Ludlum writes in the mystery-spy novel genre, and immediate precedents from Ian Fleming and Eric Ambler, among other writers, are noticeable.

Like Ian Fleming, Ludlum sets his works in exotic locations, and he liberally spices his style with name-dropping in the fashion of Fleming. Unlike le Carre and some other spy writers, Ludlum does not have the professional spy background, although The Holcroft Covenant is as involved as some of Ambler's political intrigue novels (for example the complexities of Doctor Frigo). The closest single parallel is from another writer of best-selling popular thrillers: Ira Levin's The Boys from Brazil (1976) is a very close parallel, and its resolution, conflict, and central premise involve the same general kind of cast of characters.