The story centres on his last journey with his ailing master, Willy G Christmas, to Baltimore, who hopes to find his former English teacher.

The title of the book comes from the concept of the afterlife as proposed by Christmas, a self-titled poet, who believed it was a beautiful place called Timbuktu.

A major running theme in the book is Mr Bones' worry that dogs will not go to Timbuktu, and he won't see Willy again after death.

[1] The novella is referenced by Fionn Regan in the song "Put a Penny in the Slot" from the album The End of History.

In 2009, Audible.com produced an audio version of Timbuktu, narrated by Joe Barrett, as part of its Modern Vanguard line of audiobooks.