Pearson finds many of his ideas in news stories and contemporary issues: immigration controversies, scientific or technological developments, social problems. He cites among his influences John D. MacDonald, another author whose books reflect social concerns of the time. Pearson has also mentioned a debt to writers of noir fiction; however, Pearson's work seems somewhat removed from that line. Boldt, while torn between his sense of duty, his attraction to Daphne, and his family obligations, chooses the high ground every time, doing his job and staying (mostly) faithful to his longsuffering wife. He refuses to engage in shady dealings; the line between himself and the criminal is clearly defined. One would never argue that Flek is the dark side of Boldt; rather, Pearson uses both men to show different sides of loyalty.

Pearson's work has much more in common with writers like Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton...