Loved it, just as good as the previous 3 books in the series. Funny, absurd, and imaginative with brilliant characters and great plot.

A woman is interrogated to reveal all of her personal details. Is this a scam attempt or a test to prove that she is compos mentis? Then she is incinerated! It takes a little while before we find out which of these options is correct. Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, Stella is strolling along when a young man falls at her feet. Unfortunately, his fall started a hundred feet up in the air, where he had been magically floating up to the point where he realised that he couldn’t. Although apparently just a young student, Stella is also a reporter for The Stranger Times so she is no stranger to Magic, and actually possesses considerable, though somewhat uncontrollable, magic power of her own. In this magical, alternative reality (or is it actually the one in which we live, unknowingly) there are three categories – the Founders, who run the world and resent any interference; the Folk, who have magic but must pay tribute to the Founders; and ordinary people, who don’t know about the others. Some ordinary people have some latent magic, of which they are unaware. Someone is seeking these people out by triggering this and then kidnapping them so that their ‘anima’ can be harvested for a nefarious purpose. The unfortunate boy had had his magical ability to fly triggered while he was on a roof . . .
Although Stella was just an innocent bystander, the Founders are wary of her, because her power and indeed her previous history are a mystery and could be a danger to them. The Stranger Times team start to investigate, but initially they cannot focus on this minor event, because the Editor, Vincent Banecroft, has a more pressing concern. As a punishment for something he did earlier (see previous books but details not needed to read this book) he has been condemned to Hell, whence he will he conveyed unless he can stop an abominable magical defilement. Trouble is, he doesn’t know what that defilement is and he only has about five and a half days to solve the mystery. Needless to say, the two deaths mentioned above are part of that solution.
This is the fourth book in the cleverly plotted and hilariously written The Stranger Times series and all the usual characters are on show, plus a couple of new ones. The style is witty and sardonic, and particularly acerbic when Banecroft is in full flow. Buried within it all are some quite profound thought on contemporary Britain (or at least Manchester). Overall it’s a great read, ending with clear pointers that there will be a next volume.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Caimh does Halloween, and fits in a tribute to The Last of Us as well! This was excellent. Stella develops as a character (and experiences university life), Banecroft is utterly himself, and we get treated to a roadie’s revenge. I will be ordering the audiobook too. I hope the Divine Sisters reappear - looking forward to the next issue of The Stranger Times already!!

“Colour me thoroughly entertained.”

I was very excited to read this book, having read all Caimh McDonnell's back catalogue, and it did not disappoint.
He had me chuckling from the authors note to the epilogues. I am itching to share some of my biggest belly laughs, but would hate to spoil a punchline for you. I loved diving back in amongst the staff of the Stranger Times, and genuinely punch the air when my favourite characters turned up again. McDonnell is a master craftsman of humour writing, and The Stranger Times books are easily the best Urban fantasy series going right now.
The only downside is that I must now endure the wait until the next book.. perhaps it's time for a re-read...

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the publishers' blurb...instead I highly recommend that you read this for yourself!

Having read the previous three books in the "Stranger Times" series, I was (once again) chuffed to little mintballs (as they say where I'm from) to receive an ARC of this, the latest novel.

Our old friends at "The Stranger Times" - plus some fantastic new characters - are on top form here. The plot gets pretty dark at times, but as usual is balanced by huge amounts of humour and wild imagination! We get to know more about some of the main characters (including Stella and Manny), and Banecroft is at his sweary sarky slightly-insane best. The plot is excellent - blending facts (about Manchester) with fiction (well I hope the bit about the Dukes of Cheshire is fiction anyway, if not woahhhh!) - and features some great baddies (not sure whether to class Kitty alongside but the signs point there...)

As usual, I loved the Manunian references - CKM obviously has a lot of affection for his adopted city!

The book leaves me wanting another sequel ...please hurry CKM, I cannot wait to read the next instalment!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Compelling and Hilarious!!
A fantastic book with a wide array of strange characters and even stranger circumstances.
Having never read any of the stranger times books, I decided to give this a try to see what it was about as I was intrigued by the blurb.
I'm very glad I did as certain images and situations have had me laughing until my sides were splitting.
An interesting detective story with magic, the undead and journalism thrown in for good measure. I highly recommend this book.

The fourth in this excellent series featuring the staff of The Stranger Times newspaper. Once again, this is such a fun read. There's plenty of laugh out loud moments, a great plot with plenty of twists. But best of all are the characters, a great cast of eccentrics.
Highly recommended.

Aaaand we’re back for another adventure with the eccentric employees of The Stranger Times. McDonnell writes with a lot of warmth, and while he clearly takes inspiration from Terry Pratchett (and less expectedly, Mick Herron), these books are very much their own thing. Once again, this is is an entertaining and lively read, with a cast of characters you will be rooting for. Paragraph for paragraph, these are just about the most fun books around at the moment (alongside the humourous crime novels of Caimh McDonell who I’m sure is absolutely nothing to do with this author), and I hope there are many more to come.

