I am a fan of this author and have read all previous books.
I wanted to read this book and happy to pick this up, it took me a while to get into the story as I couldn’t read the articles between chapters which confused me but aside from that the story is engaging and entertaining. Helps its in my own hometown too so i could hear the accents in my head.
Hannah is a woman looking for a new life after leaving her husband she interviews at The Stranger Times a newspaper that features stories both weird and supernatural. It employs a ragtag bunch of people just trying to get from one publication to another.
A great story I loved it.

The Stranger Times is a funny, fast paced, big-hearted journalistic urban fantasy. I can see why people are comparing the author to Terry Pratchett and Ben Aaronovitch, but The Stranger Times works on its own merits. Full of a range of eccentric and loveable characters, and with an intriguing magical world, I had a great time reading this, and can't wait to go back when the next book comes out. Hurry up and publish it!

It’s bonkers, it’s hilarious and it’s gripping. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys humour, fantasy and stories with characters that jump from the page. The banter between the eccentric characters was brilliant and I was sad when I finished the book. I’m praying that this is the beginning of a new series as there is so many ways the series could expand.
Great stuff.

this is one new Newspaper that readers won't ever call boring!

The style of writting flows super easy and the characters are fun and very memorable. Once I really started to read I could not put it down and couldn't wait to see what would happen next! It was a brilliant adventure.

This story is a mixture of multiple things I love: magic, mayhem, weird news and publishing. It follows a group of journalists from The Stranger Times, a publication designed to chronicle the strange and supernatural, as they discover that there might actually be truth hiding inside the nonsense they print.

McDonnell possesses a brilliant sense of humour (I was was laughing from the very first chapter) and he combines it well with the intrigue of the plot and the distinct personalities of the characters. I loved the witty banter between the core group of colleagues and shivered at the bored evil of the main villain.

This is a short, adventurous read, filled with spirits (of both the ethereal and alcoholic kind), investigations and (mostly unhappy) accidents. If you enjoy bumbling detectives, flawed heroes and a whole lot of foot-shooting, vase-throwing chaos, this one is for you.

A good cast of distinct and distinctly different characters. If you love Rivers of London then this is for you. Lots going on, all plausible in a mad way and has definitely whetted my appetite for other books by the author. Thankyou to Bantam Press and Netgalley for providing me with this free ARC and a lot of fun.

Normally i[m not a fan of books that are set in places that I know well and so was concerned that this novel being set in Manchester was going to distract for me...I could not be more wrong. This is like the lovechild of Jim Butcher and Ben Aaronovitch got together, decided to jib off the detective part and instead set a new story in a Manchester newspaper dedicated to 'alternative news' shall we say. Brilliant characters, great world setup and a fast paced plot kept me hooked, so much so i'm almost impatient for the next in the series! Definitely a recommendation for those of you who enjoy their urban fantasy with a smattering of comedy - good times.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. An enjoyable first novel in a new fantasy series.

Thank you Netgalley and & Random House UK for an arc of this book :)

"The Stranger Times" by C.K. McDonnell is a wonderfully comedic urban fantasy.


If you're a fan of The River of London series, you'll love The Stranger Times.

Set in Manchester, we follow a group of hilarious main characters who are all slightly eccentric. The plot follows this group of people investigating "strange happenings" in their newspaper; "The Stranger Times".

We first meet MC, Hannah, who's having a bit of a rough go of it, between her cheating husband and removing herself from her high-flying life. By luck, she ends up with a job at The Stranger Times, a newspaper which deals in publishing outlandish stories.

From there on, things only get "stranger" with an American magician, suspicious deaths, the gang find themselves knee-deep in danger.

My only issue with the ARC was the missing newspaper articles, and some formatting issues rectified before publishing.

McDonnell's writing style is full of wit and humour, and knows how to keep the reader hooked.

5/5

So…..clearly I need more supervision. Once again, I blew right past a stack of long suffering TBR’s & went for a bright & shiny new ARC. In my defence, it is the latest from Caimh McDonnell (don’t be fooled by that “C. K.” business). Just a heads-up for fans: we’re not in Dublin anymore.

Welcome to Manchester. And a whole new cast of colourful, odd, rude & entertaining characters. The prologue also signals a new genre. This is a mash-up of sci-fi, mystery, fantasy & mythology, served with a side of the author’s signature snark.

When we meet MC Hannah Willis, she’s not having a bad day…she’s having a bad life. Recently divorced from her wealthy can’t-keep-it-zipped husband, she’s in desperate need of something she’s never had. A job. By a stroke of (good?) luck she ends up at the Stranger Times, which we will loosely refer to as a newspaper.

There she meets Grace, Simon, Stella, Ox & Reggie. They fulfill the colourful, odd & entertaining part of the equation. The rude bit comes courtesy of managing editor Vincent Banecroft, a man intent on drinking himself into a coma. Right away, you know each of these people has a past that needs to be explored & we get hints as the plot progresses. But it’s not all giggles & insults. There’s a spooky, darker side to the whole story.

In alternate chapters, we follow a strange man named Moretti (or, as I referred to him in my head, “creepy weasel guy”). He’s a man on a mission & if some unfortunate souls happen to get in the way….well, sometimes life is messy.

So what we have is the basic battle of good vs. evil. Initially, readers are as clueless as Hannah as to what is actually going on in the world around us. Magic, mythology, scary critters & the stuff of nightmares….Manchester has it all. And it’s the Stranger Times’ job to keep us informed. They’re used to the usual harmless weirdos but clearly there is a new game in town. And not everyone from the newspaper will survive.

This was an entertaining read with well defined characters. Hannah is a young woman just discovering that she has opinions. And a spine. Grace is the house mother who takes care of them all. And there’s definitely more to Banecroft, a man who pisses people off like it’s his job.

The author dials down the silly & replaces it with a grittier edge than his previous books. During one scene in particular, I found myself waiting for someone to gaze into the distance & mutter “Winter is coming”. As book #1, time is spent establishing the cast & setting & some of the funniest lines are those describing Manchester itself. My only complaint about the ARC was the missing newspaper articles that I’m sure will be interspersed throughout finished copies.

If you are new to this author, it’s the perfect place to start. Book #2 is due later next year & I look forward to catching up with some of Manchester’s more peculiar residents. Well, except that guy with the eyeball thing. Never mind.

3.5 * rounded up.

I enjoyed the characters a lot - there’s definitely a mix of personalities and everyone felt like an individual.
I felt like the chapters not focusing on the employees of The Stranger Times really slowed down the pacing and meant that the plot didn’t get started until 50% of the way through.
A lot of people will love this book, but it feels more like a cosy mystery rather than a sci-fi/fantasy epic with a humorous twist that I expected from the description.

This book is funny, it has been a long time since I really laughed whilst reading and I would like to thank the author for giving me those spontaneous moments (although my wife now thinks I need placing in care as I am obviously senile) it is reminiscent of terry practhett at his best, I’m not going to bore you with a synopsis or a critique of this book just know it is very good and so funny 😂😂 highly enjoyable and highly recommended

Caslefield, a pimple on the nose of Manchester, supplying the lighter side of life since Roman Occupation.

Based on the assumption that there are two forms of weather, raining or waiting to rain. The backdrop is set.

A motley crew, of "Journalists", an editor with a drink problem and a blunderbuss, and a newbie.

Whilst the news for this paper maybe far fetched, the national enquirer would have been proud. Gods and Mosters sell end of.

With almost as many twists and turns as the M60, this page turner keeps you coming back for more. I hate to say this, but I woke up, and found myself reaching for this book to find out how it ended.

Oh yes...... and don't forget the ketchup.