Where to Start with The Stranger Times
If you are ready to plunge into the weird, witty, and wonderful supernatural underbelly of Manchester, the best way to read C.K. McDonnell's The Stranger Times series is in publication order. Because the books feature a continuous narrative, overarching character development, and a gradual unraveling of the world's underlying magical laws, skipping around will leave you thoroughly spoiled and highly confused.
The series revolves around the staff of a weekly tabloid newspaper in Manchester called The Stranger Times, which reports on bizarre headlines. The catch? The stories they publish are actually true. Guided by the misanthropic, foul-mouthed editor Vincent Banecroft and the resilient deputy editor Hannah Willis, the misfit crew finds themselves standing as humanity's unlikely defense against the dark forces of the world.
The Stranger Times Series in Publication Order
Here is the chronological publication list of the main novels in the series:
- The Stranger Times (2021) — The book that started it all. Hannah Willis joins the paper as an assistant editor and is immediately thrown into a mystery involving a dark magician, an ancient conspiracy, and a gruesome murder.
- This Charming Man (2022) — The team must investigate when vampires suddenly start cropping up around Manchester, leading to magical chaos, a run-in with a secret society, and a race against time.
- Love Will Tear Us Apart (2023) — A deeply personal case for editor Vincent Banecroft when his supposedly dead wife mysteriously returns, forcing the crew to deal with ancient entities, tragic histories, and heartbreaking truths.
- Relight My Fire (2024) — A man falling from the sky directly in front of the team's resident "magical girl" Stella sets off an investigation into disappearing bodies, a washed-up Britpop star, and dark ghouls.
- Ring the Bells (2025) — A university librarian is possessed by an ancient god named Zalas who has come to Earth to execute a "naughty list" apocalypse. The crew must hunt the entity down before Christmas.
- He Ain't Heavy (Forthcoming) — The sixth book in the main sequence, continuing the supernatural investigations of the newsroom.
The Newsroom Cast: Found Family and Misfits
The heart of the series is its lovable, deeply flawed cast of characters. Familiarizing yourself with them will help you understand the dynamics of the newsroom:
- Vincent Banecroft: The heavy-drinking, misanthropic, and incredibly foul-mouthed editor of the paper. Despite his abrasive exterior and questionable hygiene, he possesses a brilliant mind and a hidden past that connects him to the magical world.
- Hannah Willis: The main protagonist who starts as a new assistant editor after a messy divorce. She quickly becomes the practical, grounding force of the newsroom and Banecroft's right-hand deputy.
- Stella: The resident young goth and "magical girl" who can see things others can't, often acting as a bridge to the magical underbelly of Manchester.
- Grace: The fierce, no-nonsense receptionist and office manager who keeps the daily operations running despite the supernatural chaos.
- Reggie: The naive and literal-minded assistant who handles research, paper clipping, and takes everything far too literally.
- Ox: The giant, soft-hearted head of security who protects the team from physical and paranormal threats.
Short Stories, Companion Books, and the Podcast
In addition to the main novels, C.K. McDonnell has written several short stories and companion pieces that enrich the lore of the universe. Here is where they fit into your reading schedule:
In Other News
This is a digital collection of short stories that the author offers as a free exclusive download for subscribers of his official newsletter. It serves as a fun introduction to the quirky tone of the newsroom and is best read either before the first book or anytime in between the early entries to get a quick dose of McDonnell’s humor.
The Stranger Times Podcast
An ongoing audio series featuring standalone short stories from the world of the books, narrated by various comedians and actors. These podcast episodes can be listened to in any order, as they generally focus on bizarre occurrences outside the main storyline, such as lovelorn trolls and haunted objects.
Tales from The Stranger Times: Volume 1 (2025)
Published in August 2025, this collection brings together several of the popular short stories from the podcast into a single volume. Crucially, it also includes a brand-new novella titled The Raven. It is recommended to read this collection after Relight My Fire or Ring the Bells to appreciate the subtle nods to the main plot.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
While the main novels follow a linear timeline from 2021 through 2025, the short stories in Tales from The Stranger Times and In Other News sometimes jump back and forth to show different bizarre happenings around the globe. Despite these minor jumps, there is no benefit to trying to read the series chronologically by setting the short stories in a timeline. Reading the main novels in publication order first, followed by the short story collections, remains the most rewarding experience.
Practical Reader Advice
If you are planning to pick up the series, here are a few practical tips to maximize your enjoyment:
- Do not read as standalones: While each book has a self-contained mystery or threat that is resolved by the final page, the character relationships, traumatic events, and general world-building carry over directly from one book to the next. Starting with This Charming Man or later books will spoil major plot twists from the earlier entries.
- Listen to the audiobooks: The series won the 2023 British Fantasy Award for Best Audio, and for good reason. The audiobooks, narrated with incredible energy and comedic timing, bring the diverse cast of characters (especially the cynical editor Vincent Banecroft) to life in a way that rivals the print versions.
- Expect a blend of genres: The series is famous for bridging the gap between urban fantasy and dark comedy. Fans of Terry Pratchett's Discworld (specifically the Ankh-Morpork City Watch books) and Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series will feel right at home with the witty banter and the gritty, realistic urban setting.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you dive in, it is helpful to understand the background of the author. C.K. McDonnell is a pen name used by the Irish author Caimh McDonnell. Under his real name, he is well-known for writing The Dublin Trilogy and the MCM Investigations series, which are comedic crime thrillers set in Ireland. Although they share his signature dark humor and snappy dialogue, there is no narrative crossover between his Dublin crime books and the paranormal Manchester world of The Stranger Times. They are completely separate universes, so you do not need to read one to understand the other.