Relight My Fire is the fourth book in The Stranger Times series, about a Manchester-based newspaper which investigates the strange and uncanny. I found this series a year or so ago, read the whole lot in three days, and fell in love with them. I am so glad Netgalley sent me an advance copy (I didn't even have to ask this time). It's hard to explain why I love these quite so much, but I think it's the combination of sarcasm, cleverness and character. They are absolutely perfect for giggling out loud and then having to try and explain to the others in the room just what was so funny.

There's some body-snatching, some amplification of eldritch powers, a bit of zombie-ism, and a return to the delightfully odd crew at The Stranger Times, with an interesting new addition to the not-quite-human part of the team. As a bonus, Relight My Fire will be out in time for my youngest brother's birthday - he adores these books too.

Once again a gripping, exciting, and very funny book from C.K McDonnell.

Whether in the Stranger Times series or his Dublin/Bunny McGarry books McDonnell has a real skill for character development and inserting believable humour into dramatic situations and Relight My Fire shows that skill maturing still further.

What I particularly love about his writing wrings true here - characters make believable decisions, supporting characters feel well thought out rather than just being a device to drive the narrative and once again the book goes in a different direction than the early chapters would suggest.

If you're not already hooked on this series, get onboard now!

If I could time travel I would head into the future, where (when?) I could binge read the entire series and not have to wait for each new book!

This is probably my favourite new series and author, it’s smart, funny, subversive, and highly imaginative. I recommend to everyone who will listen, usually people buying any kind of humorous fiction.
The characters are amazing, and I’m loving the development and depth of the relationships. Their interactions are riddled with warmth, but with a big dollop of humour.
I think my favourite thing about this instalment was trying to figure out the identity of the celebrity, it’s testament to the author’s skills that some were instantly recognisable.

Another genius offering about the Stranger Times weirdoes. I just love these books and this one is no exception. It’s funny and had me chuckling throughout. It’s ridiculously far fetched but it’s fun and a great read. Until you read this author’s books about the news desk at Stranger Times, you won’t know what you’re missing. There are just about every kind of weirdo in these books, including zombie versions of the dead and famous in this one.
Treat yourself and read this book and the others too. If you have an amazingly weird imagination, you will not be disappointed.

This is the fourth book in the stranger times series which I’m sure would work as a stand alone novel without having to read the other three first.
Once again we find the staff of the Stranger Times caught up in the weird, wonderful and downright creepy activities in the Greater Manchester area. The story starts when a young student falls from the sky right in front of Stella, who has embarked upon a college course in an attempt to lead a ‘normal life’. However, the rest of the Stranger Times crew are keeping an eye on her and soon get drawn into some mysterious goings on involving a rogue founder and before long their offices turn into a zombie battleground. All in a days work for the staff of the Stranger Times!
Another good light hearted read.

Thanks, once again, to NetGalley for the ARC. As usual, my pre-order is still in place, but I love seeing the book early.

Once again, the gang at The Stranger Times are up to their usual shenanigans. This time, people are falling from the sky and a not-ghost is tormenting Banecroft with the promise of eternal damnation - starting in just a few weeks - if he can't solve a mystery. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned, not that there actually ARE any plans.

CK McDonnell writes with his usual witty style, keeping the reader engaged. Even when some of the plot gets a bit complicated, he doesn't lose the reader. There's intrigue in the potentially-an-enemy-but-not-necessarily-at-this-time group, and there's still some mysteries involving the origin of a major character.

In the end, there weren't quite as many answers as I might have liked, but that just means I'll be queued up for the next book, eagerly tapping my toes and twiddling my thumbs as I wait. I really can't get enough of this series.

The mysteries deepen

I love The Stranger Times books and the latest one is no exception. I like series where story lines and relationships between the characters continue to develop and their back stories are revealed and Relight my fire delivered across the board.

The team’s knowledge of the dodgy dealings of the founders deepens and they gain a new team member who brings new ‘super powers’ to the team. Sturgess and Wilkerson take up the mantle from Muldar and Scully. Banecroft avoids a hellish fate. The Stranger Times office becomes a zombiefied battleground, thanks to a new villainess with an interesting pet. Stella starts to gain more control of her powers but her mystery deepens leaving much more to be revealed about her in future stories.

All in all I loved Relight my fire and can’t wait for the next instalment of Banecroft and Co’s adventures.

I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.

The Stranger Times returns and in my opinion it’s the best outing yet!

With the world now fully built, as a fan you know what to expect but CK McDonnell doesn't rest in his laurels as he delivers a slightly darker, yet still explosively funny new tale for the team.

This is probably my favourite series out there right now. Funny, entertaining, tightly plotted and just simply superb storytelling.

I can’t shout loud enough how good this series is and to reach book 4 and be the best yet is some doing. It’s a series you should read from the start so as to really keep up with the events and to fully appreciate the over arching story and characters.

It’s like a big supernatural fantasy hug of a book. Quite Brilliant

This is the fourth book in CK McDonnell’s series The Stranger Times - Relight My Fire, and once again we are thrust into the seriously strange, weird and wonderful world that the staff of The Stranger Times report about. McDonnell continues to develop the world building, building on the layers crafted in the three previous books to create a beautifully crafted, increasingly complex, interesting and humorous tapestry of Manchester that you would never experience elsewhere.

