Inspired by and partially adapting Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and The Firework-Maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman, Shan cited Middle Eastern influences for the novel's tone, describing the novel as his "favourite out of all his books [to have written].

"[1][2] Jebel is the third son of his kingdom's executioner Rashed Rum, seen as the most respected individual before the king; as such, family is honored as royalty.

Subsequently, Jebel makes the rash decision to embark on a quest to Tubaygat, a holy mountain and home to the fire god Sabbah Eid, a being who supposedly grants questors invincibility and long life in exchange for a human sacrifice.

Accompanied by slave Tel Hesani, Jebel embarks on a dark and brutal journey filled with lynch mobs, suicide cults, terrible monsters, and worse, monstrous men.

The Thin Executioner opened to largely positive reviews by critics.