One of Jonasson’s motifs is the inclusion of several loveable animals, each playing a pivotal role in advancing the storyline. Whether elephant, dog, or cat, each creature shares the characteristics of dependability, integrity, and affection. Their goodness inspires goodness in the humans responsible for their care. Indeed, the death of Molotov the cat at the paws of a fox creates the narrative’s greatest emotional upheaval for Allan.

Jonasson uses the trustworthiness of these animals as a contrast against which to reveal the paucity of human worthiness. Every person in the story, including Allan, is flawed in significant ways. Allan may seem the best of the bunch in terms of wisdom, achievement, and integrity. However, the story begins with Allan running away from people who want to honor him and then stealing a suitcase containing millions of crowns. Jonasson is not trying to say that the animals are perfect, only that they’re pure and consistent in their actions, whereas humans are all flawed and only relatively worthy.

From Francisco Franco, the dictator who ascended to power during the Spanish Civil War, to Ronald Reagan, the American President during the last days of the Cold War, Jonasson blends Allan’s story into actual historical events and individuals’ stories.