Enjoyable and entertaining throughout, this is a book that will demand consumption in the fewest possible sittings. Revellers at a children’s Halloween party were left spooked when the affair was gatecrashed by a ghost dog.

The Stranger Times by C. K. McDonnell | Waterstones

Wonderfully dark, extremely funny, and evocative of Terry Pratchett – which I think is the highest compliment I can give.’ ADAM KAY, bestselling author of This is Going to Hurt There are dark forces at work in our world so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them. A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but mostly the weird), it is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable . . . Throw in gambling debts, this precarious plumbing situation, a whole new way of swearing, and this one detective inspector with what could only be referred to as ‘a lot of baggage’ and all of it adds up to another hectic week in the life of this newspaper that’s committed to reporting the truth that no one else will touch. Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it's particularly annoying when they start popping up around Manchester . . . Readers really liked the conversations between the employees of The Stranger Times, because they’re hilarious and made them laugh out loud. You initially feel these characters are a bunch of misfits tossed together yet the more time you spend with them, the more you realize just how well they gel together. Fans of the book were hooked from the very start, because McDonnell is excellent at hooking you in, and his humor, whether you’re laughing out loud at it or rolling your eyes. This is the funniest book that some readers have gone cover to cover with in such a long time, with an eccentric cast of characters.The Stranger Times is the first book from C.K. McDonnell, the pen name of Caimh McDonnell. It combines his distinctive dark wit with his love of the weird and wonderful to deliver a joyous celebration of how truth really can be stranger than fiction. Any issues with the book list you are seeing? Or is there an author or series we don’t have? Let me know! Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a funeral who has been sent to make the paper's editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . . I loved this book. Great premise – great story – great characters . . . hugely enjoyable.’ JODI TAYLOR, bestselling author of The Chronicles of St Mary’s series

About - The Stranger Times

The Stranger Times is the first novel from C.K. McDonnell, the pen name of Caimh McDonnell. It combines his distinctive dark wit with his love of the weird and wonderful to deliver a joyous celebration of how truth really can be stranger than fiction.Wonderfully dark, extremely funny, and evocative of Terry Pratchett – which I think is the highest compliment I can give.’

The Stranger Times – paranormal fiction and news

All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity Who's Who that'd put a royal wedding to shame, and you're looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times. The books feature that same distinctive comedic voice that fans have loved in McDonnell’s other books, however this time around there is an added strange. It combines paranormal, urban fantasy, and humor with crime. A filmic romp with great characters, a jet-propelled plot, and a winning premise' said the GUARDIANThis Charming Man” is the second novel in the “Stranger Times” series and was released in 2022. Vampires don’t exist. Everybody knows it. So it’s especially annoying when they begin popping up around Manchester. Nobody is pleased about it. Not the Founders, the secret organisation for whom vampires were invented as an allegory, nor the Folk, the magical people hidden in plain sight who only want a quiet life. And definitely not the people of Manchester, because there is nothing more irksome than being murdered by an allegory run amok. Somebody needs to sort this out fast before all Hell really breaks loose – step forward the staff of The Stranger Times. A gag-filled romp … in the spirit of Terry Pratchett. Ripping entertainment from start to finish.’ The Times

The Stranger Times Books - Project 1 - The Stranger Times

Throw in a precarious plumbing situation, gambling debts, an entirely new way of swearing, and a certain detective inspector with what could be kindly referred to as ‘a lot of baggage’ and it all adds up to another hectic week in the life of the newspaper committed to reporting the truth that nobody else will touch. At least that’s their pitch. The reality is rather less auspicious. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered, and foul-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little of the publication he edits. His staff are a ragtag group of misfits. And as for the assistant editor . . . well, that job is a revolving door – and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who’s got problems of her own. That is their pitch, anyway. The reality is much less auspicious. Their editor is a foul-tempered, drunken, and foul-mouthed husk of a man that thinks rather little of the publication that he edits. His staff is this ragtag bunch of misfits. And as for the assistant editor, well, that job is more of a revolving door, and it’s just revolved to reveal a woman named Hannah Willis, who’s got a bunch of problems of her own. A weekly newspaper dedicated to the weird and the wonderful (but mostly the weird), it is the go-to publication for the unexplained and inexplicable. The Stranger Times is the first in a whole new series of books under the pen name C.K. McDonnell. Paranormal thrillers set in his adopted home town of Manchester, they still feature that same distinctive comedic voice that fans have loved in his other books, but now there will be added strange. The book has been described as perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, Ben Aaranovitch, Douglas Adams or, y’know, Caimh.The managing editor is Vincent Banecroft, the former darling of Fleet Street. He has had a fall from grace that makes the Hindenburg look like a largely successful flight. Nobody is pleased about it. Not the Founders, the secret organisation for whom vampires were invented as an allegory, nor the Folk, the magical people hidden in plain sight who only want a quiet life. And definitely not the people of Manchester, because there is nothing more irksome than being murdered by an allegory run amok. Somebody needs to sort this out fast before all Hell really breaks loose - step forward the staff of The Stranger Times. Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it’s particularly annoying when they start popping up around Manchester . . . Wonderfully dark, extremely funny' proclaimed ADAM KAY, author of the No.1 bestselling This is Going to Hurt C. K. McDonnell writes the “Stranger Times” series of paranormal thrillers that are set in his adopted home town of Manchester.