The novels are an ironic pastiche of the detective genre: for example Agaton Sax's colleague, the hapless Inspector Lispington of Scotland Yard, is clearly modelled on Inspector Lestrade of Sherlock Holmes fame.
The novels are a satirical homage to the detective genre: for instance, Agaton Sax's colleague, the inept Inspector Lispington of Scotland Yard, is clearly modeled after Inspector Lestrade of Sherlock Holmes renown.