It’s the year 2000 and while Bunny McGarry is theoretically on sabbatical from the police, he just can’t help sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.
Rosie Flint is an old acquaintance of Bunny’s whose boyfriend mysteriously disappears off the face of the Earth. What starts out as a simple missing person’s case soon gets a whole lot more complicated when it emerges that the boyfriend is not who he claimed to be and there are some rather sinister people showing an unhealthy interest in Rosie.
Bunny is only trying to help a friend but it’s just a matter of time before he finds himself at loggerheads with his colleagues on the force, having to reassess some events from his past and unwittingly involved in a major political coup.
He won’t be able to do this alone, so it is a good job he can call upon a certain band of kick-ass nuns to do what they do best. And he might even find a use for a twelve-year-old boy who is desperate to escape from an Irish language summer school.
Firewater Blues is the sixth book in McDonnell’s critically acclaimed bestselling and increasing inaccurately titled Dublin Trilogy. It mixes high-octane thrills with distinct Irish wit.
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.
Firewater Blues definitely has its moments but since my favourite character is Deccie Fadden and he is stuck in the Gaeltacht for a lot of the book I've knocked a star off. Sorry Caimh.
The story is a little complicated involving Rosie Flint who appears to be somewhere on the autism spectrum with a brilliant mind and a missing boyfriend. It is the missing boyfriend - Mark Smith - that brings her back into contact with Bunny. Rosie has a long and understandable mistrust of the Gardai due ti her family history so finding out that Bunny is on sabbatical (even though he's not Jewish - don't panic, it's a long running joke) is great news.
However as Bunny delves deeper into the mysterious Smith he finds more and more complications arising. Also none of his investigations are going to help his relationship with Butch or the rest of An Garda Siochana. Still, can't be helped.
Thankfully Deccie does arrive to save the day along with the Sisters of the Saint. You certainly can't argue with combat-trained nuns.
Enjoyed this outing with Bunny and though there are sad bits you definitely laugh a lot more than you cry.
(For those looking for comparisons) Colin Bateman and Christopher Brookmyre, look out! While I'm at it, let's throw in James Lee Burke as well, since Caimh McDonnell's larger-than-life Irish detective, Bunny McGarry, would make a fine drinking companion for Cletus Purcel - and give him a bunch of much-needed laughs at the same time.
You'll probably gather from the above that I think Caimh McDonnell is a damn fine writer, and I have no hesitation in saying you'd be right. I've read every one in this series, each one at a sitting, unable to put it down.
McDonnell is a master plotter, and, in this volume, he succeeds in producing a gripping story that would be so even without the laughs. He also manages to tie up its mysterious threads in a denouement that, in the context of this cynical age of corruption and political back-stabbing, is as credible as it's unexpected.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers, but take my word for it, he has you guessing right up to the finish line. Plus, in an appropriately cinematic manner (because someone's got to make a movie or a streaming series out of this material), he provides us with not one but two mini-epilogues - one dramatic and one that made me burst out laughing for the umpteenth time.
It's great tale-spinning, but it's also the funniest book I've read since the previous one in the series. The jokes, the sarcastic put-downs, and the wild and wonderful comic creations that are Bunny, his derangedly garrulous "Boy Wonder" Deccie (who somehow manages to tie threads together a scoutmaster would have problems with), the positively surreal Sisters of the Saint, et al., stir in a huge admixture of comedy for which any sitcom writer would give her/his right arm.
The story arc is marvellous, and holds together like Kryptonian Velcro, but every chapter is also a near-self-contained vignette with its own punchline. My favourites were the Pub Quiz (honestly, tears were streaming down my face) and the chapter that introduces the Sisters of the Saint. The latter was as off the wall as the best of Samuel Beckett, but a hell of a sight funnier.
Do yourself a favour: buy every book in this series. You won't regret it!
Another 5-star read by Caimh McDonnell! I never get tired of Bunny and his shenanigans. Here he is again, arguably at his best. We've seen him at his worst in previous (later) incarnations... Because this is the fifth or sixth book in the Dublin Trilogy, and because the stories go back and forth in time, we've seen Bunny in his 30s and in his 50s, as a current police officer and as a retired guard. But always, always, he is a thorn in the sides of the authorities who must fumble along with him on his rebellious forays into seeking justice, if not actual peacekeeping. In Firewater Blues, Bunny is still the disheveled, stinky, boozy, oafish fellow we've come to know and love. What quickly becomes clear is that Bunny's gruff exterior merely camouflages strong values and a very erect sense of moral decency.