Relight My Fire opens with dramatic events that initially don’t appear to involve our intrepid reporters, including a man floating above the streets, crash landing to his death in front of Stella. Stella is an enigma who recently joined the staff of The Stranger Times and has powers she does not understand. Add in a threat to Editor Banecroft’s future existence, drugs and a whole mix of police politics, and more, and you have a plot that develops like the layers of an onion until the final exhilarating conclusion.

McDonnell delivers this urban fantasy complimented by a perfect touch of farce and humour that does not fail to raise a true belly laugh at just the right moment before hitting you with creative plot, entertaining baddies/villains and my new favourite Brian.

I can truthfully say that I absolutely love this series, it goes from strength to strength as it progresses and McDonnell truly delivers a sense of humour that feels reminiscent of Terry Pratchett that doesn’t fail to endear, whilst also drawing out the core foundation that for every action there is a reaction / consequence that should never be ignored.

This is a series that like a fine wine only improves with age/development and if you’re looking for that next great series, you can’t go wrong with The Stranger Times and Relight my Fire!

I couldn't put this down and now have sore muscles from all the laughing. CK McDonnell, I enjoyed this "newspaper" not only because it's the perfect antidote to what I can read in the "dailies".

Why is a man falling at Stella's feet? Does she/her power have anything to do with it? The Powers of Darkness think so. That's why the staff of The Stranger Times set out to prove Stella is what she appears to be, a normal teenager with no supernatural powers at all. You can imagine how ordinary and normal that is going to go.

I don't want to spoil the story in any way. Read the blurb! (Pre-)Order the book and read it!

If you've enjoyed the previous three books in the series, you will enjoy this one as well. If you haven't read any of the The Stranger Times books by now,... Sorry, drawing a blank, how can you not have read the first three books in the series?

CK McDonnell returns to the weird world of The Stranger Times for the fourth time in Relight My Fire. As his world becomes more complex and plot lines and minor characters carry through it becomes harder to jump into these books as standalones or entry points. But this richness, coupled with McDonnell’s dry wit and humour is what makes the series great and worth recommending that new readers start at book one (The Stranger Times) and catch up. It also means that this review may contain minor spoilers for the previous volumes.
Relight My Fire starts with two weird and disturbing cold opens. In the second, a young man decides that he should be able to fly and finds himself floating above an urban street until he is not anymore and falls to his death. He happens to land close to Stella, the a mysterious young woman who is part of The Stranger Times staff and has powers herself that she does not understand. This leads to staff and the police to start investigating stranger goings on associated with drug use and powers. At the same time, Editor Banecroft is given an ultimatum by a spirit – clear the ledger of his wrongdoing in the previous book – by a certain time or be dragged into hell. Not wanting to spoil some of the deliciousness of the final act but suffice to say it builds to a highwire mix of comedy and terror that just works.
Relight My Fire is once again a heady and enjoyable mix of urban fantasy, observational humour, whacky by loveable characters, body horror, moustache twirling villains with nefarious plans and just general mayhem. Among some other embellishments of to his world building, this book introduces the idea of ghouls, creatures who hang around in cemeteries to make sure they stay inviolate, in the form of a new character called Brian, and three weird sisters who could possibly McDonnell’s stand in for the Fates.
The Stranger Times series continues to get better with every book. CK McDonnell seems to be having a lot of fun with this series and he brings that sense strongly to the page. It is a world in which every action has consequences and in which decisions that characters make are not always the best ones. And while some mysteries have been resolved there are still plenty left hanging for the next anticipated entry in this series.

Relight My Fire is book four in the Stranger Times series by C.K. McDonnell (AKA Caimh McDonnell for his Bunny McGarry books). As with the previous two books the title is the name of a song by a band from Manchester, although I have to admit, I didn't know Take That were from Manchester....

You don't have to have read the previous books in the series to read this, but it would probably help a bit... also they're brilliant so just go back to the start.

Relight My Fire picks up with Stella in university. It seems like she is just about to start having a bit of normality in her life, she's starting to make a couple of friends, is studying something she is interested in, and men (well one man) literally fall at her feet.... and explode on impact.... uhm....

Of course given Stella's history in the community, and the fact that the assistant editor of The Stranger Times just "happened to be in the area" the police (weirdo stuff), and those shadowy underground characters have their suspicions as to what might actually be happening here. The newspaper and it's staff are pulled into another story. This time students are acting suspiciously, even taking into account it is almost Halloween, and nobody on either side of the divide can figure out what's going on. Banecroft and co need to figure it out - but this time the clock is ticking, and not because they are on a print deadline.

Relight My Fire tops the series so far for me, and has a perfect balance of fantasy elements and humour. The characters have been built wonderfully and have become a great team, even Manny has proven himself to be indispensable from the group (although I am not sure I want him at my job).

