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Stranger Times #1
笑械泄 褏懈屑械褉薪懈泄 褋胁褨褌
校 薪邪褕芯屑褍 褋胁褨褌褨 (蟹芯泻褉械屑邪 胁 袦邪薪褔械褋褌械褉褨) 褔懈谐邪褞褌褜 褌械屑薪褨 褋懈谢懈, 邪谢械, 薪邪 褖邪褋褌褟, 卸褍褉薪邪谢褨褋褌懈 芦笑褜芯谐芯 褏懈屑械褉薪芯谐芯 褋胁褨褌褍禄 蟹邪胁卸写懈 薪邪锌芯谐芯褌芯胁褨, 褖芯斜 锌芯胁褨写芯屑懈褌懈 锌褉芯 薪懈褏. 笑褟 褖芯褌懈卸薪械胁邪 谐邪蟹械褌邪 锌褉懈褋胁褟褔械薪邪 写懈胁薪芯屑褍 褨 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪芯屑褍 (邪谢械 锌械褉械胁邪卸薪芯 写懈胁薪芯屑褍). 笑械 胁懈写邪薪薪褟, 写芯 褟泻芯谐芯 蟹胁械褉褌邪褞褌褜褋褟, 泻芯谢懈 泄写械褌褜褋褟 锌褉芯 薪械蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢械 褨 薪械锌褉懈褉芯写薪械. 袩褉懈薪邪泄屑薪褨, 褌邪泻 胁芯薪懈 褋械斜械 锌芯蟹懈褑褨芯薪褍褞褌褜. 袪械邪谢褜薪褨褋褌褜 薪械 褌邪泻邪 胁褌褨褕薪邪. 袊褏薪褨泄 谐芯谢芯胁薪懈泄 褉械写邪泻褌芯褉 鈥� 锌懈褟泻, 谐褉褍斜褨褟薪 褨 谢懈褏芯褋谢芯胁, 褟泻懈泄 薪械 薪邪写褌芯 锌芯胁邪卸邪褦 褉械写邪泻褑褨褞, 褟泻褍 芯褔芯谢褞褦. 袡芯谐芯 褋锌褨胁褉芯斜褨褌薪懈泻懈 鈥� 蟹斜褨谐芯胁懈褋褜泻芯 械泻褋褑械薪褌褉懈褔薪懈褏 芯褋芯斜懈褋褌芯褋褌械泄. 袗 褖械 褦 胁邪泻邪薪褋褨褟 锌芯屑褨褔薪懈泻邪 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯谐芯 褉械写邪泻褌芯褉邪. 袚邪薪薪褨 袙褨谢谢褨褋 薪械 斜褉邪泻褍褦 胁谢邪褋薪懈褏 锌褉芯斜谢械屑, 邪 薪邪褉邪蟹褨 胁芯薪邪 胁褨写褔邪泄写褍褕薪芯 锌芯褌褉械斜褍褦 褉芯斜芯褌懈, 斜褍写褜-褟泻芯褩, 褌芯卸 芦笑械泄 褏懈屑械褉薪懈泄 褋胁褨褌禄 褉邪写芯 锌褉懈泄屑邪褦 褩褩 写芯 褋胁芯褦褩 泻芯屑邪薪写懈. 袩芯泻懈 斜褨谢褜褕褨褋褌褜 谢褞写械泄 泻械锌泻褍褦 蟹 谐邪蟹械褌懈 褌邪 褩褩 褋褌邪褌械泄, 褍 袦邪薪褔械褋褌械褉褨, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 锌褨写 薪芯褋芯屑 褍 胁褋褨褏, 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 写懈胁薪褨, 薪邪写锌褉懈褉芯写薪褨 褟胁懈褖邪, 褨 褉械写邪泻褑褨褟 芦笑褜芯谐芯 褏懈屑械褉薪芯谐芯 褋胁褨褌褍禄 蟹屑褍褕械薪邪 锌褉芯胁械褋褌懈 褋械褉泄芯蟹薪械 褉芯蟹褋谢褨写褍胁邪薪薪褟.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2021
1,223 people are currently reading
15.3k people want to read
About the author
C.K. McDonnell
8听books538听followersA pseudonym for Caimh McDonnell.
Irishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on writing books. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, he has taken the hop across the water and calls Manchester his home.
His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV, such as the The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. His work as a children鈥檚 TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series 鈥楶et Squad鈥� which he created.
Irishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on writing books. Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, he has taken the hop across the water and calls Manchester his home.
His TV writing work has seen him work on some of the biggest topical comedy shows on British TV, such as the The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You. His work as a children鈥檚 TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series 鈥楶et Squad鈥� which he created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,685 reviews
March 14, 2024
Why isn't this series more popular?
I only discovered because I live in Manchester where the local bookshops treat McDonnell like a bit of a celebrity. I had to read it out of curiosity... but this is exactly the fun paranormal mystery series I feel like I've been looking for my whole life!
Down on her luck Hannah Willis finally ends a series of disappointments by getting a job at The Stranger Times, a newspaper dedicated to unexplained mysteries and things that go bump in the night. Sure, it all sounds like superstitious hokum, and her new boss is eccentric (to put it mildly), but a job's a job.
HOWEVER, Hannah and the rest of the staff at the newspaper are about to find themselves embroiled in a bizarre mystery. Something VERY strange is going on in Manchester, something the police seem unable, or perhaps unwilling, to explain.
I was totally into it. The dynamic between Hannah, Banecroft, Grace, Stella, Ox and Reggie is just really entertaining. And Manny, too. Each one has a very distinct voice and personality and I love what they bring to the table. I finished it and immediately ordered . I can't wait!
A fabulous cast of characters, funny snappy dialogue, supernatural mischief going on behind the scenes... I enjoyed every moment.
I only discovered because I live in Manchester where the local bookshops treat McDonnell like a bit of a celebrity. I had to read it out of curiosity... but this is exactly the fun paranormal mystery series I feel like I've been looking for my whole life!
Down on her luck Hannah Willis finally ends a series of disappointments by getting a job at The Stranger Times, a newspaper dedicated to unexplained mysteries and things that go bump in the night. Sure, it all sounds like superstitious hokum, and her new boss is eccentric (to put it mildly), but a job's a job.
HOWEVER, Hannah and the rest of the staff at the newspaper are about to find themselves embroiled in a bizarre mystery. Something VERY strange is going on in Manchester, something the police seem unable, or perhaps unwilling, to explain.
I was totally into it. The dynamic between Hannah, Banecroft, Grace, Stella, Ox and Reggie is just really entertaining. And Manny, too. Each one has a very distinct voice and personality and I love what they bring to the table. I finished it and immediately ordered . I can't wait!
A fabulous cast of characters, funny snappy dialogue, supernatural mischief going on behind the scenes... I enjoyed every moment.
August 29, 2022
What a fun book!
Recently divorced Hannah is in desperate need of a job. After her previous disastrous interview, she isn't full of confidence for her interview at "The Stranger Times". A newspaper that publish about supernatural happenings from around the world. Hannah is surely in for some strange surprises.
It did take some time to enjoy the story but once I crossed a certain point, I didn't let go of the book until I finished reading it. It was that good.
There were many enjoyable things about this but I liked most is the conversations among the employees of "The Stranger Times". Those were hilarious and made me laugh out loud. Initially the characters seemed a bunch of misfits thrown together but the more time spent with them, the more I realised how well they gel together.
This is a very good book for a first book. Hope there will many more in line.
Recently divorced Hannah is in desperate need of a job. After her previous disastrous interview, she isn't full of confidence for her interview at "The Stranger Times". A newspaper that publish about supernatural happenings from around the world. Hannah is surely in for some strange surprises.
It did take some time to enjoy the story but once I crossed a certain point, I didn't let go of the book until I finished reading it. It was that good.
There were many enjoyable things about this but I liked most is the conversations among the employees of "The Stranger Times". Those were hilarious and made me laugh out loud. Initially the characters seemed a bunch of misfits thrown together but the more time spent with them, the more I realised how well they gel together.
This is a very good book for a first book. Hope there will many more in line.
November 5, 2021
Fun but awkward. I was intrigued by this one because of a friend's review who thought it may be appreciated by Aaronovitch fans. I'd disagree on the fan base, as it's really quite lightweight in both sense and humor--really, almost Pratchett-like at times. My brain must also have recognized that the author, C.K. McDonnell is the one who wrote the very funny A Man with One of Those Faces (and it's significantly less-funny sequel). It's very clearly urban fantasy with a light touch, spoofing off that Men in Black bit about reading the dailies seriously.
Hannah Willis is desperate for a job after being ostracized for an accidental arson (she was burning her ex's clothes). So desperate, in fact, that she finds herself answering this ad:
"鈥楶ublication seeks desperate human being with capability to form sentences using the English language. No imbeciles, optimists or Simons need apply.鈥�"
When the weekly The Stranger Times offers her the job as assistant editor, she takes it, even when editor Vincent Banecroft seems to be the rudest and most callous person she's ever met.
