To lonely eight-year-old Kay Washington the worst thing in the world is silence. That’s why Eddie Video makes the perfect imaginary friend. He’s smart, rambunctious, and loves pulling pranks. But most important, he’s never ever quiet. Forty-something, immigrant Ivanon is a contract killer with an unusual imaginary friends who’ve overstayed their welcome. His only rule, no kids—kids need their imaginary friends. But when one of Eddie Video’s “pranks” goes too far and lands Kay in the hospital, Ivanon agrees maybe exceptions can be made. After all, rent is due. But Ivanon and Kay will soon learn Eddie Video is no ordinary imaginary friend; he is something much, much darker.A balance of comedy and catharsis, this dual-narrative tackles both the fear of growing up and the scars our childhood leaves behind.

Dive into the wonderous world of The Stranger Times with this carefully curated selection of short stories from C.K. McDonnell. Drawn from the award-winning The Stranger Times podcast, they are collected in print for the first time, along with the new novella ‘The Raven’. Experience the magical underworld of Manchester (and beyond) with stories featuring lovelorn trolls, blood-thirsty books and a constipated dog who may’ve accidentally consumed a portal to another dimension. Featuring McDonnell’s trademark blend of black humour, outlandish ideas and expertly realised characters, this collection is perfect for first time readers and existing fans keen to learn more about the world he has created.Praise for The Stranger Times'I loved the dry and embedded humour of this book, it's the stuff of life . . . the whole thing is great fun.' SFCROSWNEST'Wonderfully dark, extremely funny' ADAM KAYBestselling Author of This is Going to Hurt'I loved this . . . great premise - great story - great characters . . . hugely enjoyable.'JODI TAYLORQueen of Time and author of The Chronicles of St Mary's series'A gag-filled romp . . . in the spirit of Terry Pratchett.' THE TIMES'Great characters, a jet-propelled plot, and a winning premise.' GUARDIAN'Fresh and genuinely funny.' SFX

New Achievement! Total, Utter Failure. You failed a quest less than five minutes after you received it. Now that’s talent. A floating fortress occupied by warrior gnomes. A castle made of sand. A derelict submarine guarded by malfunctioning machines. A haunted crypt surrounded by lethal traps. It was supposed to be easy. One bubble. Four castles. Fifteen days. Capture each one, and the stairwell is unlocked. Here's the thing. It's never easy. Carl and his team can't go it alone. Not this time. They must rely on the help of the low-level, I-can't-believe-these-idiots-are-still-alive crawlers trapped in the bubble with them. But can they be trusted? Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the fifth floor of the dungeon.

Welcome to the Gun Show! The top ten list is populated. The sponsorship program is open. The difficulty is ramping up. The first three floors were nothing compared to what Carl and Donut now face. The Iron Tangle. An impossibly-complicated subway system built out of the world's subterranean railway systems, all combined and then tied together into a knot. Up is down. Down is up. Close is far. The cars are filled with monsters, the railway stations are less than safe, and the exit is always just a few stops away. But there is hope. For the first time, the crawlers are all working together. The loot is better than ever. And the secret to unraveling it all may be hidden in the pages of a seemingly-useless book. Welcome, crawlers. Welcome to the fourth floor of the dungeon.

Dive into the wonderous world of The Stranger Times with this carefully curated selection of short stories from C.K. McDonnell. Drawn from the award-winning The Stranger Times podcast, they are collected in print for the first time, along with the new novella ‘The Raven’. Experience the magical underworld of Manchester (and beyond) with stories featuring lovelorn trolls, blood-thirsty books and a constipated dog who may’ve accidentally consumed a portal to another dimension. Featuring McDonnell’s trademark blend of black humour, outlandish ideas and expertly realised characters, this collection is perfect for first time readers and existing fans keen to learn more about the world he has created.Praise for The Stranger Times'I loved the dry and embedded humour of this book, it's the stuff of life . . . the whole thing is great fun.' SFCROSWNEST'Wonderfully dark, extremely funny' ADAM KAYBestselling Author of This is Going to Hurt'I loved this . . . great premise - great story - great characters . . . hugely enjoyable.'JODI TAYLORQueen of Time and author of The Chronicles of St Mary's series'A gag-filled romp . . . in the spirit of Terry Pratchett.' THE TIMES'Great characters, a jet-propelled plot, and a winning premise.' GUARDIAN'Fresh and genuinely funny.' SFX

“Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated blew me away. It is full of joy and human warmth and it has very wise things to say about the value of kindness. It immediately became one of my all-time favourite reads.”—Gareth Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book of DoorsPerfect for fans of The Dead Poets Society, It's A Wonderful Life, and A Man Called Ove. A lifetime ago, Ray “Spike” Thorns was a well-regarded caretaker on a boarding school’s grounds. These days, he lives the life of a recluse in a house rammed with hoarded junk, alone and disconnected from family or anyone he might have at one time considered a friend.When his next-door neighbor drops dead on Spike’s doorstep, a case of mistaken identity according to the police, the hospital, the doctors—everyone—Spike is dead. Spike wants to correct the mistake, really he does, but when confronted with those who knew him best, he hesitates, forced to face whatever impression he’s left on the world. It’s a discovery that brings him up close to ghosts from his past, and to the only woman he ever loved.Could it be that in coming face-to-face with his own demise, Spike is able to really live again? And will he be able to put things straight before the inevitable happens—his own funeral? The result is a beautiful look at life and what we would all do if given a second chance.