The Atticus Pund stories are heavily influenced by the works of Agatha Christie, particularly her stories about detective Hercule Poirot. As with many of Christie's works, Magpie Murders takes place in a bucolic English village, with the murder occurring at a mansion inhabited by a plethora of characters who could all be suspects. Atticus Pund is clearly based on Hercule Poirot. Both are preternaturally calm foreigners who are nominally private detectives, but who usually spend their time doing pro bono work helping the police solve murders. Both Pund and Poirot have friendly "assistants" whose lack of intelligence and curiosity only serve to further highlight the detective's own brilliance. Both Pund and Poirot also have a police officer who the regulary assist, and show up: Poirot with Inspector Japp and Pund with Inspector Chubb. Poirot's assistant is Arthur Hastings. Pund's assistant is called Fraser. In the TV series "Poirot," Hastings is played by Hugh Fraser.

Followed by Moonflower Murders (2024)