"鈥榊ou were telling me what this job entails.鈥� 鈥楴o, that doesn鈥檛 sound like something I鈥檇 do.鈥� 鈥榊ou were explaining how you鈥檝e been emasculated by your own office manager.鈥� 鈥楤efore that.鈥�"
At least Grace, the office manager can keep him in line. At first the team is only chasing the story of a suspicious death, but when a wannabe reporter is found dead of apparent suicide, the entire staff gets drawn into crime-solving.
"It turned out that the 鈥榝reedom of the press鈥� was what Banecroft called his lock-picking kit."
It's a great premise and the voice is usually entertaining with a large side-helping of irony. Hannah is a rather sad, bedraggled stand-in for the reader and provides a good entry point into the less normal aspects of the world.
Narrative was the most challenging part of the story. It literally switches through most of the appearing cast in a third-person limited voice, from arch-villain to police inspector to victim to Hannah. I'm not sure why the author didn't just do a more omniscient point of view and worker harder on transitions, but I definitely felt like continuity struggled. (Actually, once I realized it was the same author, it made more sense, as the majority of his career seems to have been in script-writing for television).
My other challenge comes from the plot implications in the decision to include the antagonist-team and the perspectives of those they murder. Since we're privy to the steadily increasing number of victims, we're more aware of the potential danger than any of the characters in the book. Using their viewpoints makes for a strange emotional conflict between humor and the increasing body count. It was also uncomfortable to be so concerned about the people being kidnapped and killed, even if some of them were jerks.
But, the ensemble group is a lot of fun and they all have their own backstories that will undoubtedly make for increasingly interesting interactions. I think the re-read potential is probably solid, and I'll be checking out the follow-up book as well.
"鈥榊es,鈥� said Sturgess, in a way that acknowledged a lot of words had just been spoken."
Three and a half broadsheets, rounding up.
Hannah Willis is desperate for a job after being ostracized for an accidental arson (she was burning her ex's clothes). So desperate, in fact, that she finds herself answering this ad:
"鈥楶ublication seeks desperate human being with capability to form sentences using the English language. No imbeciles, optimists or Simons need apply.鈥�"
When the weekly The Stranger Times offers her the job as assistant editor, she takes it, even when editor Vincent Banecroft seems to be the rudest and most callous person she's ever met.
"鈥榊ou were telling me what this job entails.鈥� 鈥楴o, that doesn鈥檛 sound like something I鈥檇 do.鈥� 鈥榊ou were explaining how you鈥檝e been emasculated by your own office manager.鈥� 鈥楤efore that.鈥�"
At least Grace, the office manager can keep him in line. At first the team is only chasing the story of a suspicious death, but when a wannabe reporter is found dead of apparent suicide, the entire staff gets drawn into crime-solving.
"It turned out that the 鈥榝reedom of the press鈥� was what Banecroft called his lock-picking kit."
It's a great premise and the voice is usually entertaining with a large side-helping of irony. Hannah is a rather sad, bedraggled stand-in for the reader and provides a good entry point into the less normal aspects of the world.
Narrative was the most challenging part of the story. It literally switches through most of the appearing cast in a third-person limited voice, from arch-villain to police inspector to victim to Hannah. I'm not sure why the author didn't just do a more omniscient point of view and worker harder on transitions, but I definitely felt like continuity struggled. (Actually, once I realized it was the same author, it made more sense, as the majority of his career seems to have been in script-writing for television).
My other challenge comes from the plot implications in the decision to include the antagonist-team and the perspectives of those they murder. Since we're privy to the steadily increasing number of victims, we're more aware of the potential danger than any of the characters in the book. Using their viewpoints makes for a strange emotional conflict between humor and the increasing body count. It was also uncomfortable to be so concerned about the people being kidnapped and killed, even if some of them were jerks.
But, the ensemble group is a lot of fun and they all have their own backstories that will undoubtedly make for increasingly interesting interactions. I think the re-read potential is probably solid, and I'll be checking out the follow-up book as well.
"鈥榊es,鈥� said Sturgess, in a way that acknowledged a lot of words had just been spoken."
Three and a half broadsheets, rounding up.
August 20, 2020
So鈥�..clearly I need more supervision. Once again, I blew right past a stack of long suffering TBR鈥檚 & went for a bright & shiny new ARC. In my defence, it is the latest from Caimh McDonnell (don鈥檛 be fooled by that 鈥淐. K.鈥� business). Just a heads-up for fans: we鈥檙e 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鈥檚 signature snark.
When we meet MC Hannah Willis, she鈥檚 not having a bad day鈥he鈥檚 having a bad life. Recently divorced from her wealthy can鈥檛-keep-it-zipped husband, she鈥檚 in desperate need of something she鈥檚 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鈥檚 not all giggles & insults. There鈥檚 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, 鈥渃reepy weasel guy鈥�). He鈥檚 a man on a mission & if some unfortunate souls happen to get in the way鈥�.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鈥�.Manchester has it all. And it鈥檚 the Stranger Times鈥� job to keep us informed. They鈥檙e 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鈥檚 definitely more to Banecroft, a man who pisses people off like it鈥檚 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 鈥淲inter is coming鈥�. 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鈥檓 sure will be interspersed throughout finished copies.
If you are new to this author, it鈥檚 the perfect place to start. Book #2 is due later next year & I look forward to catching up with some of Manchester鈥檚 more peculiar residents. Well, except that guy with the eyeball thing. Never mind.
3.5 * rounded up.
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鈥檚 signature snark.
When we meet MC Hannah Willis, she鈥檚 not having a bad day鈥he鈥檚 having a bad life. Recently divorced from her wealthy can鈥檛-keep-it-zipped husband, she鈥檚 in desperate need of something she鈥檚 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鈥檚 not all giggles & insults. There鈥檚 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, 鈥渃reepy weasel guy鈥�). He鈥檚 a man on a mission & if some unfortunate souls happen to get in the way鈥�.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鈥�.Manchester has it all. And it鈥檚 the Stranger Times鈥� job to keep us informed. They鈥檙e 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鈥檚 definitely more to Banecroft, a man who pisses people off like it鈥檚 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 鈥淲inter is coming鈥�. 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鈥檓 sure will be interspersed throughout finished copies.
If you are new to this author, it鈥檚 the perfect place to start. Book #2 is due later next year & I look forward to catching up with some of Manchester鈥檚 more peculiar residents. Well, except that guy with the eyeball thing. Never mind.
3.5 * rounded up.
Read
September 26, 2022Highly enjoyable urban fantasy with a Pratchett/Gaiman vibe (as in the combination in Good Omens) plus a touch of the Slough House series: a pack of losers led by a ghastly drunk with very-well-hidden redeeming features get caught up in mystery. In this case the mystery is magical, and the setting is a Fortean Times type newspaper reporting nonsense. It's entertaining, with some great banter, and hit exactly the right spot for me (the "I am really stressed and need something that will absorb and entertain me but not put me through any emotional wringer" spot).
December 21, 2020
The Fortean Times and the National Enquirer are real newspapers in the same way that Dr Pepper is a real doctor. But while The Stranger Times may appear to be another such questionably-sourced publication, the news it reports - on subjects like vampires, werewolves, etc. - are all true. Hannah Willis becomes the latest in a string of Assistant Editors of The Stranger Times who figures this out shortly after starting - just in time to cover a dark magician鈥檚 infernal goings-on in the Manchester underworld that might make her the last hire of the paper鈥� evarrr!
CK McDonnell鈥檚 The Stranger Times, the first in a series of urban fantasy novels, is a decent beginning that, while not telling the most compelling or original of stories, introduces a beguiling cast of characters in a pleasing style that will mostly appeal to fans of Terry Pratchett鈥檚 Discworld and Ben Aaronovitch鈥檚 Rivers of London books.
The book gets off to a good start. McDonnell introduces his fair-sized cast skilfully while establishing the plot: a homeless person is murdered in grisly circumstances closely followed by a supporting character loosely connected to the paper. And then... things stagnate for quite a bit of time with characters slowly realising what we already know: that there鈥檚 a bad guy going around a-killing. The pacing never really recovers after that and the final act is an uninspired and neatly-forgettable Hollywood-esque conclusion.
I guess 鈥淢ild Spoilers鈥� for the rest of the review鈥�
The plot twists aren鈥檛 tense as there鈥檚 never any doubt of their resolution. Will the paper be shut down forever? Nope, because this is the first book in a series dependent on there being a paper. Will they stop the bad guy? Of course, because this is the first book in a series where our heroes will face more bad guys in more books.
I wasn鈥檛 that gripped with much of anything that was happening because a lot of it was predictable - even when a minor character dies early on, I knew they were going to be resurrected because this is set in a world of magic so why not? And then in the epilogue, there they be. Yawn. McDonnell isn鈥檛 able to make the reader feel the emotions his characters are feeling because events either have little or no weight to them or you can guess what鈥檚 going to happen next so you鈥檙e never convinced that what he鈥檚 telling you is what it is.
