The novel ends with Lavender succeeding in releasing his memoirs after his death, implying the victory of the villain. Readers are able to identify a relatable plot development between The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender and traditional detective fiction, while witnessing a different approach to the storyline, focusing on the life and crimes of the culprit over the culprit himself. This also shows the volume of power encompassed by Lavender, as he deviates from traditional criminals and does not get caught nor seen throughout the novel.
Day conforms to and challenges the genre of hard-boiled detective fiction through the inversion of the protagonist as a female detective, Claudia Valentine, a central character who pushes the boundaries of the detective fiction genre. Day introduces a modern style detective by making Valentine a strong woman who can stand up against the tough talking traditional males of the detective world, while maintaining her feminist character and having a good knowledge and contacts to keep up with the new technology. "My legs are my best weapon. If I'm close enough I can do a karate kick that knocks them flat. If I'm far enough away I run" (P30). The other characters of the novel also help to differentiate Valentine from traditional male counterparts. Lavender brings out the best of her as she desperately tries to expose him, Angell helps reveal her softer side through their romantic interest and Sally Villos provides the information she needs about Lavender and the incident. This shows the power of Claudia Valentine rather than Harry Lavender, as a woman in a typical male job, acquiring all their skills while preserving her feminine character.
The city of Sydney is intricately mixed in the story. As we read more we begin to understand that the story is not just set in Sydney, but it is also about Sydney. The setting of the city is used as an analogy to the people and events in the story.
