a shady Wallstreet conspiracy and has to help out a young woman named Amy, who is being framed for murder.
The novel then consists of Bunny and Amy having to dodge the authorities and a number of killers with government ties on the one hand, and Bunny having to piece together the events of the previous night in a very Hangover kind of way in order to find his belongings and maybe get some help from his employers.
We are introduced to a whole new range of colourful New York characters while Bunny McGarry is still the rugged force of nature we know him to be. Together, they go through a fast paced plot full of hilarious dialogue and crazy action that might very well have been made into a movie.
November 6, 2020
As a large, belching, farting, loin scratching, pugilistic, lazy-eyed, often drunk Irishman, Bunny McGarry is an unusual protagonist. This is the third entertaining Bunny McGarry novel I've read. Even though this book obviously builds on something that happened at the end of the previous trilogy (so it isn't clear why he is supposed to be dead and had to be sneaked in to the US under the radar to search for a woman we know little about), that didn't affect understanding the plot or the entertainment value of the current book. Disaster Inc is the first in a series where he is now out of his customary Dublin element, trying to figure out how to work crimes in the states. He wakes up on a bench in Central Park with his phone and wallet missing, unable to remember what happened the previous night. He rather accidentally gets involved trying to protect a young dominatrix who was framed for murder and has people trying to kill her. Bunny never does get back around to searching for the woman he went across the pond to find, so that's a story for the next in the series.
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