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Stranger Times #2
This Charming Man
Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it's particularly annoying when they start popping up around Manchester . . .
Nobody is pleased about it. Not the Founders, the secret organisation for whom vampires were invented as an allegory, nor the Folk, the magical people hidden in plain sight who only want a quiet life. And definitely not the people of Manchester, because there is nothing more irksome than being murdered by an allegory run amok. Somebody needs to sort this out fast before all Hell really breaks loose - step forward the staff of The Stranger Times.
It's not like they don't have enough to be dealing with. Assistant Editor Hannah has come back from getting messily divorced to discover that someone is trying to kidnap a member of their staff and while editor Vincent Banecroft would be delighted to see the back of any of his team, he doesn't like people touching his stuff - it's the principle of the thing.
Throw in a precarious plumbing situation, gambling debts, an entirely new way of swearing, and a certain detective inspector with what could be kindly referred to as 'a lot of baggage' and it all adds up to another hectic week in the life of the newspaper committed to reporting the truth that nobody else will touch.
Nobody is pleased about it. Not the Founders, the secret organisation for whom vampires were invented as an allegory, nor the Folk, the magical people hidden in plain sight who only want a quiet life. And definitely not the people of Manchester, because there is nothing more irksome than being murdered by an allegory run amok. Somebody needs to sort this out fast before all Hell really breaks loose - step forward the staff of The Stranger Times.
It's not like they don't have enough to be dealing with. Assistant Editor Hannah has come back from getting messily divorced to discover that someone is trying to kidnap a member of their staff and while editor Vincent Banecroft would be delighted to see the back of any of his team, he doesn't like people touching his stuff - it's the principle of the thing.
Throw in a precarious plumbing situation, gambling debts, an entirely new way of swearing, and a certain detective inspector with what could be kindly referred to as 'a lot of baggage' and it all adds up to another hectic week in the life of the newspaper committed to reporting the truth that nobody else will touch.
498 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2022
414 people are currently reading
2749 people want to read
About the author
C.K. McDonnell
13 books640 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’s TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series ‘Pet Squad’ 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’s TV writer earned him a BAFTA nomination for the CBBC animated series ‘Pet Squad’ which he created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 778 reviews
February 10, 2022
I loved, “The Stranger Times,” and was really excited to receive the second in the series. The only recommendation I would have is that readers go back to the first book, if they missed it. This is definitely a series and there are things that happened in the previous novel – seriously weird things – that will only make any kind of sense if you have an idea of who, and what, the Stranger Times consists of.
Hannah, who started work at The Stranger Times, in the first book, is now divorced and is returning to work, only to find that there are some distinctly odd things going on in Manchester. These include a vampire – who most definitely, everyone is agreed on, do not exist. This coincides with Stella, who also featured in the first book, being in danger. Banecroft, a sort of journalistic Jackson Lamb, recruits a new member to the gang, a previous tabloid journalist called Stanley Roker, and everyone sets out to discover what on Earth is going on. This, obviously, results in all kinds of mayhem, including ghosts, vampires in parkas and talking dogs…
I love the humour, the essential warmth of the Stranger Times office, and the great characters. Loved this and will definitely read on if there are further books. I received a copy of this from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Hannah, who started work at The Stranger Times, in the first book, is now divorced and is returning to work, only to find that there are some distinctly odd things going on in Manchester. These include a vampire – who most definitely, everyone is agreed on, do not exist. This coincides with Stella, who also featured in the first book, being in danger. Banecroft, a sort of journalistic Jackson Lamb, recruits a new member to the gang, a previous tabloid journalist called Stanley Roker, and everyone sets out to discover what on Earth is going on. This, obviously, results in all kinds of mayhem, including ghosts, vampires in parkas and talking dogs…
I love the humour, the essential warmth of the Stranger Times office, and the great characters. Loved this and will definitely read on if there are further books. I received a copy of this from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 28, 2022
Briefly - SO funny, I think that was probably better than the first book for me.
In full
This follows on from the first book in this series - and do read that first - The Stranger Times.
Vampires don't exist and even the Founders and the Folk know this to be true. So how come there seem to be credible reports of a vampire on the loose! The Founders via their intermediary from the last book, Dr Carter, request that Vincent Banecroft, Stranger Times's editor, discretely (!!) investigates. Needless to say other things are going on from Hannah's divorce through to the fact that it seems as though someone may be trying to abduct Stella (whose possible powers are still something of a mystery) so there is plenty of story here.
Ox and Reggie are around as is Sturgess, the DI from the previous book. Stanley Roker, gutter press writer who hates, and is hated by, Vincent plays a larger role. To my delight Simon who only appeared briefly in the previous book returns. On account of having died in the previous book he can be hard to see though! We are also introduced to Cogs and Zeke - an excellent idea and pairing. It allows Vincent to boast that he outdrunk a "doggie"…
Indeed I found that I am coming to love Banecroft almost as much as I love Jackson Lamb (and there is shared DNA there without question). The writing is very laconic and dry a lot of the time. There is also a decent pace of story telling going on here too. It is genuinely edgy and tense at times, laugh out loud at others. As with the last book there are "chapter intro" of pieces in The Stranger Times - some of them are very funny.
I have to mention "The 5 stages of sympathy" piece. I'll not give anything away but for me that is a genius bit of writing! Humour and almost anything can be difficult. McDonnell managed humour and crime well enough in the Dublin Trilogy however, for me I think he is even better at humour and fantasy. I simply want more of this series and will read the next one and anything else in the series. 4.5/5 and rounded up for "The 5 stages of sympathy" piece alone!
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
This follows on from the first book in this series - and do read that first - The Stranger Times.