That鈥檚 also the weakness of magic itself in any story: write yourself into a corner? Magic will set you free! And so it goes here. He at least tries to quantify magic (poorly - 鈥渟he鈥檚 a Type 8!鈥�; it鈥檚 still vague, and sounds dumb) but it鈥檚 still used as a get out of jail free card with regards any scene and, rather than create an exciting finale, made for a tedious one instead.
Still, the cast and their amusing office dynamics more than make up for a fast-moving, gripping story. Hannah is a fine protagonist/reader surrogate - flawed but likeable and 鈥済ood鈥� - while Vincent Banecroft, the irascible curmudgeonly editor-in-chief (think Spider-Man鈥檚 J. Jonah Jameson but Irish) stole the show with his bottomless fury energising every scene he was in.
Dr Veronica Carter, the paper鈥檚 giggly lawyer (or is she鈥�?), and the paper鈥檚 owner Mrs Harnforth, who was comparable to Ankh-Morpork鈥檚 ruler Lord Vetinari, were both memorable and enjoyable characters too. McDonnell also keeps us interested in these characters with surprise moments that reveal hidden depths like Banecroft鈥檚 vulnerability when it comes to his wife or mild-mannered Reggie鈥檚 vicious side when a pair of would-be muggers appear.
McDonnell leans a bit too heavily on prefab elements/archetypes at times. He describes the villain Moretti as a 鈥淒anny DeVito lookalike鈥� which is lazy descriptive writing (though it did give me a good idea of the character so it was effective to an extent). The werewolf hitman鈥檚 motivations were to save his sickly kid (cue eye-rolling) and all that rubbish about the Accords (rules for magic users) could鈥檝e been taken from any urban fantasy story.
There are some fun scenes though like Hannah sitting through her first Loon Day, when the paper allows members of the public into their church-based offices to try to sell them their insane stories, and Moretti鈥檚 Men in Black-esque visit to a magic shop. And the interstitials - excerpts of stories from The Stranger Times proper - were a cute addition.
I would鈥檝e liked to have seen more originality and a stronger core storyline but this first book of The Stranger Times succeeds in establishing the world and tone of the series, and, more importantly, its likeable cast of main characters. Easy to read, mildly entertaining, even funny at times - while not as good as Pratchett or Aaronovitch鈥檚 books, McDonnell鈥檚 novel is still worth checking out for fans of those authors.
CK McDonnell鈥檚 The Stranger Times, the first in a series of urban fantasy novels, is a decent beginning that, while not telling the most compelling or original of stories, introduces a beguiling cast of characters in a pleasing style that will mostly appeal to fans of Terry Pratchett鈥檚 Discworld and Ben Aaronovitch鈥檚 Rivers of London books.
The book gets off to a good start. McDonnell introduces his fair-sized cast skilfully while establishing the plot: a homeless person is murdered in grisly circumstances closely followed by a supporting character loosely connected to the paper. And then... things stagnate for quite a bit of time with characters slowly realising what we already know: that there鈥檚 a bad guy going around a-killing. The pacing never really recovers after that and the final act is an uninspired and neatly-forgettable Hollywood-esque conclusion.
I guess 鈥淢ild Spoilers鈥� for the rest of the review鈥�
The plot twists aren鈥檛 tense as there鈥檚 never any doubt of their resolution. Will the paper be shut down forever? Nope, because this is the first book in a series dependent on there being a paper. Will they stop the bad guy? Of course, because this is the first book in a series where our heroes will face more bad guys in more books.
I wasn鈥檛 that gripped with much of anything that was happening because a lot of it was predictable - even when a minor character dies early on, I knew they were going to be resurrected because this is set in a world of magic so why not? And then in the epilogue, there they be. Yawn. McDonnell isn鈥檛 able to make the reader feel the emotions his characters are feeling because events either have little or no weight to them or you can guess what鈥檚 going to happen next so you鈥檙e never convinced that what he鈥檚 telling you is what it is.
That鈥檚 also the weakness of magic itself in any story: write yourself into a corner? Magic will set you free! And so it goes here. He at least tries to quantify magic (poorly - 鈥渟he鈥檚 a Type 8!鈥�; it鈥檚 still vague, and sounds dumb) but it鈥檚 still used as a get out of jail free card with regards any scene and, rather than create an exciting finale, made for a tedious one instead.
Still, the cast and their amusing office dynamics more than make up for a fast-moving, gripping story. Hannah is a fine protagonist/reader surrogate - flawed but likeable and 鈥済ood鈥� - while Vincent Banecroft, the irascible curmudgeonly editor-in-chief (think Spider-Man鈥檚 J. Jonah Jameson but Irish) stole the show with his bottomless fury energising every scene he was in.
Dr Veronica Carter, the paper鈥檚 giggly lawyer (or is she鈥�?), and the paper鈥檚 owner Mrs Harnforth, who was comparable to Ankh-Morpork鈥檚 ruler Lord Vetinari, were both memorable and enjoyable characters too. McDonnell also keeps us interested in these characters with surprise moments that reveal hidden depths like Banecroft鈥檚 vulnerability when it comes to his wife or mild-mannered Reggie鈥檚 vicious side when a pair of would-be muggers appear.
McDonnell leans a bit too heavily on prefab elements/archetypes at times. He describes the villain Moretti as a 鈥淒anny DeVito lookalike鈥� which is lazy descriptive writing (though it did give me a good idea of the character so it was effective to an extent). The werewolf hitman鈥檚 motivations were to save his sickly kid (cue eye-rolling) and all that rubbish about the Accords (rules for magic users) could鈥檝e been taken from any urban fantasy story.
There are some fun scenes though like Hannah sitting through her first Loon Day, when the paper allows members of the public into their church-based offices to try to sell them their insane stories, and Moretti鈥檚 Men in Black-esque visit to a magic shop. And the interstitials - excerpts of stories from The Stranger Times proper - were a cute addition.
I would鈥檝e liked to have seen more originality and a stronger core storyline but this first book of The Stranger Times succeeds in establishing the world and tone of the series, and, more importantly, its likeable cast of main characters. Easy to read, mildly entertaining, even funny at times - while not as good as Pratchett or Aaronovitch鈥檚 books, McDonnell鈥檚 novel is still worth checking out for fans of those authors.
January 10, 2023
4.5 strange stars
Witty, entertaining, and lighthearted鈥攎y cup of tea! And if you like smart writing, low(ish) stakes, and some newspaper-y nonsense, this might be your cup of tea too.
Concepts: 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
Dialogue/wittyisms: 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
Pacing: 鈽呪槄鈽�
Welcome to The Stranger Times, Manchester's one-and-only newspaper reporting on the weird, supernatural, and bonkers beliefs of the worldly public. Do they believe it? Who knows. But the public does, and that's what a good journalist does: reports on the opinions of the public.
The staff at The Stranger Times are strange themselves, obviously. Like calls to like and all that鈥攁nd, frankly, when you hit rock bottom it's always the weird and wacky that open up their arms and say they have an extra spot at the dinner table for you. (A life lesson is hidden in there somewhere about humanity and judgements.)
Hannah's hit rock bottom. She's landed a job as reporter wrangler for this odd publication, which is housed in a former historic church and managed by a truly terrible editor with a drinking problem and nothing but barbs. She thinks it's odd, but money is money and frankly, she's been stamped with "strange" herself by the public.
But then, to the utter shock of the reporters of the weird, ACTUAL weird stuff starts to happen. The Stranger Times might actually be... on to something?
Oh dear.
Alright, y'all, strap in鈥擨 LOVED this! Was it oddly paced and clearly too long? Yes. Did the author rely on too many hilarious yet unimportant scenes to carry our interest in a relatively bare-bones plot? Yes. But did I enjoy the hell out of reading it? Also yes.
This is the kind of novel for those who enjoy Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman on a humorous day, T.J. Klune's sense of good prevailing over evil, and a smattering of Seanan McGuire's blend of the absolutely horrifying with the absolutely pragmatic belief in the magic structure.
I am very much planning to reread this again, and I look forward to the later two books in the series. Welcome to The Stranger Times....
|
Witty, entertaining, and lighthearted鈥攎y cup of tea! And if you like smart writing, low(ish) stakes, and some newspaper-y nonsense, this might be your cup of tea too.
Concepts: 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄
Dialogue/wittyisms: 鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
Pacing: 鈽呪槄鈽�
Welcome to The Stranger Times, Manchester's one-and-only newspaper reporting on the weird, supernatural, and bonkers beliefs of the worldly public. Do they believe it? Who knows. But the public does, and that's what a good journalist does: reports on the opinions of the public.
The staff at The Stranger Times are strange themselves, obviously. Like calls to like and all that鈥攁nd, frankly, when you hit rock bottom it's always the weird and wacky that open up their arms and say they have an extra spot at the dinner table for you. (A life lesson is hidden in there somewhere about humanity and judgements.)