I’ll be delighted to close my eyes and catch up on some sleep . I’m currently running at a deficit of about three years.’‘Unfortunately for you, I am the stuff of nightmares.’ Banecroft rolled his eyes. ‘Oh, please, you’re a walking cliché. Having said that, most of my nightmares comprise being chased around by a giant flaccid penis, so that checks out.’

Once again Caimh has written a fantastic sequel. As the lore expands the characters grow. We recieve some answers and yet many more questions.

With many more laugh out loud moments this is a brilliant sequel! 5*****

‘You, get out of here right now or I’ll arrest you for trying to extract a mobile phone from your arse in public.’‘But my phone isn’t—’‘It will be in a second!’

Stranger Times number 4 - excellent! Well, having read the previous books I will happily admit to being a fan of this author both in this guise and his alter ego. This book effectively starts with a man falling at Stella's feet. Sadly the fall part of it is involuntary and slightly earlier he had been flying - surprised but happy. In general we are back with the Stranger Times and everything is "normal" (for the Stranger Times that is). Stella is trying to find out more about herself. Hannah and Sturgess are still wondering what might happen and Banecroft is Banecroft. And Manny is Manny sometimes with trousers on…

I really would prefer not to give anything too much away - far more fun to discover this for yourself. However by way of teasers someone (new) is after Banecroft with some nasty threats. It may just be that someone is lacing drugs with magic which could be nasty however are the Founders behind this or is someone new testing things out. Does an ex musician that Hannah was a fan of (even had a crush on) have anything to do with this? There is more than enough action and twists in this to keep most fans well engaged (if you are not already a fan for goodness sake read the first book first).

So weird stuff happens often in extremely funny ways. There are some new characters. I particularly liked Kitty who is possibly not just an ordinary cat. Also we get to know Brian (as far as it is possible to get to know someone who is strictly living) and he looks like a keeper which is good. I loved the almost sideline about the Dukes of Cheshire - if it's true it's fantastic, if it isn't it is highly inventive. On a personal basis I even enjoyed the "author's note" at the start of this book - C. K. really is a very accomplished writer. To balance that the prologue is a tad weird!

I guess the first three books might have been described as moving towards wonderfully strange, this one seems to have ignored that as a stop and nipped on quite a bit further... I guess I would hesitate to draw parallels with the likes of Gaiman and Pratchett but McDonnell is a talented writer and a very inventive storyteller - that works for me. An excellent fourth book in a very good comedy fantasy series - if the idea appeals do start at the beginning but fans should be very happy with this (and like me will be looking forward to book five please!).

Weird but so enjoyable. Glad I've read the earlier tales in the series as that makes this so much better but it would still stand as a single tale.

Roll on Book 5 please.

Yay! The gang is back.
As a massive fan of this series, I couldn't wait to get stuck in.
The series continues with a body face-planting the street from a great height right in front of Stella. The powers that be believe Stella had something to do with the young mans demise so the team investigate to prove otherwise.
This is book four in the series. It's dark, hilarious, and often bonkers. An urban fantasy/horror that will have you gasping one minute and then laughing out loud the next. There's a new member of the team, Brian the ghoul, and I'm hoping he'll be in the next book.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for the ARC. I really needed that.

Preamble: Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Amble: The Stranger Times gang are back, and this time it's ZOMBIES!

When a student falls out of the sky and splats on the pavement right in front of Stella, it's inevitable The Stranger Times staff are going to investigate. The fact that he was floating over Hulme Street prior to losing control and falling to his death might seem unusual, but this is Manchester dontcha know, epicentre of 'weirdy bollocks'.

In typical Stranger Times fashion, the incident is investigated and shenanigans ensue. I lost count of how many times I snort-laughed, but a few of the culprits are included below:

"Even Banecroft isn't going to wazz on somebody's grave. Well, probably not."

"Banecroft's little pop quizzes always had a point to them and, more often than not, the point was that you were an idiot."

"I don't know about anyone else," said Ox, "but I'm really glad Manny was wearing trousers for that."

"I'm not saying nothing," said Ox. Banecroft looked back at him. "While I applaud the obstinacy, the double negative from a purportedly professional journalist is unforgivable."

And last, but not least (edited to avoid spoilers):
"There also appeared to be a halo of golden light around her whole body, like in one of those Ready Brek commercials from the eighties, only she'd achieved hers by summoning the dead to wage bloody war rather than by eating a hearty breakfast."

We get a little more insight into Stella's whatjamacallit, and Banecroft is on top form as always. Also... Brian. I love Brian. More Brian in the next book please.

If you like weirdy bollocks, zombies and foul-mouthed newspaper editors you'll love the fourth instalment of The Stranger Times series. Just make sure you (re-)read the first three in preparation for the madness.

