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.
This Charming Man is the second book in the critically acclaimed The Stranger Times series.
The series
In the quirky world of The Stranger Times, reality is a bit too strange to be taken seriously. Set in Manchester, this series invites readers to follow the offbeat adventures of a ragtag group of journalists at a newspaper dedicated to covering the bizarre, unexplained, and outright weird. When new assistant editor, Hannah Willis, steps into this unpredictable newsroom, she quickly learns that reporting on ghosts, monsters, and time loops is just the tip of the iceberg.
Read full series description
At its heart, The Stranger Times is a delightful blend of supernatural mystery and sharp humor. As Hannah and her colleagues tackle increasingly absurd stories—haunted toilets, mysterious disappearances, and an unsettling number of cursed objects—they uncover deeper, darker secrets that tie their fates together. What starts as an exploration of the quirky becomes a thrilling, unpredictable journey, where every odd occurrence hints at something much bigger.
The series is as much about the eccentric characters as it is about the strange phenomena they investigate. Each individual brings their own mix of skepticism, curiosity, and charm, making for a team that's equal parts dysfunctional and endearing. From the jaded editor to the quirky staff, the ensemble cast drives the story forward with witty banter and a shared sense of wonder at the inexplicable.
Rich in atmosphere, The Stranger Times is more than just a series of paranormal escapades—it's an exploration of the thin line between the ordinary and the extraordinary. With each new case, readers are drawn deeper into a world where the rules of reality are constantly being rewritten, and nothing is ever quite what it seems.
Whether you're a fan of supernatural intrigue, dark comedy, or clever twists, The Stranger Times offers an engaging, immersive experience that keeps readers on their toes, always wondering what's coming next.
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