Hannah's hit rock bottom. She's landed a job as reporter wrangler for this odd publication, which is housed in a former historic church and managed by a truly terrible editor with a drinking problem and nothing but barbs. She thinks it's odd, but money is money and frankly, she's been stamped with "strange" herself by the public.
But then, to the utter shock of the reporters of the weird, ACTUAL weird stuff starts to happen. The Stranger Times might actually be... on to something?
Oh dear.
Alright, y'all, strap in鈥擨 LOVED this! Was it oddly paced and clearly too long? Yes. Did the author rely on too many hilarious yet unimportant scenes to carry our interest in a relatively bare-bones plot? Yes. But did I enjoy the hell out of reading it? Also yes.
This is the kind of novel for those who enjoy Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman on a humorous day, T.J. Klune's sense of good prevailing over evil, and a smattering of Seanan McGuire's blend of the absolutely horrifying with the absolutely pragmatic belief in the magic structure.
I am very much planning to reread this again, and I look forward to the later two books in the series. Welcome to The Stranger Times....
|
May 13, 2023
4.50 Stars 鈥� What a bloody excellent read this crazy as heck thing was. An amalgamation of a number of genres with defining characters that jump off the page, lead by the irrepressibly horrible yet joyfully delightful, Vincent Banecroft, editor-in-chief of The Stranger Times 鈥楴ewspaper鈥�.
Make no mistake, Caimh McDonnell鈥檚 writing is absolutely incredible in a myriad of ways, an interweaving blend of humour, thrilling drama almost unmatched by even some of the greats (Think Pratchett crossed with Kevin Barry & a little teeny bit of Jeremy Clarkson) including the obvious titans of this broad-scoped stylistic Mish-mash. The humour stands alone, the action stands alone, the narrative most certainly stands alone but the universe & lore he鈥檚 created simply stands front and centre! What a magnificent masterpiece I鈥檝e stumbled on here.
The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell is an absolute delight of a novel that takes readers on a wild and wacky ride through the paranormal and supernatural. From the very first page, McDonnell's writing is engaging, witty, and downright hilarious, making it impossible to put the book down.
The story follows the misadventures of a group of misfits who work for The Stranger Times, a newspaper that reports on the weird and wonderful happenings around the world. Led by the eccentric and charismatic Vincent Banecroft, the team includes a lovelorn reporter, a snarky barmaid, a hapless intern, and a host of other colorful characters.
The world that McDonnell has created is rich with detail and filled with fantastical creatures and events that will leave readers gasping with wonder. From haunted houses to time-traveling assassins, the book is a rollercoaster of thrills and chills that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
But what really sets The Stranger Times apart is its deep, charming & infinitely relatable characters. Each one is unique and fully realized, with their own quirks, flaws, and backstories. McDonnell's writing is so sharp and witty that it's impossible not to fall in love with these characters and root for them as they face off against all manner of supernatural threats.
The dialogue is another standout feature of the book. McDonnell has a gift for crafting clever, snappy banter that crackles with energy and humor. The characters' interactions are a joy to read, and their conversations often had me laughing out loud.
Overall, The Stranger Times is a fantastic book that I cannot recommend highly enough. McDonnell's writing is top-notch, the characters are unforgettable, and the world he has created is a delight to explore. Whether you're a fan of supernatural thrillers or just looking for a fun and engaging read, this book is sure to deliver.
I am wasting no time in getting on with the sequel (series of 3 novels) This charming man.
Side note: 30% of this was a a delightful first experience with the inimitable genius of Narrator Brendan McDonald, o mean SERIOUSLY?!?! What a talent, wow. Could be the most beautiful multi-voiced performance I鈥檝e ever heard.
Side side note: The Lore for this series is rich inc podcasts and short stories all based on the fictitious 鈥楾he Stranger Times鈥� Newspaper, adding even more brilliant comedic elements to this wonderful world!
Make no mistake, Caimh McDonnell鈥檚 writing is absolutely incredible in a myriad of ways, an interweaving blend of humour, thrilling drama almost unmatched by even some of the greats (Think Pratchett crossed with Kevin Barry & a little teeny bit of Jeremy Clarkson) including the obvious titans of this broad-scoped stylistic Mish-mash. The humour stands alone, the action stands alone, the narrative most certainly stands alone but the universe & lore he鈥檚 created simply stands front and centre! What a magnificent masterpiece I鈥檝e stumbled on here.
The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell is an absolute delight of a novel that takes readers on a wild and wacky ride through the paranormal and supernatural. From the very first page, McDonnell's writing is engaging, witty, and downright hilarious, making it impossible to put the book down.
The story follows the misadventures of a group of misfits who work for The Stranger Times, a newspaper that reports on the weird and wonderful happenings around the world. Led by the eccentric and charismatic Vincent Banecroft, the team includes a lovelorn reporter, a snarky barmaid, a hapless intern, and a host of other colorful characters.
The world that McDonnell has created is rich with detail and filled with fantastical creatures and events that will leave readers gasping with wonder. From haunted houses to time-traveling assassins, the book is a rollercoaster of thrills and chills that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
But what really sets The Stranger Times apart is its deep, charming & infinitely relatable characters. Each one is unique and fully realized, with their own quirks, flaws, and backstories. McDonnell's writing is so sharp and witty that it's impossible not to fall in love with these characters and root for them as they face off against all manner of supernatural threats.
The dialogue is another standout feature of the book. McDonnell has a gift for crafting clever, snappy banter that crackles with energy and humor. The characters' interactions are a joy to read, and their conversations often had me laughing out loud.
Overall, The Stranger Times is a fantastic book that I cannot recommend highly enough. McDonnell's writing is top-notch, the characters are unforgettable, and the world he has created is a delight to explore. Whether you're a fan of supernatural thrillers or just looking for a fun and engaging read, this book is sure to deliver.
I am wasting no time in getting on with the sequel (series of 3 novels) This charming man.
Side note: 30% of this was a a delightful first experience with the inimitable genius of Narrator Brendan McDonald, o mean SERIOUSLY?!?! What a talent, wow. Could be the most beautiful multi-voiced performance I鈥檝e ever heard.
Side side note: The Lore for this series is rich inc podcasts and short stories all based on the fictitious 鈥楾he Stranger Times鈥� Newspaper, adding even more brilliant comedic elements to this wonderful world!
December 5, 2020
This is the first in a new series, set around a newspaper which focuses on the paranormal , housed in an old church in Manchester. We meet the inhabitants of, 鈥淭he Stranger Times,鈥� through the eyes of Hannah Willis, who has walked away from an unhappy marriage with a wealthy man and now finds herself in the position of needing a job. This need is mirrored in the job description, 鈥淧ublication seeks desperate human being with capability to form sentences, using the English language. No imbeciles, optimists or Simons need apply鈥︹€�
Having had a previous, cringe-worthy interview, it seems life can get no worse, but, oddly, 鈥淭he Stranger Times,鈥� is where Hannah will find her new home. There is Grace, the kindly office manager, Reggie, the flamboyant feature writer, computer whizz, Ox, young runaway, Stella, Simon 鈥� who lurks outside (see job description) and the Jackson Lamb like, Vincent Banecroft 鈥� not to mention the actual printing press and the man who encourages it to perform its magic in the basement.
I haven鈥檛 read anything by Caimh McDonnell before and, to be honest, found some of the dialogue a little stilted, which meant I took a while to get into it. However, by the middle, I was totally engrossed. For, while, 鈥淭he Stranger Times,鈥� has been seen as a publication full of odd stories and run by some crazy characters, there may be more fact than fiction in the bizarre events that seem to be occurring in the city. When a homeless man is killed in strange circumstances, and the unpopular and ambitious D I Tom Sturgess insists on investigating, the scene is set for the bizarre to need to be believed.
I think the test of any series is whether you would read on. Certainly, I would read the second in this series, which suggests it will be a success. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Great fun and possibly just what is needed in these troubled times.
Having had a previous, cringe-worthy interview, it seems life can get no worse, but, oddly, 鈥淭he Stranger Times,鈥� is where Hannah will find her new home. There is Grace, the kindly office manager, Reggie, the flamboyant feature writer, computer whizz, Ox, young runaway, Stella, Simon 鈥� who lurks outside (see job description) and the Jackson Lamb like, Vincent Banecroft 鈥� not to mention the actual printing press and the man who encourages it to perform its magic in the basement.
I haven鈥檛 read anything by Caimh McDonnell before and, to be honest, found some of the dialogue a little stilted, which meant I took a while to get into it. However, by the middle, I was totally engrossed. For, while, 鈥淭he Stranger Times,鈥� has been seen as a publication full of odd stories and run by some crazy characters, there may be more fact than fiction in the bizarre events that seem to be occurring in the city. When a homeless man is killed in strange circumstances, and the unpopular and ambitious D I Tom Sturgess insists on investigating, the scene is set for the bizarre to need to be believed.
I think the test of any series is whether you would read on. Certainly, I would read the second in this series, which suggests it will be a success. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Great fun and possibly just what is needed in these troubled times.
