The plot of Death in a Tenured Position relies more heavily upon coincidence than do many of the Amanda Cross mysteries. The fact that Moon and Janet Mandelbaum happen to be at Harvard at the same time, Kate's friend Sylvia's fortuitous offer of a Cambridge apartment, and Joan's unexpected call to Kate about Janet's dilemma are all devices used to bring a certain set of characters into conjunction. The novel's emphasis is on the social issues of discrimination and equality rather than on a realistic plausibility of plot, although Kate's investigation of Janet's death is handled with her usual intelligence and reason.