Elzinga was enthusiastic about his colleague's idea and not only encouraged him to proceed but also decided to take an active role in writing the book.
[1] Over the next twenty years, on top of their academic schedules, Breit and Elzinga co-wrote four mystery books featuring Harvard economist-sleuth Henry Spearman.
When, in 1978, after a three-year collaboration, the two economists' first foray into crime fiction was eventually published by Thomas Horton and Daughters, there was no indication on the book cover as to the true identity of the authors.
Mr. Jevons is an Olympic medal holder in kayaking whose hobbies now include rocketry and the futures market in cocoa beans.
In commercial terms, the novel was a success, and MIT Press approached the authors to suggest they write another Henry Spearman Mystery which they would publish.