May 3, 2024
Eine aberwitzige Geschichte mit skurrilen,
aber liebenswerten und tiefgehenden Charakteren
(Sogar Banecroft!!!), deren Dynamiken zueinander zu
100% on point ist.
Die Kapitel sind kurz und oft wechseln dabei die
Sichtweisen, so dass es nie langweilig wird.
Au脽erdem gibt es Gute Witze, bei denen ich tats盲chlich
schmunzeln musste, und ein interessantes
Worldbuilding runden das Buch ab.
Es hat sehr viel Spa脽 gemacht es zu lesen,
die Charaktere sind mir ans Herz gewachsen und
ich freue mich schon sehr auf den 2. Teil in dem dann
hoffentlich mehr 眉ber die Welt der Alten aufgekl盲rt wird
und einige R盲tsel aus Teil 1. gel枚st werden.
aber liebenswerten und tiefgehenden Charakteren
(Sogar Banecroft!!!), deren Dynamiken zueinander zu
100% on point ist.
Die Kapitel sind kurz und oft wechseln dabei die
Sichtweisen, so dass es nie langweilig wird.
Au脽erdem gibt es Gute Witze, bei denen ich tats盲chlich
schmunzeln musste, und ein interessantes
Worldbuilding runden das Buch ab.
Es hat sehr viel Spa脽 gemacht es zu lesen,
die Charaktere sind mir ans Herz gewachsen und
ich freue mich schon sehr auf den 2. Teil in dem dann
hoffentlich mehr 眉ber die Welt der Alten aufgekl盲rt wird
und einige R盲tsel aus Teil 1. gel枚st werden.
December 15, 2022
Well that was genuinely entertaining! I will be reading the next one :)
In full
A weekly newspaper called Stranger Times and based in Manchester. The team there are very diverse. It solely reports on "unexplained phenomena" such as haunted toilets, UFOs and the like. Hannah, after an initially unrevealed major life change, finds herself being interviewed for a rather unspecified role at the paper to be the "new Tina" there. A series of other "Tinas" have left usually after short periods. This is fantasy with humour (a difficult genre). Would it be for me?
There is much strangeness here from the start. Other than the issues at the Stranger Times there is a cabal of immortals who run the world and Moretti, one of them, appears to be up to something in Manchester. The book follows what happens with Moretti's plans and the newspaper at a fair pace.
It's worth noting that the editor of Stranger Times, one Vincent Banecroft, bear a passing resemblance to on Jackson Lamb of Slough House鈥� Those familiar with Mick Herron's work will immediately have an idea of what to expect (& I reckon might enjoy this). Those who do not get this reference should be prepared for an appalling manager who at best is rather unpleasant.
I did know this author from his Dublin Trilogy (of at least 5 books鈥�) which I also enjoyed. That's a humourous crime series - another "difficult" genre - however I would probably say this might be a better series. I could go on however my thoughts on this are actually quite simple. I really enjoyed reading this. The story was better than half decent. The characters were great (and far better than those in some "normal" books I've read. The pace was good. For entertainment that pretty much covers what I want in a story. At the time of writing this I've started on the next book in the series simply because I wanted to.
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
A weekly newspaper called Stranger Times and based in Manchester. The team there are very diverse. It solely reports on "unexplained phenomena" such as haunted toilets, UFOs and the like. Hannah, after an initially unrevealed major life change, finds herself being interviewed for a rather unspecified role at the paper to be the "new Tina" there. A series of other "Tinas" have left usually after short periods. This is fantasy with humour (a difficult genre). Would it be for me?
There is much strangeness here from the start. Other than the issues at the Stranger Times there is a cabal of immortals who run the world and Moretti, one of them, appears to be up to something in Manchester. The book follows what happens with Moretti's plans and the newspaper at a fair pace.
It's worth noting that the editor of Stranger Times, one Vincent Banecroft, bear a passing resemblance to on Jackson Lamb of Slough House鈥� Those familiar with Mick Herron's work will immediately have an idea of what to expect (& I reckon might enjoy this). Those who do not get this reference should be prepared for an appalling manager who at best is rather unpleasant.
I did know this author from his Dublin Trilogy (of at least 5 books鈥�) which I also enjoyed. That's a humourous crime series - another "difficult" genre - however I would probably say this might be a better series. I could go on however my thoughts on this are actually quite simple. I really enjoyed reading this. The story was better than half decent. The characters were great (and far better than those in some "normal" books I've read. The pace was good. For entertainment that pretty much covers what I want in a story. At the time of writing this I've started on the next book in the series simply because I wanted to.
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
Read
May 13, 2020I got a sneak peak at a sampler for the first in a new series for this author, centred around a newspaper called The Stranger Times. From an article about a toilet in a pub that was possessed by the devil (hey, it could happen...):
"The commode, having previously spent nineteen years at the property providing the expected normal services has recently branched out into issuing ominous predictions, lifestyle advice and shortbread recipes".
Oh yeah. I'm in.
"The commode, having previously spent nineteen years at the property providing the expected normal services has recently branched out into issuing ominous predictions, lifestyle advice and shortbread recipes".
Oh yeah. I'm in.
July 7, 2022
Goodbye Dublin, hello Manchester.
It's always a pleasure to unwind with one of Caimh McDonnell's highly entertaining, odd and ironic stories.
It's always a pleasure to unwind with one of Caimh McDonnell's highly entertaining, odd and ironic stories.
November 11, 2020
Book Reviewed on
Hannah Willis has walked away from her London home and her marriage after hitting the point of no return with her husband鈥檚 numerous affairs, and the fact she burned down their house, by mistake.
Penniless she finds herself in Manchester and in need of a job, rapidly. Any paying job will do and that is what she gets when she applies for a job reporting for The Stranger Times newspaper which covers the weird and wonderful goings-on in the world. From haunted toilets to waxworks attacks. The staff is a mix of eclectic misfits and their boss is as eccentric as they come. She is also promoted to Assistant Editor on her first day.
Whilst most people scoff at the paper and their reporting, strange, supernatural occurrences are currently happening in Manchester right under everyone鈥檚 noses and The Stranger Times is suddenly thrown into the mix, but the forces are dark and the staff has found themselves in grave danger.
OMG, where to start with this review? The book is aptly named, not only because it is the title of the newspaper in the story but because it is completely and utterly strange. It is bizarre, weird, and oh so wonderful.
The book is part mystery, fantasy, thriller, supernatural, and suspense. It has a bit of everything really. It feels like there are two plots woven within one another, one the daily life of the goings-on a The Stranger Times and the other a man on the run from powers outside of our realm that has enlisted the help of a man who is desperate to save his dying daughter and has agreed to be the man鈥檚 鈥楤east鈥�.
From the very first page, I was hooked. I adore the writing skills of Caimh McDonnell (C.K. McDonnell), the way he hooks you in, and the humour he creates whether that be the type to make you roll your eye or laugh out loud. It is littered with one-liners, comments, or quotes that made me snigger on more than one occasion.
The member of The Stranger Times team are all so different, yet they work well together. They are realistic with all their flaws on show. They are comfortable with one another and caring in their own sarcastic way. But then this is set in Manchester and sarcasm is how we deal with life around here!
Not having read this style of book before I took my time and savoured it. I simply adore the book and I do hope that there will be more to come from The Stranger Times, perhaps more stories to cover, especially with that ending too!
Hannah Willis has walked away from her London home and her marriage after hitting the point of no return with her husband鈥檚 numerous affairs, and the fact she burned down their house, by mistake.
Penniless she finds herself in Manchester and in need of a job, rapidly. Any paying job will do and that is what she gets when she applies for a job reporting for The Stranger Times newspaper which covers the weird and wonderful goings-on in the world. From haunted toilets to waxworks attacks. The staff is a mix of eclectic misfits and their boss is as eccentric as they come. She is also promoted to Assistant Editor on her first day.
Whilst most people scoff at the paper and their reporting, strange, supernatural occurrences are currently happening in Manchester right under everyone鈥檚 noses and The Stranger Times is suddenly thrown into the mix, but the forces are dark and the staff has found themselves in grave danger.
OMG, where to start with this review? The book is aptly named, not only because it is the title of the newspaper in the story but because it is completely and utterly strange. It is bizarre, weird, and oh so wonderful.
The book is part mystery, fantasy, thriller, supernatural, and suspense. It has a bit of everything really. It feels like there are two plots woven within one another, one the daily life of the goings-on a The Stranger Times and the other a man on the run from powers outside of our realm that has enlisted the help of a man who is desperate to save his dying daughter and has agreed to be the man鈥檚 鈥楤east鈥�.
From the very first page, I was hooked. I adore the writing skills of Caimh McDonnell (C.K. McDonnell), the way he hooks you in, and the humour he creates whether that be the type to make you roll your eye or laugh out loud. It is littered with one-liners, comments, or quotes that made me snigger on more than one occasion.
The member of The Stranger Times team are all so different, yet they work well together. They are realistic with all their flaws on show. They are comfortable with one another and caring in their own sarcastic way. But then this is set in Manchester and sarcasm is how we deal with life around here!
