Phil Nellis is missing, which is bad – but nowhere near as bad as the reason he had to disappear. His dearly departed uncle double-crossed some truly heinous individuals who have some very specific ideas about how to exact their revenge. Fifty-two hours is an unreasonably short amount of time to be given to steal Ireland’s greatest national treasure, but then again, having a bomb strapped around your neck is an unreasonable form of motivation.
Phil and Paul have no choice but to attempt to carry out the crime of the century against the clock, and Brigit must try to keep her head when all about are in danger of losing theirs.
The Big Steal is book 3 in the MCM Investigations series, a spin-off from the award-nominated, TV-show-pending and infuriatingly inaccurately titled Dublin Trilogy.
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.
I have to admit to being a bit disappointed by this latest MCM Investigations book. I usually laugh my stupid head off from start to finish but the premise of the book kept intruding on me. It just made no sense at all.
Phil Nellis goes missing but is easily found by Paul Mulchrone. Unfortunately Phil cannot return to his family until he has completed an impossible heist; a heist that should have been done by Phil's dodgy Uncle Paddy - to steal Ireland's greatest treasure.
The action takes us all over Dublin and the surrounding area while Phil and Paul try to figure out how to steal the treasure with indirect help from the late Uncle Paddy, Brigid, Jimmy Stewart and Maggie the dog who really wants an ice cream.
There are funny parts but the farcical plot isn't one of them. I just hope that Bunny comes back soon because all these books are richer with him in it. Come back Bunny, youve been gone long enough now.
At this point we've not so much jumped the shark as strapped ourselves to two sharks & are using them as waterskies to jump a nuclear explosion.
Caimh wanted to write a heist book & did so using the characters available. As such it's hilarious, bonkers, & has enough of a sliver of plausibility to be truly concerning.
Background characters with extended backstories are again given their chance to shine & the little flash fictions that often bookend chapters in Caimh's work are an absolute delight in their own right.
Can Paul & Phil steal The Book of Kells? Are they even speaking to each other? Will Paul & Brigit EVER have five minutes to actually get married? Has anyone fed the dog?
Another superb book from one of my favourite authors.
Highly recommended. Best consumed with a breakfast burrito.
Brilliant. Hilarious. I know, duh, no surprise there. But, I feel like this series is getting better and better with time.
It felt sooooo good to get back to Paul, Phil (God bless him), Bridget, Maggie, and Jimmy. I’m delighted Deccie got to make an appearance too (these stories would feel incomplete without him).
As much as I love the main gang, I thoroughly enjoy all the temporary characters who appear, complete with backstories and all! That’s my favourite part about Caimh’s writing — getting to know the inner thoughts of people who’re only there briefly. Every single one is so funny!
Caimh thanks so much for creating the entire Dublin “Trilogy” and all its spin-offs.
... One of the rare writers that I can't help but give 5 stars halfway through the book. They're just that good. Whenever I've come across some hyped up disappointing new Goodreads recommendations that I ultimately can't bring myself to finish, I reread a Bunny/Deccie/MCM book and my reading happiness levels are balanced out again.
I made my family listen to the second chapter during our evening drawing time (Barney/the postman) and now my seven year old wants to listen to more of it. How do I get out of this?! We listened to Escape to Victory the other day, which had him quote Bunny and Deccie to his mates at school. Imagine a couple of German primary school kids suddenly going "for feck's sake" in the voice of Morgan C. Jones. Might be one of my favourites things now.
Great romp as usual! Stealing a National Treasure ain't easy, without motivation. Always hilarious when the team is up against the world ... the good and the evil world. Great characters and story!
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is totally bonkers and far-fetched but has relatable characters and kept me engaged. If anything, I felt it went on for a long time - I was waiting for the resolution but it was worth it when it came. A return to form for me for this author, I did feel some of the Bunny books were trying to squeeze too much out of the idea and, despite enjoying many of the earlier books from this author, I went off it for a while. Anyway, I gave this one a go and was glad I did - well worth reading.
Another hilarious romp through Dublin and beyond. The focus is very much on Paul and Phil, who has accidentally dragged the both of them into a life-or-death situation where they are forced to pull off a seemingly impossible heist for a very dangerous criminal within a very short time window.
And since the focus is so much on the two childhood friends, the other characters like Brigit and Jimmy fall a bit short. Then again, Phil Nellis has quickly become one of my favourite characters in the greater Dublin Trilogy universe, so him being promoted to main character for this novel kinda makes up for that. Between the three MCM Investigations novels, the first one is still my favourite though.
Speaking of favourite characters, hope there will be another novel featuring Bunny McGarry in the near future, whether it's a prequel or a continuation of the McGarry Stateside series almost doesn't matter (although I'd slightly prefer the latter).
