Other Plans

McGarry Stateside, Book 4

By: Caimh McDonnell

Narrated by: Morgan C Jones

Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.

How much trouble can you possibly get into just stopping to use a restroom?

As it turns out, an awful lot. Bunny and co are supposed to be keeping a low profile, but nature calls and ironically, one of their party has a hard and fast rule about not answering that call while surrounded by nature. This is how they end up in the wrong bar, surrounded by the wrong people at the wrongest of wrong times. The local right-wing militia has a big week planned, and Bunny and the boys have inadvertently crashed the party. Before they know it, they’re in a desperate fight for survival against a bunch of people who refuse to believe they’re not who they think they are.

Meanwhile, the Sisters of the Saint have more than enough troubles of their own. A certain cartel is very angry at them and is pulling out all the stops to make their point. It all adds up to one hell of a tricky few days. But then, as a great man once said: life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

Other Plans is book four in the McGarry Stateside series by Caimh McDonnell. McDonnell’s work has been praised for bringing a fresh voice to the thriller genre. He deftly combines a finely honed comic sensibility with pulse-pounding action which have made his books Amazon bestsellers the world over.

©2023 McFori Ink (P)2023 McFori Ink

Heart, Humor, and Hijinks.

This 4th installment of Bunny McGarry stateside is one of the best so far. All our favorite characters are back to find themselves in the most unlikely of situations and things escalate. Boy do they escalate. The humor and wit with which Caihm McDonnell writes his characters makes them come to life - the only negative being McDonnell’s excellent grasp of the English language which provides the redneck set in this book sound about 20 IQ points higher than they’d likely be. Man, 4 books in and I’m still dying to know what happens to Bernadette and Assumpta. Can’t wait until number 5!

It’s time Bunny finds Simone and returns to Ireland

It’s gone on too long. I’ve now read (listened to) ALL the books. This is my first non-5-star review.

I felt this story was story for the sake of it. New characters introduced, again. Diversification to keep us entertained. And while I love the writing, I admit I became impatient and want the sisters found, Simone found, a happy reunion, and a return to Ireland. There was too much talking and filler detail here, at least in my view.

Bunny can return from the dead in Ireland (what a story!), and resume his story alongside Paul, Brigit and the likeable Jimmy Stewart. And the sisters too, of course.

In defense of Oregon…

I’m getting the pattern here. Each book pays homage to a genre - gang wars, jail break, siege, etc., with a special Bunny twist on it. Bunny has to be the most unlucky person in the world, stumbling into catastrophe after catastrophe after catastrophe. This installment of Bunny the Meat Stick takes place in Oregon which is where I’m from, so I got a special chuckle out of it.

The reference to the constitutional provision prohibiting blacks from owning property is actually correct, and it was only repealed fairly recently. It hadn’t been enforced in well over 100 years though and sat buried in historic revised statutes long forgotten all that time. I’m glad they finally got it out, though. It’s a terrible legacy for a state that’s voted liberal for decades.

And I suppose Oregon has had its weird history, from the Rajneesh commune in the 80s to the Alkaida training camp to the armed standoff at the Malheur Refuge in eastern Oregon that Trump was such a supporter of. Our urban/rural divide is contentious and occasionally painful. I wish we could find common ground.

The book passingly mentions Oregon’s scenic beauty. It does have that. We have great small towns as well. I doubt we have any more racists than most states but we certainly have a few. In short, it’s a fun book but it’s pure fiction. Thank God. I sure hope Bunny finds Simone soon. There’s not gonna be much left of him otherwise. (Btw, towns don’t have sheriffs. Counties do.) On to the next installment as I wait for more “Stranger Times.”

How long to the next one

The best narrator on audible is back and the usual far fetched, lovable and quirky moments and troubles ensue. Please let the next book actually get close to the reason for Mcgarry being in the States…

In the meantime, suspend your disbelief and enjoy!

Great story! Why did Smithy’s voice change?

Still my favorite set of modern literary characters!

One thing, though; why did Smithy’s voice change?

I love these characters!

Don't listen to this unless you have listened to the previous books. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can't wait for what comes next!

Always Excellent

The story was fun and the reader was excellent. I listen to the audio readings of Mr. McDonnell s work when I feel down or sad. The humor is witty and sharp. And full of heart. His books always put me in a better frame of mind. I wish that there was a Bunny in everyone's lives.

Another book over too soon!

There’s not been a single book that Caimh McDonnell has written that I haven’t loved. I stumbled upon the series on accident and have become a true fan of Caimh’s work! The stories are funny and entertaining and the narrator does a great job, which can really make or break a story. I highly suggest his book, along with all of his others!

Keep “em coming

A great narrator for this story. Caimh writes a book with the timing of a standup comic.

Another great story

I love Bunny and his cast of characters. Very few books can make me laugh out loud