Das Mädchen, das den Weihnachtsmann umbrachte: Storys

The stories have a haunting holiday vibe, but I wonder how much of the darkness was intentional to contrast with Christmas cheer.

The cozy Christmas backdrop made the murders feel even more chilling — was that the goal or just a happy accident?

I'm curious whether McDermid had specific themes or moods in mind when selecting these tales or if they evolved naturally.