One of my pet pleasures with this author is that his characters often deal with controversial social issues that are timely and real; that McDonnell does so with finesse, serving up his own moral conviction, with a tasteful dollop of humour, endears him to me all the more. The story itself is always entertaining, a good romp with an eclectic collection of wayward and whacky characters that make me giggle out loud. If you can picture and hear them in your head while you read, the giggles will come. I promise.
3.5 Stars for this Bunny McGarry novel. I became a fan of the lovable, sometimes brutish Irish copper when McDonnell published the first of the Dublin Trilogy. Firewater Blues is standard McGarry fare, including the 12 year old sidekick, and manager of his hurling team, Declan (Deccie) Fadden. The two of these fellows manage to team up with the mysterious Sisters Of The Saint order of Nuns that Bunny sometimes relies on for assistance in protecting young innocents against the badguys until he can eradicate the threat. Frankly, the sisters could do just fine by themselves.
The reason for a sub four star rating is that there's really nothing new here. It's a bit formulaic and though still pretty funny, the jokes are somewhat predictable and in danger of becoming shopworn. Don't misunderstand, I love Bunny McGarry, but I fear that McDonnell has gone to the well so often on this character, there's little left that hasn't been used.
Fans of the series should definitely include this one in their reading. If you're new to the series, I recommend reading the trilogy in order, as the first of the novels that introduces McGarry really does leave you laughing out loud. Here, it's more of a familiar chuckle and smile. Slante.
I find this series, set in Dublin and featuring policeman Bunny McGarry, just hilarious. Bunny has his own, iconoclastic way of doing things, so he’s on “sabbatical” at the moment—that is, relieved of active duty—for recent transgressions. But when his friend Rosie Flint, a brilliant economist but definitely somewhere on the spectrum, comes to him for help when her boyfriend goes missing, how can he say no? He’ll get little help from colleagues, relieved of duty as he is, so he’s pretty much on his own, even as it soon becomes clear that the boyfriend was not who he appeared to be and sinister thugs are making things very dangerous. So who you gonna call? Kick-ass nuns to the rescue!
McDonnell usually manages to make me forgive his TV style use of frequent POV cuts, but this one goes too far in the use of cuts to the over the top villain to raise suspense and explain the threats which is just lazy crap writing in my opinion. Still, the other parts are really good and on the whole it was an enjoyable read.
Not sure where to go next with McDonnell, I don't have 7 or 8 in the "trilogy" but I do have the first three McGarry Stateside books, and the first MCM Investigations book, though #2 (which I don't have) in that sequence is calling me, cuz Deccie!
Caimh here delivers yet another belter of a novel. From day one I've been addicted to Bunny and whatever he and his collection of friends and colleagues get up to.
That this story delivers isn't a surprise but is still all the more welcome. Nothing was laboured or flogged at, it delivered a new installment that I flew through apace.
Bunny's dialogue is at its usual top level, Deccie's involvement always brings a smile, as do the other characters who if I start rhyming-off may give something away. But chapter after chapter, this was giving smiles and laughs aplenty; what I also found more enjoyable than ever were the interactions, especially in the first half of the book, between DI Fintan O'Rourke and An Garda Siochana's top-cop, Commissioner Ferguson. I am a lifelong poor sleeper, and red most nights interrupting nobody, but even my usually zombified wife grumbled and stirred at me laughing out loud reading this thru the night.
Shortly after the halfway mark this book delivers some melancholy and a bit of pathos, and tugged at the feelings; before of course going off for Caimh's usual flash-bang ending. Just a delightful read all round, sincerely enjoyed, and highly recommended.
I don't want to say too much else, save for being at risk for an accidental spoiler, but this household relishes Bunny's return and in no small way are gasping for more like the big man is for a pint of Arthur's finest.
I was privileged to be an ARC reader and consider that a genuine treat, but had I just read it today, when the paperback arrived in the post, my reaction would be exactly the same. Anyone who isn't reading these books by Caimh McDonnell, is missing (or lacking!) something. Keep them coming!
Bunny is always good value as is Declan. Political skulduggery by some overly heavy handed “consultants”, who threaten a friend of Bunny’s, with a couple of comic subplots including a runaway labradoodle. As always, killing people moves the plot along but isn’t necessarily the best strategy. The critique of time serving and performative bureaucracy is on point. A good joke about Irish strip clubs ☘️ I missed the U12 hurling team though.
I think Bunny may be my favourite character of all time, and I hope Brendan Gleeson is free to play him if they ever make movies of these books.
This is another fun romp through Ireland, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I knew I would. Caimh McDonnell has produced another twisting, turning plot, introducing some new characters and revisiting old favourites. I can highly recommend.
I have such a hard time rating this series. Compared to some of the other entries in the Dublin Trilogy? 4 stars. Compared to every other audiobook on the planet? 5 stars.
