As if that was not enough, one of the paper’s former columnists has vanished, an especially impressive trick since he never actually existed in the first place. 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. Now, against all odds, it would seem that he might actually get proved right, however what lengths is he going to go in an effort to rescue her? Somebody needs to sort this out fast before all Hell really breaks loose - step forward the staff of The Stranger Times.

The Stranger Times - Penguin Books UK

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. Besides the trademark humor, there are some of the most heartwarming moments in this series that’ll leave their marks on you, with some leaving readers in tears, crying tears of bittersweet happiness. Someone needs to sort all of this out quick before all Hell truly does break loose, step forward the staff of The Stranger Times. Enjoyable and entertaining throughout, this is a book that will demand consumption in the fewest possible sittings.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. It speaks volumes that her decision to reconcile with her philandering ex-husband is only marginally less surprising than Banecroft and his wife getting back together. During this time of crisis, is her choice to swan off to a fancy new age retreat ran by a celebrity cult truly the best thing for anybody? McDonnell combines gonzo humour and neat character studies in the first volume of an urban fantasy series. Assistant Editor Hannah has come back from getting messily divorced to discover that someone is trying to kidnap a member of their staff and while editor Vincent Banecroft would be delighted to see the back of any of his team, he doesn’t like people touching his stuff – it’s the principle of the thing.

The Stranger Times Podcast - Project 1 - The Stranger Times

Wonderfully dark, extremely funny, and evocative of Terry Pratchett – which I think is the highest compliment I can give. Like an entertaining collision between the worlds of Mick Herron and Charlie Stross, it’s a novel that proves ancient eldritch horror is no match for old-school journalism. The Stranger Times is a paranormal newspaper based in Manchester and dedicated to reporting the weird and wonderful from around the world. When tragedy strikes during her first week on the job The Stranger Times is forced to do some serious investigating. Vincent Banecroft, the irascible editor of The Stranger Times, has never believed his wife died despite emphatic evidence to the contrary.To read more about the site or if you want a graphic to link to us, see the about page for more details. Now, against all odds, it seems he may actually be proved right; but what lengths will he go to in an attempt to rescue her?

The Stranger Times by C. K. McDonnell | Waterstones

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. Their editor is a drunken, foul-tempered, and foul-mouthed husk of a man who thinks little of the publication he edits. There are dark forces at work in our world so thank God The Stranger Times is on hand to report them. 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.It’s a city for realists, not fantasists: standing in Piccadilly Gardens reciting chunks of the Book of the Dead would raise a breeze of bathos, not archaic gods of the abyss. well, that job is a revolving door – and it has just revolved to reveal Hannah Willis, who’s got problems of her own. It is like the Fortean Times’ unloved trashy cousin that gets drunk at a wedding and throws up in the mother-of-the-bride’s handbag. In this time of crisis, is her decision to swan off to a fancy new-age retreat run by a celebrity cult really the best thing for anyone?