The novels which follow The Man with a Load of Mischief have a number of elements in common. First, many of the same characters appear in the novels, and others are at least mentioned in subsequent novels. Also, the settings provide unity; all the novels involve the pubs for which they are named, with Long Piddleton, the setting of the first novel, serving as a kind of base because Plant lives there and London as another base because Jury and Scotland Yard are there. Winter, Jury's favorite season, is the time of year in most of the novels, and more than one is set at Christmas.

The murders throughout the novels are similar as well. All include multiple murders which at first seem unrelated. In discovering their relationship, which often involves events in the distant past, Jury discovers their motivation and therefore the murderer. The philosophy...