Not having read this style of book before I took my time and savoured it. I simply adore the book and I do hope that there will be more to come from The Stranger Times, perhaps more stories to cover, especially with that ending too!
October 13, 2024
Die beiden M盲nner standen auf dem Dach und beobachteten, wie sich die Stadt im Schlaf hin und her w盲lzte.
Zitat Erster Satz
Mit diesem ersten Satz hatte mich der Autor eigentlich schon und auch der kurze Prolog hat zum einen schon eine spannende Aussicht auf etwas magisches und b枚ses, das sofort die Neugierde weckt - zum anderen einen Vorgeschmack auf die wirklich am眉sante Weise, mit der der Autor die Tragik der Ereignisse ad absurdum f眉hrt!
Die Kapitel wechseln sich dann von den Sichtweisen ab.
Zuerst einmal lernen wir Hannah kennen, deren gescheiterte Ehe zu einem bitteren (wirtschaftlichen) Absturz gef眉hrt hat und sie nun dringend nach einem Job sucht. Ihre sp盲rlichen Referenzen f眉hren sie zu der omin枚sen Adresse von "The Stranger Times" - einer Zeitung f眉r Unerkl盲rliches und Paranormales, wo sie entgegen aller Vernunft eingestellt wird.
Entgegen aller ihrer eigenen Vernunft wohlgemerkt, denn obwohl Grace, die eine Art Sekret盲rin ist und in dem Chaos den 脺berblick beh盲lt, eine vern眉nftige und liebenswerte Frau zu sein scheint, ist der Chef, Vincent Banecroft, ein unausstehlicher S盲ufer, der mit Beleidigungen und Fl眉chen nur so um sich wirft. Aber auch die anderen wenigen Angestellten haben so ihre Spleens und seltsamen Eigenheiten - so dass sich Hannah in einem mehr als merkw眉rdigen Arbeitsalltag wiederfindet, dem sie sich auf ihre Weise anpasst und durchaus lernt, Paroli zu bieten.
Den Polizisten Sturgess lernen wir aufgrund eines kuriosen Mordfalls kennen, der merkw眉rdige Tatherg盲nge vermuten l盲sst, die einige Zweifel aufkommen lassen.
Und nat眉rlich der fragw眉rdige kleine Mann mit Glatze aus dem Prolog, der Magier, der keine Skrupel zu kennen scheint und ein ganz bestimmtes Ziel verfolgt. Hier bin ich lange im Dunkeln getappt, was wohl seine Beweggr眉nde sind und hier werden die vielen F盲den am Ende zu einem gekonnten Muster zusammengewoben!
Die Schreibweise hat mich hier, wie eingangs erw盲hnt, sofort in den Bann gezogen. In der Beschreibung des Autors erf盲hrt man, dass er ein irischer Stand-Up-Comedian ist und das wundert mich bei dem witzigen Wortspielereien nicht, die h枚chst unterhaltsam sind und eine ganz eigene Dynamik entwickeln. Trotz der manchmal brutalen und bitteren Vorkommnisse greift hier oft eine Situationskomik, die mich zum Lachen gebracht hat und die Charaktere als auch die Dialoge sowie die gesamte Handlung erfrischend und originell wirken l盲sst.
Dass Magie mit im Spiel ist, ist von Anfang an klar - und dieser Part bleibt auch lange mysteri枚s. Wie sich dann alles aufkl盲rt und welche Hintergr眉nde entr盲tselt werden hat ein rundes Bild aus dem Sammelsurium gemacht. Oftmals wurden Szenen beschrieben, die man erstmal nicht ganz einordnen konnte, die aber perfekt zum Gesamtbild beigetragen und die die Neugier immer weiter gesteigert haben.
Mir hat es super gut gefallen und der Cliffhanger am Ende hat mich so 眉berrascht, dass ich den zweiten Band kaum erwarten kann :)
Zitat Erster Satz
Mit diesem ersten Satz hatte mich der Autor eigentlich schon und auch der kurze Prolog hat zum einen schon eine spannende Aussicht auf etwas magisches und b枚ses, das sofort die Neugierde weckt - zum anderen einen Vorgeschmack auf die wirklich am眉sante Weise, mit der der Autor die Tragik der Ereignisse ad absurdum f眉hrt!
Die Kapitel wechseln sich dann von den Sichtweisen ab.
Zuerst einmal lernen wir Hannah kennen, deren gescheiterte Ehe zu einem bitteren (wirtschaftlichen) Absturz gef眉hrt hat und sie nun dringend nach einem Job sucht. Ihre sp盲rlichen Referenzen f眉hren sie zu der omin枚sen Adresse von "The Stranger Times" - einer Zeitung f眉r Unerkl盲rliches und Paranormales, wo sie entgegen aller Vernunft eingestellt wird.
Entgegen aller ihrer eigenen Vernunft wohlgemerkt, denn obwohl Grace, die eine Art Sekret盲rin ist und in dem Chaos den 脺berblick beh盲lt, eine vern眉nftige und liebenswerte Frau zu sein scheint, ist der Chef, Vincent Banecroft, ein unausstehlicher S盲ufer, der mit Beleidigungen und Fl眉chen nur so um sich wirft. Aber auch die anderen wenigen Angestellten haben so ihre Spleens und seltsamen Eigenheiten - so dass sich Hannah in einem mehr als merkw眉rdigen Arbeitsalltag wiederfindet, dem sie sich auf ihre Weise anpasst und durchaus lernt, Paroli zu bieten.
Den Polizisten Sturgess lernen wir aufgrund eines kuriosen Mordfalls kennen, der merkw眉rdige Tatherg盲nge vermuten l盲sst, die einige Zweifel aufkommen lassen.
Und nat眉rlich der fragw眉rdige kleine Mann mit Glatze aus dem Prolog, der Magier, der keine Skrupel zu kennen scheint und ein ganz bestimmtes Ziel verfolgt. Hier bin ich lange im Dunkeln getappt, was wohl seine Beweggr眉nde sind und hier werden die vielen F盲den am Ende zu einem gekonnten Muster zusammengewoben!
Die Schreibweise hat mich hier, wie eingangs erw盲hnt, sofort in den Bann gezogen. In der Beschreibung des Autors erf盲hrt man, dass er ein irischer Stand-Up-Comedian ist und das wundert mich bei dem witzigen Wortspielereien nicht, die h枚chst unterhaltsam sind und eine ganz eigene Dynamik entwickeln. Trotz der manchmal brutalen und bitteren Vorkommnisse greift hier oft eine Situationskomik, die mich zum Lachen gebracht hat und die Charaktere als auch die Dialoge sowie die gesamte Handlung erfrischend und originell wirken l盲sst.
Dass Magie mit im Spiel ist, ist von Anfang an klar - und dieser Part bleibt auch lange mysteri枚s. Wie sich dann alles aufkl盲rt und welche Hintergr眉nde entr盲tselt werden hat ein rundes Bild aus dem Sammelsurium gemacht. Oftmals wurden Szenen beschrieben, die man erstmal nicht ganz einordnen konnte, die aber perfekt zum Gesamtbild beigetragen und die die Neugier immer weiter gesteigert haben.
Mir hat es super gut gefallen und der Cliffhanger am Ende hat mich so 眉berrascht, dass ich den zweiten Band kaum erwarten kann :)
November 6, 2020
I'd like to start this off with a huge thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and C.K McConnell.
鈥楪ood meeting. Now, whose leg do I have to hump around here to get a cup of tea?鈥�
This was hands down the funniest book I have read in a long time.
It has an absolute fantastic cast of eccentric characters.
鈥楳essage one,鈥� came the electronic voice. 鈥楬ello, yes. This is . . . It doesn鈥檛 matter who I am. I want to keep my identity secret.
My next-door neighbour, he鈥檚 an alien. His address is . . . Oh, wait a sec . . . I鈥檒l call you back.鈥�
It was absolutely filled to the brim with hilarious moments. The story is a brilliantly written modern fantasy. That breaths new life into the world of the supernatural.
鈥楤y any chance are you referring to this little slaphead thunder -anus in the background?鈥�
I usually copy 2 quotes for a review, however I have 7 and could have copied so many more. The whole book was filled with "moments" and by these I mean really memorable outstanding moments.
What an absolute joy to read :)
鈥楪ood meeting. Now, whose leg do I have to hump around here to get a cup of tea?鈥�
This was hands down the funniest book I have read in a long time.
It has an absolute fantastic cast of eccentric characters.
鈥楳essage one,鈥� came the electronic voice. 鈥楬ello, yes. This is . . . It doesn鈥檛 matter who I am. I want to keep my identity secret.
My next-door neighbour, he鈥檚 an alien. His address is . . . Oh, wait a sec . . . I鈥檒l call you back.鈥�
It was absolutely filled to the brim with hilarious moments. The story is a brilliantly written modern fantasy. That breaths new life into the world of the supernatural.
