Angels in the Moonlight (The Dublin Trilogy Book 3)

Angels in the Moonlight is Caimh McDonnell’s latest novel; a prequel to his hilarious ‘Dublin Trilogy’. The year is 1999. Location: Dublin. The world is fearing the advent of the new millennium and the Y2K bug. Bunny McGarry is fearing the accidental suicide of Rory Coyne, who is only at the top of a six-storey building to detract attention from his thieving girlfriend. And that’s just the first chapter.

To those familiar with McDonnell’s ‘Dublin Trilogy’, this prequel is the well-needed backstory of his fantastically flawed detective, Bunny McGarry. This ‘Bunny: The Early Years’ paints a vivid picture of our hero. He was ‘a big lummocks of a man, with a thick Cork accent and a scruffy, second-hand look about him, He was early thirties, six foot two and fat, but in a usable way’.

As with his previous novels, McDonnell’s character descriptions are wonderfully detailed, usually grotesque, but always authentic and funny. One of my favourite laugh-out-loud moments of Angels? When Bunny’s partner, Gringo, tells him the whereabouts of his sandwich the morning after the night before: ‘If you’re looking for it, the other half of that sandwich appears to be stuck to your back’.

Wait, who’s Gringo? He’s is a new character to us, not even referred to in the trilogy. Thick as thieves despite their extremely different upbringings, DS Spain – Gringo to friends – was Bunny’s partner in the Gardai back in 1999. For readers already accustomed to the ways of Bunny, it’s a bit of a shock to see him have such a close friend, let alone work harmoniously alongside someone else. When we learn about Gringo’s personal woes – a failing marriage, mounting gambling debts – we actually start to see Bunny in a surprisingly honourable light by comparison.

What readers would be familiar with is the hurling team that Bunny coaches – the ‘best under-12 hurling team in the country’, no less. This is due to the spectacular striker abilities of one Paulie Mulchrone. Sound familiar? Paul Mulchrone is Bunny’s accomplice in the ‘Dublin Trilogy’ and a major part of McDonnell’s novels. It’s a nice touch to have a reference to him, and Paul’s friend Phil, in this book, too.

That’s not the only connection to the trilogy. The particular gang that Bunny and his team are assigned to deal with in Angels are a crew running the fiercely loyal Clanavale Estate – ‘it is an island and Tommy is their boy king’. Tommy Carter – a kid running the day-to-day operations as his father is in hospital – has a few cronies that the Gardai are also keeping a particular close eye on: Doyle, Moran and O’Donnell. With Moran and O’Donnell being more serious threats, McDonnell has created a trio of threats that mirrors the three property developers in the second of the trilogy, The Day That Never Comes. Their mission is to make lots of money through the import and sale of large quantities of drugs in Dublin.

Meanwhile, in his personal life, we see Bunny do the unthinkable – fall in love. Bunny McGarry lets his guard down and falls in love with Simone, the American bartender/cleaner/singer at local jazz joint, Charlie’s. Like Gringo, she’s also hiding a troubled past, except her crimes mount up to more than gambling debts.

As Simone tells him, Bunny’s strength in his morality is also his weakness: ‘You can’t save everybody, but I do love that you try’. McDonnell’s strength in Bunny’s characterisation is to make him hilariously funny when he is at risk of being killed.

The way Bunny deals with the thrilling events of Angels not only goes to show what an immensely heroic yet flawed detective he is, but also explains why he is the way he is in the trilogy. From his love of his hurling team, protection over Paul Mulchrone and pride for his Porsche, Angels fills the gaps of the trilogy in the most fantastically funny way. An exciting, humorous, deep insight into Bunny.

Reviewed on Whispering Stories Book Blog
*I received a free copy of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed

I was really transfixed by this book. The characters are bigger than life but also so much like your good neighbors.
Bunny and Gringo are fast friends in the Garde of Ireland, have known each other for years, and are totally disrespectful of each other in their hilarious dialogue. Since I am not from Ireland, some of the dialogue was hard to understand but one has a very clear idea what was meant.
McDonald is accomplished in characterization and world setting. The action is so quick and comedic at times that I didn't realize how far the story had developed. The village and characters are real. You quickly come to know this village and its participants. Yes, a lot of humor, but it also addresses the highs and lows of simply living and dying.The book also has its moments of profound sadness. The humor in the book is handled deftly as were the serious moments. I really cared for these people and their fates.
This was practically a non-stop read and the ending came far too quickly. It has been a wonderful preview of novels to come. Am looking forward to book one of this trilogy.

