A British couple finds their marriage and personal safety compromised while living in a volatile, newly independent African nation. As the protagonist, Hugo, attempts to navigate the shifting political landscape of a country transitioning away from colonial rule, he and his wife, Harriet, face increasing isolation and external pressure. The narrative framework utilizes a third-person perspective to observe the couple's deteriorating stability against the backdrop of a society undergoing rapid, often violent, structural change. They must contend with both the physical dangers of civil unrest and the logical constraints of a crumbling social order that no longer guarantees their protection.

Discussion often centers on the author's ability to capture the claustrophobic atmosphere of a society in flux. Readers frequently highlight the precise, observant prose that characterizes the protagonist's internal state as much as the external political environment. Critics often note the balance between the intimate focus on the central couple and the broader, more chaotic societal shifts occurring around them. The work is widely regarded for its lack of sentimentality and its unflinching look at the complexities of post-colonial life. Many readers find the pacing deliberate, reflecting the slow-building tension of the characters' precarious situation.