鈥楤y any chance are you referring to this little slaphead thunder -anus in the background?鈥�
I usually copy 2 quotes for a review, however I have 7 and could have copied so many more. The whole book was filled with "moments" and by these I mean really memorable outstanding moments.
What an absolute joy to read :)
May 11, 2024
3,5. Do po艂owy troch臋 si臋 d艂u偶y艂a, ale p贸藕niej w wci膮gn臋艂am si臋 na tyle, 偶e doko艅czy艂am j膮 w jeden dzie艅. Autor wie, co zrobi膰, 偶eby zach臋ci膰 do czytania dalszych cz臋艣ci - jest tajemnica g艂贸wnego bohatera z przysz艂o艣ci, kt贸ra na pewno b臋dzie rozwijana w nast臋pnych tomach, jest plot twist w epilogu, jest ciekawy 艣wiat, w kt贸rym magiczne istoty ukrywaj膮 si臋 mi臋dzy lud藕mi i poci膮gaj膮 za sznurki z ukrycia. Nie tak klimatyczna jak Rzeki Londynu, ale ma sw贸j urok i wiele razy si臋 za艣mia艂am.
January 23, 2024
Es una lectura 谩gil y sencilla con un buen repertorio de personajes secundarios y un misterio que intriga al lector. Aunque en general es un libro bastante disfrutable y me ha gustado, debo reconocer que me cost贸 bastante entrar en la historia y situarme entre los cambios de voz que se producen a lo largo de la historia.
Hanna es la protagonista del libro s铆, aunque tambi茅n tenemos algunos otros pov de menor impacto que s铆 eran necesarios seg煤n su funci贸n dentro de la historia, pero que yo sent铆a como una interrupci贸n constante a la trama. Volviendo a Hanna no hay profundidad, unas simples pinceladas de qu茅 quiere o aspira, un par de cosas del pasado y poco m谩s. Tambi茅n me pareci贸 que le falta algo de fuerza de reacci贸n.
Lo mejor han sido esos di谩logos o escenas con humor que amenizaban la lectura y hac铆an que todo se sintiera muy actual.
Hanna es la protagonista del libro s铆, aunque tambi茅n tenemos algunos otros pov de menor impacto que s铆 eran necesarios seg煤n su funci贸n dentro de la historia, pero que yo sent铆a como una interrupci贸n constante a la trama. Volviendo a Hanna no hay profundidad, unas simples pinceladas de qu茅 quiere o aspira, un par de cosas del pasado y poco m谩s. Tambi茅n me pareci贸 que le falta algo de fuerza de reacci贸n.
Lo mejor han sido esos di谩logos o escenas con humor que amenizaban la lectura y hac铆an que todo se sintiera muy actual.
March 7, 2021
My hopes were dashed against the rocks of predictability. Whether it is deliberate or not, this book is a throwback. The manuscript seems to have been pulled out of a bottom drawer and re-submitted in a rush of nostalgia, but not in a good way. It reads like a formulaic screenplay, a shallow attempt at tongue-in-cheek sarcasm with a not-so-original parallel world under the influence of movies similar to Sonnenfeld and Solomon鈥檚 鈥楳en in Black鈥� and Dylan Moran鈥檚 TV series 鈥楤lack Books鈥� with clich茅d cast members, one called Manny. The plot uses retro references and includes names like Sigourney Weaver, One Direction. Beyonc茅 and Danny DeVito.
A standalone from Irish comedian C K McDonnell, it disappointed me with standard dialogue and obligatory life stories which lacked weight. Don鈥檛 get me started on DI Tom Sturgess or newspaper novice Hannah Willis, given her past weakness her sudden surge of determination is ridiculous. Sprinkled with bogus news reports, this tale reads like an imitation of Christopher Moore, Jasper Fforde and Terry Pratchett even though I shouldn鈥檛 mention their names in the presence of such a book. The whole thing lacks excitement and misses that quirk of anticipation. Go ahead and read, form your own opinion, but afterwards maybe try something better.
A standalone from Irish comedian C K McDonnell, it disappointed me with standard dialogue and obligatory life stories which lacked weight. Don鈥檛 get me started on DI Tom Sturgess or newspaper novice Hannah Willis, given her past weakness her sudden surge of determination is ridiculous. Sprinkled with bogus news reports, this tale reads like an imitation of Christopher Moore, Jasper Fforde and Terry Pratchett even though I shouldn鈥檛 mention their names in the presence of such a book. The whole thing lacks excitement and misses that quirk of anticipation. Go ahead and read, form your own opinion, but afterwards maybe try something better.
October 14, 2022
Fun urban fantasy with a cast of likables working at a goofy weekly newspaper. Shenanigans aplenty. Since this is the first in a series, I'm tempted with book 2.
January 7, 2021
The Stranger Times is one of those novels where you don鈥檛 know what to expect when you start, but you鈥檙e quickly pulled into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. An excellent cast of characters, an engaging and fast-paced plot and some proper humour made it even better. Utterly different to the authors usual writing, this change to urban fantasy is both a huge surprise and an excellent decision. Highly recommended for sure.
June 29, 2021
This was a fun light UF which I enjoyed a lot. I really liked the characters. The plot and magic of the world were unsurprising and slightly generic to the UF genre, I felt. All in all, a sound start to a new series. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
January 2, 2025
4,5 Sterne - das war genau das, was ich brauchte! Skurrile Charaktere, pure Unterhaltung, zum Teil zwar mal etwas langsamer aber deshalb nicht uninteressanter Plot. Noch dazu eine Prise Found Family - ach ja, ich fands toll.
January 22, 2025
A Strange Time of Reading that had me laughing, relating, and engaged.
Hannah has recently had the worst luck which isn鈥檛 made any better when she interviews at Stranger Times, a newspaper that reports on the weird. Loch Ness getting drunk. Demons.
The editor is a drunken, foul-tempered, and foul-mouthed man and the staff are a ragtag group of misfits. I loved them. What a strong and fun group dynamic with such distinct character (aided by the incredible audiobook narrator which did such great accents and voices)!
鈥淚 like that kid. She鈥檚 got a wonderful angry energy. Like she鈥檚 decided life is crap and we鈥檙e all just killing time until we meet a slow and painful death. She is well ahead of the game on that front.鈥�
Tagedy strikes in Hannah's first week on the job and now The Stranger Times is forced to do some serious investigating. The thing is, some of the stories they'd previously dismissed as nonsense are in fact terrifyingly real.
The readers are as confused by Hannah who is dragged around everywhere as she questions her life choices.
鈥淲e aren鈥檛 reporting the story as fact; we鈥檙e reporting the existence of the story as fact.鈥�
The plot was bat crazy and didn鈥檛 really make a lot of sense but the bewilderment was part of the fun.
I will definitely continue just to continue enjoying the amusing characters, superb narrator, and bonkers scenes.
Hannah has recently had the worst luck which isn鈥檛 made any better when she interviews at Stranger Times, a newspaper that reports on the weird. Loch Ness getting drunk. Demons.
The editor is a drunken, foul-tempered, and foul-mouthed man and the staff are a ragtag group of misfits. I loved them. What a strong and fun group dynamic with such distinct character (aided by the incredible audiobook narrator which did such great accents and voices)!
鈥淚 like that kid. She鈥檚 got a wonderful angry energy. Like she鈥檚 decided life is crap and we鈥檙e all just killing time until we meet a slow and painful death. She is well ahead of the game on that front.鈥�
Tagedy strikes in Hannah's first week on the job and now The Stranger Times is forced to do some serious investigating. The thing is, some of the stories they'd previously dismissed as nonsense are in fact terrifyingly real.
The readers are as confused by Hannah who is dragged around everywhere as she questions her life choices.
鈥淲e aren鈥檛 reporting the story as fact; we鈥檙e reporting the existence of the story as fact.鈥�
The plot was bat crazy and didn鈥檛 really make a lot of sense but the bewilderment was part of the fun.
I will definitely continue just to continue enjoying the amusing characters, superb narrator, and bonkers scenes.
February 6, 2021
It is early in the year, being only Feb but I am calling it. This will be in my top 3 for the year
It was bananas. Batshit insane. Bonkers and totally hilarious. I loved everything about it, it was all told with such humor even the more horror bits. Interspersed throughout are newspaper clippings and one about a drunken Loch Ness monster had me cackling in the middle of a very quiet lunch room at work. SO awkward. I loved this so much it was a fantastic, fun and very weird read and I wish the sequel was out right now so I could read it as well
It was bananas. Batshit insane. Bonkers and totally hilarious. I loved everything about it, it was all told with such humor even the more horror bits. Interspersed throughout are newspaper clippings and one about a drunken Loch Ness monster had me cackling in the middle of a very quiet lunch room at work. SO awkward. I loved this so much it was a fantastic, fun and very weird read and I wish the sequel was out right now so I could read it as well
May 7, 2021
Hannah鈥檚 new boss shot himself in the foot during her job interview and that鈥檚 not even the weirdest thing that鈥檚 happened this week. She鈥檚 just joined The Stranger Times, a newspaper that reports 鈥渢he weird and wonderful from around the world 鈥榓nd beyond鈥欌€�. Think Fortean Times.
