Le mystère de Stern Hollow

The layered plot kept me constantly guessing, but I wonder if this approach was planned from the start or evolved during writing. Did it make the mystery more engaging or more complicated?

The Victorian backdrop feels so vividly realized, but I was curious whether the author aimed to comment on societal issues of that era through the story or if it was mainly for atmosphere.

Her intelligence and wit stood out, but I wondered what inspired the author to craft her this way—was it to challenge typical detective archetypes or for another reason?