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.

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!).