Vampires don't exist and even the Founders and the Folk know this to be true. So how come there seem to be credible reports of a vampire on the loose! The Founders via their intermediary from the last book, Dr Carter, request that Vincent Banecroft, Stranger Times's editor, discretely (!!) investigates. Needless to say other things are going on from Hannah's divorce through to the fact that it seems as though someone may be trying to abduct Stella (whose possible powers are still something of a mystery) so there is plenty of story here.
Ox and Reggie are around as is Sturgess, the DI from the previous book. Stanley Roker, gutter press writer who hates, and is hated by, Vincent plays a larger role. To my delight Simon who only appeared briefly in the previous book returns. On account of having died in the previous book he can be hard to see though! We are also introduced to Cogs and Zeke - an excellent idea and pairing. It allows Vincent to boast that he outdrunk a "doggie"…
Indeed I found that I am coming to love Banecroft almost as much as I love Jackson Lamb (and there is shared DNA there without question). The writing is very laconic and dry a lot of the time. There is also a decent pace of story telling going on here too. It is genuinely edgy and tense at times, laugh out loud at others. As with the last book there are "chapter intro" of pieces in The Stranger Times - some of them are very funny.
I have to mention "The 5 stages of sympathy" piece. I'll not give anything away but for me that is a genius bit of writing! Humour and almost anything can be difficult. McDonnell managed humour and crime well enough in the Dublin Trilogy however, for me I think he is even better at humour and fantasy. I simply want more of this series and will read the next one and anything else in the series. 4.5/5 and rounded up for "The 5 stages of sympathy" piece alone!
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
January 1, 2026
★★★★☆ (4.50 stars) — Starting this one way way back, perhaps over 2 years ago, I’m extremely glad I as pulled back into the “Stranger Times” universe just before this year ended, making it my final review of the year. This is a series that’s a rare treasure, so unique, so well crafted & written with straight out bags of skill.
There’s a particular kind of novel that pretends to be light on its feet while quietly deepening its grip chapter by chapter, and This Charming Man is very much one of those books. Effortlessly funny, slyly sharp, and far darker than its grin initially suggests, C.K. McDonnell once again proves just how comfortably he can walk the tightrope between humour and horror without ever wobbling.
The comedy lands with disarming ease. The prose has that rare conversational snap—the kind that makes you smirk mid-sentence, then laugh outright a line later. Nothing feels laboured. The jokes don’t announce themselves; they simply arrive, fully formed, often nestled inside throwaway observations that reveal far more than they seem to at first glance. It’s writing that trusts the reader, and that confidence is infectious.
At the centre of it all is the gloriously grey world of The Paper & The Stranger Times, a newsroom universe that thrives in moral ambiguity, professional cynicism, and just enough earnest belief to keep everything from curdling into parody. McDonnell understands that satire works best when the world beneath it feels lived-in—and here, it absolutely does. The stakes may be absurd on the surface, but the emotional undercurrents are anything but.
What really elevates this novel, though, is its willingness to slow down & explore deeper character arcs. Banecroft’s wife, in particular, is handled with remarkable care. Her presence adds a quiet gravity to the narrative—an emotional counterweight that grounds the chaos and sharpens the book’s thematic edge. These moments of reflection never feel bolted on; they feel earned, and they linger long after the jokes fade.
And then there’s the horror. Subtle, creeping, and deeply unsettling when it chooses to be, the darker elements are threaded through the story with remarkable aplomb. McDonnell never overplays his hand. The dread seeps in sideways, often piggybacking on humour, which only makes it more effective when the temperature suddenly drops. It’s that tonal control—the ability to pivot without snapping immersion—that truly impresses.
This Charming Man is smart, funny, unsettling, and emotionally richer than it first appears. It’s the kind of book that entertains you thoroughly while quietly reminding you just how much craft is involved in making something seem this easy. A joy to read—and one that confirms McDonnell as a writer operating at the very top of his game.
There’s a particular kind of novel that pretends to be light on its feet while quietly deepening its grip chapter by chapter, and This Charming Man is very much one of those books. Effortlessly funny, slyly sharp, and far darker than its grin initially suggests, C.K. McDonnell once again proves just how comfortably he can walk the tightrope between humour and horror without ever wobbling.
The comedy lands with disarming ease. The prose has that rare conversational snap—the kind that makes you smirk mid-sentence, then laugh outright a line later. Nothing feels laboured. The jokes don’t announce themselves; they simply arrive, fully formed, often nestled inside throwaway observations that reveal far more than they seem to at first glance. It’s writing that trusts the reader, and that confidence is infectious.
At the centre of it all is the gloriously grey world of The Paper & The Stranger Times, a newsroom universe that thrives in moral ambiguity, professional cynicism, and just enough earnest belief to keep everything from curdling into parody. McDonnell understands that satire works best when the world beneath it feels lived-in—and here, it absolutely does. The stakes may be absurd on the surface, but the emotional undercurrents are anything but.
What really elevates this novel, though, is its willingness to slow down & explore deeper character arcs. Banecroft’s wife, in particular, is handled with remarkable care. Her presence adds a quiet gravity to the narrative—an emotional counterweight that grounds the chaos and sharpens the book’s thematic edge. These moments of reflection never feel bolted on; they feel earned, and they linger long after the jokes fade.
And then there’s the horror. Subtle, creeping, and deeply unsettling when it chooses to be, the darker elements are threaded through the story with remarkable aplomb. McDonnell never overplays his hand. The dread seeps in sideways, often piggybacking on humour, which only makes it more effective when the temperature suddenly drops. It’s that tonal control—the ability to pivot without snapping immersion—that truly impresses.