This is a most interesting prequel to The Man With One of Those Faces. Bunny McGarry is revealed in a much more sympathetic light here. The mystery is intriguing enough to keep one reading "just one more chapter". I found The Man With One of Those Faces to be much funnier (I do love to laugh), largely due to the dialogue between the two main characters. However, this prequel also has some very clever dialogue and a few laugh out loud moments that strike when one least expects them. I was fascinated to keep reading to find the resolution to all. With my Irish (and Scots and English) ethnic background, the humor probably matched my own sense of humor. This may not be for everyone, but I loved it.
Poor Bunny had a very rough life and too few breaks but he emerges as still a "good guy", heroic at times and causing good things to happen for others especially those who need rescuing. You have to admire a hero/antihero who suffers so many misfortunes (many admittedly of his own making) yet who continues to persevere and keep slogging onward without completely disintegrating. I am reminded of a saying I have framed, regarding the Welsh, Scots, Irish and English (all me): "The Irish never knew what they wanted but were willing to fight for it anyway". Rings true for this character. More please, author McDonnell!

"Angels in the Moonlight" is a prequel to McDonnell's Dublin Triology and - boy! does he deliver! For one thing the story is a crime story that will keep you on your toes. For another it, again, is inhabited by fascinating characters.

But it's absolutely terrific, imho, because of its characterization of the "earlier"Bunny McGarry! Not only does the reader learn a lot about Bunny's past (and some questions from "The Day That Never Comes" get answered), but McDonnell manages to draw a Bunny that's softer, not so spent, drained and marked by life, who already contains the "later" Bunny, but who hasn't lived up to that version yet.

"Angels in the Moonlight" shows exactly where Bunny comes from when he's at certain crossroads, what made him into the man he is in the Dublin Triology - with all his good and not so good traits. And a part of me wanted to weep when I saw what could have become of him if some things had played out differently. So this crime story weaves a web of romance, tragedy, comedy, first grade suspense, a fluent style and a good portion of Irish atmosphere. Just great!

McDonnell's books, so far, got better and better and have, by now, managed to make it onto my keeper shelf!

(Bought at the store.de)

Witty, captivating detective novel with great characters--a nun with a shotgun, a piano player with Tourette’s Syndrome, a battered woman with a voice like Billy Holiday and Bunny McGarry, a member of the Irish Gardai, who as the protagonist with a great use of invective, steals the show.
The author is a comedian in another life and it shows not only in his language but in his staging of fight scenes and surprising plot twists…his comedy, however, never gets in the way of this being a great police procedural and mystery novel.
I’ve read his other two novels; this one is described as a prequel to the Dublin Trilogy. That’s great news because it means there is another one coming but I have to say, a trilogy is way too few books for these wonderful characters.

Don't miss the trilogy! This is excellent writing, great characters, clever dialogue. I lived in the green and pleasant for several years so the local vernacular was great to read. Gotta say, this is award-winning stuff. Funny, exciting...and you learn phrases like "sweet Mary on a moped" which are helpful in everyday conversation with your children. You will love it. I received a copy for a review...but would still rave like a lunatic anyway.

Warning !!!......Don't read this brilliant piece of work in a public place. Laugh out loud, tear wiping material. Join Bunny & Gringo on a rip roaring trip through the underbelly of Dublin.
This series is right up there with the best and I mean the best.

If you've read Caimh McDonnell's excellent books you'll no doubt be wondering... how did the brilliantly bullish Bunny McGarry become the hurley stick swinging hero modern Dublin deserves?
This blast from the past helps answer the question while simultaneously being a brilliant (and brilliantly funny) crime caper in its own right!
Caimh's usual witty dialogue and crank for painting Dublin as a character of its own are both very much present and the story is a mighty good one too, a crack gang of armed robbers, the opportunity at the big time and a host of problematic friends best Bunny, but I won't spoil for you how it pans out... read for yourself and thank me later!

My favorite of the Bunny McGurry books. I read this one first. It really set the stage perfectly for the series, although sadly without some of the same characters. The dialogue is witty, the language so well captured. Fast-paced intrigue.

