Caimh McDonnell Books in Order

Where to Begin Your Journey into the Bunnyverse

If you are new to Caimh McDonnell’s distinct brand of laugh-out-loud dialogue, gritty Irish crime, and unforgettable characters, you are about to enter a sprawling literary universe fans affectionately call the Bunnyverse. Named after the hurling-obsessed, rules-defying Garda Detective Bunny McGarry, this interconnected world spans multiple series, stateside adventures, and private investigation spin-offs.

The absolute best starting point for most readers is A Man With One of Those Faces, the first book in the Dublin Trilogy. It introduces Paul Mulchrone, a man who has the unfortunate curse of looking like someone everyone wants to kill, and establishes the brilliant, chaotic chemistry of the core cast. While the prequel Angels in the Moonlight takes place chronologically first, starting with the original publication order allows you to appreciate the running jokes, character development, and narrative reveals exactly as the author intended.

The Core Series: The Dublin Trilogy

Despite being called a "trilogy," this flagship series has grown to nine core books and several novellas. It follows the misadventures of Paul, Brigit, and Bunny as they navigate the Dublin underworld. Caimh McDonnell’s storytelling relies heavily on character continuity, making it highly rewarding to read them in sequence.

Publication Order of the Dublin Trilogy

• A Man With One of Those Faces (2016)
• The Day That Never Comes (2017)
• Angels in the Moonlight (2017) — A prequel set in 1999 focusing on Bunny McGarry's backstory.
• Last Orders (2018) — The action-packed finale to the original four-book arc.
• Dead Man's Sins (2021)
• Firewater Blues (2022)
• The Family Jewels (2022)
• Fortunate Son (2024)
• The Man Comes Around (2026)

Chronological Order of the Dublin Trilogy

If you prefer to follow the timeline of events rather than the order in which they were written, the order shifts due to the prequels and flashback stories. The chronological sequence for the Dublin Trilogy is:

1. Angels in the Moonlight (Prequel set in 1999)
2. Dead Man's Sins (Set in the early 2000s)
3. Firewater Blues (Set shortly after)
4. The Family Jewels
5. Fortunate Son
6. The Man Comes Around
7. A Man With One of Those Faces (The beginning of the modern-day timeline)
8. Bloody Christmas (A holiday novella)
9. The Day That Never Comes
10. Last Orders
11. Escape From Victory (A post-Last Orders novella)

Expanding the Universe: The Spin-offs

Once you finish the main Dublin Trilogy arc (specifically after reading Last Orders), the Bunnyverse branches out into two main spin-off series that run parallel to the aftermath of the original Dublin events.

The McGarry Stateside Series

This series follows Bunny McGarry as he leaves Ireland behind and takes his unique brand of justice to the United States. He is joined by characters like Smithy and Diller as they find themselves mixed up in American criminal schemes.

• Disaster Inc (2018)
• I Have Sinned (2019)
• The Quiet Man (2020)
• Other Plans (2023)

MCM Investigations

Back home in Dublin, Brigit Conroy and Paul Mulchrone establish their own private detective agency, MCM Investigations. This series continues the classic Dublin caper energy, featuring familiar faces and new mysteries.

• The Final Game (2020)
• Deccie Must Die (2022)
• The Big Steal (2026)

What to Know About the Novellas and Short Stories

For a long time, Caimh McDonnell’s novellas, such as Bloody Christmas and Escape From Victory, were limited-release items that were difficult for new fans to track down. Fortunately, the author collected these pieces in Shorts: A Bunny McGarry Short Fiction Collection (2024). This compilation includes fan favorites like Good Deeds and Bad Intentions, Dog Day Afternoon, and new tales like Meanwhile in Dublin, making it the perfect companion volume to read alongside the main novels.

The Stranger Times Series (Written as C.K. McDonnell)

For readers looking for a change of pace, McDonnell writes the acclaimed urban fantasy series The Stranger Times under the pen name C.K. McDonnell. Set in Manchester, England, it follows the eccentric staff of a weekly newspaper dedicated to reporting the paranormal—only to discover that the weird stories they publish are actually true. This series is completely separate from the Bunnyverse but retains the same sharp wit and dark humor.

The Stranger Times Reading Order

1. The Stranger Times (2021)
2. This Charming Man (2022)
3. Love Will Tear Us Apart (2023)
4. Relight My Fire (2024)
5. Ring the Bells (2025)

Subscribers to C.K. McDonnell’s newsletter can also access In Other News, a free digital collection of short stories set within the Stranger Times universe.

Summary of Reader Advice

For the ultimate experience, start with A Man With One of Those Faces, read the original Dublin Trilogy through to Last Orders, and then branch out into the McGarry Stateside and MCM Investigations series. Keep a copy of Shorts handy to fill in the gaps, and pick up The Stranger Times whenever you are ready for a magical, comedic diversion.