Adam Haslett's novel creates a multi-layered view of modern American society, its principles, and functioning. It addresses highly relevant topics, such as the likely roots of the global economic crisis, and also captures the main features of modern society on a general scale. The plot unfolds in parallel along two storylines, one of which describes the world of large banking corporations, specifically focusing on the emergence of a crisis at the significant American bank Union Atlantic. The second storyline deals with the conflict of the modern world with old values and traditions. Both lines are connected by the character of Doug Fanning, a prominent banker at Union Atlantic and also the protagonist of the emerging crisis. Doug Fanning builds a house in the village of Finden, right next to the home of the local former teacher, Charlotta Graves. Charlotta is a romantic woman suffering from a mental disorder, whose passionate criticism of society and defense of old values resonates throughout the story. A dispute over land arises between Doug and Charlotta, as Charlotta claims that Doug's property has belonged to her family for generations. It is at this moment that a homosexual young man named Nate intervenes in the tumultuous neighborhood relations.
