Christie Malry, a disgruntled bank clerk, decides to treat his life as a ledger, balancing every perceived slight against society with a calculated act of revenge. Christie systematically tallies the 'debits' of his mistreatment by the world and responds with 'credits' of increasingly destructive sabotage. As he applies the principles of double-entry bookkeeping to his personal vendettas, he navigates a world that is as absurd as his own rigid accounting system. The narrative framework employs a meta-fictional style, frequently breaking the fourth wall to address the reader and the author's own role in the construction of the story.

This work is widely recognized as a quintessential example of B. S. Johnson's experimental approach to the novel form. Critics often highlight the cleverness of the double-entry conceit, noting how it effectively mirrors the cold, transactional nature of the protagonist's worldview. The book is frequently cited for its biting satire and its refusal to adhere to traditional narrative conventions. Readers often find the meta-fictional elements both challenging and essential to the overall impact of the story. The text remains a significant reference point for those interested in the evolution of postmodern British fiction.