Once again Deccie and the Gardi Commissioner (?) stole the show! I absolutely love those characters and Bunny is growing on me for sure. I love his wit and situational mischief. As for the case in this one I guessed it pretty early on mostly and what it would involve but getting there is half the fun.
Copious screentime (pagetime?) for Deccie and Sisters of the saint - what more could you ask for? Once again, whatever is lacking storywise is compensated by the characters who keep the proceedings hilarious and entertaining.
Yet another brilliantly written book featuring the irrepressible Bunny Can be read as a stand-alone detective novel but would really recommend that you read the others in the series Thanks Caimh
After binging through the three McGarry Stateside novels and the first two prequels to the Dublin Trilogy, I actually wanted to take a little break from if not Ireland's best, then at least its most memorable detective. Well, and then I read Firewater Blues. Sue me, I regret nothing!
The third of god knows how many prequels there will be when Caimh is done is arguably the best one. It has O'Rourke, it has Ferguson, it has Butch, it has the badass nuns and it has once again the absolutely fantastic Deccie, who almost steals the show from Bunny. Well, almost because this is also the novel where Bunny himself is the most involved and there are frankly some of the best scenes in the whole series in it.
Bunny is still on sabbatical from the police, which of course doesn't mean that he won't get involved in police business, much to the chagrin of his colleagues. First, he takes it upon himself to bring down two goons who are preying on the homeless in the most Bunny McGarry fashion imaginable.
Then, an old friend asks him for help because her boyfriend went missing. What begins as a missing persons case soon turns into something much more high profile and Bunny has to balance trying to help his friend, who has a severe distrust of the police, with trying to not burn all the bridges left to him in the Gardaí. Admittedly, he doesn't seem to be concerned too much with the latter.
Anyway, another high octance cocktail of humour, action and Irish expletives. And now give me a break Mr. McDonnell...ah feck, what am I saying, there'll probably be another Bunny McGarry novel lined up in the next couple of months.
If I’m honest when I start a new Bunny book I think, this isn’t as good as the last. And then, it always is. Love all the characters. Each of them has great depth and obviously the story itself is wildly entertaining. If you were going on a road trip, these would be the people you’d want in your van.
I absolutely love Caimh McDonell’s increasingly missnamed Dublin trilogy. I love Bunny McGarry and his friends.
Bunny is on sabbatical from the Garda Schiohana (Irish police). His friend Rosie asks him for help, her boyfriend has gone missing. This starts a romp through Dublin and beyond in his quest. This includes the very top echelons of the Irish police, the Commissioner, who has problems of his own.
He’s ably assisted by the rogue nuns the Sisters of the Saint, his assistant manager of the hurling team Declan (Deccie) ‘Butch’ Cassidy and ‘rigger’ O’Rourke.
As always it’s very funny, it’s made even funnier if read with an Irish accent in your head.
It's starting to look like I'm going to need a bigger scale for my ratings, otherwise it's going to be only 5/5 for any Bunny McGarry from now on. I like these prequels more than the original trilogy, because Bunny became the main hero here and has a space to breathe and show his whole personality. The nuns are just such a great idea and it is so well portraied I'm hoping they get their own series too. So much Deccie in this one! Even Rosie was quite an interesting addition and I'm sad we didn't get to see into her head more, because what we did see was fascinating.
Take my rating with a grain of salt because I'm a McDonnell fan and have bought and read every book he's written. A foul mouthed 12 year old, a youngish Bunny McGarry and the Sisters of the Saint protect a free spirited rabble rouser who helps sex workers by fighting to decriminalize prostitution. The cast of supporting characters, good guys and bad guys alike, are interesting and easy to hate or root for. Another Dublin Trilogy gem
That series gets better and better after each book! Funny and witty (you're not going to laugh your ass out, but you will have a lot of smiles), and a bunch of atypical and originals characters. So well written that even the obnoxious Bunny McGarry become more than likeable under the “plume” of the author. And that's a real “coup de maître”! And, bonus, the cool endings with the multiple epilogues and the covers are all beautiful! Loved it!
I’m never disappointed in a Caimh McDonnell novel. I laughed so hard at the beginning of the book my stomach muscles hurt. There is absolutely nothing like a fantastic book with interesting characters, intrigue, a wee bit of violence to set the tone and did I say character development? The man can write a story. The skill to put that all together is undeniable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Caimh has done it again. I don’t know how he does it, but he has delivered another extremely entertaining and funny book in this now nearly double trilogy. Bunny finds himself up to his ears in a mysterious case involving a disappearing boyfriend, which leads him down a conspiratorial rabbit hole of murder, kidnapping, and fun with some nuns. There are also priceless interactions with Deccie. How he hasn’t got his own TV show yet, I don’t know!