Henissart and Latsis have themselves expressed their indebtedness to the classic mystery writers they had read before their collaboration began — Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, Josephine Tey, and Agatha Christie.

There is one writer of the classic British closed society mystery who should also be mentioned: Georgette Heyer. In her mysteries, one finds that same lightly ironic and detached tone that is used so well in Lathen's novels, and Heyer's novels such as They Found Him Dead (1937) and Behold, Here's Poison (1937) frequently revolve around the problems of family-run businesses. Her detective Hannasyde is more jovial than Thatcher, yet he also remains more the acute observer than a fully developed character.