This Charming Man is smart, funny, unsettling, and emotionally richer than it first appears. It’s the kind of book that entertains you thoroughly while quietly reminding you just how much craft is involved in making something seem this easy. A joy to read—and one that confirms McDonnell as a writer operating at the very top of his game.
February 25, 2022
4.5, rounded up!
It's not a literary masterpiece, but I haven't laughed so hard (reading) since i discovered Discworld and Terry Pratchet some 20 years ago!
Some chapters have, in the end, a piece of "News" from the newspaper (Stranger Times) of supernatural things. Two of them are GEM: "Earth Cancelled!" and "Morrissey Is Possessed!".
And the audiobook is ASTOUNDING!
It's not a literary masterpiece, but I haven't laughed so hard (reading) since i discovered Discworld and Terry Pratchet some 20 years ago!
Some chapters have, in the end, a piece of "News" from the newspaper (Stranger Times) of supernatural things. Two of them are GEM: "Earth Cancelled!" and "Morrissey Is Possessed!".
And the audiobook is ASTOUNDING!
February 18, 2022
On her first day, Hannah’s boss shot himself in the foot. It’s now been three months since Hannah joined The Stranger Times as assistant editor and she’s just returned from two week’s leave (divorce holidays aren’t especially fun), only to have a close encounter with the office toilet. It escaped the building via an upper window. Never a dull moment.
Banecroft, Stella, the paper’s purple haired intern, and Manny, their printer, are all currently living at the office. And let’s not forget the spirit that cohabits with Manny. Rounding out the team are Grace, the office manager, Ox, the ufologist, and Reggie, the paper’s paranormal consultant.
So, having been introduced to all of the “woo-woo nonsense” that’s hidden in plain sight in Manchester in the first book, what delights does this sequel contain? Vampires.
In the course of their investigation, we meet Cogs
Because this is The Stranger Times, there’s more to the investigation than meets the eye. Which eye, I hear you ask? Touché. If you didn’t ask, I’d suggest you read the first book for the inside scoop.
I love this dysfunctional team and their investigations. The case of the non-sparkly vampires does have a resolution but that doesn’t mean the vampires are all going the way of their reflection in a mirror. I’m almost certain more blood will be spilled when we catch up with the strangeness in the next book. If not, though, there’s plenty of territory left to cover in this series, from questions about individual team members to the conspiracy theories I’m formulating about the Founders.
With more farts than your average book, a smelly gun and inexplicable Spam, you’ll be grateful this read isn’t presented in Smell-O-Pages. I was delighted to learn how to swear by number and I definitely need to hear more about the woman who was chased by the spectral dinosaur.
I’m already looking forward to the third book.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be at the Spoonful of Sugar with Stanley.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, Penguin Random House UK, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
‘Rumour has it the sun’s come out and people are losing their minds.’Her boss, Vincent Bancroft, editor at large, remains “‘challenging’, in the way a cat sanctuary might use the word to describe a moggy that attempted to rip your face off while you slept.”
Banecroft, Stella, the paper’s purple haired intern, and Manny, their printer, are all currently living at the office. And let’s not forget the spirit that cohabits with Manny. Rounding out the team are Grace, the office manager, Ox, the ufologist, and Reggie, the paper’s paranormal consultant.
So, having been introduced to all of the “woo-woo nonsense” that’s hidden in plain sight in Manchester in the first book, what delights does this sequel contain? Vampires.
‘They don’t exist.’Sure, tell that to the people who never signed up to be blood donors.
In the course of their investigation, we meet Cogs
‘Would it kill you to lie?’and the dog that regularly puts him in his place. The dog quickly became my favourite character.
‘Actually, dear lady, it would.’
Because this is The Stranger Times, there’s more to the investigation than meets the eye. Which eye, I hear you ask? Touché. If you didn’t ask, I’d suggest you read the first book for the inside scoop.
I love this dysfunctional team and their investigations. The case of the non-sparkly vampires does have a resolution but that doesn’t mean the vampires are all going the way of their reflection in a mirror. I’m almost certain more blood will be spilled when we catch up with the strangeness in the next book. If not, though, there’s plenty of territory left to cover in this series, from questions about individual team members to the conspiracy theories I’m formulating about the Founders.
With more farts than your average book, a smelly gun and inexplicable Spam, you’ll be grateful this read isn’t presented in Smell-O-Pages. I was delighted to learn how to swear by number and I definitely need to hear more about the woman who was chased by the spectral dinosaur.
I’m already looking forward to the third book.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be at the Spoonful of Sugar with Stanley.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, Penguin Random House UK, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
July 15, 2023
For me, book one was much better than this installment of The Stranger Times. Charming Man was missing a coherent and surprising storyline that usually this author delivers. The humor was there but for me this was not enough. Ten stars for humor but with a weak plot it was reduced to three. The author concentrated more on what was not a vampire rather than the problem at hand and in between we had more sub plots that the story required. The ending felt rushed and also came out of nowhere.
I really love this writer, that is why this was such a surprise. I got the last book of this series earlier this year and I will read it. I am truly missing another MCM investigation.
I really love this writer, that is why this was such a surprise. I got the last book of this series earlier this year and I will read it. I am truly missing another MCM investigation.
January 28, 2022
This Charming Man is the second book in The Stranger Times series. If you haven’t read book one then I feel you really need to before starting this one or you will wonder what-on-Earth is going on!
The series is most certainly unusual, wacky, weird, and oh so much fun. In this second book, the cast from the first are back and are dealing with two issues alongside trying to write their newspaper. Someone has been trying to kidnap one of their employees and Vincent Banecroft the editor of the paper wants to know who and why. The second case they are working on is that there seem to be Vampires running amok in Manchester.
