The theft of a village postbox's contents forces a young police officer to confront the chaotic and petty secrets of a seemingly respectable community. PC Roger Topping is tasked with investigating a cache of twenty-seven stolen, undelivered letters recovered from a back alley. As he reads through the correspondence, he finds himself entangled in the lives of the Burley Cross residents, whose mundane grievances and hidden agendas create a web of local turmoil. The narrative unfolds through this epistolary framework, exposing the absurdity of village life while testing Topping's own resolve and character.

This novel is widely recognized for its sharp, idiosyncratic wit and its inventive use of the epistolary form to deconstruct the facade of English village life. Critics often highlight the author's ability to balance dark, cynical humor with a genuine exploration of human frailty and social pretension. The narrative style is frequently compared to the works of Alan Bennett, though noted for its more frantic, modern, and chemically-enhanced sensibilities. Readers tend to appreciate the book for its refusal to settle into a traditional mystery structure, favoring instead a chaotic and deeply funny character study that keeps the reader off-balance throughout.