The devil is in the details. A very powerful, wickedly smart and irreverent Dublin tale of intrigue. McDonnell masterfully defines his characters' motivations, integrity, morality and ethics. The ending is a jaw-dropper! While this novel is definitely not for the "ladies tea" book club, I'm a lady, I drink tea and proceeded to eagerly gobble up "Last Orders". Read "Angels" first to develop your appetite. Both were grand reads. More, please, Mr. McDonnell.

Bunny has to be my favourite character in the Dublin series. Always a sucker for a mad and dangerous character, especially when they can make me laugh, too. Seeing his backstory, some history and personal relationships, was such a fun, not to mention interesting. The story itself is well formed and keeps up the pace and intrigue throughout, with a cast of fantastic characters and villains. Everything came together in this book, with danger and betrayal and love, however surprising. Completely loved this book. Cannot wait for the last in the trilogy. Just wonderful.

I have read pretty much everything McDonnell has written and love them all. The Bunny character is both tough and a soft touch that is completely hysterical. Each book (this a prequel to the Dublin stories) has laugh out loud parts with a great story. I read a few books a week and happened across the first Dublin and was very happy I gave it a shot since I found a new author to add to my list.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Dublin Trilogy books that I have read. This prequel, although interesting, does not approach the developed plot and laugh out loud humor of the first two novels. I look forward to the third book of the trilogy and the return of Paul and Brigette.

I've thoroughly enjoyed Caimh McDonnell's book and "Angels in the Moonlight" is great as is the leading character Bunny McGarry and his unofficial assistant coach/hurling player Deccie are a riot. Some people have no appreciation for the fundamentals of the game. ;)

I had the privilege of receiving an early copy of this book . I LOVED IT ! I totally enjoy the characters , all of them , but especially Bunny . These books make me laugh and tug at my heart all at the same time . Brilliant !

Fun book, fun characters, fun look at moral conundrums, and just enjoyable resulting in reader laughter.

My rating goes for first three books, especially, Book One.

I’m now starting Book Four.

I really enjoy Caimh McDonnell's books, especially the characters in them, particularly Bunny McGarry. So this book was great for me as it gives the reader a lot of background on Bunny and his early days as an officer. Well written, great story, great characters.

Brilliant! Characters are real, dialogue is crisp, and the plot runs like the movie “Snatch”, but in a wry humor that must be totally Irish. I write this with the yet unread “Last Orders” in my bin. Looking forward to an entertaining and enjoyable read.

In this third outing, actually a prequel to A Man With One Of Those Faces, McDonnell tells the backstory (or at least part of the backstory), of the inimitable Bunny McGarry. In Angels in the Moonlight, Bunny is a young man, working with his partner Gringo, when he encounters a beautiful singer and is tasked with foiling the criminal activities of a young man whose life he saved as a child.
Bunny was first introduced as a supporting character in The Man With One Of Those Faces, a book that immediately vaulted the author to one of my top twenty favorite authors. The characters are fresh, funny, and engagingly vulnerable. The plot is swift moving and absorbing. I was reading the book on an airplane and several times embarrassed myself by laughing out loud. I couldn’t wait to find out the further adventures of the character Paul Mulchrone and his friends (and his new dog Maggie, herself an unusual character).
I was initially disappointed that Angels In The Moonlight was a backward look at the history of Bunny McGarry, despite the fact that he is one of the most interesting characters in The Man With One of Those Faces. My disappointment was short-lived, as I immediately fell deeply into the story and enjoyed every moment.
This book is a wonderful read. I can’t wait to find out what the author has in store for these characters in the future.

My newest favorite author. Mr. McDonnell tells a good story with lovable characters. Even the bad guys have a sympathetic side, but they still get what they deserve. I recommend the whole series and I can't wait for the next book

Caimh Mcdonnell has created unforgettable characters. His books make me chuckle as the characters follow the path of the black comedy of errors. I have greatly enjoyed all of the books in this series and this one is great as well.

Still laughing out loud. Bunny is such a loveable character whose edges are rougher than rough yet always relatable. And the Sisters... Today's world needs this type of order of nuns.
I haven't stopped reading since discovering Caimh McDonnell's books a few days ago. Just finished the last short story, Sisters Gonna Work It Out, and will be pining away until book three in the trilogy is released.

McDonnell hit his stride on this one. His first two books had humor, characters who blink and look around, solid and original plots, all together a memorable joy. They also were a bit exploratory. Angels I’m the Moonlight’s focus on Bunny McGarry seems to have dialed in this very gifted writer’s sense of what he’s trying to accomplish.