Grace, the office manager, spends much of her time managing Banecroft鈥檚 mouth. Stella, whose job title I鈥檓 still unsure of, lives with Grace and may be my favourite character. Reggie is the paper鈥檚 paranormal consultant and Ox is their ufologist and 鈥済eneral paranoid鈥�. The paper is owned by Mrs Harnforth.
Then there鈥檚 Simon, who desperately wants to work for The Stranger Times but is having trouble getting past their No Simon policy.
Meanwhile, the police are attempting to investigate some events that aren鈥檛 exactly in their jurisdiction, events that are definitely strange enough for The Stranger Times.
While I was introduced to various 鈥楾ypes鈥� and magical bits and pieces, I don鈥檛 really have my head around this part of the world yet. I鈥檓 hoping the gaps in my knowledge will be filled in more when I read the sequel.
I really enjoyed the newspaper clippings scattered throughout the book; my favourite was Homework Eats Dog. I would definitely subscribe to this newspaper. There鈥檚 an article about a haunted toilet in Falkirk!
Some questions were answered in this book but there were a bunch that are being held over for the sequel. I expect I鈥檒l be rereading this book a little closer to the sequel鈥檚 publication date.
The employees at The Stranger Times are a bunch of oddballs but they鈥檙e my kind of oddballs. I think I鈥檇 fit right in with this team.
Content warnings include .
I鈥檓 rounding up from 4.5 stars.
Blog -
鈥榊ou鈥檇 be surprised what I鈥檇 believe. It鈥檚 been a hell of a week.鈥�Hannah is the new Tina, AKA, assistant editor. Her boss (the guy with the new hole in his foot), Vincent Banecroft, is 锟斤拷锟絝oul-smelling, foul-mouthed and foul-tempered鈥�. Banecroft lives in the office, as does Manny (clothing optional), who鈥檚 in charge of the paper鈥檚 printing department.
Grace, the office manager, spends much of her time managing Banecroft鈥檚 mouth. Stella, whose job title I鈥檓 still unsure of, lives with Grace and may be my favourite character. Reggie is the paper鈥檚 paranormal consultant and Ox is their ufologist and 鈥済eneral paranoid鈥�. The paper is owned by Mrs Harnforth.
Then there鈥檚 Simon, who desperately wants to work for The Stranger Times but is having trouble getting past their No Simon policy.
Meanwhile, the police are attempting to investigate some events that aren鈥檛 exactly in their jurisdiction, events that are definitely strange enough for The Stranger Times.
鈥楻ight,鈥� said Banecroft, 鈥榣et鈥檚 kick off this parade of inadequacy, then, shall we?鈥�This book was so much more fun than I鈥檇 expected. I got sucked straight in and was entertained the entire time. I enjoyed getting to know Hannah and her new colleagues. There was a Big Bad doing Big Bad things and a whole bunch of goings on that regular people aren鈥檛 aware of.
While I was introduced to various 鈥楾ypes鈥� and magical bits and pieces, I don鈥檛 really have my head around this part of the world yet. I鈥檓 hoping the gaps in my knowledge will be filled in more when I read the sequel.
I really enjoyed the newspaper clippings scattered throughout the book; my favourite was Homework Eats Dog. I would definitely subscribe to this newspaper. There鈥檚 an article about a haunted toilet in Falkirk!
鈥業t鈥檚 in a pub. People claim that it speaks - issuing death threats, ominous predictions and 鈥︹€�There was a bit of a disjointed feel to some of the chapters. Sometimes it took me a page or two to figure out which part of the story I was reading about, especially when a new character or plot line was introduced. It all came together in the end though.
鈥楢苍诲?鈥�
鈥楽hortbread recipes.鈥�
Some questions were answered in this book but there were a bunch that are being held over for the sequel. I expect I鈥檒l be rereading this book a little closer to the sequel鈥檚 publication date.
The employees at The Stranger Times are a bunch of oddballs but they鈥檙e my kind of oddballs. I think I鈥檇 fit right in with this team.
鈥楾he world is not what you thought it to be.鈥�Bonus content: If you sign up for the newsletter at you鈥檒l snag In Other News, a free ebook.
Content warnings include .
I鈥檓 rounding up from 4.5 stars.
Blog -
March 11, 2022
This book came into my reading life at the exact time I needed it to. I was DNFing books what felt like left and right. My friend Ev sent me the audiobook of The Stranger Times narrated by Brendan McDonald and all that changed.
First of all, this book made me laugh aloud so many times. I love all of the characters, even the ones I wasn't supposed to. This urban fantasy tale is about The Stranger Times and its employees - a newspaper that reports on all the unexplained things that go bump in the night....or float around in flying saucers. Could it be a little something...more?
Hannah is a recently divorced woman in search of a job. The hunt for a job isn't going well as she was married to a very rich man previously, right out of school, so she has zip for experience in the job skill category. When she lands the Assistant Editor job at The Stranger Times, she thinks she's struck gold..until Simon turns up dead. Simon, who had told detectives he was a reporter for The Stranger Times, a news rag that most certainly did NOT have him on the payroll.
A whole world begins to emerge as the employees of The Stranger Times begins their own investigation of Simon's death, one that they may not survive.
Amazing. Hilarious. Creative, inventive - what other words do I need to use to get you to read this book? I was only 25% of the way through before I was pausing long enough to buy the second one!
First of all, this book made me laugh aloud so many times. I love all of the characters, even the ones I wasn't supposed to. This urban fantasy tale is about The Stranger Times and its employees - a newspaper that reports on all the unexplained things that go bump in the night....or float around in flying saucers. Could it be a little something...more?
Hannah is a recently divorced woman in search of a job. The hunt for a job isn't going well as she was married to a very rich man previously, right out of school, so she has zip for experience in the job skill category. When she lands the Assistant Editor job at The Stranger Times, she thinks she's struck gold..until Simon turns up dead. Simon, who had told detectives he was a reporter for The Stranger Times, a news rag that most certainly did NOT have him on the payroll.
A whole world begins to emerge as the employees of The Stranger Times begins their own investigation of Simon's death, one that they may not survive.
Amazing. Hilarious. Creative, inventive - what other words do I need to use to get you to read this book? I was only 25% of the way through before I was pausing long enough to buy the second one!
January 8, 2021
This book is the perfect antidote to the current strange times we live in!
The basic plot involves an eclectic collection of characters who work at a newspaper called The Stranger Times. This publication is unconventional in the sense that it focuses on the weird, wonderful, supernatural and magical tales.
The plot is great but the real joy in the book are the characters. There is such a range of people and they all have their own eccentricities, quirks and issues. Together they investigate some suspicious deaths that lead them deeper into a hidden world.
I don't normally read science fiction/fantasy genres as I struggle to really immerse myself and believe in the scenarios created. However, this had me completely believing in the reality I was reading. It was so well written.
The best bit is just how funny this book is. There are so many one liners, analogies and descriptions that made me laugh out loud.
I really hope that this is the beginning of a whole series of books as it is so unique and entertaining!
Thanks so much Caimh and The Pigeonhole for access to this wonderful book.
The basic plot involves an eclectic collection of characters who work at a newspaper called The Stranger Times. This publication is unconventional in the sense that it focuses on the weird, wonderful, supernatural and magical tales.
The plot is great but the real joy in the book are the characters. There is such a range of people and they all have their own eccentricities, quirks and issues. Together they investigate some suspicious deaths that lead them deeper into a hidden world.
I don't normally read science fiction/fantasy genres as I struggle to really immerse myself and believe in the scenarios created. However, this had me completely believing in the reality I was reading. It was so well written.
The best bit is just how funny this book is. There are so many one liners, analogies and descriptions that made me laugh out loud.
I really hope that this is the beginning of a whole series of books as it is so unique and entertaining!
Thanks so much Caimh and The Pigeonhole for access to this wonderful book.
August 21, 2022
Die Geschichte hat viel Spa脽 gemacht und war noch dazu ziemlich spannend. Ich mag den Humor der mitunter sehr exzentrischen Figuren und finde jede auf ihre Art liebenswert. Also fast jede.
Auch wenn ich die Geschichte sehr gerne gelesen habe, konnte der letzte Funke nicht 眉berspringen, der das Ganze zu einem Highlight gemacht h盲tte. Aber ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiter verfolgen. Bei diesem Cliffhanger eigentlich fast schon ein Muss.
Auch wenn ich die Geschichte sehr gerne gelesen habe, konnte der letzte Funke nicht 眉berspringen, der das Ganze zu einem Highlight gemacht h盲tte. Aber ich werde die Reihe auf jeden Fall weiter verfolgen. Bei diesem Cliffhanger eigentlich fast schon ein Muss.
January 11, 2023
3.75 stars - The humour is mostly not my type, and I'm a bit conflicted about the amount of clich茅s and stereotypes infused in the characters. But the story is actually good and interesting enough when not hindered by "the funny".
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