ðə nˈɑːvəl fˈɑːloʊz ðə tɹɐdˈɪʃənəl fˈɔːɹmjʊlə ʌv ˈændɹuːz nˈɑːvəlz, ænd baɪ bˌiːɪŋ ðə fˈoːɹθ ɪn ɪts sˈɪɹiz, ɪt ðɛɹbˈaɪ sˈɛntɚz ɔnðə tʃˈaɪld ʌvðə pɹˈoʊɾɐɡənˌɪst ʌvðə fˈɜːst θɹˈiː nˈɑːvəlz.
The novel follows the traditional formula of Andrews novels, and by being the fourth in its series, it thereby centres on the child of the protagonist of the first three novels.