From the opening page to the last line the book kept me invested in the plot, intrigued, and amused. You can certainly tell this has been written by a comedian. I adore all the characters, even Vincent with his bad temper, foul language, and vile behaviour. If truth be told he actually really cares for his staff but doesn’t want them to know that.
If you like strange, bizarre books that hold you captive to the pages then this is the series to pick up – Perhaps The Stranger Times could look at how C.K. McDonnell keeps his readers engrossed. Is it some dark magic or is his writing and plotting skills so good you just have to keep on reading? Find out for yourself by giving the series a read.
With the epilogues hinting at a third book, I can not wait. I hope this series goes on for many more books as it is most definitely one of my favourite, ever!
The series is most certainly unusual, wacky, weird, and oh so much fun. In this second book, the cast from the first are back and are dealing with two issues alongside trying to write their newspaper. Someone has been trying to kidnap one of their employees and Vincent Banecroft the editor of the paper wants to know who and why. The second case they are working on is that there seem to be Vampires running amok in Manchester.
From the opening page to the last line the book kept me invested in the plot, intrigued, and amused. You can certainly tell this has been written by a comedian. I adore all the characters, even Vincent with his bad temper, foul language, and vile behaviour. If truth be told he actually really cares for his staff but doesn’t want them to know that.
If you like strange, bizarre books that hold you captive to the pages then this is the series to pick up – Perhaps The Stranger Times could look at how C.K. McDonnell keeps his readers engrossed. Is it some dark magic or is his writing and plotting skills so good you just have to keep on reading? Find out for yourself by giving the series a read.
With the epilogues hinting at a third book, I can not wait. I hope this series goes on for many more books as it is most definitely one of my favourite, ever!
January 15, 2024
Vampires don't exist. Even in this paranormal world. Then why are there so many violent deaths, all evidence pointing to the existence of vampires? Stranger Times and their strange set of employees start investigating and there are stranger revelations.
The 2nd book in Stranger Times series. All the characters in the first book are back and also few more stranger characters introduced, like Cogs - who can never lie, Zeke - the talking dog, Veronica and others.
Listen to the Audible narration by Brendan McDonald, which enhanced the reading experience
This is a humorous and highly imaginative urban fantasy. The news articles in between were hilarious. One sample below
Earth Cancelled!
Edgar Warwick, head of the Contentians – a religion based in Los Angeles that believes all life on the planet Earth is actually a TV show created for the entertainment of higher lifeforms – has made a shocking announcement. The self-proclaimed Grand Critic states, ‘Earth has traditionally been a solid ratings-winner on the Celestial Network, but those numbers have gone soft. Focus groups tell us that the writing has hit a real slump, relying on big, badly thought-out plot twists instead of really connecting with the audience. This finding is exacerbated by the fact that all the main characters are now, to be frank, irredeemable assholes.’
He went on to say that the best anyone could hope for now is that the writers pull out a satisfying apocalypse so that Earth can end on a high: ‘Let’s be honest, ever since that awful millennium-bug storyline, this whole thing has been living on borrowed time.’
The 2nd book in Stranger Times series. All the characters in the first book are back and also few more stranger characters introduced, like Cogs - who can never lie, Zeke - the talking dog, Veronica and others.
Listen to the Audible narration by Brendan McDonald, which enhanced the reading experience
This is a humorous and highly imaginative urban fantasy. The news articles in between were hilarious. One sample below
Earth Cancelled!
Edgar Warwick, head of the Contentians – a religion based in Los Angeles that believes all life on the planet Earth is actually a TV show created for the entertainment of higher lifeforms – has made a shocking announcement. The self-proclaimed Grand Critic states, ‘Earth has traditionally been a solid ratings-winner on the Celestial Network, but those numbers have gone soft. Focus groups tell us that the writing has hit a real slump, relying on big, badly thought-out plot twists instead of really connecting with the audience. This finding is exacerbated by the fact that all the main characters are now, to be frank, irredeemable assholes.’
He went on to say that the best anyone could hope for now is that the writers pull out a satisfying apocalypse so that Earth can end on a high: ‘Let’s be honest, ever since that awful millennium-bug storyline, this whole thing has been living on borrowed time.’
July 9, 2022
Fast paced, witty and hilarious as usual.
March 21, 2022
This Charming Man is the second book in C.K. McDonnell's The Stranger Times series, a series about a newspaper that reports on the weird and wacky.
The employees of The Stranger Times newspaper are back - this time they find themselves dealing with someone determined to kidnap one of the employees while also trying to find out why there is a sudden vampire outbreak in Manchester. Oh - and they still need to write a newspaper!
I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one even more. I loved being back with the original cast and I really loved the new additions we met in this follow up book. I have my fingers crossed they continue to appear in the next book as well.
C.K. McDonnell is a perfectionist when it comes to writing characters. He excels in differentiating them from one another with just a line or two, just a one or two line description that makes sure you never forget them. Usually peppered with a lot of snark, sass and gut-busting hilarity. If there were 100 more books in this series, I'd be the happiest girl in the world.
I highly recommend giving the audiobooks a go because Brendan McDonald is BRILLIANT at giving each character their own voice and personality.
The employees of The Stranger Times newspaper are back - this time they find themselves dealing with someone determined to kidnap one of the employees while also trying to find out why there is a sudden vampire outbreak in Manchester. Oh - and they still need to write a newspaper!
I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one even more. I loved being back with the original cast and I really loved the new additions we met in this follow up book. I have my fingers crossed they continue to appear in the next book as well.
