The sudden death of the eccentric Rector of Rapstone Fanner triggers a contentious inheritance dispute that exposes the deep-seated political and social divisions within a post-war English village. Following the passing of Simeon Simcox, his two sons—a struggling writer and a doctor—find themselves disinherited in favor of a local Tory politician. The narrative tracks the fallout of this decision across several decades, examining the shifting landscape of British class, politics, and morality from 1945 onward. Through a multi-generational lens, the story explores the friction between idealism and pragmatism within the confines of a changing rural community. The prose utilizes a third-person perspective to dissect the motivations of the Simcox family and their neighbors.

Readers frequently highlight the sharp wit and observational precision Mortimer employs to capture the nuances of the British class system. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the central mystery as a vehicle for broader social critique rather than a traditional plot-driven puzzle. Critics often note the balance between the author's cynical humor and his underlying affection for his flawed, human characters. Many readers appreciate the atmospheric rendering of the English countryside as it undergoes significant cultural transformation over the decades. The work is widely regarded as a comprehensive study of the political tensions that defined the latter half of the twentieth century in Britain.