Relight My Fire – C. K. McDonnell

Steph Warren - Bookshine

May 3

*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, Transworld Books – Random House UK and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own. Plus I did buy my own hardcover AND audio copy anyway, so…!*

Blurb: The Stranger Times - winner of the 2023 British Fantasy Award for Best Audio Work!

Some comebacks can be murder . . .

Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in.

But this isn't just the hunt for another story. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. And what have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?

Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a funeral who has been sent to make the paper's editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .

All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity Who's Who that'd put a royal wedding to shame, and you're looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times.

This whole series is on my 'Must Read' list and each new book in the series absolutely makes my day/week/year! This is the fourth book and, having already covered werewolves and vampires, now the Stranger Times staff have zombies and (my favourite character of the series so far!) a ghoul. Exciting times at the Stranger Times!

The usual gang are back together again - Hannah, Banecroft, Ox and Reggie, Stella, Grace, Manny and DI Sturgess - and we get cameos from a few recurring favourites too, like Cogs and Zeke. And while I missed Stanley Roker and Betty a little, new character Brian more than compensated. The plot is always good fun - and laugh out loud funny - but it is the characters who keep me coming back every time, re-reading the books already released, and listening to the audiobooks over and over again (shout out to Brendan McDonald for being the voice of these books, in my head as well as in my ears!).

I definitely recommend reading the books in order, because the world and characters develop and deepen as each new instalment adds new layers.

I just cannot rave enough about how much I love these books - this book. The worldbuilding, humour and writing are all top class and I hated reaching the end of the story because I just want to stay in the Stranger Manchester with my favourite people and see what happens next.

In other words, I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 5, in ebook, hardcover and audiobook. And I hope I'm saying the same when Stranger Times book 105 hits the shelves!

If there was one thing Vincent Banecroft didn't like – and, to be clear, there was considerably more than one thing, but if pressed at that particular moment to name just one – he would plump for being messed with.

If given the option to name two things, the second would be idiots in fancy dress. In his opinion, anyone who took dressing up in costumes seriously was desperately trying to make up for a chronic lack of personality. Batman was exactly what happened when someone dreadfully dull had too much disposable income.

- C. K. McDonnell, Relight My Fire

Purchase Link: Relight My Fire on Amazon

About the author

Born in Limerick and raised in Dublin, C K (Caimh) McDonnell is a former stand-up comedian and TV writer. He performed all around the world, had several well-received Edinburgh shows and supported acts such as Sarah Millican on tour before hanging up his clowning shoes to concentrate on writing. He has also written for numerous TV shows and been nominated for a Kid's TV BAFTA.

His debut novel, A Man With One of Those Faces - a comic crime novel - was published in 2016 and spawned The Dublin Trilogy books and the spin-off McGarry Stateside series. They have been Amazon bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic. As C. K. McDonnell, he is the author of The Stranger Times series contemporary comic fantasy series.
Caimh lives in Manchester. To find out more, visit whitehairedirishman.com