C.K. McDonnell is a perfectionist when it comes to writing characters. He excels in differentiating them from one another with just a line or two, just a one or two line description that makes sure you never forget them. Usually peppered with a lot of snark, sass and gut-busting hilarity. If there were 100 more books in this series, I'd be the happiest girl in the world.
I highly recommend giving the audiobooks a go because Brendan McDonald is BRILLIANT at giving each character their own voice and personality.
November 3, 2022
4,5 ⭐️ Ich habe wieder mehrmals laut auflachen müssen und hing an den Seiten, weil ich unbedingt wissen musste, wie es weitergeht. Die Geschichte lebt von den Charakteren. Diese sind alle so skurril und witzig, wodurch die absolut liebenswert sind. Ich habe mich sehr gefreut mehr über die Charaktere zu erfahren und etwas mehr in die Tiefe zu gehen. Besonders gefallen haben mir die Zeitungsartikel der Stranger Times, die absolut kreativ und irre sind 😂 Den Fall fand ich auch sehr spannend und ich bin gespannt, was sich bei der übergeordneten Handlung zusammenbrauen wird. Einzig das Ende war etwas wirr, aber das war letztendlich gar nicht so schlimm.
Ich freue mich auf viele weitere Bände und kann außerdem das Hörbuch absolut empfehlen!
Ich freue mich auf viele weitere Bände und kann außerdem das Hörbuch absolut empfehlen!
April 19, 2025
Wieder ein riesiger Spaß für mich!
An alle die mir die Serie empfohlen haben: Danke!
An alle die mir die Serie empfohlen haben: Danke!
May 21, 2023
Leaning towards 3.5 stars - but not enough to give it 4. As with part one, the humour wasn't all for me, the characters still read rather "flat" (which shows even more now that the novelty of book 1 has worn off) - but somehow it was entertaining enough to get through the whole thing. There's some big building up for the overarching plot going on, and I'm kind of curious to see whether this will live up to the expectations created. But I'm not sure yet if and how I'm continuing the series.
November 27, 2023
Das war wieder sehr unterhaltsam. Dass ich bei einem Buch wirklich LAUT auflache, ist auch eher selten - kommt hier aber wiederholt vor. Gut, der Roman hatte im Mittelteil einige Längen, weil sich eine Szene à la "wir reden mit einem Verdächtigen, um an Informationen zu kommen" an die nächste reihte und etwas die Abwechslung fehlte. Aber da es diesmal um Vampire ging (mein literarisches Steckenpferd) und der Autor es geschafft hat, diesem ausgelutschten (ha, Wortwitz) Thema ein neue Komponente abzuringen, bin ich total versöhnt.
Und können wir mal festhalten, dass die von Sascha Icks gelesenen Hörbücher der absolute Oberhammer sind? Diese Frau ist fantastisch, bitte einmal Gehaltserhöhung und Prämie genehmigen!
Und können wir mal festhalten, dass die von Sascha Icks gelesenen Hörbücher der absolute Oberhammer sind? Diese Frau ist fantastisch, bitte einmal Gehaltserhöhung und Prämie genehmigen!
November 23, 2022
Great characters and a great story make this a very worthy sequel. Some nicely honed humour on here too.
December 20, 2022
This Charming Man is the second book in the Stranger Times urban fantasy trilogy about the staff of a Manchester newspaper that reports on supernatural phenomena. You definitely need to have read the first book to have any understanding of the characters here, as there is minimal recap of those events but they are referred to repeatedly. These are fun wickedly humorous stories about the monsters that hide in plain sight, and the oddball team trying to investigate them.
A few months after her eventful first weeks at The Stranger Times, and now divorcing her cheating husband, assistant editor Hannah arrives back at work after a break to discover that a vampire has apparently committed suicide - but sources from within The Folk - as the magical community are known - keep insisting they don’t exist. Her slovenly unscrupulous editor, Vincent Banecroft, is determined to get the story, and when more vampires start appearing, our unlikely heroes must risk their lives to learn the truth - even if no one will believe it.
“ She was also cursed with the kind of terrifying certainty found only in drunks, religious zealots and people who used the word ‘sheeple’ on social media.” …
“ ‘Right,’ said Hannah, demonstrating a level of imperviousness to pain normally associated with religious zealots, drunks or someone who had got the chance to punch the kind of person who used the word ‘sheeple’ on social media.”
I have a peculiar sense of humour, so struggle to find authors that actually make me laugh, but this hit the spot with its clever mix of satire and ridiculousness, that pokes fun at the usual UF tropes, and introduces some interesting new characters alongside those we met in the first book. I loved the testy new alliance between sugar-addict Stanley and hopeless gambler Ox, and the evolution of the complicated & fractious evolving partnership between Banecroft and his employees - especially Hannah and Stella. This one had a more complicated plot than the first instalment and it seems there’s plenty more to discover about this very weird world. Looking forward to the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Randomhouse UK for the post publication review copy. I’m posting this honest review voluntarily.
A few months after her eventful first weeks at The Stranger Times, and now divorcing her cheating husband, assistant editor Hannah arrives back at work after a break to discover that a vampire has apparently committed suicide - but sources from within The Folk - as the magical community are known - keep insisting they don’t exist. Her slovenly unscrupulous editor, Vincent Banecroft, is determined to get the story, and when more vampires start appearing, our unlikely heroes must risk their lives to learn the truth - even if no one will believe it.
“ She was also cursed with the kind of terrifying certainty found only in drunks, religious zealots and people who used the word ‘sheeple’ on social media.” …
“ ‘Right,’ said Hannah, demonstrating a level of imperviousness to pain normally associated with religious zealots, drunks or someone who had got the chance to punch the kind of person who used the word ‘sheeple’ on social media.”