I love all this fella’s books, quirky , funny , gritty ish 😀 the twist at the end of this one had me laughing out loud. You couldn’t make it up, oh he just did 😀
God I enjoy these McDonnell books. The guy is a treasure. By far the most witty writer out there. I took this book on a long plane ride, headphones on, and embarrassed myself donkey honking with laughter half a dozen times. While flying over Colorado, I could not get my s*t together and had to get into the bathroom to stop laughing. So much fun!
A crime thriller for people who don't do crime stories.
I'm not a crime story fan, but Caimh McDonnell writes funny, easy-to-read crime thrillers, so I've enjoyed the MCM Investigations series, which is itself a spin-off of the Bunny McGarry series.
The series ought to be read in order (and preferably after the McGarry series too) and this one, number three, is a solid rather than exceptional addition to the series. A comforting familiar joy to read when I needed to stop reading the news.
Another hilarious romp, this one featuring Phil and Paul. They were on the outs when Phil disappears. Paul and Bridgett come to the rescue and Paul disappears. Phil's uncle had double crossed a very rich, very evil man and Phil is tasked with making things right. Phil and Paul end up with neck collar bombs and 52 hours to finish what Uncle Paddy started.
This was a hoot as all of these novels have been. Laugh out loud antics and a very creative plot. I enjoyed this as much as the first two, maybe more.
Absolutely loved this. Brilliantly hilarious, and I don’t have enough superlatives. Another outing in the Bunny universe, packed with an incredible set of likeable characters: Paul, Brigit, Jimmy, Phil, Da Xin, Aunt Lynn, Baby Lynn, Cynthia, the ultra-efficient manager of MCM Investigations, and even Bunny’s dog from his police days. Maggie continues to be a standout, especially her inner thoughts about big and small humans and her unwavering devotion to Baby Lynn. Even Phil’s dead uncle Paddy, a conman, has a strong presence throughout. The side characters are just as memorable. DSI Susan Burns is always great, and Barney, the temporary employee who keeps landing in trouble and seems ready to sue everyone, brings his own brand of chaos. We also have Megan Wright, the psychiatrist, and Inder, the tech genius. I was a bit disappointed that Detective Donacha Wilson is mentioned only once. I wanted more of him. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments. A scene set in a 17th century monastery with completely absurd conversations is an absolute riot. Paul is in top form, with ideas that are ridiculous yet somehow brilliant, especially the stretch where he is communicating with Brigit. Phil also shines. His goofy ideas actually work, and his naivety and total lack of understanding of sarcasm is unexpectedly heart-warming. Bunny himself is absent, with McGarry still the M in MCM while he is off in the US after faking his own death, as covered in the Dublin Trilogy, but the book doesn’t miss him as much as you might expect. The multiple heists, particularly the zoo and university library, are completely ludicrous on paper but executed so well that you go along with them. Deccie and his reality show add another layer of madness, and his role in the heist had me in splits. Despite all the humour, the central situation is genuinely dire. Paul and Phil find themselves in trouble through no fault of their own and are forced to steal a national treasure or risk having their heads literally blown off. The motive is petty, revenge against the already dead Paddy Nellis carried out through his adopted nephew Phil, which fits perfectly within this chaotic world. The pacing is super fast, with the ticking clock adding a real sense of urgency. There is a lot going on, but it never feels overwhelming. Caimh McDonnell is a genius at juggling multiple characters, plots and outrageous situations while keeping everything coherent and consistently funny. I am both delighted and frustrated that he has many more ideas, because I have already devoured everything he has written and the next book cannot come soon enough.
This book is hilarious, off its rocker, and somehow just grounded enough in reality to make you pause and think, “hang on… could this actually happen?” It’s that perfect blend of absurdity and plausibility that Caimh McDonnell does so well; pushing things right to the edge without ever losing the thread.
One of the standout strengths, as always, is the characters. The background cast aren’t just filler, they’re given space to breathe, shine, and often steal the scene entirely. Everyone feels distinct, memorable, and genuinely fun to spend time with, which makes the chaos all the more enjoyable. You can tell a lot of care has gone into making even the smaller roles feel meaningful, and it really elevates the whole story.
The humour lands consistently, mixing sharp wit with outright ridiculous situations, and it never feels forced. Whether it’s the dialogue, the escalating antics, or the sheer audacity of the plot, there’s always something to keep you entertained.
And speaking of the plot, it’s wildly creative. It barrels along at a relentless pace, piling complication on top of complication in a way that somehow never feels overwhelming. Instead, it just adds to the fun, making this another chaotic, laugh-out-loud romp that’s hard to put down.
