I definitely recommend reading this series from the beginning to understand the characters backgrounds. I can't elaborate because to talk about the events our characters have to deal with would absolutely spoil the previous two books.

It wasn't an awful read at all, it was pretty easy and fast, but not as fun as I'm used to with this series, sadly. Also check out The Stranger Times podcast, available almost everywhere, and featuring short stories set in the world of The Stranger Times, written by C. It’s a world where magic is starting to reappear and leak out from the previously tightly bolted social door that kept normal people, like myself, happily unaware of the talking dogs and strange powers that lurk around each corner! There is serious creativity here and if you are looking to escape the chaos of today’s society, then these books might just tick the right boxes for you.Caimh’s imagination seems to be limitless as the reader is literally taken on a journey of smoke and mirrors. The team at the Stranger Times is undergoing a period of unsettling changes: Hannah Willis, the assistant editor who was carving her own niche at the paper, just resigned abruptly, with no other explanation that she’s considering going back to her cheating husband – and to better gather her thoughts on the matter, she booked a stay at a new-age-oriented, exclusive spa where she will learn how to put her life into perspective.

It does sound like the author knew exactly how to handle all these different character adventures to allow them to grow individual and on the reader. We do have some sort of a case in every book to move the plot, but also there is an overarching thing going on. I wept real tears as he finally reaches breaking point, having been tortured in the cruellest way imaginable, via his all-consuming love for his wife. Not himself, his behaviour causes a major upset in the office and, when a new assistant editor arrives on the scene, it’s clear to all that something is very amiss.

That style, combined with its central location of Manchester, my home, will always mean I have a soft for this series.

com, and to find out more about The Stranger Times, and to join the mailing list for updates plus a free short story collection, go to TheStrangerTimes. I highly recommend you check it out - especially if you are a fan of Terry Pratchett or Ben Aaronovitch. Caimh has his roots in stand-up comedy and his wit and comedic timing shines through in every single word, every piece of dialogue. The newspaper’s owner sends a very strange lady, Betty Cavendish, to replace Hannah and Betty promptly asserts her rule by fending off easily editor Banecroft’s bullying attitude and keeping poor Grace occupied (or rather distressed) by requiring a financial inventory. The tempo sometimes lulled a bit too much for me and I felt like I wanted the whole thing to move along a bit quicker.

In McDonnell’s third instalment following the journalists of The Stranger Times, we join the action after Hannah has abruptly left, and everyone is convinced Banecroft is responsible for it.

Today I am delighted to hand the blog over to my guest reviewer extraordinaire, Ryan, who is going to share his thoughts on Love Will Tear Us Apart, the third book in The Stranger Times series by C. His obsession with finding out more about his wife is taking over and visits from his friend in the night (trying to avoid spoilers here) are only exacerbating the situation. I did like that it also revealed a bit more behind the scenes of the magical world and characters we've only seen more superficially so far. I found the scattering of the characters a little bit more of a problem – and Grace’s professional meltdown was plain annoying.And in this third volume there are mentions (although clearly defined) of events and people from the previous two books. I especially liked seeing Hannah away from the newspaper in this book, not only because it meant we got to spend more time with her, but also because it meant we got to meet my favourite character, and a new one, Betty. Featuring lots of starlings, yes the feathered kind, a talking dog and a woman with a penchant for sweets, as well as a middle aged hacker, an almost humane hack and a Rastafarian with a rather mysterious personality, prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of a ride. Hannah leaves The Stranger Times to do some investigation on a wellness retreat/cult, meanwhile a previous contributor of the paper disappears without a trace.