The author has once again mixed humour and fantasy brilliantly, and while he may not be the first to do it he is certainly putting himself at the table with the masters. He has done it again with this one, and it is another fantastic tale. I'm not sure where all these creative juices come from but we can only hope they continue to flow. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to the author publisher and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.
I love the work of this author and was delighted to receive this ARC.
It takes us on a frenetic journey with the staff of Stranger Times, with one or 2 new characters thrown in for good measure. It's very very funny, not for those with a delicate stomach and well worth a read..
Easily 5 stars.

The fourth book in the series and I'm still loving these books. The story is based partly in Manchester and partly in a different Manchester than most people perceive. You could read it as a standalone book if you wanted, but you would miss out on so much if you didn't read the entire series (in order).

Stella has started university, organised by her boss (the drunken grump of an editor). She realises that it is partly his guilt from his previous threatening behaviour and partly because Stella had been promised a training course.

Vincent (the aforementioned boss) also has to deal with a pretty big life threat as a result of his aforementioned behaviour and needs his team to work with him in resolving the dark activities that have most recently been going on around Manchester. And resolve it before Tuesday! And he doesn't want the taster he was given to become his new reality.

There is a lot of detail to this book, too much to paraphrase here without either spoiling the book or giving such a poor representation of what it covers, that it doesn't sound as good as it is. As you probably gathered from the previous two paragraphs!

So in summary, I really enjoyed this book, it captured me and drew me in. I haven't been able to think of anything that I didn't like about it. All I can do is heartily recommend it as a most excellent read.

This was a good one. Stella is at university trying to have a normal life, despite not knowing her age, full name or why she has very destructive self defence powers. Maybe university isn't the best choice though when a random man falls out of the sky and lands in front of her. Something weird for stranger times to investigate so Hannah is on it. Coincide that with editor Bancroft having a strange visitation that gives him a time limit before intending to drag him to hell and Halloween is going to be a barrel of laughs. Add in a ghoul who is protecting graves, a very strange Dr and a singer who is Hannah's idol. It's all kicking off brilliantly. Fun, action packed and slightly frantic.

This episode of the continuing story The Stranger Times starts darkly with a woman being interrogated before being incinerated and in general the book is darker in tone than its predecessors. But that is not to say that are not some lighter, indeed laugh out loud, moments. As usual the book is self contained but also moves on the larger story arc. Thoroughly recommended.
My thanks to the publishers for an advance review copy.

This series has quickly become one of my favourite reads and ‘Relight My Fire’ ensures it will continue to be a favourite! I was thinking about how to describe this novel and I think it would be a mix of urban fantasy with some comedic relief and just a splash of horror for good effect. The series is getting a little darker but definitely works for me. The characters are fleshed out, there’s an overarching storyline that is building with each new instalment and, when you put down a book that involves zombies, witches and ghouls as you need to tell your wife why you’re laughing, it’s a winner. Recommended.

I love this series as a northern person myself admittedly I’m rubbish with certain parts of Manchester City centre!
I love the team and this focuses on Stella and her growth and understanding of her power and what she’s done and trying to live with the consequences. Hannah is trying to get back into DCI Tom Sturgess’ good graces after her spy work on her last episode.
I adore the stranger times team so many fun personalities play with. Manny is great so warm hearted and chilling against Banecroft and his need to dominate and boss people around. Banecroft this time is being followed by a very scary looking puritan and is given a deadline to solve a case or be sent into hellish torture. Took me a chapter or two for it to bed in and I picked up the story but entertaining and funny as ever. We learn more of our reporters and what makes them tick. Bring on more and more

The fourth instalment in the Stranger Times novels continues to drive this excellent urban fantasy series along at an exciting pace.

The Stranger Times staff have a new standalone mystery to solve but it all ties in to the overarching Founders plot.

Banecroft is up against a deadline firmer than even he is used to, Hannah is mortified, Stella wants to know who and what she is, and new addition Brian must be protected at all costs.

This series is a fantastic addition to my urban fantasy reading and Relight My Fire is really starting to pull threads together from the earlier books to feed into the overarching plot. I’m excited for the next one!

I've read, laughed at and enjoyed every adventure so far in the Stranger Times series, and this is no exception. It follows the motley crew of journalists and editors responsible for (fictional) Manchester's bestselling uncanny publication as they investigate the latest supernatural occurrences in their area – a boy who learnt he could fly minutes before falling to a grisly death, a drug that can unlock dormant magic, and a crazed scientist obsessed with resurrecting frozen bodies.

I like how we learn a little bit more about the powers that be in C. K. McDonnell's world with every new book in the series. Alongside the characters, we begin to form an idea of how things work behind the scenes, and by this one (book four) we've grasped a fair bit of the magic system and the hierarchy of power.

I also love that each book feels like a mystery solved in its own right, with closure by the end, and yet there's always room for the characters' lives to continue as they investigate goings-on for the next edition. It would make for a fantastic set of TV episodes and I hope there are more books to come in the future.

That being said, at this point in the series, there are so many characters, backstories and side quests in play that sometimes I found there was a bit too much going on, at the expense of some of the publishing-based banter and character-defining domestic scenes fans of this series love so much. However, I did laugh out loud on more than one occasion, and I still adore the troop of unlikely friends as much as I did way back in book one.