The novel seamlessly blends realistic elements with supernatural occurrences, creating a narrative where the dead and living coexist naturally, influencing later works in the genre and inspiring authors like Gabriel García Márquez.

Comala represents both a physical place and a metaphysical space where time becomes fluid. Its transformation from a vibrant town to a ghost town mirrors the moral decay of its ruler and serves as a metaphor for post-revolutionary Mexico.

The fragmented, non-linear narrative structure reflects the disjointed nature of memory and death, forcing readers to piece together the story just as Juan Preciado must reconstruct the truth about his father through various ghostly encounters.