November 11th, 2026 no comments

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Unit Operation Good Friday

For more information, visit the Candy Jar Books website.

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce its packed release schedule ahead, with a wonderfully varied selection of books for readers to look forward to. From outrageous Doctor Who non-fiction and classic UNIT adventures to festive mysteries and prehistoric time-travel escapades, there’s something for everyone.

Leading the way is The Timey Wimey Book of Doctor Who, a gloriously irreverent celebration of six decades of Doctor Who history. Ever wondered why the Doctor’s name is actually Steve Davis, how to defeat a Sontaran with a stiletto heel, or why Peter Davison wrote the theme music for a family of kitchen utensils? Look no further!

Written by Peter Shaw (and the Mighty Logar), The Timey Wimey Book of Doctor Who is an unbelievable, unofficial, unreliable and almost unreadable deep dive into the world of Doctor Who. Packed with absurd trivia, hilarious essays and unhinged fan memories – from being adopted for a night by the Watling family to ranking the absolute worst Target book covers – it’s the ultimate comedy companion for anyone who knows their TARDIS from their elbow.

Peter says: “I wanted to celebrate the wonderfully ridiculous side of Doctor Who. There’s so much to laugh about, and I hope readers enjoy discovering some of the stranger corners of the programme’s history. Of course, everything in the book should be treated with the utmost suspicion!”

Fans of classic UNIT adventures have another treat on the way with Operation: Good Friday, a collection of nine original stories set on Good Friday, 1974. Earth’s primary defence force faces alien parasites, transmuting weaponry, serial killers and a terrifying tear in the space-time continuum.

Written by Tim Gambrell, Doris V Sutherland, James Hornby, Iain McLaughlin, Baz Greenland, Kara Dennison, Kenton Hall and Tessa North, the collection features the Brigadier, Benton and Turner, proving that even on their days off, saving the world is a full-time job.

Tim says: “It’s great to bring together such a fantastic collection of UNIT stories. Good Friday 1974 allows us to explore a particularly eventful period for the organisation, with some familiar faces facing some decidedly unfamiliar dangers.”

There is a bonus for readers, too. Alongside Operation: Good Friday, purchasers will receive the second Dominators! book, The Grandfather Initiative by John Peel, as well as a free postcard.

Christmas is also approaching in Ogmore-by-Sea, although Lucy Wilson and her faithful sidekick Hobo are unlikely to enjoy a particularly peaceful festive season. Lucy Wilson: Tis the Season… by Chris Lynch brings together two chaotic Christmas stories, featuring witches, monsters and more than a little seasonal mayhem.

Chris says: “I love giving Lucy and Hobo the sort of Christmas that nobody would actually want! There’s plenty of festive fun, but naturally things get a little out of hand. After all, would it really be Christmas without a few monsters?”

Published in December, ’Tis the Season… is expected to reach readers in time for Christmas, making it an ideal festive stocking-filler for Lucy Wilson fans.

There are two more Lucy Wilson adventures available to pre-order, beginning with Lucy Wilson: Eggs of Darkness by Christine Harris.

When damp walls and a strange, sulphurous smell lead Lucy and Hobo to a derelict house, they expect a minor mystery. Instead, they find a nest of colourful, impossible eggs guarded by a blind, reptilian beast.

Christine said: “I wanted to give Lucy and Hobo a mystery that starts with something seemingly ordinary but quickly becomes much stranger. The eggs are just the beginning, and there’s plenty for readers to discover as the secrets begin to unravel.”

The second forthcoming adventure takes Lucy and Hobo somewhere rather more prehistoric. Lucy Wilson: The Ark in Time by Iain McLaughlin features dinosaurs, woolly mammoths, a futuristic timeship and a race against time to save the planet.

When dinosaurs start wandering through local parks and woolly mammoths appear in the Scottish Highlands, Lucy Wilson and her best friend Hobo know it isn’t just a strange news day – it’s an alien mystery. Teaming up with Erimem, Lucy and Hobo are accidentally swept aboard a malfunctioning futuristic timeship. The ship is on a desperate, broken mission to rescue Earth’s extinct species before a catastrophic asteroid strike. With time sliding wildly out of control and prehistoric predators on the loose, Lucy and Erimem must race against the clock to repair the ship and save the past – and the future – before time runs out for everyone!

Erimem will be a particularly welcome face for Doctor Who fans. The character previously travelled alongside Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor in the Big Finish audio adventures, and her appearance brings a much-loved character to a new generation of readers.

Iain says: “It’s been great fun bringing Lucy and Hobo together with Erimem. She’s a fantastic character with a rich history, and throwing her into an adventure involving dinosaurs, a futuristic timeship and the fate of the planet seemed like a wonderful opportunity. There’s certainly no shortage of excitement!”

Meanwhile, Lethbridge-Stewart fans have more to look forward to with The Havoc Files 1 and The Havoc Files 4, both of which are due to go to print over the next few weeks. Readers who have been waiting to add these collections to their bookshelves can pre-order their copies now.

Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing at Candy Jar Books, says: “It’s a really exciting time for us. We have such a diverse selection of books coming together, and there’s something here for several different generations of Doctor Who fans. We’re particularly pleased to be bringing Erimem into the Lucy Wilson range, while the UNIT collections and our more unusual Doctor Who titles offer plenty for established readers, too.”

With several new titles available to pre-order, alongside the December arrival of Tis the Season…, Candy Jar Books is looking forward to another busy period. Readers can find the forthcoming releases and order their copies through the Candy Jar Books online shop.

For more information, visit the Candy Jar Books website.

Categorised under: Books, Story books