Love can be a truly terrible thing.

Marriages are tricky at the best of times, especially when one of you is dead.

Vincent Banecroft, the irascible editor of The Stranger Times, has never believed his wife died despite emphatic evidence to the contrary. Now, against all odds, it seems he may actually be proved right; but what lengths will he go to in an attempt to rescue her?

With Banecroft distracted, the shock resignation of assistant editor, Hannah Willis, couldn’t have come at a worse time. It speaks volumes that her decision to reconcile with her philandering ex-husband is only marginally less surprising than Banecroft and his wife getting back together. In this time of crisis, is her decision to swan off to a fancy new-age retreat run by a celebrity cult really the best thing for anyone?

As if that wasn’t enough, one of the paper’s ex-columnists has disappeared, a particularly impressive trick seeing as he never existed in the first place.

Floating statues, hijacked ghosts, homicidal cherubs, irate starlings, Reliant Robins and quite possibly several deeply sinister conspiracies; all-in-all, a typical week for the staff of The Stranger Times.

The first thing I will say about this book is how amazing it is, second thing is if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, The Stranger Times and This Charming Man, then don’t start this one until you have as the plot to Love Will Tear Us Apart just won’t make any sense to you – Plus, you are definitely in for a treat as this series is truly epic.

In book three, Banecroft’s attitude and self-worth (not that he had a lot) are getting worse, Hannah has left (or has she), there is a new assistant editor (Betty), Grace is at her wit ends (nothing new), and the staff all know something is going on but don’t know what to do or how to help (as per usual). Plus the Founders, Folk, Stanley Roker, and DI Sturgess are back. Oh, so are my favourite characters Cogs and Zeke.

What makes this series epic, as I mentioned above, is that although the book is so far-fetched it reads as if these events could really be happening in our everyday life. The story contains some of the most bizarre things I have ever read – including two women fighting over who is married to the M62 – Yes, you read that right and a man who claims to be the son of ET!

Not only is the plot well thought out and cleverly executed, but it also contains plenty of humour alongside moments that will make you feel sorry for the most rude man you never want to meet. The book also contains snippets from the newspaper articles that they run at The Stranger Times – These will have you giggling.

To put it finely, C. K. McDonnell has come up with the idea for one of the best series I have ever read (helps that it is set in my home town). His writing is spot on and the craziness that is within the pages gives you plenty of laughs and light relief. I can’t wait to meet the team again and see what is in store for them next.

Irishman Caimh McDonnell is a former professional stand-up comedian and TV writer who now concentrates all of his energies on his 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 and has earned him a BAFTA nomination. These days he can be found happily writing his next book in the office in the back garden, with only his dog and his imagination for company.

His book ‘I Have Sinned’ has been nominated for the Kindle Storyteller Award 2019. Previously, his debut novel ‘A Man With One of Those Faces’ was nominated for best novel at the 2017 CAP awards.