This collection investigates the recurring motifs of crime and criminality as a structural and thematic device within the dramatic works of Harold Pinter and David Mamet. Leslie Kane, a recognized authority on both playwrights, compiles fifteen original essays that analyze how these two authors utilize criminal behavior to expose power dynamics, linguistic manipulation, and moral ambiguity. The volume provides a comparative framework, mapping the intersection of legal transgression and social performance across the diverse canons of both writers.

Scholars and students of contemporary drama frequently cite this collection as a vital resource for understanding the thematic overlap between Pinter and Mamet. The text is noted for its academic rigor and its ability to synthesize complex literary theory with practical analysis of dramatic performance.