In a new post, mystery author Zara Altair says that pulling characters for your murder mystery from real life can help you create richly detailed suspects, side characters, and victims. “Drawing inspiration from real-life people helps you craft compelling and memorable characters for your mystery novel,” she writes. “By observing and incorporating real-world traits, behaviors, and quirks into your character profiles, you create individuals who resonate deeply with readers, ensuring they are believable and unforgettable throughout your story.”
All stories need rich characters, but the role of character in mysteries is unique. You need your readers to feel for your victims, investigate alongside your sleuth, and pick apart the alibis and motivations of your suspect. Without detailed characterization, different pieces of your mystery will start to fall flat, Altair says. “Readers are more likely to connect emotionally with characters who feel real and multi-dimensional,” she adds. “By painting a vivid picture of each character, you ensure that readers will remember them, even if their appearances are spaced out over many pages.”
Altair recommends starting with a character bible, a comprehensive guide to the appearance, background, personality, and relationships of every character in your novel. This document can help you stay focused on your cast, remain consistent, provide depth and complexity, write faster, inspire new ideas, and stay organized. Within that bible, you can drop in character traits from people you know or have observed in real life.
“Real-life individuals are full of unique traits and idiosyncrasies that enrich your characters,” Altair says. “Spend time in public spaces—like cafes, parks, or public transport—and pay attention to people’s behaviors, mannerisms, and interactions.” Observe their habits, manner of speaking, and dress. If you find yourself in the same place at the same time each day – for example, at a coffee shop in the morning or on public transportation – you may have the chance to observe some people multiple times over the course of days or weeks.
Interviews and conversations are another good way to gather material. “When you talk to people, pay attention to how they phrase things, their unique vocabulary, and the rhythm of their speech,” Altair writes. “These elements are crucial for making your characters’ dialogues realistic and distinctive.”
Use your notes to create composite characters enlivened by different aspects of the many people you’ve observed. “By doing so, you can develop unique personalities that feel authentic while maintaining the creative freedom to adapt them as needed for your story,” Altair explains. “Composite characters allow you to pick and choose the most interesting, impactful, or unusual traits you’ve observed and merge them into a single, cohesive character.”
