Hm, yes and no. The similarity with Columbo lies perhaps in that to outsiders, he appears to be stumbling and blundering about, like Columbo.
But other than that, I don't think, not really. Columbo always appears more like an outsider to whatever circle he's investigating in, whereas Robert Audley seems to fit so very much into it no one even notices him doing any real detection.
At least, that was my impression ;-)
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