: The series leans heavily on the dynamic of the "ragtag group of misfits" working under the foul-tempered and often drunken Editor-in-Chief, Vincent Banecroft.
: McDonnell, who also writes as Caimh McDonnell, utilizes his background in comedy to balance dark supernatural elements with sharp, dry wit.
: While the office is being renovated, a secret trapdoor is discovered, leading the team to realize someone is trying to kidnap Stella, a young woman with mysterious and powerful supernatural abilities. C K McDonnell The Stranger Times 02 This ...
The central mystery of This Charming Man begins with a series of gruesome murders in Manchester that appear to be the work of vampires. This is inherently problematic because, in the world established by McDonnell, vampires are strictly a work of fiction—even to the "Folk" and the "Founders," the secret supernatural entities that actually exist.
As the staff of The Stranger Times investigates these "allegories run amok," they must juggle several subplots: : The series leans heavily on the dynamic
: Assistant Editor Hannah Willis returns to work after a messy divorce, only to find herself embroiled in new legal battles and developing complicated feelings for a police inspector who has his own psychological baggage.
: A recurring theme is the reality of the supernatural versus public perception; many things traditionally thought to be real are fake, while the truly dangerous forces remain hidden in plain sight. Major Characters The central mystery of This Charming Man begins
: Ox, one of the paper's reporters, faces dangerous gambling debts that put him in the crosshairs of unsavory characters. Key Themes and Style