Ring the Bells

(The Stranger Times 5)

By: C. K. McDonnell

Narrated by: Brendan McDonald

Brought to you by Penguin.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

For most people, that means a time of celebration, relaxation and inebriation, but not for the staff of The Stranger Times. While a book club meeting ending in a triple murder isn’t unprecedented, it is at least noteworthy. It quickly emerges that this is no ordinary book-club-triple-murder either, as it features a librarian possessed by a chaotic entity who has broken through from another dimension and is hellbent on vengeance. He’s made a list, but he’s not checking it twice as the whole of humanity is on it. Who would want to summon such a thing? And how is anyone going to be able to send it back?

As if that wasn’t enough to be dealing with, a shocking revelation about a member of The Stranger Times team’s past brings family together, but not in a way that’s ever going to make it into a Hallmark movie.

Featuring demonically possessed Santas, blood-thirsty books and the ghost of a legendary nightclub, it’s beginning to look a lot like a Christmas apocalypse . . .

Ring the Bells is the fifth book in the award-winning, critically acclaimed and laugh-out-loud funny The Stranger Times series.


'McDonnell's world is transgressively hilarious, grimly banal and beguilingly warm. Of course there's a story that the intrepid journalists of The Stranger Times have to tease out: grave-robbing, cryogenics, a very angry witch, and a washed-up indie legend looking for a lost album, but the real joy lies in the pitfalls and pratfalls of getting there.' DAILY MAIL

'An absolute riot of a read.' DAILY EXPRESS

'Laugh-out-loud funny and full of colourful characters.' DAILY MIRROR

© C. K. McDonnell 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critic reviews

Fiendishly clever and monstrously funny, C K McDonnell's latest will steal your soul and eat your brain. In the nicest possible way, of course.

Caimh never disappoints!

C.K. McDonnell has done it again. Ring the Bells is another brilliant addition to the series— a masterful blend of sharp wit, clever plotting, and perfect narration that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Caimh’s trademark humor shines through, The banter between characters is both biting and endearing. The plot itself is as intriguing as ever The narration is excellent, blending suspense, humor, and heart in equal measure.

What stands out most is how consistent this series remains in its quality. Each book somehow manages to raise the bar without losing the unique charm that makes The Stranger Times so special. McDonnell continues to expand the world in surprising and delightful ways, leaving me hungry for more. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Stranger Times Stays Strong

Gotta admit, I was worried this one wasn’t going to hit.
But it absolutely does. The author does a fantastic job of weaving together several stories that coalesce quite well by the end.
Also, there are several scenes where the tension, juxtaposed against absurdity, leads to hilarity in classic Stranger Times fashion.
I was happy to see book 5 did not disappoint.

Funny & great characters

As always w/stranger times, it was funny & crazy & the narrator is incredible! Sometimes I wonder if a few of the characters are thrown in just to mess with the narrator! It all works though. Great book!

Brilliant !!!

Amazing!!! Love the author! Love the narrator!!! Just great! I think this series are amazing!!

Intricate story

This series gets better with every book. This book had an emotional ending; just lovely. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Best one yet! It’s been a long time coming-an author that can fill Terry Pratchett’s stockings… and X-mas ones at that!

A Unicorn that poops rainbows! The old church with a sign saying that it was no longer a house of worship and to go bother God somewhere else. THIS, series I’ve been reading one after another, swallowing them without chewing properly knowing I will read them all over again before the year is over.

An Early Christmas Gift

I just finished the audiobook version and I am sad.....so sad because I do not want to wait for the next book. I tried to listen in tiny bites but every time, I had to finish the chapter. I wish I were a writer myself so I could better describe how I feel about this series and this book. it has all the elements I enjoy, the mystical, the supernatural, the action, and the diverse characters that you come to love. Please hurry with the next. I'd also like to comment on the narrator for the audiobook. He does a wonderful job!

Crying

But in a good way. Best Christmas ending of endings, in one of those moments that sticks with you.

BEST ONE YET!

What did I like or dislike?
Liked; All of it!
Disliked; Can’t blame the book, the author or narrator as the only thing I disliked was my own inability to stretch it out even the tiniest bit and instead binged the entire book in one setting and ignored the add on to my sleep deficit while also abandoning, one after another of any self imposed “One more chapter and then I’ll stop”admonitions, instead, continuing on relentlessly. So am now left wanting until the next release.
I will say to anyone still reading this who also fits into the category of those lucky or unlucky enough to have never read/listened to any of the previous books in the series, this could be a stand alone but don’t try that. Go to the beginning you lucky sods so you can enjoy the entire series and then thoroughly enjoy this, THE BEST ONE YET!

Love this series!

I love these books, they always get me laughing out loud & this new one is no disappointment. The narrator does such a good job with many different and distinctive voices, a rare thing. I only wish there were more