How To Send a Message: Caimh McDonnell Shorter Fiction volume 1

It's a real pleasure to find a great writer, with a series already done (The Dublin Trilogy's four books) and then find out there's more to come. I listened to the Dublin Trilogy audiobooks - done with a fantastic narrator, and then searched the author's name to see if there's more.This collection of short stories was very good, and although I prefer books in audiobook format and hard copy books languish in a To Be Read pile, this book moved quickly from a quick scan for later, to a sit down and read book. I hope this will become an audiobook in the future too. I am considering getting the two books set in the United States in book or kindle format, not wanting to wait for the audiobooks.The writing is tight. The characters are interesting, different, and well-defined. The plots are twisty, exquisitely thought out, and fun. There's drama, a bit of tension, and the humor can be subtle or bold.Highly recommend these books!

I’ve read several of McDonnell’s books and enjoyed every one. I am looking forward to every book he writes. The action is very good, and the humor is exceptional. I find myself laughing out loud. You can’t miss reading anything he writes.

Buy this book! Great stories, for the most part (& even the ones that don't knock it out of the park are still okay). I've become a muchly admirer of Ciamh McDonnell's writings!

I TRY TO FIND BOOKS THAT HAVE A FUNNY CORE TO MAKE ME LAUGH BUT ALSO A HEAVY STORY WHERE THE GOOD PEOPLE GET A BREAK AND THE BAD PEOPLE GET BROKEN. I'VE READ EVERYTHING I CAN FIND BY THIS AUTHOR AND I HAVE BEEN REWARDED FOR MY EFFORTS TO SEARCH HIM OUT. SPLENDID TALENT, FUNNY BONE IN TOP SHAPE, YOU SHOULD READ HIS BOOKS. CHARLES D. DEUEL

It’s a collection of little stores - some good. Read all of Caihm’s books so this was a bit of a letdown. Looking forward to Bunny returning in 2020.

I loved every page. Old and new characters all delightful!

Caimh McDonnell ‘s books and stories continue to entertain and amuse at a time when stress and despair seem to be the default position . His writing is fine and his characters , and they are characters, are wonderfully constructed . Looking forward to reading. I have sinned..

Not since the Encyclopaedia Britannica has Scotland produced such fine literature!

Caimh McDonnell is a brilliant writer. He manages to combine action packed crime and humour together. The humour is never contrived but stems from the human condition we all share. His characterisation is superb, with all the people in his stories thoroughly believable no matter how 'wacky' they are. His are the only crime novels i read more than once. I had read most of the short stories contained in 'How To Send A Message' on my kindle (a device i only bought so that i could read while in hospital) but now i have them in a 'proper book' that i can keep alongside the other books he has written. ) O yes, and he writes in the past tense as should be done with a story and you can be sure none of his characters will ever have 'snuck' into a room or 'dove' into water or been 'burglarized.' Caimh McDonnell writes fast moving, gripping crime novels you read with a smile on your face.

Have read all his books, and the first 170 pages were 5 star. But the final "Chapter" was so boring and without any interest or reason , that I wish the editor had cut it. My Opinion ……...

As with all his other stuff, I always end up chuckling out loud. And who in this world does not benefit from a good laugh out loud. Unless you are in a library, then the other folk there might not benefit from that quite as much. I prefer the novels in some ways, but there were some good stories here to be had. Enjoy

I prefer the longer full bodied stories which always start and finish without any rough edges. Excellent writing. The shorter stories were extremely entertaining but more convoluted. I still enjoyed them more than most authors I have read.

A good read.