I have a peculiar sense of humour, so struggle to find authors that actually make me laugh, but this hit the spot with its clever mix of satire and ridiculousness, that pokes fun at the usual UF tropes, and introduces some interesting new characters alongside those we met in the first book. I loved the testy new alliance between sugar-addict Stanley and hopeless gambler Ox, and the evolution of the complicated & fractious evolving partnership between Banecroft and his employees - especially Hannah and Stella. This one had a more complicated plot than the first instalment and it seems there’s plenty more to discover about this very weird world. Looking forward to the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Randomhouse UK for the post publication review copy. I’m posting this honest review voluntarily.
December 23, 2024
все, кто видел мои комментарии по ходу чтения, уже в курсе, что первая половина книги не смогла меня захватить, но сделав над собой усилие, я продолжила чтение (хоть и спустя несколько месяцев). И НЕ ЗРЯ. мистер макдоннелл все-таки знает, что делает, и выдал такую концовку, что мне остается только выйти на улицу и выть на луну, потому что я хочу знать, что же будет дальше. возможно, я не буду дожидаться, когда выпустят перевод последних двух частей и попытаюсь найти оригинальный текст.
боже храни ирландцев, я не могу огорчить их оценкой ниже 5.
боже храни ирландцев, я не могу огорчить их оценкой ниже 5.
April 21, 2025
Це досі смішно, влучно і цікаво)
Гумор автора - мій просто на всі 100%
Гумор автора - мій просто на всі 100%
April 12, 2022
3.5 stars
I liked this book better than the first. The main characters are already established and the book kicked off with more pace and punch than the first.
I very much liked the fact that I didn't find this book as littered with one-liners or borrowed lines from other media. This felt more solid in its originality.
The humour is fun, but it seldom hits a full home-run for me personally. I find it very amusing though.
As for the whole vampire plot, and whether vampires exist or not, and the whole twist on movie tropes towards the end ...
I found it amusing as well.
To a point.
The ending felt more like an anti-climax than anything else and I was mostly disappointed. Not hugely so, but it pretty much knocked a star off my rating because some aspects of the ending felt sort of random and very "just for kicks".
I will check back in for book 3 in the future. I really like the people working at The Stranger Times.
I liked this book better than the first. The main characters are already established and the book kicked off with more pace and punch than the first.
I very much liked the fact that I didn't find this book as littered with one-liners or borrowed lines from other media. This felt more solid in its originality.
The humour is fun, but it seldom hits a full home-run for me personally. I find it very amusing though.
As for the whole vampire plot, and whether vampires exist or not, and the whole twist on movie tropes towards the end ...
I found it amusing as well.
To a point.
The ending felt more like an anti-climax than anything else and I was mostly disappointed. Not hugely so, but it pretty much knocked a star off my rating because some aspects of the ending felt sort of random and very "just for kicks".
I will check back in for book 3 in the future. I really like the people working at The Stranger Times.
October 12, 2021
This new paranormal, comedy investigative series follows the staff of The Stranger Times, a fringe Manchester published newspaper that investigates and debunks the slightly more out there stories, while also wrestling with the true nature of the supernatural,
In this second installment of the series the staff and their contact in the Police are faced with Vampires. Something both the Founders and the Folk agree (for once) Does. NOT. exist. Except, there are bodies turning up, and fangs glinting in the dark.
It's another great stand alone mystery, while also dropping more breadcrumbs for the overarching series character arcs and mysteries. I'm so eager for the inevitable book centred around Stella. The Stranger Times quickly become one of my go to recommendations when it was released last year, and the sequel does not disappoint.
In this second installment of the series the staff and their contact in the Police are faced with Vampires. Something both the Founders and the Folk agree (for once) Does. NOT. exist. Except, there are bodies turning up, and fangs glinting in the dark.
It's another great stand alone mystery, while also dropping more breadcrumbs for the overarching series character arcs and mysteries. I'm so eager for the inevitable book centred around Stella. The Stranger Times quickly become one of my go to recommendations when it was released last year, and the sequel does not disappoint.
January 24, 2025
Hmmm, kinda disappointing compared to my absolute enjoyment of book one.
Still fun but lacking some of the more funnier character moments.
We still have whacky scenes, bizarre set ups, and crazy creatures that shouldn’t exist even according to the magical community.
There was too much head hopping and I was not a huge fan of the plot and the ending was not great. Everything was too campy and convenient.
I will continue when my library holds come in because the audiobooks are just so darn amusing.
Bookstagram
Still fun but lacking some of the more funnier character moments.
We still have whacky scenes, bizarre set ups, and crazy creatures that shouldn’t exist even according to the magical community.
There was too much head hopping and I was not a huge fan of the plot and the ending was not great. Everything was too campy and convenient.
I will continue when my library holds come in because the audiobooks are just so darn amusing.
Bookstagram
November 12, 2021
An excellent sequel to stranger times, continues straight after book 1 obviously 🙄. Takes the newly created characters further into their working and private lives, letting them grow in to maturing well rounded ones.
The author really uses the city of Manchester to full effect, and he shows his love for the city.
Highly recommended to all readers of the Peter Grant series, especially when we all are waiting for the next book to come out.
The author really uses the city of Manchester to full effect, and he shows his love for the city.
Highly recommended to all readers of the Peter Grant series, especially when we all are waiting for the next book to come out.
April 25, 2025
Another zany, urban fantasy in Manchester, England. Lots of hidden gems in the wording.
A sinister, online, dating application creates of small group of men who try to take advantage of women. What it turns into is the subject of the story. The journalists of "The Stranger Times" newspaper save the day....and nights. Fun.
While these books are pretty much standalone, they do build on the previous tales. There are enough references to get you by without having to read the early books, but I would suggest that they be read in the order of publication. I have already downloaded the next two to my Kindle. Book five of the series is not out yet, but in the works.
A sinister, online, dating application creates of small group of men who try to take advantage of women. What it turns into is the subject of the story. The journalists of "The Stranger Times" newspaper save the day....and nights. Fun.
While these books are pretty much standalone, they do build on the previous tales. There are enough references to get you by without having to read the early books, but I would suggest that they be read in the order of publication. I have already downloaded the next two to my Kindle. Book five of the series is not out yet, but in the works.
January 13, 2025
4,50 - I liked this one better. The characters are starting to grow on me.
November 6, 2023
Diese Reihe macht mir wirklich Spaß!
October 16, 2022
Vampire gibt es nicht. Umso ärgerlicher, wenn sie dann plötzlich doch auftauchen und Leute um die Ecke bringen. Die Welt der Menschen steht ebenso Kopf wie die der wirklich und wahrhaftig existierenden magischen Wesen. Denn was tun, wenn ein ausgedachtes Monster sein Unwesen treibt? Zum Glück gibt es die Mitarbeiter der Wochenzeitung „The Stranger Times“. Diese befassen sich mit allerlei mysteriösen Ereignissen und Phänomenen wie Geistererscheinungen und Ufosichtungen. Sie ist demnach DIE Anlaufstelle für Unerklärtes und Unerklärliches.
Es ist zwar schon etwas länger her, dass ich den Vorgänger gelesen habe, aber zum Glück wurde einiges nochmal aufgegriffen, so dass ich nahezu direkt wieder in der Story drin war. Man kann das Buch theoretisch lesen ohne den ersten Teil zu kennen, aber da verpasst man nicht nur ein ulkiges und spannendes Leseerlebnis, sondern wird auch einiges nicht komplett verstehen können.
Ich mag besonders die Charakterentwicklung von allen. Wir lernen Banecroft von einer ganz anderen und verletzlichen Seite kennen. Es zeigt sich, dass ihm tatsächlich etwas an seinen Mitarbeitern liegt, was er selbstredend niemals zugeben würde. Um Stella rankt sich weiterhin ein Mysterium, das es aufzuklären gilt. Hannah wächst so richtig ins Team hinein und Ox muss sich mit einem externen Mitarbeiter herumschlagen, der nicht so leicht zu ertragen ist.
Ich feiere die Charaktere, deren Wortgefechte und Dialoge, die ganzen Kuriositäten und paranormalen Phänomene sowie den schwarzen Humor. Ich finde diese trockenen Sprüche teilweise so witzig. Ebenso, dass jeder von ihnen immer das letzte Wort haben muss und zwar egal wie heikel die Situation grade ist.
Das Ende klärt viele Fragen, wirft aber natürlich auch ein paar neue auf und macht definitiv Lust auf den dritten Teil! Für mich ist der Hauptfall grundsätzlich aufgeklärt. Das große Ganze aber eben nicht, was ich gut finde, sonst wäre die Fortsetzung ja langweilig.
Insgesamt fand ich die Geschichte wieder super unterhaltsam, humorvoll, skurril und unerwartet. Der Autor ist wirklich ein Meister der kuriosen Ideen, Wendungen und Wortspiele. Ich bin gespannt, was er sich noch für uns überlegt hat. Ich kann mir richtig vorstellen, wie er Hände reibend und kichernd hinter seinem Schreibtisch hockt und sich diebisch freut, seine Leser:innen in die Irre zu führen…
Es ist zwar schon etwas länger her, dass ich den Vorgänger gelesen habe, aber zum Glück wurde einiges nochmal aufgegriffen, so dass ich nahezu direkt wieder in der Story drin war. Man kann das Buch theoretisch lesen ohne den ersten Teil zu kennen, aber da verpasst man nicht nur ein ulkiges und spannendes Leseerlebnis, sondern wird auch einiges nicht komplett verstehen können.
Ich mag besonders die Charakterentwicklung von allen. Wir lernen Banecroft von einer ganz anderen und verletzlichen Seite kennen. Es zeigt sich, dass ihm tatsächlich etwas an seinen Mitarbeitern liegt, was er selbstredend niemals zugeben würde. Um Stella rankt sich weiterhin ein Mysterium, das es aufzuklären gilt. Hannah wächst so richtig ins Team hinein und Ox muss sich mit einem externen Mitarbeiter herumschlagen, der nicht so leicht zu ertragen ist.
Ich feiere die Charaktere, deren Wortgefechte und Dialoge, die ganzen Kuriositäten und paranormalen Phänomene sowie den schwarzen Humor. Ich finde diese trockenen Sprüche teilweise so witzig. Ebenso, dass jeder von ihnen immer das letzte Wort haben muss und zwar egal wie heikel die Situation grade ist.
Das Ende klärt viele Fragen, wirft aber natürlich auch ein paar neue auf und macht definitiv Lust auf den dritten Teil! Für mich ist der Hauptfall grundsätzlich aufgeklärt. Das große Ganze aber eben nicht, was ich gut finde, sonst wäre die Fortsetzung ja langweilig.
Insgesamt fand ich die Geschichte wieder super unterhaltsam, humorvoll, skurril und unerwartet. Der Autor ist wirklich ein Meister der kuriosen Ideen, Wendungen und Wortspiele. Ich bin gespannt, was er sich noch für uns überlegt hat. Ich kann mir richtig vorstellen, wie er Hände reibend und kichernd hinter seinem Schreibtisch hockt und sich diebisch freut, seine Leser:innen in die Irre zu führen…
October 8, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for providing me with an eARC in return for a fair review.