This was fantastic! I have read, and loved, all of the Stranger Times books, and this did not disappoint. Brilliantly written, excellent bad guys, a fantastic tying together of clues, and a really satisfying advancement of pre-existing plot points. A bit more Sturgess in this book, which I am very pleased about, and with the Stranger Times team back together, a storming return to the familiar and excellent banter of the previous books. I did miss loon day and the headlines which do not feature in the ARC, but otherwise no bad things to say!

I love the audiobooks for these, so I will definitely be listening to that when it comes out too.

I have never got on with comic books. Until The Stranger Times. These books have me laughing out loud at the preposterous characters and plots. I love them. And I am so pleased to receive e-ARC's to read and review. Thank you.

What a ride. I cannot get enough of this laugh out loud fantasy series. Back for a fourth excursion into the humour/horror filled lives of the Staff at that ‘upmarket’ newspaper rag - The Stranger Times. The Staff, they’ve been through a lot and come out the other end. Well, not really out, maybe more still somewhere inside. Mayhem is just around the corner, or maybe about to fall from the sky! The Stranger Times Staff know the truth. Well they know some of the truth, and what they know is not always (read seldom) believable! But their job is to give their readers the truth in print. But only some of the truth. Because, the truth of the matter is, no-one that isn’t really in the know would actually believe the truth, and honestly are truly better off for it. Oh, and they are going to be saving the world, and Manchester, again. Another normal day at work for The Staff at The Stranger Times. Thank you to Random House Uk, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Thank you to the author, publishers Bantam and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

A new drug which can literally make someone fly, or float, at least until gravity terminally proves it still exists. When Stella, student and junior reporter at the number one newspaper of the weird and unexplainable - The Stranger Times - comes face to face with the after effects, the newspaper staff are quickly pulled in to investigate. The truth, as always, is way weirder than it first appears.

As a fan of the previous three Stranger Times books I was really excited to get access to an advanced reader copy of this via NetGalley. Since the very first page of the first book I have loved these stories and how they are written. Funny fantasy, these evoke the humour and warmth of Terry Pratchett, and I’m loving how the lore of the secret power structures (formal and informal) of the magical underworld are being built up throughout the series.

Banecroft is at his best in this book. The aggressive, rude, newspaper editor with a penchant for creative swearing and threatening people with a blunderbuss, has grown as a character over the series so far. And, as he faces an existential threat for his very soul, we’re again given the opportunity to see the strength of the man

If you pick up this book without reading the others you’ll be able to follow along the main plot, but are likely to be confused by many of the references to previous plotlines. But, go back and start from book one and you’ll be doing yourself a favour by finding a fantastic nee series and then appreciating and enjoying this instalment all the more.

We return to the Stranger Times offices and Bancroft has serious problems as The Pilgrim has informed him he will be taken to hell on Halloween unless he makes things right. Only problem is Brancroft does not know what he has to do or how. Also Hanna and Stella are shocked when a university student floating about suddenly splats to the ground in front of them. What is going on?

Once again we have a brilliant novel with brilliant characters who work to produce the weekly issue of The Stranger Times. Wonderful writing and fast paced storyline which leaves you wanting more. Cannot believe this is the fourth book in this series. Enjoy.

This certainly re-lit my fire! The best presents are those you didn't know you needed (THANK YOU, Netgalley), and Caimh O'Donnell's latest landed pat to spread warmth and cheer into the bleak and bitter Irish November days. Better than the fluffiest of blankets it was, to immerse myself once more in the supernatural shenanigans of the Stranger Times crew, where outlandish (but cohesive) plots and characters (yay Brian, hope you're here to stay!) are only outstripped by the wit and humour of the delivery ("Batman was exactly what happened when someone dreadfully dull had too much disposable income.")
I shall be enthusing pointedly about this in the hopes that someone gets it for me for Christmas though, to be honest, I'll probably just get it for myself anyway. Some books you check on your page count and groan inwardly, as it seems like you'll never finish the wretched thing; with Stranger Times, you give a little whoop when you realise that you can live in this delightfully hilarious world for quite a bit longer. This Cork woman forgives your Limerick/Dublin antecedents, Mr O'Donnell, sure you couldn't help it :)
* (4-stars only because it is not "literature", but I'm starting to wonder if making people happy isn't reason enough for the fifth one...)

Relight my Fire is the latest in a series of comic fantasy novels written by C.K.McDonnell.

Once again it involves the staff of The Stranger Times a publication for all the strange phenomena, or ‘weirdy bollocks’ going on in the city of Manchester. It starts with a man flying, or rather ‘hovering’, from a high roof top before crashing into the ground, right in front of Stranger Times’s Stella. Other weird events follow and the team have to find out how and why. There is the added complication of Vincent Banecroft being given a deadline, after which he will literally be dead, if he cannot please a character called The Pilgrim.

All moves at a fast pace and the writing is comic, imaginative and full of magical goings on. I read this very quickly as I very much enjoyed it. I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers but my views are my own.