As the more observant among you will have noticed, Mr. Caimh McDonnell is one of my favourites and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into his latest instalment, and boy did it deliver! The pace, humour and lovable returning characters keep me hooked and desperate for more!
This latest episode of the MCM Investigates off shoot of the Dublin Trilogy universe is a real gem. Paul and Phil are at the heart of the action, with the supporting cast of Bigit, Jimmy and Deccie (YAY!) backing them up with the usual flair and style. Without giving any spoilers, our two former friends are thrust together in a race against time to save their own lives and to pull of what would, if it were possible, be the heist of the century. And perhaps they might even need a little bit of help from beyond the grave. Although not in a Stranger Times way (IYKYK) 😉
As you can probably tell, I loved this book and I would implore anyone and everyone to read it. Although you should probably read the many others that came before it if you want to really know what is going on!
Don't get me wrong here. I love these books. Have read all of them. And not just this series. Basjcally..., ALL IF THEM. Many twice. Some thrice. And by association for most of the same reasons - the author & his whole fam damnly. Makes me smile
They all seem so much like us. Dogs, voonder vife, & me who also often goes into WAY to much detail (tho limited to turning a simple text message into a tome of sorts, that because of it's total lack if brevity - nobody reads.)
And that's my beef with this story. I'll read it again, and likely again again. Because now that I know the ending (beautifully done, by the way), I'm curious as to what I may have missed. The culprits here being; 1. pages & pages of back-story - that frankly leave me anxious to get back to the REAL story sooner than later. Which leaves me soeed-glossing through all those pages, to get back in the game. And; 2. my own patience & focus problems.
Thing is - I don't remember having this issue with Caimh's prior books. So - I dunno - maybe take all this with a grain of salt.
O.K. Enough of that. Need to go see whatinahell Bunny's up to.
Another wonderful book by Caimh, so glad I found him by accident years ago with The Dublin Trilogy, I highly recommend by the way. This book puts the focus on the MCM crew, which is a very entertaining bunch. This involves a heist, done under duress, and the reuniting of old friends to achieve the deed. I won’t go into details but just tell you that you should read it, you won’t be disappointed. In fact you should read all of Mr McDonnell’s books, I guarantee you will be hooked. Thanks Caimh and keep them all coming, especially the books involving Bunny McGarry, my favorite.
In the Bunnyverse we have the MCM books which, in general, don't include Bunny. But we do have Phil Nellis, Brigit, Paul and Maggie and they are magnificent. So it doesn't seem to matter that Bunny is the elephant not in the room. This is the third in the MCM trilogy and it is superb. One of the best heist books I've ever read and yet with some of the funniest dialogue I've ever read. You should read it and have the time of your life lost in a great book.
In May of 2022 while teasing a Beyoncé style midnight drop, Caimh McDonnell suggested "The Bible Rewritten by Phil Nellis" as one of the options of what might be coming.
While it isn't the Gospel of Phil, that we got the Gospels Stolen by Phil (and Paul) less than 4 years later is a testament to the pure work ethic of Caimh and the total delight of these books.
So much fun.
Caimh's New Tina Count: No Tinas (or Ford Cortinas), but still brilliant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I laughed/smirked/smiled on every page. Not sure how Caimh McDonnell is able to do this to his readers. The dialogue and asides and little backstories are amazing. Hilarious does not begin to adequately describe what I have just read. Looking forward to the next MCM investigations and/or Bunny and/or Deccie. It doesn’t matter which as they have all been ridiculously entertaining and takes one’s mind off the real world.
The very lovely duo that are Team McFori deliver again, with no sign of letting up.
Loved this. Read in a day whilst poorly on the sofa on Sunday.
Only criticism, my pal Caimh committed a grave Blasphemy. And I don't mean the whole chapter having the monks from the time of the Book of Kells speaking like modern wankers; I mean the line "Tiramisu is a shite dessert"!
In short, Paul is brilliant but an absolute clod, Phil, while resourceful, can be a bit dense, Brigit has serious trust issues, Da Xin is far more patient than necessary, Paddy Nellis was a genius of sorts, Lynn Nellis is a babe of the 100th magnitude, Deccie remains a piece of work, never trust men in white suits and Maggie is a great dog. And the next time you go to Trinity College, check out that book. Maybe it is a forgery.
I’ve read all the books Caimh has written in this guise and his CK McDonnell mode. I’ve written before that his writing is improved with every book and they have evolved from funny stories to hilarious tales with really developed characters. I recommend them to anyone.
McDonnell has hit another out of the ballpark! This is one of those books that will get you through the hard times we’re in right now. This author always makes me laugh while providing a great story. And Maggie is one of the best dogs ever, even if she does fart quite a bit.