This Charming Man is the sequel to C.K. McDonnell's The Stranger Times which I read and reviewed last year. If you haven't read it yet please do give it a go, it was a real highlight in the dumpster fire which was 2020.
Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it's particularly annoying when they start popping up around Manchester . . .
We return to Manchester, to the offices of The Stranger Times - a newspaper reporting on the strange and unusual. The narrative picks up shortly after the events in the first novel, and Hannah and the motley journalistic crew are again swept up into an investigation. This time it's vampires - despite both the Folk and the Founders agreeing that vampires do not exist.
Hannah and DI Tom Sturgess continue their hopeless attempts at flirtation, while sharing information about the case.
I don't want to say too much about this book, I would much rather you read & enjoy it yourself. I think it's enough to say that we see more development for some of the characters we already know & love and start to explore the complicated arrangement of the Accords between the Folk and the Founders. We also get a talking dog - my favourite addition to the cast!
This series is shaping up to be a favourite for me, lots of humour without slipping into parody, plenty of nods to mythology and pop culture alike.
#ThisCharmingMan #UrbanFantasy #NetGalley
This Charming Man is the sequel to C.K. McDonnell's The Stranger Times which I read and reviewed last year. If you haven't read it yet please do give it a go, it was a real highlight in the dumpster fire which was 2020.
Vampires do not exist. Everyone knows this. So it's particularly annoying when they start popping up around Manchester . . .
We return to Manchester, to the offices of The Stranger Times - a newspaper reporting on the strange and unusual. The narrative picks up shortly after the events in the first novel, and Hannah and the motley journalistic crew are again swept up into an investigation. This time it's vampires - despite both the Folk and the Founders agreeing that vampires do not exist.
Hannah and DI Tom Sturgess continue their hopeless attempts at flirtation, while sharing information about the case.
I don't want to say too much about this book, I would much rather you read & enjoy it yourself. I think it's enough to say that we see more development for some of the characters we already know & love and start to explore the complicated arrangement of the Accords between the Folk and the Founders. We also get a talking dog - my favourite addition to the cast!
This series is shaping up to be a favourite for me, lots of humour without slipping into parody, plenty of nods to mythology and pop culture alike.
#ThisCharmingMan #UrbanFantasy #NetGalley
February 1, 2023
3.25 ⭐
I had a couple of issues here - mostly with the writing style, because to me it seemed like the author was headhopping in some places, like one chapter would start in a certain perspective but there'd be snippets in another person's perspective. If that was intentional, I don't think it was done as well as it could've been.
Additionally, there were a bunch of fatphobic beliefs/comments that, because of the headhopping problem, I don't know if they were limited to one perspective, and I don't think they were in any way necessary for characters or plot. Like, when reading them I'd come up with things that could've been said instead and I had no trouble doing so without detracting from anything that was happening or change my perception of the characters. So yeah, didn't love those.
Apart from that the writing style was good and the humour was mostly enjoyable for me.
Content/plot wise as well, I found the urban fantasy setting cool and the setup regarding the existence of magic/the magic system were intriguing.
All in all, it was fun in a lot of places and I got what I wanted from it (a laugh and some distraction from life), making it a solid 3-ish star read.
Full disclosure: I haven't read book 1 in the series - I understood well enough what was going on, but I've held back with opinions about the specifics of the content because I know I'm missing information.
I had a couple of issues here - mostly with the writing style, because to me it seemed like the author was headhopping in some places, like one chapter would start in a certain perspective but there'd be snippets in another person's perspective. If that was intentional, I don't think it was done as well as it could've been.
Additionally, there were a bunch of fatphobic beliefs/comments that, because of the headhopping problem, I don't know if they were limited to one perspective, and I don't think they were in any way necessary for characters or plot. Like, when reading them I'd come up with things that could've been said instead and I had no trouble doing so without detracting from anything that was happening or change my perception of the characters. So yeah, didn't love those.
Apart from that the writing style was good and the humour was mostly enjoyable for me.
Content/plot wise as well, I found the urban fantasy setting cool and the setup regarding the existence of magic/the magic system were intriguing.
All in all, it was fun in a lot of places and I got what I wanted from it (a laugh and some distraction from life), making it a solid 3-ish star read.
Full disclosure: I haven't read book 1 in the series - I understood well enough what was going on, but I've held back with opinions about the specifics of the content because I know I'm missing information.
February 28, 2022
An excellent sequel to The Stranger Times where we find out what the employees have been up to since Hannah joined the team.
I have to confess that even though this book is really funny and utterly insane that I still couldn't read it after dark because Mr McDonnell is incredibly good at creating heightened tension without seeming to try too hard.
Highlight had to be Cogs (who can't lie) and Zeke (not just a dog). I sincerely hope they make a reappearance in the next instalment. Zeke had me in stitches.
The plot is just as surreal as The Stranger Times and we get to see how Stella is coping with her situation, how Sturgess is adjusting to his new role and we also find out if garlic mayonnaise is really a vampire deterrent or if it just smells really bad when it's been left in a sunny office for days on end.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended. Can't wait for the next one.
I have to confess that even though this book is really funny and utterly insane that I still couldn't read it after dark because Mr McDonnell is incredibly good at creating heightened tension without seeming to try too hard.
Highlight had to be Cogs (who can't lie) and Zeke (not just a dog). I sincerely hope they make a reappearance in the next instalment. Zeke had me in stitches.
The plot is just as surreal as The Stranger Times and we get to see how Stella is coping with her situation, how Sturgess is adjusting to his new role and we also find out if garlic mayonnaise is really a vampire deterrent or if it just smells really bad when it's been left in a sunny office for days on end.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommended. Can't wait for the next one.
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